The key to a successful family reunion means finding a setting with activities to keep everybody entertained, from Nana to the newest arrivals. It also means deciding on a destination that's within financial reach of everyone in your entourage. Southwest Florida's smorgasbord of affordable family fun stretches from cosmopolitan cities to fabulous free activities, such as beachcombing and tossing out a fishing line along the Gulf Coast's paradise beaches.
Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club: You can still plan a grand reunion and get in on some deals at Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club; book a group getaway at this beautiful oceanfront property. Choose from standard rooms, efficiencies or one-bedroom suites. Children love the hotel’s Beach Klub 4 Kids (with free morning sessions) with an all-day program of games, movies, crafts and beach time. Big kids applaud the resort’s championship golf course, with 25 percent off greens fees for group bookings.
Southwest Florida's smorgasbord of affordable family fun stretches from cosmopolitan cities to fabulous free activities.
Other resort activities include kayak rentals, pedal boat tours, tennis, Hobie Cat sailboat rentals and more – plus a handful of delicious dining options. Talk to the resort’s recreation department
to customize group activities such as golf and tennis clinics or nature tours.
Fort Myers/Pine Island KOA Campground: For a rustic reunion in an unspoiled locale, this campground on Pine Island (30 minutes from Fort Myers) delivers affordable adventure. In addition to tent and RV sites, the KOA offers lodging in cabins and cottages, the latter of which have fully equipped kitchens (book together for a group discount). The anglers in your group might already know Pine Island as the “Tarpon Capital of the World,” and opportunities for fishing and wildlife viewing abound.
There are no sandy beaches on the mangrove-fringed island, but the KOA feels like a family summer camp, complete with a pool, hot tub, tennis courts, a playground, shuffleboard and a biking path. For just a few bucks, guests can ride the campground’s Red Bus to organized destinations on and off the island that might include a flea market, casino or Red Sox spring training game.
Miromar Outlets: Rally everyone for shopping therapy at Miromar Outlets in Estero, where more than 140 top designers and brand-name stores beckon bargain hunters. Groups of 30 or more get a welcome pack with a VIP Savings Brochure valid for store and dining discounts. Pre-paid meal vouchers with discounts at the food court also can be arranged for groups, and the organizer gets a $25 gift card and complimentary meal voucher.
‘Tween Waters Inn: Straddling the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound on a prime stretch of Captiva Island, the ‘Tween Waters Inn is a clutch of cottages dating to the 1930s. With a dozen different room types in various price ranges, your group can opt for a combination of standard rooms, studios, suites and cottages with up to three bedrooms (group stays of at least two nights are good for 10 percent off the room rate – and the savings increase the longer you stay). Spreading everyone out on the inn’s roomy grounds means more privacy than you’d get in a single vacation rental home, without losing the sense of community.
Since breakfast is included with the room rate, you can count on meeting up with everyone in the mornings. Daytime activities include beachcombing and shelling or renting kayaks to explore Captiva’s pristine beaches. The inn’s many amenities include tennis courts, pools, bikes, a boating marina, spa and a fine dining restaurant for organizing special catered group meals.
The Globe Coffee Lounge, with its mishmash of retro decor, board games, J.J. Walker poster and miscellany kitsch, is the quintessential artists’ coffee bar, attracting all ages.
