How to have a Happy Happy Fun Family Vacation

May 29, 2007 7:20 PM

I'm trying to plan a reunion of 6 families. 2 families have no children. 3 families have one infant. 1 family has 2 kids under age 6. I'm having trouble finding a place that will make everyone happy.

Because nobody will want to leave children sleeping in rooms while we socialize far away, we're realizing that we'd either require a very large house (we're a tall bunch, and would need 6 King/Queen beds) or some sort of cottage setup (or maybe a retreat center?) The goal would be to have all the sleeping rooms fairly close to each other and close to a common room where we can all socialize, and a kitchen where we can prepare baby-friendly meals. Can you recommend some websites where we can research these types of options?

We're also trying to figure out where to do this. We want to do it in the summer, and definitely want to have a lake/ocean nearby. 2 families are in Boston, 2 are in New York, 1 in Florida and 1 in Chicago. Rather than pick a place we'd all have to fly to, we're thinking we can pick something that's no more than 7 hours from Boston or New York, and local to an airport. Our Florida family is thin blooded, so we're ruling out anything North of Cape Cod.

Any other tips for planning large family reunions?

posted by gregvr to travel & transportation (14 comments total)

I read your questions has "where can we briefly rent a big house, suitable for sleeping 12 adults and 5 young children, temperate, near an ocean or lake, within 400 miles of New York?"

There are tons of places. Outer Banks, NC is where I would go for something like that, but it's too far from New York. What time of year, what is your budget, what kind of activities, fun stuff other than water, access to civilization, etc. is important to your group?
posted by jcwagner at 7:37 PM on May 29, 2007

Sorry, missed "we want to do it in the summer." Still, budget is the most important. Your criteria describe tons of properties.
posted by jcwagner at 7:40 PM on May 29, 2007

The family with the tightest budget can afford a max of $1000 for one week (2 adults, one infant). Some of the palces we are lookign at (retreat/conference centers) also include meals, but that's not a requirement at this point.

This group has pretty diverse interests, but with the tiny ball and chains... err, infants, that's going to slow them all down. Shopping, golfing, hiking, geocachinge, amusement parks, water fun, it's all good, but the key thing here is for a large common area/room where we can all hang out, talk, play cards, etc. The point of this vacation is supposed to be reconnecting with each other.


Access to civilization... hmmmm. Being 50 miles in the middle of the woods with nothing to do but talk to each other.... well, that's not a recipe for success with this group, if you know what I mean ;-) Somewhere that gives us all a place to go to get away from each other for a while would be key, but that could just as easily be a hike as a shopping trip. Sorry, that doesn't narrow it down much.
posted by gregvr at 7:50 PM on May 29, 2007

maybe too far from new york for you, but asheville, nc, is a great little resort town, and affordable. it has a local airport, but charlotte is only 2 hours away, and knoxville airport is about 1.5 hours away.
posted by thinkingwoman at 8:43 PM on May 29, 2007

Would you be terribly opposed to going to Disneyworld? It fits your requirements for activities, housing, location and budget.
posted by lia at 8:43 PM on May 29, 2007

My father's side of the family is spread out across the US (Western NY, Virginia, Georgia [and then North Carolina] California, and Arizona) and has gotten together every four or five years since the early 1980's. Infants, toddlers, little kids, bigger kids, sullen teenagers, young adults, newlyweds, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, we've covered every age demographic.

We've stayed at Fripp Island (near Hilton Head), Virginia Beach, Lake Tahoe, in large houses that fit everyone. Meals were made by pairing up family members (one night might be me and my grandfather, the next night it might be my sister and my uncle's fiancee). As for things to do, it was sort of "do whatever". My aunts and uncles might play golf every morning, the kids would go to the beach, Grandma and Grandpa would just sit and relax. Every other night or so we would organize a big "event" - one night we went to see E.T., another night we went to an outdoor roller skating party (which was fun until we got a huge thunderstorm). When we were in Tahoe, we went whitewater rafting and to Circus Circus.

