If it’s been a while, go big when you get together!
If your plans for a family reunion have been on hold, it’s all the more reason to really celebrate when you’re able to reunite. And taking a proper family trip is a big step up from an annual cookout!
A destination reunion is a tried and true way to make lasting memories with your loved ones, and larger families can often score group rates. Plus, with a few cousins around, adults can enjoy some kid-free fun.
But the real question is: where to go? Here are some tops spots for a memorable family reunion:
For domestic cities with plenty of flair, “The Big Easy” can’t be beat. While famous for Mardi Gras in late winter, there are family-friendly activities year round. New Orleans is a French-inspired city that really gives you the feeling that you’re traveling abroad.
If you’re looking for a wild time, take a tour through the swamplands to glimpse gators (and maybe even feed them!), or discover the local voodoo history on a ghost tour to learn about its impact on the Crescent City.
While adults may want to catch a late night jazz show, there’s music being played in central squares day and night, so the whole family can groove to a brass band.
New Orleans is also a food Mecca, so you can keep your belly full with fried catfish, sugar-dusted beignets, jambalaya, and king cake!
Similar escapes: Try other warm-weather port cities, like Tampa Bay.
Is your family more about a beach vacation? This private Bahamian paradise is only reachable by boat.
The award-winning Half Moon Cay has a lot of crowd-pleasing perks, like powdery white sands and crystal Caribbean waters. If you’re traveling as a big family, you can rent out an entire private beach cabana (or a whole villa!) for your beaching home base.
Everyone can enjoy a guided horseback ride to the highest point of the island, and adventurous members (of any age) can snorkel with stingrays, bike to a breathtaking lagoon, or take a guided jet ski adventure!
Similar escapes: There’s nothing quite like the #1 rated private island, but other Bahamian hotspots, like Nassau and Freeport, are also great bets.
For many families, a Northeast retreat is within reach and perfect during the fall break when school is out!
Waterways are a part of life up and down the east coast, and Peggy’s Cove near Halifax, Canada boasts a rugged coastline with an iconic lighthouse that’s over 150 years old. And in St. John, New Brunswick, you can kayak on the scenic St. John’s River near the Bay of Fundy and watch the “reversing falls,” where tide change creates rapid whirlpools.
Further south, there’s history everywhere, from the Freedom Trail in Boston that traces landmarks of the Revolutionary War, to the cobblestoned, shop-lined streets around Old Port in Portland, Maine.
Seafood lovers in your family will be all over the fresh Maine lobster and Prince Edward Island oysters. And for anyone with a sweet tooth, apple festivals dot New England in the fall, so your family can enjoy fresh pies and picking!
Similar Escapes: The Pacific Northwest, home to the “other” Portland, has similarly rugged coastlines and even more apples.
Did you know you can take a family vacation to a tropical island without even needing a passport? Puerto Rico has the benefit of being a U.S. territory and home to El Yunque, the nation’s only tropical rainforest. You can find tropical frogs and parrots and La Coca Falls, rumored to be the fountain of youth and an endless source of jokes among family members.
The Puerto Rican capital, San Juan, boasts historic Spanish forts that are hundreds of years old. Castillo San Felipe del Moro is at the tip of the city, as well as Fort San Cristobal. Both offer incredible ocean views, great for history buffs and photographers alike.
Similar Escapes: The neighboring Dominican Republic is another Spanish-speaking island with its own “San Felipe” fortress.