Family Reunions

When you think of a family reunion, you probably imagine wearing official family shirts to picnics full of cousins whose names you don't know or gathering together in the quaint little town where grandma and grandpa live. It's hardly the most fun or memorable way to spend your vacation time, but the idea has a lot of potential. This age of relocations and cell phones makes it easy to miss out on real, personal connections between family members who are often spread out all over the world. Don't restrict yourself to boring reunions. Make new traditions, ones every generation will enjoy.

A new trend, "togethering," is replacing the traditional concept of a family reunion. Extended families vacation together to strengthen family ties, whether they're going on a cruise, staying at a resort, or hitting the beach as a group. Start your own togethering tradition and you'll find yourself rekindling old connections and forging new ones. Those monthly emails and holiday cards mean more when you've had a chance to truly connect with the people on the other end. Family is more than just shared history and a name; it's a living, breathing relationship between people who love each other. And spending time together, enjoying an exciting family reunion vacation, can help build that relationship.