Summer is around the corner, so I’m starting to think about the ways I want to spend it. Trip to Europe? Probably not in the near future, with these crazy gas prices and escalating plane fares. Fortunately, your books have inspired me to think about summer in more creative ways than the trip to the Bahamas or Paris or Rome. There’s plenty to do in our own back yards!

I absolutely love ‘BrandiW44’s’ “ Sister 2 Sister Retreat”. The point of her experience was not to go somewhere far away and exotic, but to simply find a relaxing place to hang out and rejuvenate with the women in her family. My favorite aspect of this book is the special attention the author gives to individual attendees.  Each woman gets her own profile page, filled with portraits and candid shots. And check out the cover image with the group on the beach. Isn’t that fun? Brandi’s creation is going to make the perfect keepsake for all of the women on this retreat.

“ Camp Catherine” by ‘NancyS131′ has opened my eyes to the uniqueness of my home town, because Linda shows us Catherine’s city from a tour guide’s point of view. Catherine takes the family to the local beach, church, mall, BALLROOM (love that they visited a ball room)…and it all looks like so much fun. Now I’m thinking, what tour would I go on if I looked at my home town with new eyes? So many places come to mind! The wineries in our nearby mountains, our local beach, the city museum, the beautiful local outdoor mall. And not only do I want to experience these local spots, I want to create memories about them too. So forget Paris, I’m photo booking my own local hotspots!

What are your favorite local spots? How do you like to capture them? Let us know by commenting on this blog. And if you have a photo book you’d like to share, be sure to post it on Shutterfly Gallery.