The last few times we've gotten together we have forgone the large house Real World format for getting separate lodgings in the same vicinity, and finding a sort of "home base". One time we all stayed near my grandmother's house and used her place as our ground zero, to so speak.
About four years ago we went to a place near Old Forge where we were able to rent several condo-type places. We'd all gather at one family's place for dinner, but during the day we'd break up into groups and do different things.

Unfortunately I can't be very much help as to the costs involved behind these trips, as I was never involved in their planning. But they are really, really, *really* great memories for me and I hope that whatever you decide, they're great for you too.
posted by Lucinda at 9:44 PM on May 29, 2007

My first thought was also the Outer Banks, NC. They have rentals that will accommodate groups your size. And there's plenty to do besides sitting in the house - first of all there's the beach, paragliding, nature reserves, etc. etc.
posted by needled at 9:44 PM on May 29, 2007

I'm a bit confused about your travel distance restrictions, but I want to throw Kiawah Island, SC out there. I've been going there for the past 15 years, and it's gorgeous.

It's super kid/family friendly, and there are plenty of low key activities available - water sports, fishing/crabbing, excellent restaurants, golf/tennis, biking, etc. I've been there with large groups like yours, and there are definitely rental homes available on the island that could accomodate your family.

For as long as I can remember, Pam Harrington Exclusives has been the major rental broker on the island, so if you're interested in checking it out, I'd give them a call first.
posted by lalex at 10:18 PM on May 29, 2007

When I was in high school, I was a regular babysitter for a family with two children, and one summer they took me and one of my friends (who babysat for them when I wasn't available) along on their vacation with two other families who also had children. Altogether, there were seven children, aged 6 months to eleven years. We spent mornings helping the adults keep track of the kids on the beach, had the afternoons to ourselves, and stayed in with the kids for 4 out of the 7 nights while the adults went out. Our accommodation didn't cost them any extra since they'd already rented a huge beach house with plenty of extra room (the other sitter and I shared a loft room with a double bed) and they paid us 20 dollars a day, which was practically nothing when divided between the three sets of parents. It worked out really, really well for everyone. Maybe this is an option if you, or any of the other families, know any reliable sitters who might be interested in a working vacation.
posted by cilantro at 5:29 AM on May 30, 2007

Lake George in upstate NY? I think there are a variety of cottage type setups in that area.
posted by yarrow at 6:51 AM on May 30, 2007

We had a very nice family reunion once on Beaver Island in Michigan. There are several accommodation options, with cottage-style units, which is what we used (I don't remember exactly which one, but the Harbor View Hotel might have been it). I'm not sure what you mean by "thin blooded," but it certainly won't be cold there, and our Southern relatives had no problems with it. It's probably farther than 7 hours from New York and Boston, but close enough that it might be worth keeping in your back pocket if other places don't work out.
posted by carmen at 7:22 AM on May 30, 2007

I just spent a lovely weekend at Camp Merryelande in Piney Point, MD. The big house with the red roof in the center sleeps 24.
posted by frecklefaerie at 8:11 AM on May 30, 2007

how about renting Playa Nicuesa ecolodge in Costa Rica? I went there a couple years ago ... you can rent out the entire lodge (up to 20 people). They prepare delicious meals, and I'm sure you could negotiate with the friendly owners to use the kitchen to prepare food for the kids. Right on the water, lots of activities, very relaxing environment.
posted by indigo4963 at 8:21 AM on May 30, 2007

Thanks for the suggestions, all, keep them coming! After talking more with the family, we're narrowing it down, location-wise. Anything that would require plane fare from NYC is out, since our budget-strapped family is stuck with that $1000 limit for the entire week, and plane fare for 2 adults would make a big dent. Plus with all the new parents lugging baby crap, driving is easier than flying.

The consensus seems to be migrating towards a requirement of an ocean vicinity. The Boston-area families are a bit reluctant to go as far south as North Carolina because of the long drive- they want to keep it to a 9 hour maxium, which seems to put us in the MA/RI/CT/NY/NJ/MD/DE shore area. Camp Merryelande seems like just the sort of spot that would work really well.

Thanks for the other tips- we do have a mother's helper and that is a brilliant idea to bring her along.
posted by gregvr at 12:45 PM on May 30, 2007