FC maybe?

January would be a rough time to be travelling for me, as frequent snowstorms that time of year cancel flights left right and centre. Also an issue of travel time, that's pretty well the farthest distance I could try for flying across these countries, most complete travel times are in the 18-19 hour range including layovers between flights. Again assuming weather is fine in the northern latitudes and I don't have a flight delayed or cancelled. Probably not an option.

Rainfurrest?

Shortest transit time is 16 hours from end to end, most of them are up over 20. Each way. Not really feasible.

I went to Furry Fiesta this year and it was pretty fun. It's fairly small, so it would be a good "starter con", I think. However, the venue it's held in is also fairly small, so the artist and dealer rooms tend to be really cramped. It's also in Texas, so, y'know, don't venture too far off the grounds with your fursuit.

The difference though is that I actually live in Dallas, so it was no trouble to just drive over to the hotel and drive back home at the end of the day. It was less of a big convention adventure and more of a shopping trip to a very unorthodox mall. My first convention was Anthrocon, and that was pretty overwhelming because not only was it my first convention, but it was my first vacation all by myself. The only reason I finally decided to go was because I had so many friends willing to meet up with me, and a high school friend in Pittsburgh willing to let me stay with him.

So I guess my only real advice is start out with a convention that's either within driving distance (don't know how feasible that is for you) or a convention that you know a lot of your friends will be at, and make plans with them beforehand.

I have to second this. I do not know if there any cons that are near to you even by a short flight but I would look at those first and avoid the major cons at the moment. So AnthroCon, Further Confusion, etc are out, I'd even say FWA but mostly on the distance Atlanta is from you.

I can suggest FWA on the otherhand because it's not overwhelming, the staff are great and surprisingly people from all over go to that con, so you're bound to know someone there. I know this since it is a local con for me, as well.

There are no driving distance cons for me. Nearest is Montreal (What The Fur) and then probably Condition Furry in London, which are still $800 to get to. So it's a difference in $200 to go to a US con where I may see some artists or furs I halfways know. For the comparitively little extra, I'd rather that. So it's probably either FWA or Fiesta, really.

Then my vote is for Fiesta. :)

There's the POssiblity of FA: United, it's small and standard COn going expierences right now, and it's timming is close towards the end of Summer, if that particular time is alittle too much of a Hassle.

Still during the summer, which is a no go for vacation time.

AHh, well at that best All I could really subjest in terms of Fur Cons is FurFright... I'm not too familar with amany con myself, though the only other Anime Con I've been to during the winter time has been Kasu'con.

MFF just because I'll be there. :3

It's Chicago though. Dresden doesn't get along with dragons. :(