FAMILY REUNION
Dec 6th, 2006, 10:00 AM
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FAMILY REUNION
I GUESS IT IS MY JOB TO COME UP WITH A WONDERFUL DESTINATION FOR OUR WEEK LONG FAMILY VACATION THIS SUMMER.THERE ARE GOING TO BE FOUR COUPLES....TWO WITH SMALL CHILDREN,MOM AND DAD AND ANOTHER COUPLE IN THEIR 20'S-30'S WITH NO CHILDREN.WE COME FROM FLORIDA,COLORADO, AND NEW YORK CITY. WE ALL LIKE OUTDOORSEY THINGS, HIKING,BIKING,PICNICING....HAS ANYONE HAD A WONDERFUL FAMILY REUNION THEY WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST? flying to a destination is not a problem.....thanks so much!!!
Dec 6th, 2006, 10:41 AM
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Yes, budget is important, although I'll list my faves:
Portland, OR/ Oregon Coast
Seattle and surrounding area
San Diego/ La Jolla/ Carlsbad
San Francisco/ Central Coast CA (fly into SJC)
Yellowstone/ Grand Tetons
As you can see, I'm more familiar with the west.
Portland, OR/ Oregon Coast
Seattle and surrounding area
San Diego/ La Jolla/ Carlsbad
San Francisco/ Central Coast CA (fly into SJC)
Yellowstone/ Grand Tetons
As you can see, I'm more familiar with the west.
Dec 6th, 2006, 03:11 PM
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For the great outdoors and lots of different types of accommodations - cottages, lodges, log cabins - check out Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri. I've never been there but know folks who have and thought it was great. It's got a wonderful reputation!
Dec 6th, 2006, 05:14 PM
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We had great luck years ago at The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville Notch, NH. Only problem for you might be that while those from NYC could drive, others would have to fly into Boston or Manchester and rent a car to get there - being it's a 2 plus hour drive but through the most gorgeous New England scenery; although there might be other options on their web page.
Reasons we liked it: activities for all ages on site.
bicycles lined up for the taking, walking, hiking (easy) to beautiful vistas and picnic spots, water sports including fly fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, etc: pools and lake; golf courses, tennis, nightclub, movie theater, game room, etc.
Best for us was "kids activiites" you could put children in of all ages for as little or long as you wanted each day - and at night they had "coke tail" parties for the kids with kiddie hors d'oeuvres, etc and then the kids could eat with you or not, so you could alternate it, and they'd all eat at a kid table with other kids and chaperones - in the same dining room but they never left the table they were having so much fun - and movies at night or games followed for them if adults wanted more time -
so some days/nights we spent all togther, sometimes adults golfed and kids went to activities, and evrything is on site. also entertainment at night in the club varied from dancing to comedy to bands, it changed each night. how I long for their baked Alaska.....the food was incredibly delicious.
you might want to look at the web site if getting there could work out for you
thebalsams.com
Reasons we liked it: activities for all ages on site.
bicycles lined up for the taking, walking, hiking (easy) to beautiful vistas and picnic spots, water sports including fly fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, etc: pools and lake; golf courses, tennis, nightclub, movie theater, game room, etc.
Best for us was "kids activiites" you could put children in of all ages for as little or long as you wanted each day - and at night they had "coke tail" parties for the kids with kiddie hors d'oeuvres, etc and then the kids could eat with you or not, so you could alternate it, and they'd all eat at a kid table with other kids and chaperones - in the same dining room but they never left the table they were having so much fun - and movies at night or games followed for them if adults wanted more time -
so some days/nights we spent all togther, sometimes adults golfed and kids went to activities, and evrything is on site. also entertainment at night in the club varied from dancing to comedy to bands, it changed each night. how I long for their baked Alaska.....the food was incredibly delicious.
you might want to look at the web site if getting there could work out for you
thebalsams.com
Dec 6th, 2006, 05:40 PM
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I like all of the above suggestions so far. The Costa Rica suggestion is really a good one I think as well, lots to do there, beach and jungle. Cape Cod might be tough to rent a house at this point as I think it is late in the season, but start looking...
