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 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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Bridgeport Waterfront Resort, Wisconsin, is a premiere family destination with year round excitement. A two story vaulted ceiling adorned with natural wood showcases our large indoor recreation area. Our indoor pool is great for swimming a couple laps, or you could relax in the pulsating jets of your whirlpool tub. Kids love our newly added indoor children’s splash park with a slide and interactive water games. Some people prefer to sweat it out in the sauna. Whichever you prefer, you’ll find it in our recreation center.

Peabody’s indoor children’s play park has the tubes, tunnels and balls to keep the kids busy for hours. The fitness center has all the state of the art equipment you’d expect to find and will keep any fitness crazed adult occupied.

Bridgeport Waterfront Resort

Door County, Wisconsin

800-671-9190

www.bridgeportresort.net

Now that the kids are back in school, family vacations are on hold until the next holiday. So why not enjoy a romantic Wisconsin vacation for just you and your special someone? Here are some charming places to stay that are great for a couple’s getaway.

Ephraim Inn: Ephraim Inn is a bed & breakfast with old country charm located in the historic district of serene and picturesque Door County. The rooms are comfortable and charming, and breakfast includes homemade granola. It’s a great place to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Mansion Hill Inn: For a truly luxurious experience, stay at the Mansion Hill Inn in Madison. Mansion Hill Inn is a gorgeous German Romanesque Revival mansion built in 1847. The rooms are richly decorated, combining Victorian charm with modern comforts. The ornate parlor and bar are stunning examples of decadent Victorian craftsmanship.

Old Rittenhouse Inn: This historic inn features beautiful views of Lake Superior, hearty country breakfasts, and romantic rooms with wood burning fireplaces. There are a variety of accommodations in various themes and amenities. Choose the one that best fits your style!

Canoe Bay: For a more secluded romantic getaway, check out Canoe Bay, the only lodging on Lake Waldron. The rooms and cottages have a rustic feel. Canoe Bay was designed by a couple, for couples, and is meant to be a peaceful and relaxing retreat. Travel & Leisure magazine rated this resort as one of the 50 most romantic hotels.

These are just a few of many places you can stay for a romantic Wisconsin vacation. Check out RomanticPlaces.com for a list of other places, or contact GuestQuest.

Many students returned to school this week and with Labor Day approaching, there’s no better time to take one last family vacation before school starts getting serious and the weather gets cold.

Take a family vacation to Green Lake, Wisconsin this Labor Day weekend and unwind by the lake, rejuvenate on the golf course and spend quality time with your family. Green Lake is a place to relax and connect with nature and loved ones. It’s the perfect spot for you to get rid of all the stresses of the work week and for your kids to stop stressing about the first week of school. Check out this sample itinerary for your weekend of relaxation from GreenLakeCC.com:

Friday: Arrive in town early Friday evening to beat rush hour traffic. Settle in and relax. Take the family out to dinner and enjoy live music at one of the many clubs Green Lake has to offer.

Saturday: Sleep in and when you awake, take the family on a long hike on one of the many hiking trails along the lake. Then have breakfast at one of the amazing nearby restaurants with the family. Next check out the unique shops of Green Lake. You’ll find everything from antiques, collectibles and clothing to jewelry, books and toys. After shopping, take a swim in the lake and relax in the sun on the beach. After lunch, catch a concert in the park. Later, take the family out for a fun dinner and a trip to the theater.

Sunday: Start your day with a round of golf on one of Green Lake’s nationally-ranked courses or take the kids on a fishing trip. Eat lunch lakeside and relax as you watch the sailboats glide by. Then before you pack up for home, take the family out on a long bike ride in the woods.

After your family vacation to Green Lake, Wisconsin, you’ll be refreshed and rejuvenated for work and your kids will be ready to tackle the long school year ahead of them.

The state of Wisconsin has a rich history and agricultural heritage. One place that brings this history to life is Old World Wisconsin, an outdoor living history museum. There are so many things to see and do here, and it is fun for the whole family!

At Crossroads Village, you’ll see a re-creation of a rural village from the 1870’s. Actors in period costumes tell tales of what it was like to live during that time. Visit shops and see craftspeople working in their trade or even attend an 1870’s church service. Visit working historic farms, and learn about the immigrants who came to Wisconsin to start a new life.

