Three Great Choices for a Destination Family Reunion

Destination family reunions are becoming increasingly popular, according to the Travel Industry Association.  Twenty-two percent of Americans have traveled for a family reunion in just the past year.  If you’ve been tasked with planning your family’s next reunion, the first step is finding a location that offers activities and amenities for all age groups.  Choose the right destination, and almost everything else will fall into place.  Below are three suggestions for your next destination family reunion.

Photo of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies by Flickr user SeeMidTN.com (aka Brent)

This little town sits at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States (until the government shutdown, of course).  You’ll find tons of family-friendly, inexpensive activities in Gatlinburg, including miniature golf, real golf and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, which bills itself as the most-visited aquarium in the nation.

Gatlinburg offers a variety of reasonably priced hotels and cabins, and there are plenty of restaurants ranging from inexpensive and family-friendly to fine dining.  In addition, Gatlinburg has some fun dinner theaters that offer comedy or musical shows that are appropriate for all age levels.

Photo of Wisconsin Dells by Flickr user Channel3000_Communities

Many of the resorts in this town have indoor waterparks, so you won’t have to worry about the often-fickle Midwest weather.  In fact, the Dells bills itself as the Waterpark Capital of the World, and your family can enjoy huge waterslides and lazy indoor rivers no matter what the temperature is outside.

The Wisconsin Dells area also features a great assortment of non-waterpark activities and attractions, including miniature and real golf courses, go-kart tracks, horseback riding, water skiing and daredevil shows.  Nature lovers won’t be disappointed, either—the area is actually named for its beautiful sandstone rock formations and cliffs that can be found along the Wisconsin River.  Formations such as these can only be found here and in three other parts of the globe: Switzerland, Germany and New York state.  You and your family members can take a boat ride to see the formations and go fishing, hiking or rock climbing.  For discounts on accommodations, check out the hotels at dells.com.

Because cruise ships are all-inclusive—meaning food, drink and entertainment are included in the price — booking your family reunion on one takes a lot of the planning off your hands.  In addition, most cruise ships offer activities tailored for young kids and teens, and some cruise ships even offer baby-sitting services.  One caveat: some cruise ships have a minimum age for babies.  For example, the minimum age for a Disney Cruise Line is 12 weeks.  For Carnival and many other cruise lines, the minimum for non-trans-Atlantic crossings is six months.

If you do decide on a cruise ship for your family reunion, Real Simple suggests checking to see if the line provides a discounted rate for large groups, or if it can arrange for special activities or rooms for your party.

So what do you think?  Have you ever gathered your family for a Destination Family Reunion?  Please leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below.  For more family travel news, reviews, and trip reports, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on Twitter and “like” our Facebook page, too.