The Southern U.S. boasts nearly 3,000 miles of coastal shoreline spanning across nine states and innumerable beaches of all shapes and sizes. To make your plans easier, we’ve focused in on four oceanfront areas bursting with stretches of sand perfect for group activities.
Alabama Getaway
“Meetings held in the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area have a special allure,” says Beth Gendler, vice president of sales. “With stellar accommodations and top-notch meeting venues, our area positions associations and groups to have a successful and productive event while also attracting more meeting attendees.”
Among the beachy-keen fun, according to Gendler, are water-bound offerings like catamaran cruises offered by Sail Wild Hearts or fishing charters organized by a number of outfitters.
The top stretches of sand in the area include Florida Point in Orange Beach, showing off more than a mile-wide oasis of sandy dunes, perfect picnicking spots and bustling boardwalks. For groups seeking something a bit more serene and secluded, Fort Morgan’s Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge Beach is a completely undeveloped enclave of pretty hiking paths, sumptuous shorefront and vibrant flora and fauna everywhere.
Myrtle Beach Beckons
“Myrtle Beach’s varied and unique experiences meet the needs of any group, especially ones looking to bond and build upon their strengths,” says Danna Lilly, director of sales for the Myrtle Beach Area CVB. “Not only do our 60 miles of beach offer 15 conference hotels and the largest convention center on the East Coast, the Grand Strand also boasts memorable team-building and entertaining experiences for meeting planners, including sandcastle building, improv acting, miniature golf, sightseeing boat tours, a ropes course and much more.”
For pure serenity, attendees can join outfitter Surf the Earth for a one-of-kind experience known as Paddleboard Yoga, floating off to a secluded beach for a solitary yoga routine. Soar and Explore offers zip-lining fun right over the water, and Ripley’s Aquarium provides the chance to snorkel with Stingrays in “Ray Bay.” Fishing is also hugely popular in the region, where numerous charter-boat operators offer excursions and a handful of piers are always active with anglers. PageBreak
Outer Banks Offerings
“The Outer Banks really lends itself to team-building exercises for the meetings and retreat customers,” says Aaron Tuell, public relations manager for Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. “The barrier islands are known for wide open-spaces and immersion among some of the most breathtaking natural coastal environments on the East Coast. Our local outfitters on the OBX— the nickname for the Outer Banks—really tap into what makes the destination different from our neighbors, and try to incorporate the diverse landscapes into a fun experience for the whole team.”
Among the choices, Tuell says, are horseback riding through maritime forest and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, hang gliding over the tallest sand dunes on the Atlantic Coast, or just connecting with nature among the many walking trails from Duck to Hatteras.
“There are lots of options,” Tuell says, “including the more physical ones like kite-boarding or sailing, depending on your group.”
Florida Forays
Orlando might be a landlocked locale, but its Wildly Different outfitter has hosted beachfront functions all over the Sunshine State and beyond, with a focus on corporate team building and networking.
“We are based in Florida, so beach events in the sunshine state are very popular for us. But, we also travel worldwide and have delivered events on beaches in the Carolinas, California, Panama and elsewhere,” says the group’s Chief Experience Officer, Lisa Jennings.
With a name like Wildly Different, you’d certainly expect the unexpected, and Jennings and company deliver in flying colors. Examples of their offbeat offerings include:
- Tropical Libation Container Creation, where teams craft a tropical drink container from fruit and other sources, including everything from cocktail stirrers to pipe cleaners. The group with the most innovative creation—and presentation of it—take home the prize.
- Beach Dash Wacky Games, in which attendees take to the sand to participate in some purely fun beach-themed games. In Bahama Mama, for example, one guest puts on a hula skirt embellished with hip baskets and wiggles their hips in an effort to snag the plastic fish tossed by teammates. Another option here is Beach Blanket Bingo, where teams use three-person slingshots to fire away at beach blanket targets.
