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!

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Discover Southern Charm in Alice Texas

Visit Alice, Texas and Soak Up the Southern Charm

Alice, Texas a charming Southern community home to more than 19,000 residents and a strong economy fueled by the petroleum industry. The city received its name in honor of Alice King Kleberg, the daughter of one of the founders of the King Ranch. Alice is the county seat of Jim Wells and is referred to as the “Hub City” because of its location between several major cities. Rail transport is available via the Kansas City Southern, while 14 ports of entry are reachable within 100 miles of the community—notably the deep water port of Corpus Christi. Alice International Airport offers general aviation services. Daily commercial flight services are provided at Corpus Christi International Airport.

Business of all types and sizes are regularly attracted to this prime location. Alice is diverse in the retail sector with a great deal of companies in the oil and gas-related field. Alice is home to a number of major drilling companies, oilfield services and a variety of manufacturers. It also boasts a strong agribusiness sector, which has been a major economic contributor since its establishment in the late 1800’s.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department maintains a number of park sites, game fields and facilities in the community. The department provides a calendar year full of family-oriented programming, including aquatics, athletics, senior services and a long list of exciting events.

The area is great for those who enjoy the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, camping and bird watching are among the many popular pastimes enjoyed in Alice. Alice has two golf courses, the 18-hole Alice Municipal Golf Course and the nine-hole Alice Country Club.

The Hub City boasts an excellent education system. Public pre-k to 12-grade education is supplied through Alice Independent School District. Alice hosts various day care and early childhood education centers, as well as three private parochial institutions, St Elizabeth School, St. Joseph School and Alice Christian School. Higher education is offered in Corpus Christi and Kingsville, along with the local campus of Coastal Bend College.

CHRISTUS SPOHN Health System operates a modern facility in Alice. The 148-bed hospital provides comprehensive medical and surgical services in a multitude of medical fields.

The city offers many retailers, an eclectic mix of restaurants and plenty of comfortable places for lodging. Recreation is a major draw, as are the local museums and historical sites.

Three museums offer a world of cultural exhibits, the South Texas Museum, the Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame Museum and the Third Coast Squadron Museum.

Alice also features two statues-one of Jose de Escandon, the man who explored and settled the South Texas region, and the other of Lucien Flournoy, an active member of the community and the world’s tallest cement water tower, as designated by the Guinness Book of Records in 1976. Visitors can view the 165-foot tower, built in 1926-1927, in downtown Alice.

For more information on the City of Alice, contact the Alice Chamber of Commerce/Alice Convention Visitors Bureau at (361) 664-3454 or online at www.alicetxchamber.org