Planning a family reunion in the mountains

Getting the whole family in one place is hard enough. Finding somewhere that works for toddlers, teenagers and grandparents at the same time is harder. A camp and retreat center can be the answer: enough beds for everyone, meals taken care of, and plenty to do without anyone getting in a car. Here's how to plan a family reunion at Wilderness Adventure, 40 minutes from Roanoke in Virginia's Blue Ridge.

Start early, and pick a date together

Reunions take time to organize, especially when people are traveling. Send a few date options to the family early, then book as soon as you've settled on one. Summer weekends go fast. If your family is flexible, spring and fall are lovely in the mountains, and January to March comes with discounted rates.

Room for everyone, in one place

Our lodges and cabins sleep up to 130, and you can mix and match:

• The Main Lodge (sleeps 56) has a big stone fireplace and a wrap-around porch: perfect as the family's gathering place.
• Sly Lodge (sleeps 33) has a full kitchen, a sitting room and a patio with a grill, and it's wheelchair accessible.
• The Sneaky Cabin (sleeps 8) and the Old Homestead (sleeps 6), the original 1800s log cabin, suit smaller branches of the family.
• Campsites for the cousins who'd rather sleep under the stars, including RV sites.

See every room on our camping and lodging page.

Let someone else cook

The person who organizes the reunion shouldn't spend it in the kitchen. Groups of eight or more can have home-style buffets for every meal, with vegetarian options, or a themed dinner like a pig roast. Tell us about allergies at least two weeks ahead. If your family loves to cook together, Sly Lodge's full kitchen and grill are there too.

Activities for every age

• For everyone: fishing in the stocked ponds, canoeing, volleyball, horseshoes, cornhole and the 18-hole disc golf course.
• For the adventurous: the 50-foot climbing wall, the Giant Swing, high ropes and guided caving, run by our instructors.
• For a lazy afternoon: floating down Craig Creek on a tube.
• For the grandparents: a rocking chair on the porch and a view of the mountains.

Most adventure activities need participants to weigh between 50 and 250 pounds, so check with us when planning for little ones.

Plan one big moment

Reunions are remembered for one or two moments: a group photo, a family talent show, a slideshow of old pictures, a toast to the people who couldn't be there. Plan one, and let the rest of the weekend be relaxed. The gazebo by the pond and the pavilion both make great backdrops.

Reunion activity ideas

• A family field day: sack races, tug of war and relay races on the lawn, with teams mixed across generations.
• A disc golf tournament: pair a grandparent with a grandchild on our 18-hole course.
• A scavenger hunt: send the cousins around the property looking for the pond, the gazebo, the climbing wall and the Old Homestead.
• A fishing morning at the stocked ponds for the early risers.
• A family history night: old photos, a family tree on the wall and the oldest relatives telling stories.
• A talent show or campfire singalong on the last night.
• A guided adventure: book the Giant Swing or the climbing wall with our instructors and watch the teenagers show off.

A sample reunion weekend

• Friday: families arrive through the afternoon and settle in. A big buffet dinner, name tags for the newest members, and the first night by the fire pit.
• Saturday: breakfast together, then a morning of activities. Lunch, a lazy afternoon on the creek or the porch, the group photo before dinner, and an evening of stories or a talent show.
• Sunday: a final brunch, a short goodbye, and plans for next time.

A planning timeline

• 12 months out: pick a few date options and survey the family. Choose one and book the venue.
• 9 months: send a save-the-date with the location, the dates and a rough cost per family.
• 6 months: collect RSVPs and deposits, and start assigning rooms.
• 3 months: plan meals, activities and the one big moment.
• 2 weeks: send us final numbers, allergies and dietary needs.

Sharing the cost

Money is the awkward part of every reunion, so make it simple. Work out a total, split it per adult or per family, and say clearly what it covers (rooms, meals and activities). Group bookings here start with a 30% non-refundable deposit and a payment plan, so collect deposits from each family early. If your dates are flexible, January to March brings discounted rates.

Practical tips

• Make a shared schedule on paper. Cell service is very limited here.
• Pets aren't allowed in the lodges (service animals excepted), but well-behaved pets can camp.
• Pack layers. Mountain evenings get cool, even in summer.
• Bring old photos. They always start the best conversations.

Tell us how many are coming and when, and our coordinator will put together a proposal.