California: Montecito-Sequoia Lodge, Create Family Memories. Escape to the fun. Winter holidays at the lodge embrace the very best of winter. Logs burn, scents of pine & fir permeate the lodge and vacation spirits cause everyone to smile. Family vacation rates include lodging, food, and oodles of fun. Benefits include, a snack bar open 24/7, social hours, free trail passes, and activities for children ages 5-11.

Experience the remarkable natural beauty and awesome quiet provided by Mother Nature. Enjoy access to Sequoia National Park and Forest for cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, snowball making or track spotting. For those interested in remaining at the lodge, the facility has  several recreation choices and is an ideal place just to chill out inside.  Any day of the year the staff at Montecito-Sequoia is ready to welcome families and they embrace the idea of family reunions large or small.

Winter Activities: In addition to the traditional vacation activities unique ideas include a Christmas tree trek, caroling, and snow shoeing under the full moon. 

Family Reunion Benefit: They have an enthusiastic, talented friendly staff that enjoys making certain that family gatherings are pleasant They take care of the details so no family member feels over loaded with check lists. The result of their caring is a place where families can create memories, build unity, and adults can have enjoyable, relaxed, refreshing vacations. Bonus Points: No phones or TVs. From their doorstep guests will enjoy the best cross-country skiing in the West. The Resort has a 24-hour hospitality bar loaded with snacks, fruit, and beverages. Guests may help themselves to coffee, a variety of teas, or hot chocolate, and make a sandwich or have a bowl of cereal at anytime.

Everyone is on vacation. This is the place where everyone in the family is on a holiday. They have an enthusiastic, talented friendly staff who enjoy making certain that family gatherings are pleasant. They wrote the book on carefree family vacations. Located at 7,500 feet in the Sequoia National Forest, about approximately one hour from Fresno, it is almost heaven for moms. 

The vacation atmosphere is the result of combining the best of resort and camp time. They provide hands-on fun and learning for everyone, not just the kids. The activities from which to select are vacation tested and suit all ages with a little modification. They produce casino nights, host country square dancing, set camp fires, provide coffee house time, direct sing-a-longs, organize win lose or draw, bingo, and show slides of the area’s national parks. They create an environment where families can enjoy doing one-of-a-kind activities like fort-building and the climbing-wall family challenge. 

There are no schedules to manage. Enjoy hiking through the largest stand of Giant Sequoia trees in the world. The perfect place to enjoy nature, feel the dramatic beauty of the forest and have fun with the kids. 

Resort: Montecito has 4 lodge buildings and 13 winterized cabins. Families may choose lodge rooms with a private bath or cozy winterized cabins with nearby heated bathhouses.

Meals: All meals are served country club buffet style with a variety of choices and menus are planned to include California fresh cuisine. Value Added: The hospitality and snack bar provides guests with snacks, fruit, and beverages 24/7. It is possible to enjoy a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate; make a sandwich or have a bowl of cereal at anytime.

Adventure Time: The Outdoor Education Adventure Weeks provide an environment where everyone can learn to love learning. The Adventure Week atmosphere provides a means to help children grow up to be happy successful adults, by doing and seeing for themselves. The activities enable families build family unity while adults have enjoyable, relaxed, refreshing vacations. Activities include hiking, fort building, rock climbing, horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, and paddle boat adventures. 

Family vacation packages include lodging, meals, and activities for 2 to 17+ years of age. In addition to handling family gatherings they also have special weeks reserved for Family Adventure & Vacation Camp.

Location on the Planet: 8000 Generals Highway Kings Canyon National Park California, 93633 1- 800-227-9900, 1(650) 967-8612 or www.mslodge.com

Advice: Planning a Family Reunion. As I have continued to research this topic for families I have learned much more about the variables involved with the idea. In fact I have two books within arm's length that cover more than I could ever imagine. Basically it comes down to this. Once you have decided to have a family reunion the challenge is to keep it simple and communicate, communicate, communicate. If is not going to be fun, why do it?