<p>I’m thinking summer here…early summer so the weather may not be conducive everywhere…My mom turns 80, we’d like to spend a weekend away celebrating but there are a lot of diverse needs. She doesn’t seem to do well in the mountains these days,definitely not roughing it or cabins, near a beach sounds great for some of us, my S and SIL are both snobs about food (probably in opposite ways) between us we have six kids, 20,19,18,16,13,11. The kids probably get along better than the adults. A cruise is out because of seasickness and we are trying to go somewhere that we can fly to directly with just a bit of a drive, if we are looking for a Friday-Monday trip.Want things to do, not an all inclusive because of the food snobs. This board is a wealth of information, any ideas of me/us?</p>
<p>Have you been to Chicago? Navy Pier, Museums, shopping… Weekend rates can be good at upscale hotels near the Miracle Mile- Michigan Ave. Close to the lakefront…</p>
<p>too city, been there done that</p>
<p>San Diego sounds like it would be a good fit. I also am really sold on my new hometown of Nashville. You could book some rooms at the Gaylord Opryland, which is incredible. There is a lot to do in Nashville- and from the Gaylord you could all take the river cruise on the General Jackson showboat.</p>
<p>How about rent a huge house on the beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina?</p>
<p>Do a google search for all-inclusive resorts. We stayed at a great Family run place in the poconos for my parent’s 50th; great food, not terribly easy to get to though.</p>
<p>We do family vacations for a family group of 20 - 22 most summers. For early summer, the outer banks are great - as weenie suggested. Lots of houses available, some with pools. Last year we rented a huge house in Maine but I wouldn’t recommend that area for early summer as it was quite cool and foggy. I love looking forward to vacations in March!</p>
<p>the huge house would work with us and my kids, don’t think it would work with the other family people…dynamics and all
the outer banks intrigues me, I had already looked them up on another website- I’ve read all sorts of books from that area and I really want to go!</p>
<p>Basin Harbor Club near Burlington VT. Wonderful place for a family reunion. Assortment of accomodation. May need to take full meal plan, depending on when you will be there…but there are 3 different places to eat and the food is wonderful. On Lake Champlaine. Lots to do on site, and many things to see in the Burlington area.</p>
<p>Mohonk Mountain House near Woodstock NY. (Any NY airport. Newburgh/Stewart and Newark are probably the closest.) Food not as good as Basin Harbor Club…may also be full meals depending on time of year.</p>
<p>Newport…or near Newport…Rhode Island. Not too far from Providence. If you stay at one of the nearby beaches, the museum crowd (if there is one) can look at the magnificent houses…and the active crowd will find plenty to do at the beach. </p>
<p>Williamsburg (amusement park, Colonial Willamsburg…kind of fits all tastes.) Virginia Beach, Savannah, Charleston, Myrtle Beach,.although South could be starting to get muggy then. Isn’t KC somewhat muggy in the summer, though?</p>
<p>Tarpon Spring, FL Maybe not to hot the beginning of June. Fred Howard Beach is great for 80 yr olds. You can drive right up to the beach. Very little walking. Sponge docks are fun for all ages. Busch Gardens in Tampa is an hour away. Clearwater 1/2 hour away. Enough restaurants around to satisfy everyone.</p>
<p>Kathiep and Weenie, We want to do a family reunion in the Outer Banks in summer '08. There will be about 50 of us ranging in age from 82 to 11 months. Where in the Outer Banks do you recommend we should look? Any good links you could share?</p>
<p>Reykjavik - it’s $$$, but amazing. You’ll need a tight leash for the 17+ kids though :-p</p>
<p>Julia: We like the Sanderling subdivision in Duck, but it has fewer of the HUGE houses. Here are a few realtor web sites - all are reliable. I’d encourage you to spring for the extra money to stay right on the BEACH. It is fabulous.</p>
<p><a href=“Vacasa | Vacation Rentals, Vacation Rental Management, Real Estate”>Vacasa | Vacation Rentals, Vacation Rental Management, Real Estate;