There are also plenty of hands-on activities to keep both you and the kids busy. You can try your hand at churning butter or making ice cream the old-fashioned way. Stilts and rolling barrel hoops were popular entertainment for children in the 19th century, and still are today!

If you enjoy flowers and gardening, you’ll want to see the 12 historically accurate heirloom gardens. The expert gardeners who tend to these fields are happy to share their expertise with you.

There are also various events that take place at Old World Wisconsin. One upcoming event is the annual Old World Country Fair, which takes place in September. This fair is a re-creation of an 1860’s fair, and something that the whole family can enjoy. There are also vintage baseball games to attend each year. See how the game was played in the 1860’s, with players in historic uniforms.

For more information on Old World Wisconsin, or any other Wisconsin vacation, visit Guest Quest.

As summer winds down and fall approaches, festival season in Wisconsin begins. Plan your next family vacation around these amazing late summer/early fall festivals and experience the food and entertainment the area has to offer.

Festival of Flavors: August 28-29, 2010 in Eagle River, Wisconsin. The Fall of Flavors showcases local restaurants, food purveyors, culinary artisans and artists who use only natural products found in the Wisconsin area. Enjoy great food, wine tasting and demonstrations during this 2-day event.

Apple Holler Paula Red Festival and Corn Roast: September 3-6, 2010 in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. There’s something every member of the family will enjoy. The Apple Holler Paula Red Festival includes apple picking, a country cookout and a corn roast as well as wagon and pony rides and a corn maze for the kids. Spend Labor Day weekend sipping apple cider with loved ones and reflecting on the best times of the summer.

Fall Food and Energy Festival: September 1, 2010 in Chilton, Wisconsin.Try some of the freshest foods of Calumet County’s all in one day. Kick off your fall vacation with sampling fresh foods, watching a cheese carver and learning about wild edibles, composting, rain gardens and canning. Local vendors sell their products and kids can participate in free pioneer games and enjoy live music all day. This is must-do Wisconsin-style fall kick off festival that promises to be the highlight of this year’s family vacation.

For more information about these events or to check out other upcoming Wisconsin festivals, visit the events page on TravelWisconsin.com.

When you think of Wisconsin, gangsters probably don’t come to mind. However, Wisconsin’s history is rife with gangster activity, hideouts, and legends. If you have an interest in John Dillinger, Al Capone or any of the other outlaws of the 1920’s and 30’s, here are a list of things you’ll want to see the next time you vacation in Wisconsin.

Nightclubs and Restaurants
Little Bohemia Lodge – This establishment still serves as a restaurant, and has been preserved to maintain its unique history. There are still bullet holes in the wall from a fight between John Dillinger and the FBI in 1934. This site was used as a location in the film Public Enemies.

Norwood Pines Supper Club – This restaurant was a popular hangout for gangsters back in the 1920’s. Nestled in a red pine forest, the restaurant still operates today, and is known for their ribs and seafood. Join them on Friday nights for an all-you-can-eat fish fry!

Hotels and Inns
Watersedge Bed & Breakfast – Built in the late 1800’s, this beautiful bed and breakfast was a popular spot for gangsters, and doubled as a speakeasy. It was frequented by Bugs Moran, who stayed their often to avoid the police.

French Country Inn – Located in Geneva Lakes, this hotel was a hideaway for Al Capone, Bugs Moran, John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson. Back then it was called the Lake Como Hotel, and was supposedly connected to an speakeasy called the Sewer via underground tunnels. Today, the Inn offers award-winning entrees and beautiful European-style rooms.

Barker Lake Lodge – This charming and rustic lodge was once owned by Chicago gang leader “Polack Joe” Saltis, who was also a bootlegger and operated a speakeasy. He built the lodge in the 1920’s as a getaway, and includes a golf course, which still exists today.

Other Historic Sites
Racine Art Museum – The museum was once the American Bank and Trust, and was robbed by John Dillinger and his gang in 1933. In 1941, the building became an art museum, but has also housed exhibits on Dillinger and the robbery.

Milwaukee County Historical Society Building – This building was used in the filming of Public Enemies. Milwaukee in general was a popular place for gangsters to hang out, and several of the scenes from the movie were filmed there.

To learn more about Wisconsin’s illicit past, visit their tourism page for more information and links. No matter which locations you visit on your vacation in Wisconsin, you’ll have an interesting story to tell.