You might try a family-type resort someplace like some of the ones below. I always think renting a house is not much of a “vacation” for the women because they have to do all the cooking, cleaning and food shopping, that’s why our family always does the family resort thing, plus there are always tons of activities on offer. (Sorry, I know the East Coast better, but I am sure there are similar places in the West, or consider someplace like a dude ranch or the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite at http://www.nationalparkreservations....ahwahnee.htm):
--Ocean Edge in Brewster, Mass on Cape Cod. Go to http://www.oceanedge.com
--The Homestead, in Hot Springs, Virginia. Take a look at http://www.thehomestead.com
--The Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Go to http://www.greenbrier.com
--The Wheatley in Lenox Massachusetts, about 2.5 hours from NYC or Boston. Go to http://www.wheatleigh.com or lhw.com
--The Equinox in Manchester, Vermont. Great spa. Go to http://equinox.rockresorts.com or lhw.com
--Mohonk Mountain House, in New Paltz New York, about 90 minutes from NYC. Check out their website at Mohonk.com
--Skytop Lodge in Skytop PA, about 3 hours from NYC. Check out their website at skytop.com
A beautiful setting is the St Michaels Maryland area, and convenient to Philadelphia and Baltimore. A lovely hotel there is Inn at Perry Cabin, St Michaels, Maryland, http://www.perrycabin.com. You could also look into house rentals, but again it may be late in the season for this.
Cooperstown New York. The town has a lot of antique and art galleries and there is of course the Baseball Hall of Fame. The place to stay is the Otesaga Resort Hotel, take a look at http://www.otesaga.com.
Hawaii is great in the summer, but if only for a week might not justify the flight and too short to see everything.
You might try a family-type resort someplace like some of the ones below. I always think renting a house is not much of a “vacation” for the women because they have to do all the cooking, cleaning and food shopping, that’s why our family always does the family resort thing, plus there are always tons of activities on offer. (Sorry, I know the East Coast better, but I am sure there are similar places in the West, or consider someplace like a dude ranch or the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite at http://www.nationalparkreservations....ahwahnee.htm):
--Ocean Edge in Brewster, Mass on Cape Cod. Go to http://www.oceanedge.com
--The Homestead, in Hot Springs, Virginia. Take a look at http://www.thehomestead.com
--The Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Go to http://www.greenbrier.com
--The Wheatley in Lenox Massachusetts, about 2.5 hours from NYC or Boston. Go to http://www.wheatleigh.com or lhw.com
--The Equinox in Manchester, Vermont. Great spa. Go to http://equinox.rockresorts.com or lhw.com
--Mohonk Mountain House, in New Paltz New York, about 90 minutes from NYC. Check out their website at Mohonk.com
--Skytop Lodge in Skytop PA, about 3 hours from NYC. Check out their website at skytop.com
A beautiful setting is the St Michaels Maryland area, and convenient to Philadelphia and Baltimore. A lovely hotel there is Inn at Perry Cabin, St Michaels, Maryland, http://www.perrycabin.com. You could also look into house rentals, but again it may be late in the season for this.
Cooperstown New York. The town has a lot of antique and art galleries and there is of course the Baseball Hall of Fame. The place to stay is the Otesaga Resort Hotel, take a look at http://www.otesaga.com.
Hawaii is great in the summer, but if only for a week might not justify the flight and too short to see everything.
Dec 7th, 2006, 04:56 PM
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I second Yosemite. I oranized my husbands 50th Birthday party there and flew in family and fiends from everywhere. We had one of the front facing suites in the Awahnee for large get togethers and then everyone else was in the smaller rooms...one of our close friends drove their camper van in and reserved a great campsit on teh rivers near teh Ahwanee and they sponsored a "Hoedown dinner" for everyone.We all wore campstyle hankerchiefs around our necks and jeans. Birthday night we got all dressed up and went to dinner at teh Awahnne dining room.
During the day we had hikes and some took teh narated trolley around teh floor of teh valley. On our last day we had teh Ahwahnee photagrapher take a picture of all of us in our "HAppy 50th Birthday T shirts"
Yellowstone is of course anotehr favorite. Also you might consider teh Washington State PArks website. They have several fun lodgings Fort Flagler and Fort Worden are accesible via Seattle Airport. Fort Columbia and Cape Disappointemtn are accesbile vis Portalnd. www.parks.wa.gov
During the day we had hikes and some took teh narated trolley around teh floor of teh valley. On our last day we had teh Ahwahnee photagrapher take a picture of all of us in our "HAppy 50th Birthday T shirts"
Yellowstone is of course anotehr favorite. Also you might consider teh Washington State PArks website. They have several fun lodgings Fort Flagler and Fort Worden are accesible via Seattle Airport. Fort Columbia and Cape Disappointemtn are accesbile vis Portalnd. www.parks.wa.gov
Dec 7th, 2006, 05:19 PM
#12
Dec 8th, 2006, 05:00 AM
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I find the easiest place to have many age groups would be the beach. A beach house is a fun place, good for kids, and relaxing. Or, you can all rent separate places on the beach and have some space while enjoying each other's company. We went to Hilton Head one year, and we all rented condos in the same building. It was nice because my brother's kids were real little and were in bed by 8 and up early too. Much easier to have them in their own space. On Hilton head, you can beach, bike, golf and tennis, fish and swim. It was relaxing for us.
