Family Reunions and Gatherings Start Planning Now and Put Time on Your Side.

The bonds that are made at family reunions last a lifetime. But someone has to create a plan, share the plan, and make things happen so that the opportunities for memory making can occur. And just about everything worth doing takes time – more time than expected. It will be true for your family reunion.

Togethering for the fun of it - being silly, laughing, and dining in Pigeon Forge.

Unless your next family reunion is going to be at grandma’s house or at the county park down the road, selecting a destination makes all the difference. While a family reunion is important so is family vacation time and combining the two may take negotiating. Location will make the difference and three spots come to mind

Here’s the scoop. This month we are featuring new ideas about family reunions and togethering as well as destinations with the support tools available to make the planning and subsequent doing, if not easy then at least easier than planning it alone.

The Orlando area is potentially the perfect family reunion spot because the number of activity and entertainment choices ideal for all for all ages. Good news because Kissimmee CVB has just launched a new micro website - ReunionsInKissimmee.com - dedicated to the planning and support of reunions. In addition to the online tools available, the planning services staff is available to help with the details of family group travel.

Pigeon Forge, in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is home to Dollywood – a spot with great family gathering potential. Plus The Forge offers  do-nothing, rock-on-the- porch experiences as well as high-energy hiking, rafting, biking, zorbing, and ziplining adventures. Add nightly entertainment and terrific shopping to the list and you will need more vacation days. To assist in the family reunion planning process the CVB employs a reunion specialist who takes care of the details and makes the idea of togethering in the mountains easy and fun.

Virginia Beach - A family beach party with a purpose.

Virginia Beach also maintains a planning staff to create the best family reunion possible. They even have suggested itineraries that range from “It’s All About the Grandkids” to “Green Getaway,” the perfect rubric for making memories together. They know what it takes to make three, maybe four generations happy in one place at one time. While senior family members engage in the customary “remember when” dialog, they know younger family members would rather connect or reconnect with siblings and cousins and live in the moment.