What’s on tap for this event, you ask? Since Vegas isn’t terribly hot in February, it is perfect for a horseback riding tour. We will also be strolling the Strip and enjoying a nice ride in a stretch limo to do some wine tasting. Prefer to be pampered this Valentine’s season? How about a day (or two) at the luxurious Canyon Ranch Spa? Spousetivities has secured discounted pricing for many of the spa services offered by Canyon Ranch. Remember, every service includes access to Aquavana to take relaxation to the extreme.

Are you interested yet? Is your spouse or significant other? Great! More details and registration information is offered here. Spaces are very limited so don’t delay. Spousetivities tends to fill up prior to the event and additional activities cannot always be added. I look forward to seeing everyone in Las Vegas in a few weeks. Cheers!

The big news, however, is that on November 17th, you can get these activities for 50% off because of the wonderful support from HP. How does it work? Go to the registration page, select the activities you’d like to participate in, and as you check out, simply enter discount code LuvHP to get 50% off everything except the breakfast and Christmas markets. That’s it! You are registered and sure to have a great time.

See you in a couple weeks in Vienna!

We have finalized the agenda for Spousetivities in conjunction with HP Discover Vienna, November 29 – December 1, 2011!

As in the past, we have researched and planned the best activities each destination has to offer, and this event is no different. We have some fun things in store for you, and the fact that the conference is being held in Vienna offers Spousetivities the chance to offer activities that are not only fun but are also rich in history and heritage.

The first event of the week is the “Getting to Know You” Breakfast. This is a Spousetivities tradition! It gives the participants a chance to put faces with names, and to meet your travel companions for the week. We will enjoy food, fun, goody bags, and chances to win cool prizes before embarking on our first adventure.

And what is that first adventure? Our first tour will be a trip to Viennese wine country. Did you know that Vienna is the only metropolis in the world to cultivate an appreciable wine-growing industry within its city limits? You can imagine that the whole region is one big vineyard, and we will take a bus tour to visit the most famous wine growing area in Vienna, Grinzing. We will enjoy the beautiful scenery, lunch, and—if you choose—wine on this 5-hour excursion.

Our next offering is a trip to the world-famous Christmas Markets. No place in the world decks the halls at Christmastime quite like Vienna. These romantic street markets enjoy a long tradition, with a history in Austria (as well as the rest of German speaking Europe) dating back to the Middle Ages. We will not only enjoy the sights, but also shop for one-of-a-kind Christmas presents and enjoy local food and drink. Bring your camera and your appetite, because you will not want to miss a thing!

Another event you don’t want to miss out on is a trip to the Melk Abbey, one of the most famous monasteries in the world. It was founded in the year 1089, so if you are interested in historic monuments with rich heritages, this is a must-see. Even if you are not impressed with antiquity, the beauty of this place will blow you away. We will tour the interior and the gardens of the Abbey, so bring your camera as well as a coat. After the tour, we will enjoy lunch on the River Danube. Eating lunch on the River Danube is a “bucket list” item—not many people besides us will have that as part of their life story!

We are also offering the opportunity to visit Schönbrunn Palace, which I believe is on par with the splendor and spatial presence of Versailles. The history of the site dates back to the Middle Ages, and the grounds were used primarily for hunting excursions over many hundreds of years. It wasn’t until the 18^th century that the grounds became known as a hub of court and political life. The transformation from hunting lodge to grand palace was fascinating, and worth seeing first-hand.

Does this sound like something you don’t want to miss out on? Register now so you don’t get left out! We look forward to exploring Vienna with you.

***I’d like to thank Nikki Glasgow for being the main writer of this post.***

Note that lunch is not included in the tour price, but we are stopping for lunch as part of the tour schedule. Lunch options were e-mailed to everyone who registered. The restaurant where we are stopping accepts both credit cards and currency (Danish kroner only, please), so please be prepared to pay for your lunch. Again, the lunch is not included as part of your tour price; it’s separate.

I look forward to seeing everyone soon!

More information about HP Discover Vienna is available at these sites: www.facebook.com/HPDiscover, www.hp.com/go/discover, and/or www.hp.com/go/discoverblog. You can also get updates and information on Twitter by following @HPDiscover. While you’re there, don’t forget to follow @Spousetivities to stay informed on the latest events offering Spousetivities.

As we learned last year, it’s cold in Denmark in October! So, all the tours this year are via private bus (with heat) and include an English speaking guide. We will see castles this year, but we will also tour City Hall Square, take a canal tour, and visit Sweden. The best part is that you can participate in all of the activities for around $250 US. Which leads me conveniently into the next thought.

Please take time to thank EMC and The Virtualization Practice for making these events possible! Without great sponsors, we, the spouses and companions, would not be able to enjoy these events and time together.

All of this sounds great, but how in the world do I register, you ask? Well, just visit the registration site and sign up for any or all of the activities listed. Then all you have to do is show up and enjoy your time in Copenhagen, Denmark and Malmo, Sweden.

See you there!

Hoover Dam/ Lake Mead Tour

If you are scheduled for the Hoover Dam – Lake Mead Tour Thursday morning, please note that the location for departure has changed! We will now meet in the guest registration area of the Venetian and board the bus in the limo area just outside guest registration. This should be very simple to find! If you have questions or cannot find us, call me. Arrive no later than 7:45 AM.

Thursday Cooking Class

If you are participating in the Thursday cooking class, please arrive in the Venetian Guest Registration area no later than 3:45 PM. The limo departs promptly at 4:00. Don’t forget to wear longer pants and closed shoes! This location is easy to find and you can ask anyone how to get to the registration area.

BOTH

This is the Venetian, not the Palazzo. Please make sure you are in the correct location and give yourself plenty of time to get there. I do not want to leave anyone behind, but the tours must depart on time. For questions or concerns, please contact me.

Lake Mead Tour

If you are scheduled for the Lake Mead Cruise Wednesday morning, please note that the location for departure has changed! We will now meet in the guest registration area of the Venetian and board the bus in the limo area just outside guest registration. This should be very simple to find! If you have questions or cannot find us, call me. Arrive no later than 9:45 tomorrow morning.

Wednesday Cooking Class

If you are participating in the Wednesday cooking class, please arrive in the Venetian Guest Registration area no later than 3:45 PM. The limo departs promptly at 4:00. Don’t forget to wear longer pants and closed shoes! This location is easy to find and you can ask anyone how to get to the registration area.

BOTH

This is the Venetian, not the Palazzo. Please make sure you are in the correct location and give yourself plenty of time to get there. I do not want to leave anyone behind, but the tours must depart on time. For questions or concerns, please contact me.

If you have any trouble, please ask for directions or call me. The tour departs promptly at 8:00 AM.