Our family has always planned a short family reunion at least once each year -- usually during the first two weeks of July. Our extended family's ages range from 5 to 85, and the group's needs and interests are just as varied. Hometowns are scattered from Alabama to Pennsylvania, although only as far west as Kentucky. As you can imagine, therefore, picking an appropriate location for our yearly reunion is a difficult task.
One year we rented a very large house at the beach in Duck, North Carolina. While the members of the family who loved beaches had a blast in the surf, other family members who couldn't stand the heat didn't fare as well. For another reunion, we chose Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. Renting several large townhouses gave family members more space and privacy, and the lake offered great opportunities for swimming, water skiing and boating for more active family members.
More recently, we've tended towards choosing resorts with a wide variety of activities and good children's programs. We've also taken to alternating between beach and cooler mountain destinations to better accommodate various family members. Kiawah Island Resort near Charleston, S.C., was particularly wonderful. Family members more interested in the mountains liked Skytop Lodge in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
