Family reunions can be a lot of fun. You get to see family members you may not have seen for a couple of years. Perhaps, there are ‘new’ family members you haven’t met. The good news is there are plenty of family reunion locations throughout the U.S. The possibilities are endless!

It’s important to make arrangements early and find a place that works for everyone. This is a good way to prevent family feuds! If you wait too long to plan your family reunion, your favorite hotel or resort could be booked solid. Also, family members may not be able to attend due to previous travel plans.

How to Plan a Family Reunion, Cut Costs, and Have a Good Time

Book Your Family Reunion Locations Early! Photo credit: Stock exchange-Sign-Helen Bobis

Book early

Beach family reunion locations are popular. The most popular beach vacation destination is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If you have your heart set on having your family reunion in SC then you better book your location early. Otherwise, the entire family will be left out in the cold.

Tie your family reunion to an important date

If grandma and grandpa are celebrating 65 years of marriage, celebrate their special day at the family reunion. Building your family reunion around a holiday could be tricky. Big holiday’s like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are during the travel ‘high season.’ You may not be able to find accommodations or someone may not be able to attend.

Hold your family reunion in the off-season

It may be cost effective to hold your family reunion in the off-season. Family reunion locations such as Florida, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and other popular destinations can be expensive during the ‘high season’ which is usually during the summer. Some family members may not be able to afford to attend. Take this into consideration when planning your family reunion. Holding in the off-season could work for everyone.

Meet at a family member’s home

Holding your family reunion at a family member’s home is another way to cut costs. Perhaps, a family member with five or more acres of land will be willing to host the family reunion. Everyone can bring something, a hot meal, desert, or soft drinks. Of course, cash would probably be accepted too!

Decide on the size of your family reunion

Your family reunion doesn’t have to be large. A small and intimate family reunion could be more inviting. First-time family reunion planners may want to plan a smaller affair. You’ll get a sense of what it’s like to plan reunion.

Raise money for your family reunion 

Send out an email blast and ask family members to have garage sales, silent auctions, raffles, car washes, rummage sales, etc. to raise money for your family reunion.

Plan cost-effective family activities

Ask family members what they like to do. Ask family members what their kids like to do. You can’t please everyone. But you can plan activities ahead of time to keep people entertained. Ideas are:

• Renting a karaoke machine.
• Set up a sound system outside (if you’re holding at your home).
• Booking golf outing.
• Swimming
• Hiking
• Going to the park.
• Renting a ‘bouncy castle’ or other inflatable rentals.

Now you know how to plan a family reunion, cut costs, and have a good time! Keep the lines of communication open. Correspond via email or Facebook. Keep in mind that everyone may not have a computer or Facebook page. Contact family members when you have the date, time, and location settled. Keep family up-to-date with the latest information. Happy planning!

CRUISE CONTEST: Win a free cruise! 

Related Articles

• 7 Must-See Family Beaches in the USA (guestquest.com/blog)
• 5 Hot Tips to Help You Plan Your Family Vacation (guestquest.com/blog)

The dazzling décor, fabulous facilities, splendid services and delectable dining are appreciated by the corporate and leisure traveler at Hotel Ruby Foo’s.

Hotel Ruby Foo’s is located 10 minutes from Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, 15 minutes from downtown Montreal, near shops, restaurants, synagogues and cultural centres.

Guests enjoy complimentary parking, wireless Internet, business center, 24-hour fitness center, heated outdoor swimming pool with terrace (seasonal) and much more. The hotel complex also includes a spa, barbershop, beauty salon and 2 restaurants, Mahjongg China Bistro and Café dLUX. The newly redesigned deluxe bedrooms offer a choice of one king-size or two queen-size beds, with Beautyrest Excellence pillow-top mattresses and 100% white goose-down duvets.

Kitchenette studio-suites are also available.

The Singapore Ballroom accommodates 300 people in a theater style or 180 people in a banquet style.

Book online with promo code GuestQuest to receive a special rate.

