Where would you hold a family reunion?

[powellrj]

Unless you have lots of people without kids or jobs, I don't know many people who could take a trip like that in Feb or even with 6 months notice. If I knew now I might be able to in the summer, but in the late winter or early spring there is no way.

There are schedules to arrange, vacation time to arrange, plus the money issue. While I love my family, I am not sure I would be willing to pay a large sum of money to spend a reunion with them as my vacation. Our vacation time is limited and we are very selfish with is and using it for a family reunion isn't a priority for us. I go to our reunion every year because its a one day commitment and the only cash outlay is for gas and food.

 

[HelenePA]

as a "larger" family giving us 6 months notice for a reunion that would run into the thousands of dollars would NOT happen..give your family at least a years notice. What about thanksgiving of NEXT year?

 

[Magic Mom]

If you really are looking forward to a family reunion, and not just a free trip to Disney, something more centrally located ( or closest to the bulk of the family) with a place for everyone to spend time all together would be a better choice. Also a disney reunion is pretty cost restictive to some families.

Maybe a big cabin in the Smokys or Big South Fork, or one of the state parks (KY has gorgeous state parks) would be a better choice.

 

[okeydokey]

Our last family vacation was in Myrtle Beach. We are in FL, MA, and NJ. Myrtle Beach was in the middle so we could all get there. Everyone booked their own condo in the same building. Great vacation.

 

[padams]

You can get condos in the winter in Myrtle Beach for as little as $30 per night.

The family reunions that I have attended for my family and DH's family have been in cities/towns where the family "originated" or the most family lives. It's not a vacation for those living in the town but they get to see all of the relatives and their homes can be used for lodging.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Oops! double post - see below.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Here, at Pigeon Forge - the Mainstay Suites
www.mainstaypigeonforge.com/
I have been to a nice reunion here.
It is actually really great for a warm weather reunion, because of the pool areas.
The rooms all have a full kitchen. They have a great little convention hall....

And, RIGHT there, like walk across the street, is a nice RV place with hookups... This is not RV camping like in the woods/mountains.... But would be a great place to bring both kinds of travelers together.

Also, have had reunions here, at Fall Creek Falls State Park
www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/FallCreekFalls/ or www.myfallcreekfalls.com/
Only thing is, this area is not like Pigeon Forge.
This place is a large, beautiful, State Park, that is isolated.
There is the Inn with restaurant.
They have a nice meeting hall for your group supper.
VERY basic and simple rooms though. No kitchens.
And nice RV camping, in a park/woods setting.
The draw here is solely the Park itself.
No nearby 'attractions'.

Also, Here - Wilderness at the Smokies, by Wyndham
If you want to be near an area like Pigeon Forge - Indoor waterpark for kids and families in cool weather.
www.wildernessatthesmokies.com/smokymountainresort-waterpark/resort-waterparks.html
You can still go to the Smokies from here..
You can do things like Dollywood Christmas or Dixie Stampede.
Just do not even THINK about doing the Wyndham Timeshare presentation.. Believe me. Take my word for it.

Let me know if you would like more info or tips about either area!

 

[Tess]

Since the family is located primarily in Indiana and there are campers, how about Chain O'Lakes State Park. I spent some time there as a child and it was very pleasant.

 

[minkydog]

I don't like my extended family enough to spend the money on Disney. A big park that has cabins and activites for the kids woul be more suitable.

I"m with you on this one. The last place I want to have a family reunion is Disney World. I get along well with everyone. It's just that vacationing at Disney doesn't really lend itself to reconnecting with extended family, especially if you're talking about 50-100 people.

We have large family reunions every 3 years. We have had them at church retreats, hotels, state parks, and mountain retreats. As the kids have gotten to the teen years we've had to make sure there are activities nearby, like horseback riding, swimming, shopping, and water activities. About the only destination we haven't been to is the beach. Oh, that's right. We went there too.

Our usual modus operandi is to trail in on Thursday night with dinner together. Then spend time visiting, looking at photos, catching up on the kids, etc. Next morning we eat breakfast together, then the rest of the day is on your own. The older ones sit around and talk. Those with young kids will often go off together. Then we come back together for the evening meal, followed by some kind of gathering: music, talent show, sharing of hobbies or family trivia. Next day is basically a repeat of the previous day. The last day, we all eat breakfast together and say our goodbyes. Since we are all spread out from New Jersey to Alabama, most of us have to hit the road pretty early.

