Why Your Next Family Reunion Should Be A Trip
Growing up, the term “family reunion” meant an afternoon gathering with a group of my great aunts and uncles, third cousins, or other similarly far-flung family members (and I normally didn’t look forward to any part of it besides playing hide and seek with my cousins). But now that I’m older, with a big family on my husband’s side, I realize that a family reunion can really be any big gathering that gets everyone together.
Why family reunion and group trips are our favorite
If your core family group with siblings and kids is large (in my book, that’s a group of more than 12-15 people), or spread out across the country, it probably takes almost the same level of coordination to plan any get-together for just your parents, siblings, and everyone’s kids as it would to plan a more traditional ‘family reunion.’ Plus, with kids in the mix - especially young ones - it’s almost impossible for the adults of the group to have a genuine conversation or any sort of connection in the short time window you’re all together.
So with that in mind, here are some reasons why I think planning a family reunion trip, rather than just an afternoon or holiday get-together, is such a great option:
Kids make it more difficult for the adults to connect during short get-togethers
Like I’ve mentioned before, when you have a lot of kids in the mix it seems like one of them always needs a snack, or a nap, or both and the adults end up pulled in different directions to manage those needs. While that time with the kids all together and playing is its own kind of fun with memories made, realistically you also want time to have an adult conversation and strengthen bonds of your own.
It’s hard and stressful to host really large groups in your own home
Once your group gets to a certain size, it’s almost impossible for one person’s home to host everyone comfortably. And if you’re committed to the idea of a ‘trip’ and staying somewhere for multiple days, the stress of hosting 10+ people overnight is a big ask for any host (especially if they have kids of their own).
You want EVERYONE to enjoy their time together and be able to relax, and that’s almost impossible to do if you’re the one hosting everyone. But when you plan a group or family reunion trip together, that means you all get to show up to a space that’s already set up and ready to go and someone else will handle the laundry and clean-up after you leave!
Finding lodging that you can all stay in together gives you more time to connect (and puts less pressure on everyone)
If you don’t have a chance to get everyone together very often, it can take a while to get past the initial pleasantries and life updates (and for the kids to get their initial craziness out) so that everyone can really connect and make memories on a deeper level. I also think that many of the most magical times can come from those slower, more informal moments together (like over morning coffee, around the fire in the evening, etc). Finding lodging that is big enough to host everyone together is key to making those informal times happen more easily.
But, by staying in the same lodging together, you actually reduce the pressure on the group to feel like you have to do EVERYTHING together. Because you have those in-between times with everyone, it’s not as big of a deal if part of the group wants to do one activity on a certain day, while others go in a different direction. That level of flexibility - and allowing people to spread out or come together depending on their mood - will make for a more enjoyable trip for everyone involved.
It’s Easier to Make lasting memories when you Explore new places and try new activities together
Seriously! Did you know that research supports the idea that visiting a new location and taking part in novel experiences literally primes your brain to make new memories? So what better way to make use of your precious time with your favorite people?
Ideal length for a family reunion trip
In my experience, 4 days/3 nights is the ideal length for a family reunion trip. But, at an absolute minimum, you need to do AT LEAST 3 days/2 nights - doing just one night has all of the hassle of a trip without any time for actual relaxation.
Three nights seems to be the sweet spot that allows the group to get in a bit of a rhythm, without being gone from home so long that you feel like you have to pack up the whole house to bring with you. It also gives enough time to check out the area without the novelty wearing off, or feeling like you have to cram something into every second you’re there. I also personally find that traveling with a large group like that can be exhausting and loud at times, but 4 days/3 nights is long enough to give you the space and flexibility to spread out and find time for yourself when you need it.
In my opinion, a trip of this length should be within 3-4 hours travel time of where everyone lives, but definitely less than 6 hours away. This includes all time spent driving, in the air, or waiting at an airport. If the travel time is longer than 6 hours you should consider lengthening the trip, or choosing a different destination entirely.
Choosing a location for your family reunion trip
Ideally, choose a location that is within driving distance for everyone. Not only does this reduce costs and airport headaches, but it also makes transportation for everyone once you arrive easier. Depending where everyone lives, this may not be possible, but I encourage choosing a driveable location whenever possible (preferably within 3-4 hours, but definitely less than 6 hours away).
In addition to driving distance, you’ll also want to give a little thought to your overall itinerary at this stage. What types of activities and atmosphere does everyone in the group generally enjoy? Keep in mind, the goal on a family reunion trip likely isn’t to see every sight in a major city together - save that level of ambition for a smaller group! You are getting together to see one another, catch up, and reconnect. So while you’ll want some nearby activities options, you really don’t need THAT MUCH to do.
Why the Brown County Barn Burner is the Perfect Location for Your Next Family Reunion Trip
We are huge fans of family reunion trips, which is exactly why we designed and built the Brown County Barn Burner the way we did, and prioritize bookings for larger groups and families. Plus, I legitimately think that Nashville and Brown County, Indiana are some of the best family reunion locations in the Midwest, and we traveled here often for family reunion trips of our own, before moving here to live in 2016.
So if you’re ready to start planning a trip for your next family reunion at the Brown County Barn Burner, you can learn more about our spaces here or contact us with any questions. We’d love a chance to host you!
