When I was growing up, my grandmother, aunt, uncle and two cousins lived down the block from me.  Within walking distance, or maybe a short subway or car ride away lived many other relatives, and it was quite common for us to all get together for dinner on Sundays, especially while my grandmother was alive.  While the grown-ups chatted, gossiped and complained, the cousins would play games (usually made-up ones), tease each other and make mischief.  When I told my son about these get-togethers, he couldn’t imagine what it was like to have so much family nearby.  Of course, many of his relatives live in Florida, North Carolina, Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois, Colorado and California, so visiting with them is a rare event.  Today, the concept of "extended families" is somewhat unusual and due to jobs, climate and just personal preference, we find ourselves spread out across the country, or even in foreign lands.

In answer to this phenomenon, family reunions have become increasingly popular and, according to the Travel Industry Association of America, 34% of American adults have traveled to a family reunion in the past three years, and 22% have done so this past year. These events can range in size from a multi-generational trip with a few relatives to a genealogist’s fantasy of a few hundred people. If you choose the right location, everyone can reunite while enjoying favorite activities as well as a break from their normal routine.

Planning such an event can be a large undertaking.  While there’s lot of practical information out there about the logistics of organizing the group, dividing the tasks and setting a budget, perhaps the biggest question is "where should it be."  Considering several criteria such as geographic location (35% of reunion attendees travel 500 or more miles from home), available transportation, the variety of accommodations in different price ranges, activities to please every age, unique attractions, dining options and group discounts, FTF has selected the following as the “Top Ten Getaways for Family Reunions."  More detailed information about each venue is available elsewhere on FamilyTravelForum.com.

TOP SKI AND SUMMER GETAWAY

Stratton Mountain Resort
Stratton Mountain, Vermont
800/STRATTON 

Stratton calls itself a “mountain of adventure for the whole family,” and offers everything to make it so.  Skiing and riding the snow-capped Green Mountains are central to the action, but there is so much more for both ski bums and active family members to do.  This little central Vermont town has evolved into a popular reunion destination for Northeast families as well as leaf-peekers throughout the US.

Stratton’s alpine-style pedestrian village, designed by the creative folks at Intrawest, is the base for various activities such as indoor swimming and tennis, which take place at a state-of-the-art sports center.  Strolling the village lanes past maple-syrup, cheese and crafts shops, or the galleries featuring the work of Vermont artists is a very popular activity for your “couch potato” family members.  In summer, the mountains remain a focus for adventurous hikers and mountain bikers, while other relatives try summer pastimes including tennis, golf, fishing and canoeing.  The village hosts frequent concerts and other cultural events, and summer theatre, music and dance can be seen in surrounding towns. Year-round, the full service Spa at Stratton Mountain adds a luxurious element to an otherwise active outdoors vacation. Children’s programs welcome infants from 6-weeks-old and ages 3 to 12-years in age-appropriate groups.  A hip teen’s program is active on weekends and holidays.

Stratton will assign a dedicated reunion planner to groups of 20 in winter and 12 in summer to help coordinate activities, meals and lodging.  Accommodations from inn rooms to three and four-bedroom condos and a five-bedroom house range in price from $79 to $1,500/N in winter and $49 to $900/N in summer, so you’ll find something for everyone, no matter what cousin Rosie or your half-brother’s in-laws want to spend.  Handicapped-accessible rooms are available, and since lodging facilities hug the small, well-paved, car-free basecamp, your mobility-impaired relatives – be they toddlers or elders – can easily join in the family fun.