Trying to get the family together this year? Don’t let another year go by without planning something. Relationships grow distant and unconnected. Grandkids grow older. Don’t wait to plan your time together. You won’t regret it.

We grasp the intricacies of family reunion planning from experience with our own gatherings. With our family scattered worldwide, we’re well-acquainted with logistical hurdles and timing constraints.

4 Planning Questions

There are 2 common strategies for setting the date and time of your family reunion:

Fixed Date

• Choose a date like July 4th, the first weekend of December, or the second week in June. This consistency allows families to plan way in advance and it’s easy to remember.

One Reunion at a Time

• Ensure continuity in family reunions by establishing the date for the next gathering before concluding the current one.

3 Tips for determining where you will meet:

1. Same Place
   • Go to the same place every time. Choose a central location for the family. Certain personalities appreciate that because it is familiar, predictable, and therefore less stressful.
2. Meet near the Host
   • The rotating host decides where to go and chooses a location normally at or near their house.
3. Destination Reunion
   • Meet up at a state park, a lake house, or a waterpark. Change it up and make it interesting and different each time.

3 Questions to ask yourself to help you choose the perfect place:

1. What kind of sleeping space?
   • Shared Space: A casual space where children can sleep in sleeping bags, on pull-out couches, or in tents. The family is flexible with sleeping conditions and sharing bathrooms.
     • OR
   • Private Space: Each person needs access to their own bed, along with the convenience of private bathroom facilities tailored to their exclusive use.
2. What will you be doing?
   • Activity-oriented: Exciting activities await, from horseback riding and zoo visits to fishing, water skiing, amusement parks, swimming, hiking, target practice, biking, and sports.
     • OR
   • Chill and Relax: Enjoy an atmosphere dedicated to unwinding, enjoying delicious refreshments, engaging in heartfelt conversations, and partaking in the friendly competition of a board or card game.
3. How will you handle food?
   • Cook Your Favorites: Planning, preparing, and cooking all the food yourself. You need lots of kitchen space and dining areas.
     • OR
   • Outside Food: Explore local eateries or order in so that you don’t have to worry about bringing food or cooking.

So who is going to pay for getting together? Here are 2 common options:

One person pays for everything.

• The host or patriarch/matriarch of the family will pay for all the expenses: food, activities, and lodging.

Share the expenses.

• Split up the cost of the lodging. Everyone pitches in for food. Each family contributes to expenses for activities.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of Planning a Fabulous Family Reunion!

Stan & Andrea Gutwein

How Arrowhead Pass Helps

If you’re still deciding where to host, Arrowhead Pass offers a central location between Indianapolis, Chicago, Peoria, and Fort Wayne. With plenty of sleeping space, a large kitchen, cozy restaurants nearby, and both outdoor and indoor gathering areas, it’s built for groups who want to connect. Whether your family loves hiking, bonfires, or relaxing indoors, Arrowhead Pass provides the space to make it happen.

It’s perfect for:

• Family Reunions
• Church Groups
• Women’s Retreats
• Father/Son Trips
• Corporate Meetings

Family reunions take planning, but the payoff is priceless. Don’t wait—start today. And stay tuned for Part 2 of Planning a Fabulous Family Reunion, where we’ll cover even more tips to make your gathering unforgettable.

We built Arrowhead Pass to be used by friends and family; please let us know if you would like to stay!

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