Hotel Ruby Foo’s
7655 Decarie Boulevard
Montreal, Quebec
514-731-7701

Toll free 1(800) 361-5419
www.hotelrubyfoos.com

2010 Trip Advisor Recommended Hotel.

This Suite Hotel is centrally located one block from the Rideau Canaland the trendy boutique area of Elgin Street, in Ottawa, Ontario. The Cartier Place Suite Hotel is a favourite among families and business travelers alike. There are 250 spacious one and two bedroom suites, complete with kitchens, separate bedrooms and private balconies. Each suite offers complimentary WIFI. Laundry facilities are conveniently located on each guest floor. The deluxe banquet facilities have floor to ceiling windows overlooking the gardens. Savour the delectable Italian cuisine of the Café Mezzaluna Restaurant. Guests may also enjoy the games room, children’s playroom, the private outdoor garden patio and the playground complete with shuffleboard court. The indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, exercise room and the friendly atmosphere all contribute to a memorable stay. Pet Friendly!

For reservations, please call 1-800-236-8399 or visit our website at www.suitedreams.com for more information on special rates and packages.

Casa Loma, Toronto’s Castle

On the brow of a hill overlooking Toronto, Ontario a 98-room castle dominates the skyline – Casa Loma. As seen on A&E’s America’s Castles, this renowned landmark features unique architecture, soaring ceilings, rich woodcarving, sumptuous marble and luminous stained glass. 

Casa Loma is the unique legacy of Sir Henry Mill Pellatt, a prominent Canadian financier, industrialist and military officer of the early twentieth century. Knighted by King Edward VII, Sir Henry amassed his fortune in such diverse fields as transportation, real estate, hydro-electricity and insurance.

Begun in 1911, Casa Loma took 300 men nearly three years to complete and cost $3,500,000 at that time. You can explore secret passages, view the city from one of two towers, and traverse an 800-foot tunnel to luxurious stables. Five acres of beautiful estate gardens surround the castle and offer sparkling fountains, unique sculpture and dazzling displays of rare annuals and perennials that change with the seasons.

(416) 923-1171   www.casaloma.org

Visit the St. James Cathedral during your next family vacation in Toronto, Canada.

There are so many great tourism opportunities in Toronto for the whole family. Check out these top tourist attractions, suggested by 10Best.com, for a fun family vacation in Canada.

St. James Cathedral: Built in 1807, this beautiful cathedral features Canada’s tallest steeple, breathtaking stained glass windows and tributes to Toronto’s Anglican faith. This is a must-see in Toronto and the history behind this building will astound the whole family.

Royal Ontario Museum: This is Canada’s largest museum and research facility. It houses over six million pieces of art, archaeology and natural science. The exhibits include everything from bats and dinosaur bones to Chinese art and antiques. There’s something the whole family will enjoy here, don’t miss out on this awesome Canadian tourism opportunity.

Art Gallery of Ontario: This museum has 50 galleries and represents all media and traditions of Western art. The Impressionist paintings are especially impressive as well as the works of the Canadian Group of Seven, landscape painters from the 1920’s who influenced much of Ontario’s painting.

CN Tower: Originally built as a TV transmission antenna, the CN Tower has become known as a main Canadian tourism attraction. It’s 1815 feet tall, and known as the tallest tower in the world. Visitors can explore the tower which features a digital animation program, a laser tag game, nightclub, an award-winning restaurant with the world’s highest wine cellar, shops and an observation deck.

To find out about more must-see attractions to visit during your family vacation in Toronto, Canada, visit 10Best.com.

Don't forget to visit Mount Robson in British Columbia, one of the best vacation spots in Canada. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.

The Three Best Destinations to Vacation in Canada

Check out these top three best vacation spots in Canada: Calgary, Alberta, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Vancouver, British Columbia

Calgary, Alberta: Canada’s biggest little cow town, Calgary, is located in the south west. This old cow town, reminiscent of the American southwest, has grown to almost a million people, but it hasn’t lost that small town charm. If you’re looking to explore Canada’s sleepiest little city, this is the place to go. Located in Alberta, Calgary has many exciting and cheap attractions.

Telus World of Science: If you’re into science you can visit the Telus World of Science, which is packed full of science exhibits for children of any age to enjoy. They have both indoor and outdoor exhibits, and most are considered hands on. This is definitely a must see for anyone who enjoys learning and science. Admission is $12.00 for children and $15.00 for adults.