<p><a href=“http://www.elanvacations.com/book/query.html[/url]”>http://www.elanvacations.com/book/query.html</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.twiddy.com/[/url]”>http://www.twiddy.com/</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.carolinadesigns.com/default.asp[/url]”>http://www.carolinadesigns.com/default.asp</a></p>
<p>We like the area around Duck the best. There are also big, new houses up near Corolla. That area is OK, we’ve just been going there a really LONG time and remember when that was all sand dunes so it’s kind of sad. Now it looks like Miami.</p>
<p>It’s not too early to start planning. 50 is a TON of people!</p>
<p>We will be renting a home in Holden Beach, NC this summer/fall.</p>
<p>We stayed in Holden Beach one time too. We had two houses for our group of 20 with two familes in one house and three familes in the other. I have a great picture of the 10 cousins lined up in order of size. I think that was the last time my daughter was the oldest and the tallest. Here are the three main realty places there:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.brunswicklandrealty.com/[/url]”>http://www.brunswicklandrealty.com/</a>
<a href=“Holden Beach Vacation Rentals | Hobbs Realty”>Holden Beach Vacation Rentals | Hobbs Realty;
<a href=“Holden Beach Vacation Rentals | Coastal Vacation Resorts Holden Beach”>Holden Beach Vacation Rentals | Coastal Vacation Resorts Holden Beach;
<p>We’ve rented nice houses in Rehobeth Beach in Delaware.</p>
<p>My husband and I started dating while we worked at his parents ice cream parlor in Rehoboth! There is a real different feel to the beaches of Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. In general these mid atlantic states beaches are more crowded and traffic is worse then beaches in NC and SC. However, there is more going on and that might be appealing to the kids. Bethany Beach, just south of Rehoboth, has a slightly wider beachfront and lots of condo’s to rent. It’s within easy driving distance of Rehoboth (outlet shopping and a boardwalk) and Ocean City Maryland (bars and big boardwalk). There is also a very cool ferry from Lewes DE to Cape May, NJ. Lewes is just north of Rehoboth.</p>
<p>NC beaches are generally more laid back and imho, prettier and less populated. I kind of like it when we don’t have alot of choices and we spend more time talking, reading and playing board games.</p>
<p>While stationed at Dover AFB, we call Rehobeth Beach, “Rehomo Beach.” Not that the beach was bad or we say that many gays there, that was just the obvious nickname it was to be given.</p>
<p>I love the beach house idea but my mom wants to know what is there to do??? She doesn’t like the beach, doesn’t go in the water and avoids the sun (my kids love all three…next trip I guess) Is there anything besides looking at lighthouses (her words, not mine!)?</p>
<p>Family reunions are tough since it is hard to please everyone - so far you 've said no city, no mountains, and no beach…this is getting tricky ! LOL I am looking forward to seeing what ideas people can come up with!
I was going to suggest Philadelphia, but I guess if Chicago was out maybe it would be out too. But consider that if you stayed downtown, there are a number of great museums and tons of historical sites to see, great restaurants, funky shopping for the youth on South Street, and the list goes on. Just a thought!</p>
<p>I know this is going to sound crazy, but…Disney? It’s easy to get to (Orlando), there are beautiful hotels on site that grandma might enjoy hanging out in during the day (Grand Floridian- definitely!), and there’s plenty to do for all ages. As for food, there’s something for everyone. Grandma could even go into a theme park (Epcot?), if you need to, just get a wheelchair- you’ll get on the rides before anyone else. </p>
<p>If you do stay at the GF, take the concierge level, there’s beautiful live music during most of the day, a lovely spa, it’s really a beautiful hotel. She’d probably enjoy it. The dining at the hotel is wonderful too- Narcoosees, Citrico’s, and especially Victoria and Alberts- ymmmm. They also have a beautiful tea every afternoon. Google Grand Floridian. It’s the best.</p>