Would You Vacation In Utopia?

I was invited to attend a blogger symposium this past weekend and a place called The Chautauqua Institute in New York. I had never been invited to something like this before – and it was an opportunity to bring my family with me – so after a little thought – I had no idea what would be involved – I decided to attend. Chautauqua is about a 2.5 hour drive from where we live, near Pittsburgh, PA. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to be asked to review the hotel, or the town, or what – but it seemed like a nice place to visit and we could use a weekend away – so off we went.

Once I arrived, I discovered, that it is not the Hotel Athenaeum that I stayed in that I would be asked to review, but a unique way of vacationing. A way, in fact, that I didn’t even know existed. You see, the Chautauqua Institute is a very intriguing place.

Let me start with a little bit of history. The Chautauqua Institute was founded in 1874 as a way to train Sunday School Teachers. Back then, most teachers didn’t have formal education and this was a way for them to “get away” and learn how to be better teachers. It later evolved into a vacationing choice for the middle and upper classes. You see, in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, American’s were enjoying their first tastes of “leisure” time. However, going off on a vacation like many of us go on today – one of complete leisure – was not considered acceptable. So many people came to Chautauqua. Chautauqua combined four great pillars of activities – including Education, Religion, The Arts and Leisure. Families visiting Chautauqua would be able to experience a plethora of activities and would be able to spend their “leisure” time “appropriately”. Chautauqua turned into an American movement with “Chautauquas” being built and flourishing across the country.

The Chautauqua of today takes place at the original location in Chautauqua, NY – right near Lake Erie. And it still maintains the four great pillars that it was founded on – Education, Religion, The Arts and Leisure. Vacationers at Chautauqua can experience lectures from world-renowned speakers, they can take an art class or learn about the theater, they can watch an opera from one of the oldest Opera Companies in the country and they can make

pottery, ride their bikes, go swimming and play golf too. Chautauqua is a UTOPIA of sorts. It is like no other place in the world. The people are friendly, it is safe and everyone is welcome. There are programs for children as young as age three through adult-hood. In fact, older adults are encouraged to attend and share their knowledge. Anyone over age 90 is given a free pass to the Chautauqua Experience (last year they gave away 150 of these!!). The programs at Chautauqua are very unique – combining higher thinking with fun and socializing. But what really sets Chautauqua apart is the location. Located on the shores of Lake Chautauqua, it is picturesque, serene and inviting. The outdoor amphitheaters are invigorating and the speakers challenge you to explore topics that you may not have explored otherwise.

When I was at the Chautauqua Institute, I felt like I was in college – where learning was wonderful and there weren’t any exams! It was a marvelous place. The Chautauqua season runs for nine weeks every summer. This year’s season begins June 25th and runs through the end of August. The blogger symposium was held pre-season, so we only got a glimpse of the actual program. While we were on-site, however, we got to experience a concert given by the local high schools – which was just a touch of what Chautauqua has to offer. Watch the video below for a sampling of what this great place is like.

Why was I chosen? The bloggers who attended this conference came from all walks of life – some were historians or Civil War buffs, some were writers or artists and some, like me, were mommy bloggers. I believe I was chosen because this is a great way for a family to spend a vacation that is perfect for children and adults and challenges your senses in ways that amusement parks don’t even come close to. A way for mom and dad to be intellectually challenged, stimulated and intrigued without having to leave the kiddos behind. And a place for children to learn and see others learning – for them to realize that learning doesn’t stop when you grow up – you learn forever. A place for children to begin their journey toward life-long learning. As a family centered institute, Chautauqua is the perfect vacation for any family – mom, dad, children, grandparents and everyone in between.

I also believe I was chosen because things that are near and dear to my heart (supporting women and moms) are also integral to the agenda. The theme for week 1 (June 26-July 2) is Global Health and Development with an emphasis on Maternal and Child Wellbeing. The themes for week 5 (July 24-30) are 21st Century Women: The Road to Social and Economic Growth and Women Transcending Boundaries. And beyond these two weeks which seem to be particularly relevant to my blog and my business, there are so many other themes that are interesting – from the middle east to the arts to exploring religion and ethics.

Now, if you are like me, you will be wondering what it takes to have a vacation like this. Chautauqua is actually much more affordable than I expected it to be. With a day pass for as little as $28 – that lets you in to any of the lectures, classes or leisure activities and a full-week for just over $300 – Chautauqua has something for everyone. Whether you come by for a single lecture, a day of activities or a week to remember – you won’t regret your vacation here. Now – would you like to vacation in Utopia? I know that I would!

Disclaimer: I was given a free visit to Chautauqua as part of the Blogger Symposium. This visit was designed to encourage me to promote Chautauqua and there is a contest for the blogger who sends the most traffic to their websites, so some of the imbedded links in this post will track your visit to their site, but will not track your identity. That said, the feelings that I experienced while visiting Chautauqua were all my own. The feelings that I have expressed in this post are also all my own. I was invigorated by my visit to this magical place – and I wasn’t even there during the “actual” season. Would I want to go back? You bet I would – and that is not because they paid for my trip – but because after visiting Chautauqua, I really felt alive and I’d love to experience it in full-force. In other words, everything I wrote was my own opinion and was not influenced in anyway by my complementary trip or by my hopes that I will win another trip back.