Devonian Gardens: If you’re more into nature, I highly recommend that you check out the Devonian Gardens. Built in 1977, these gardens boast about 20,000 different plants, and are a beautiful place to relax and enjoy. The best part is you can enjoy these beautiful and lush gardens for free.

Wildwood Grill & Brewing Company: If you find yourself getting a little bit hungry, or even a little thirsty, for a bit of Canada try refreshing yourself at the Wildwood Grill & Brewing Company. Wildwood is well known for their steaks and seafood, as well as their micro-brewed beers. The atmosphere is definitely Canadian, the food is decidedly delicious, and the prices, quite reasonable. Don’t forget to try one of their famous Canadian micro-brews while you’re there.

Halifax, Nova Scotia: Halifax, located on a peninsula on the east coast, is a well known Canadian destination that is renowned for its cultural splendor. There are a variety of things to do there, however there are a few attractions I would have to put at the top of my list.

Diving: Halifax is a wonderful place to hit the beach and go diving. Although it may be a little old for us Americans, the bays and inlets in Halifax are rich in ocean life, and full of ship wrecks to explore. There are plenty of places to rent equipment, so there is no need to bring anything.

Dining: Halifax has a myriad places to eat and drink. They serve up every kind of food imaginable, well just about. You can have excellent Italian at Botticelli Mercato Italiano, Carrabian at Kokomo’s, Canadian at the Crown Bistro, or vegetarian at the Wooden Monkey. There is definitely no trouble finding a good restaurant here. The only difficulty may be in choosing where, and what to eat.

Day Trips: Although Halifax is well known for its nightlife, social venues, and entertainment, it is also a great place to take any one of many day trips. If you like a leisurely visit to the country side you can go to Annapolis Royal, home of the Fort Ann National Historic Site for a bit of history and culture, Cape Split for a bit of hiking, or laze about on one of the many beaches, lakes and islands. There is never a time when one cannot find something to do in Halifax.

Vancouver, British Columbia: Vancouver is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Mountains, this is definitely a city worth visiting. There may be no better place in Canada to go site seeing, shopping, dining, or to visit a museum.

Visitor Attractions: One will never run out of things to do in Vancouver. There is a plethora of attractions for someone to entertain themselves. From Granville Island, Stanley Park, and the Edgewater Casino to the Plaza of Nations and the Sinclair Center, there is always something to see and somewhere to go. For shopping I would recommend the Sinclair Center. This restored historical building is known as the shopping Mecca of Canada.

Accommodations: Vancouver has some of the finest and most beautiful hotels in all of Canada. Some of the finest are: the Ramada Inn and Suites Down Town, about $80 (Canadian) and the St. Regis Hotel, a beautiful resort that runs about $135 (Canadian). However, if you are looking to save some money, there are plenty of low cost hostels in which you can stay. One is the HI-Vancouver Jericho Beach. This gorgeous hostel runs about $22 (Canadian) a night. Or you can stay at the HI-Vancouver Downtown, if you wish to be in the center of things, for about $27 (Canadian) a night.

Original article written by John Savage and published on AssociatedContent.com.

An Adventurist’s Paradise in Canada

From sea to sea to sea, Canada has an abundance of differing ecosystems, each offering a different possibility for adventures of different types. There is bungee jumping from deep gorges in the British Columbian and Albertan Rockies, as well as white water rafting, zip-lining along the tops of gigantic redwood trees or mountainous forests, mountain biking parks in the mountains, and, of course, skiing and snowboarding. Sound good? Well, that’s just the beginning when you are looking for an adventure vacation paradise in Canada.

From the West, you can kayak in the Pacific ocean, with whales swimming amongst your group, or playing with you. They will surface, and play amongst themselves, in a seemingly ploy to entertain their human visitors. The odd dolphin, otter and other sea life will amuse and amaze you constantly. Paddle closer to shore and fish for Coho Salmon, sea trout or Arctic Graylings, and watch for moose, elk, bears, eagles and hawks.

