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Perfect Gathering Places - West Virginia State Parks State parks can be an economical and flexible choice for large gatherings. West Virginia's State Parks are very popular reunion locations, says Patrice Summers, group marketing coordinator for West Virginia State Parks and Forests. There are more than 200,000 acres of state parks, forests, and wildlife management areas scattered throughout the state. "We're seeing more family groups rent cabins or cottages a week at a time in the summer," she reports. "In a park atmosphere, there are activities every generation can enjoy. At Twin Falls Resort State Park, for example, one grandfather hosted a reunion that included a whitewater rafting outing for the whole family. Another group put together family videos and watched them together every night." Many of the cabins in the state's parks have kitchens, making them ideal for families who want to cook their own food for a reunion. Twin Falls Resort State Park, in the state's southern New River/Greenbrier Valley region, offers a family-friendly setting, with a 50-site campground, 14 secluded vacation cottages, mountaintop lodge, hiking trails, waterfall vistas, a restaurant, and catering services. Pipestem Resort, in the same region, has a 600-seat conference facility, scenic overlooks of the Bluestone Gorge, outdoor amphitheater, indoor and outdoor pools, and a nature center. Accommodations include deluxe cottages, a 113-room lodge, and a second 30-room lodge accessible only by aerial tram. Among Pipestem's other resort-style amenities are a fitness room, gift shops, and three restaurants. Ten miles south is Bluestone State Park, with a variety of activities centered around Bluestone Lake, the state's third largest body of water. Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park, in the state's Mountain Lakes region, is a favorite of boating and fishing enthusiasts. Cacapon Resort State Park, an hour and twenty minutes from Washington, D.C., offers luxurious winter spa packages in conjunction with nearby Berkeley Springs State Park. Families who are able to convene their reunions in September, April and May should ask about lower midweek rates on park cabin rentals during these less busy periods. "Thanksgiving is also a good time for a reunion here," advises Summers. Reunion organizers may want to consider timing their event to coincide with one of West Virginia's many multicultural celebrations. Clarksburg holds a Black Heritage Festival in September, several cities offer Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities in January, and Charleston hosts a Black Sacred Music Festival in February. In June, there's the Mid-Ohio Valley Multi-Cultural Festival in Parkersburg and African-American Jubilee in Wheeling. Music takes center stage at Parkersburg's "Jazz on the Green" in July. In the end, what makes a reunion successful is not the perfect setting, or the food, or whether the weather cooperated. The best gatherings provide opportunities for making treasured memories and sharing the values that will sustain today's and tomorrow's families. ©Reunions magazine |
REUNIONS MASTER PLAN FOR A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY REUNION 18-24 months before 12 months before 6-9 months before 5 months before 2-4 months before Six weeks before Two weeks before The day before Reunion Day(s) Afterward |