5 Things Everyone Should Consider When Planning a Family Reunion

by Kim Ghys, Lake County's Reunion Specialist

1. Plan Ahead

Start planning a year in advance, if possible. That way you have time to look at the hotel options, secure your picnic space, and pick the best fit for your family. Lake County has 65 hotels to choose from, so planning ahead will get you the best dates, best hotels, and best locations to fit your needs.

2. Choose Your Location Carefully

Your family members are spread out all over the United States and you want them to come! To get better attendance, pick a location that's easily accessible, has the best value, and has lots of options to get there - plane, train, or driving in. Lake County is right between Chicago and Milwaukee so it's a great location for attendees to fly in with two airports to choose from, and if you want to spend a day in downtown Chicago it's easy to get there by train, and come back to stay in Lake County for better value.

3. Make it Affordable

Affordability is key and you want the reunion to be doable for all your family members. Lake County has a variety of low cost and free activity options, as well as great value in hotels and free parking.

4. Make it Fun for All Ages

Plan for all ages and make it fun for everyone! We like to recommend Six Flags Great America - they have great rollercoasters and rides of course, but also shows and entertainment and a picnic area you can reserve for your group. Our resorts are a great choice for family fun like Lincolnshire Marriott Resort.

5. Don't Plan Your Reunion Alone

First, get some family members to help, develop a committee, and divide responsibilities. Second, contact me, Kim Ghys, to make your job a lot easier. I can help you with so many aspects of the reunion planning for free, like gather hotel proposals, arrange for site tours to see the hotels first hand, and I can recommend tour and attraction options and develop a sample itinerary for your reunion weekend. Lastly, I can provide complimentary visitor information for your family members when they arrive.