Moving inland, you can visit the hot springs near Banff, Alberta. No matter the temperature outside, the hike to the various hot springs is well worth it, as your body rejuvenates from the hot, clean waters. Or, if your idea of fun is more ancient, you can visit Drumheller National Park, to see the dinosaurs that have been unearthed, with Albertasaurus Rex being one of the largest fully assembled dinosaurs on display, anywhere.

Manitoba and Ontario are full of sites for the adventurous spirits, with many rivers and lakes that are chock full of sport fish, like walleye, most species of trout, and even the ancient and gigantic white sturgeon. James Bay and Hudson’s Bay are large bodies of water that feed into the Arctic Ocean, and are well known for whale watching and a phenomenal sport fishing industry.

Tobermory, on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario is a world famous scuba diving destination, with many sunken ships, boats, and other materials to make false reefs as well as scuba diving more attractive in the clear and calm waters. The Bruce Peninsula is also well known for the marked hiking trails of different difficulties, and the cave systems that were used for the film Chariots of Fire.

Ontario is more of a cultural and cottage destination, and the more adventurous people usually head north, to Algonquin Park, where you can rent canoes and paddle to private campsites. Make sure to have the cameras loaded and turned on at all times, as this was the most common source of the Group of Seven artist’s paintings.

In Quebec, skiing, hiking, whale watching and fishing are the more common destinations for the adventurous spirit, but the Gaspe Peninsula beckons those of the more thrill seeking crowd. Kite flying off of very high, steep cliffs, or off of steep ski hills. Oh, you are attached to the kite, and crew members put you through a kite flying experience. You can also jump with a parachute, or be pulled behind fast boats in either a kite or a parachute.

There is a reason that Nova Scotia is called “Canada’s Playground”, and that is that there is more adventure within close proximity to each other that adrenaline junkies will never be left with nothing to thrill them, completely. With the world’s highest and fastest tides, white water rafting takes on a new meaning. When you are rafting down a powerfully fast river with good rapids and fast S-curves, you are suddenly faced with a wall of sea water racing up the river towards you, many at over eight feet in height. Jet boats do the rivers as well, and runs are coordinated so that no two boats are in the same area at the same time.

Whale watching in the Bay of Fundy, off of the Digby Neck chain of islands, is a completely perfect idea of what whale watching should be. When a boat is approached by a pod, a family, a few stranglers or even a single whale, the other boats have to give that boat a 20 minute exclusive encounter. The whales will surface beside the boat, floating inverted (head up), staring you in the eye, or on their bellies and backs in playful moods, the encounters are almost euphoric.

There are seven Provincial Parks in Nova Scotia, each offering their own unique adventures. The most beautiful and adventurous are on Cape Breton Island, along the Cabot Trail. Campers can expect wondrous scenery, high winds, whale watching from shore and many adrenaline rushing adventures.

Prince Edward Island (PEI) has started to come out of it’s shell since the completion of the Confederation Bridge, connecting the island, for the very first time, to mainland New Brunswick. Sea Kayaking, tuna and shark fishing, the best lobster fishery in the world. The best and friendliest (well, next to Newfoundland!) seafood restaurants you will ever find will satiate your hunger for your next adventure. PEI is known mainly for sea-based adventures, and in Murray harbor, you can rent kayaks, paddle out near the middle of the harbor, and have sea otters play on top of your kayak, as well as all around you, expecting tummy rubs and gentle brushing of their fur and heads. An adventure not to be missed.

New Brunswick is more of a family-oriented Province, with things like the Magnetic Hill, where an optic illusion and naturally occurring magnetic shields in the ground making your car back up a hill in neutral. But the trout and salmon fishing, especially in the St. John and the Miramichi Rivers.

Newfoundland is the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador, a Province so wild it has it’s very own time zone (8:00 pm Eastern is 8:30 pm in Newfoundland!). Expect the normal sea-side adventures, but the mainland, Labrador, is rather harsh to get around, and adventure consists of hiking, world-class sport fishing, and getting drunk on Newfie Screech.

So come to Canada, have a Beavertail, a Moose Head beer, and find what excites you the most. Whatever it is you are looking for, you are bound to find it here, in the land of the north.

Travel smart. Travel informed.

Original article written by Marc Phillippe Babineau for the AssociatedContent.com.