What happen to Atlanta?  Thanks for posting Darkside

I never heard that it was supposed to be held in Atlanta, but I think I do remember someone saying somewhere that they heard it was going to be in Atlanta.  So, maybe that was just a rumor!

I'm planning on going since it is driveable-about 6 hours. It will be my first sweeps convention. I'm very excited already!

I don't know if they ever had one in New Jersey.  We're on Long Island; and, if we don't move before then, we're planning on going.  I lived in New Jersey most of my life.  I still think that's close enough to drive.

1.  They have rooms from $89 to $115 a night which is pretty cheap. No Motel 6 for with some rates you can get a room for $50 a night nearby. 
http://www.bbonline.com/ if you want a bed and breakfast. http://www.innatmanchester.com starts at $155 a night.

2.  Transportation includes an airport, busses and Amtrak.  Most likely you will have to transfer in Boston which is about 50 miles south of Manchester.  9128 is an hour drive from Boston on Greyhound.  It is about 200 miles from Albany, NY; 90 miles to Plymouth Rock; 55 miles to Boston; 200 miles from Canada; about 175 miles to Adirondaks; 45 miles to Portsmouth.

3.  Entertainment is much more varied this convention.  There is Canobie Lake Park, Storyland and Santa's Park (?) amusement parks within an hour drive.  Train buffs can take a dinner train along the lake or go to the top of Mt. Washington on the cog railway.  There is shopping, and antiques to buy.  History galore going back over 300 years.  Harbour tours, Plymouth Rock, and Boston.  White Mountains are also near by.  Rockingham Park has bingo and horse racing and is within an hour drive.

The convention center will have a shop, food, drinks and notary service for you to spend money.  Included is and Ice Cream Social, Tavern social, Casino Night, Baseball game with free shuttle, 4th of July fireworks and barbecue, The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular
Television Broadcast in the lounge lobby, prize/.gift swap, and pancake breakfast.


In summary I think this is the best website for being just starting up.  There is so much variety of things to do like sports, nature, amusement parks, aquarium, museums, 350 years of history, harbours, lakes, gambling, and spas.  They have a full event planned unlike this year where you are free at 5 pm to try to find something to do.  They have links to neifhbouring states and NH that give you lots of choices.  I really want to go to that convention.  It will be a nice vacation especially if a week is set aside for the trip.

The convention is in Manchester. And there are more hotels then listed. Storyland And Santa's village are quite a haul away. But the ocean is not to far away and Hampton Beach is great. Canobie is a great place too. 

We can't car pool.  There's four of us in a minivan with the back seats down for all the strollers, luggage, etc.  Plus, we have a tendency to incorporate other things/places into our trip.

We'll be able to get 50% off the room price with our Entertainment.com membership.

Actually, the Drive isn't that far for us.  We just take the ferry down the road from Orient to New London, CT.  It's around a 2 1/2-hour drive from New London.

You are not too far believe me.  Airfare is cheap right now and there are numerous options.  I listed a bunch of out of the way places as options such as flying to Boston and spending 3 to 7 days there seeing sites then going to the convention.  A good number of conventioners wrap a vacation around the convention and yes there are many hotels but I was giving a sample of the low rates.

Had to stop and cook breakfats, sorry for the delay

Wow!  It's ONLY 1,247 miles one-way from my home to Manchester.  Could this convention have been chosen any farther away?  And since this is a "national" convention, couldn't it be held in a more centralized location every year?

I've never really visited the NE part of the country.  I'm seriously thinking about a road trip there and back.  It would be interesting.  I just hate spending so much money on gas and hotel...especially since I'm going on a 12-night road trip to Las Vegas in early November of 2009.

Anyone wish to carpool along the way to New Hampshire? 

Yay!  A convention in NH??  I'm definitely going!!  It's only 1 hour away for me!!  You can watch for a ding on Southwest to MHT...you may be able to get a good airfare.

If you're planning on going to Boston, I would suggest you don't drive around in there.  Unless you're very familiar with the roads, it's a disaster trying to drive in there.  During colonial days, the town was set up for all roads to meet in the center.  The roads are confusing.  You can literally go around in circles continually turning down one-way streets or you can keep ending back out on the highway.  A GPS doesn't work overly well in some spots like where part of the road dips down into a tunnel, etc.

We go straight to our hotel and either walk or take a taxi to get around.

With the hotel rooms, if you go to www.entertainment.com and purchase an Entertainment book and register your membership card number online, you can get your hotels discounted up to 50% off.  I believe there are three right now at the 50% off rate in Manchester.

Hi Furtadwolfson,

There is also a bus that runs from Boston to Manchester (Concord Trailways) that is pretty cheap ($24 or $25 round trip).  We take it down to South Station and then catch the T to go anywhere in Boston.  The Manchester drop is not at the airport but it's not too far away.  If you've never been to Boston, you should definitely go!

Boston has one of the best 4th of July fireworks displays in the country.

The thread for the 19th convention is still there, but it was unstickied; so it dropped down.

I don't know anything about these conventions, but, I am definitely going next summer.  I have enough airline points for a free air ticket.  I have an online friend who lives near Boston. I would probably come in a couple of days early to visit with her.

Bottom line: will people be looking for "roommates" to share a room and costs with?  On the one hand, you are all strangers to each other in real life.  Here, though, it seems like we are all sisters (and some brothers!).  Would there be a thread devoted to people "matching up" to share rooms?  I know that I am going to check in on the 29th and checking out on the 6th.  I'm staying at convention central, the Radisson.

I'd like to hear some opinions and ideas about this.