Personally, I like our smaller family reunions with just my mother & sibs and their families. They are much more manageable. We don't get to do it very often because of conflicting schedules. Two of us work in schools so we can only get off at Christmas and summer. One is in landscaping and one is a boat engine technician, so they're slammed in the summer.The "baby" lives on a farm in Washington state, so it's expensive and time-consuming for her even to get there. Still, we've been able to meet up at Yellowstone and the Outer Banks for a couple long weekends. Two years we even ganged up at a campground for a big Thankgiving feast!

I really like to have our reunions at some destination. None of us has the space to host the whole bunch. Of course, this means we have to pay for meals, but sometimes we'll have pizza dinners or sub sandwiches & salads around the hotel pool. Usually, my brother will make a 7-11 run and bring back tons of popsicles.

 

[SandrA9810]

Well once a year there's a family get together... from my grandmother down. Except for my uncle/his family, and my cousin/his family who have disassociated themselves from the family.

My grandmother is the last of the aunts and uncles, and she was married in. So we're trying to get all the cousins together. It's my aunt's first cousins generation that wants to do this, then it'll be up to them to pass the word on down their family lines. Pretty much it's gonna be the first cousin's decision on destination, and my aunt/I doing the planning from there.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Where does everyone live?

Will they fly or do you have some members that just drive?

 

[crazelion]

Our family reunions have at:
Local Park in the neighborhood. I have real nice park that playground and pinic pavilion for free that any can use.

State parks is excellent places

Local Amusement Park

At some house. Preferring not mine.

Trip to Orlando for the weekend. That is where I family reunion was this year.

We talking about going on a cruise this year but everyone can't afford it so that is out.

The only I know that family reunion is next August. We have a lot time get together.

We going family reunion I would need two year advance notice and have onsite and offisite hotel rooms.

My vote this find a local park and have the reunion there. That is what I am do we have our meeting.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

Well once a year there's a family get together... from my grandmother down. Except for my uncle/his family, and my cousin/his family who have disassociated themselves from the family.

My grandmother is the last of the aunts and uncles, and she was married in. So we're trying to get all the cousins together. It's my aunt's first cousins generation that wants to do this, then it'll be up to them to pass the word on down their family lines. Pretty much it's gonna be the first cousin's decision on destination, and my aunt/I doing the planning from there.

How about writing up a "survey" newsletter type of thing to send to each of the families with polls of destinations, time of year/approx. date that would be best, budget, things like that. Then you can narrow it down and begin to plan. The only thing is what if they don't respond to the survey letter, but maybe give it a try.

 

[SandrA9810]

Some will drive, some will fly. I'm thinking most would want to drive. So the thought is someplace that would be about a day's drive away would be best.

 

[FireDancer]

The vast majority of my family is still in northeast Ohio so our reunions are always held locally. They are always held at a local park with a pavilion we can reserve, a playground area for the smaller kids, and ball fields for the older ones. I know we would never have a destination reunion.

As PPs have stated I would leave it up to the group to decide. There is a good chance more people then you think won't want to spend a lot of money to go travel somewhere far for a reunion.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Some will drive, some will fly. I'm thinking most would want to drive. So the thought is someplace that would be about a day's drive away would be best.

Ok, but what state?

 

[powellrj]

Ok, but what state?

She posted earlier it was Indiana

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

She posted earlier it was Indiana

I must have missed that...SO sorry.

Hersey Park has some really nice Christmas events and might be really economical with such a great size reunion.
Lots to do for all ages.

Cape May also came to mind....Great Holiday festivities and with your size reunion you could probably take over an entire B&B which could be really fun.

Mackinaw Island in Michigan is a beautiful time to visit.

 

[HelenePA]

camping near hershey is a no go at christmas.. she said something about campers in her family.. brrrr!!! and choice of hotels around there are pretty sucky or majorly expensive if your thinking hotel hershey. Its more expensive than disney.

What about that amusement park in ohio but in the summer or the dells? I have no idea how far a drive it is to either of these places from IN.

 

[SandrA9810]

Well every one seems to be ok with Arkansas. I was looking into the Burns park, but there's no lodging onsite, just camping. But not to far down the road, is Degray Lake.

http://www.degray.com/Default.aspx

What do you think about it??
$95 a night at the resort
As little as $20 for campsites
and they have these cool cabin tents for $50 a night, but only a few.

It's not too far off the highway, so we might stop off at it on the drive home.

The other option might be Branson.