Another idea would be an island resort hotel in the Caribbean. Very relaxing and yet stuff to do. No cooking, just hanging by the pool driking frozen things togther. We all went to Bermuda one year and loved it.
Okay and last but not least the giant beach house that accomdates everyone. We always liked Long Beach Island in NJ, specifically Loveladies section, but the water can be chilly for us that prefer warmer temps. North Carolina would be cheaper. You could look into Duck or Corolla sections there.
One more idea would be a large lake destination that offers boating, fishing and such.
Good luck
Another idea would be an island resort hotel in the Caribbean. Very relaxing and yet stuff to do. No cooking, just hanging by the pool driking frozen things togther. We all went to Bermuda one year and loved it.
Okay and last but not least the giant beach house that accomdates everyone. We always liked Long Beach Island in NJ, specifically Loveladies section, but the water can be chilly for us that prefer warmer temps. North Carolina would be cheaper. You could look into Duck or Corolla sections there.
One more idea would be a large lake destination that offers boating, fishing and such.
Good luck
Jan 2nd, 2007, 04:34 AM
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We had a lot of fun last summer at The Ponderosa Lodge in West Virginia. www.theponderosalodge.com It was conveniently located for all of our family from Ohio, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Georgia. The lodge was warm and inviting and a very spacious place for our gathering. It was a perfect size for our extended family of 30. We had an awesome time going horseback riding down the New River Gorge and rafting on the New River.
They had hiking trails and lots of outdoor activities for the kids at the lodge (volleyball, badminton, horsheshoes, croquet). We used the kitchen to cook our own meals but had them cater dinner the last night. We loved this place and have booked again for next summer.
They had hiking trails and lots of outdoor activities for the kids at the lodge (volleyball, badminton, horsheshoes, croquet). We used the kitchen to cook our own meals but had them cater dinner the last night. We loved this place and have booked again for next summer.
Jan 2nd, 2007, 06:19 AM
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We have done this many times. Sunriver Resort in central Oregon (just a few miles from Bend) is perfect for this. The area is chuck full of hiking,biking,etc activities! The resort alone has about 35 miles of paved bike paths, two swimming pools, a marina, stables, and various kids camps. The resort has a lodge, condos and homes for rent. There are also several other companies that rent homes and condos inside Sunriver. Sunray Inc. is the one we almost always use.
Jan 2nd, 2007, 12:31 PM
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We are having a family reunion this summer at the Saratoga Inn - Saratoga Wyoming. Looks like there is something to do for everyone from young to old. Friends have recommended it. Price is right. You might want to check it out at www.saratogainn.com
Jan 3rd, 2007, 12:50 PM
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Lots of suggestions!
Santa Fe, NM
http://www.fivegraces.com/
Lake Placid, NY or Saranac Lake, NY
http://www.lakeplacidlodge.com/z-home.htm
http://thepointresort.com/
Grand Teton National Park/Jackson Hole--by far my favorite national park!
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grte/home.htm
http://www.jacksonholewy.net/
I wouldn't go to the Jersey Shore...I can say that because I'm from Jersey, but there's not much worth seeing--JMO! If you want beach, I'd do something that is more scenic or has more to offer, like:
The Outer Banks, NC
http://www.outerbanks.org/
OR
Sea Island in Georgia
http://www.seaisland.com/
The Canadian Rockies are gorgeous and there is a TON of outdoor stuff to do up there:
http://www.canadianrockies.net/
Santa Fe, NM
http://www.fivegraces.com/
Lake Placid, NY or Saranac Lake, NY
http://www.lakeplacidlodge.com/z-home.htm
http://thepointresort.com/
Grand Teton National Park/Jackson Hole--by far my favorite national park!
http://www.nps.gov/archive/grte/home.htm
http://www.jacksonholewy.net/
I wouldn't go to the Jersey Shore...I can say that because I'm from Jersey, but there's not much worth seeing--JMO! If you want beach, I'd do something that is more scenic or has more to offer, like:
The Outer Banks, NC
http://www.outerbanks.org/
OR
Sea Island in Georgia
http://www.seaisland.com/
The Canadian Rockies are gorgeous and there is a TON of outdoor stuff to do up there:
http://www.canadianrockies.net/
