6 Tips for Planning a Family Reunion at the Lake of the Ozarks

Planning a family reunion at the Lake of the Ozarks can be a huge undertaking. Not only do you have to come up with fun activities for the group, you have to find accommodations that will meet the needs of everyone. Your Lake Vacation is here to help! We’ll work with you to find the perfect place for you to stay, so you can focus on how you’re going to keep your group entertained. Keep reading for some tips on making your reunion planning a breeze!

1. Start Your Family Reunion Planning Early.

Now’s the time to start thinking about planning your family reunion at the Lake of the Ozarks and getting a date in mind. You’re going to want to nail down your accommodations before everything starts booking up for the summer season. This is especially important if you have a really large group and need a lot of condos together in the same complex. At the Lake of the Ozarks, we have a ton of great options, The Knolls Resort, Lazy Days Condos, Holiday Shores Resort and Lone Oak Point, but if you don’t book them early, they start filling up fast.

2. Get a Strong Headcount for Your Group.

Once you’ve nailed down your dates, stick to them! You’re always going to have someone that can’t make it for one reason or another and you can’t make everyone happy. If you’ve done your research on possible conflicts, such as weddings, anniversaries and birthdays, there’s not much more you can do. After your date is set, you’ll need to get a headcount so you can start looking for accommodations that work for your group. If you have a small party, you might be able to rent a large house or group of houses. If you have a larger group getting together, you may want to consider a group of condos that has a meeting room you can also rent. Working with a property manager in Osage Beach is a great way to learn about your options and cut down of the stress of searching on your own for something that would work for your group.

3. Organize Group Activities for All Ages.

After the accommodations have been decided on, you’re going to want to make a list of possible activities that your group can do during this family get-together. Be aware that certain activities could require reservations, like a Lake cruise aboard the Celebration. Depending on the type of activities your group is interested in, you’ll need to be sure to make those reservations early as well. Keep in mind the ages and abilities of your group. Be sure to include options for older folks, as well as young children. Make sure you have a few things planned that everyone can be involved in, no matter their age or ability. From hiking and shopping to good food and cold drinks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Lake. For more information on things to do at the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks, checkout the Explore Your Lake website!

4. Incorporate Some Down Time During the Event.

Finally, you want to consider leaving some down time for everyone to visit and relax. You don’t want the entire week or weekend to be so packed that everyone is exhausted by the end. The point of a family reunion is to catch up with those relatives you don’t get to see that often. Or if it’s a smaller group, to just spend some quality time with your loved ones. While you want to have a few things planned for the group, you should also consider leaving some free time in the agenda for people to rest, relax or breakout in smaller groups. Let the children, and maybe even grandparents take naps, while the adults take a break from the hustle and bustle.

5. Think About the Food for Your Party.

Last but certainly not least, you’ll want to think about food. Do you plan on having some meals catered? If so, you’ll need to contact a caterer to get on their calendar. If you plan on going out to dinner a few nights, you might want to do some research on places that can accommodate large groups and if they require reservations. Maybe you or someone else in your group likes to cook? You could consider putting those that like to cook in charge of meals, so you have one less thing on your plate. Consider how many meals you want to eat as an entire group, and what other meals people can enjoy separately in smaller groups, for example breakfast on your own in your condo. Are you going to ask everyone to bring things or ask for them to pitch in money for you or another designated person to do some grocery shopping? These are all options to consider for your Lake of the Ozarks family reunion.

6. Don’t Stress and Have Fun!

Most importantly, keep in mind that you can’t please everyone and that this is your trip too! Make sure that you’re not stressing yourself out trying to plan too much. Overplanning can be just as bad as not having anything organized ahead of time. Try delegating some of the tasks above to other people in your party. Have those with young children research what activities they think their kids would enjoy and get input from a few trusted people on how to handle the food. (You don’t want to ask everyone because then you’ll have way too many differing opinions.) Just remember that family reunions should be a joyous time of fellowship. Don’t put more emphasis on the what, than you do the who and the why!

Contact our premier Lake of the Ozarks vacation rental company today to get started planning your family reunion! Our knowledgeable staff will take your group information to find the perfect combination of homes or condos in Osage Beach and surrounding areas to accommodate your entire group. Whether you need a meeting space for a large group or just a cozy home to gather with a smaller family, we’ve got you covered. Give us a call at 573-365-3367 to start the planning now!