When it comes to meetings travel, being away from family can be a drag. Many resorts in the Midwest make it easier to bring the spouse and kids along by offering a wide array of activities for family-friendly fun, from the region’s vibrant waterparks to museums and cooking classes.
Here are six properties that showcase full-service meeting facilities while also providing unique activities for family members to keep busy during an event, as well as making for great extended-stay options.
Big Cedar Lodge
Ridgedale, Mo.
Located in the Ozarks and just 10 minutes from Branson, Mo., Big Cedar Lodge has the convenience of the city while also having the feeling of being away from it all. With more than 20 meeting venues totaling over 20,000 square feet of space, it’s a natural draw for corporate retreats, conferences and meetings, but its long list of diverse activities make it a great family-friendly destination to boot. From the Kids Adventure Club, to the Cedar Creek Spa (which opened last year), to golf options and multiple marinas, spouses and children will not be bored while meetings take place.
The nearby 10,000-acre Dogwood Canyon Nature Park has a full-service marina, allowing for all kinds of water sports and fishing; trails for walking, biking and hiking; and even 3D archery. For groups looking to include family in the events, Big Cedar Lodge can arrange for chuckwagon dinners at a campsite, treasure hunts, Ozark Olympics, herding cattle on horseback and even casino-nights.
“We tailor events and activities to reflect the personal style of our guests, as well as incorporating a little Big Cedar flare,” says Courtney Munday, conference services manager at Big Cedar Lodge, citing the resort’s own “Singin’ Cowboy” and “Raw Hide Cattle Drive” as examples.
Top of the Rock, which began as a bluff overlooking the mountains and Table Rock Lake, is now another Big Cedar Lodge outdoor destination. It opened last year with a golf course, Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, and dining. Having debuted in May 2015, the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum is also available for private dinners and tours.
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Mission Point Resort
Mackinac Island, Mich.
Mackinac Island’s Mission Point Resort is far from new to the family-friendly meetings concept. Not only does it feature 38,000 square feet of meeting and event space, the resort also offers two-bedroom family suites with a shared foyer, ideal for offering a secure space for children while adults move in and out between meetings and events. For younger children, there is a Kids Club where they can play miniature golf, learn kite and origami building; those under 12 eat for free.
For teens, there is an on-site movie theater, an arcade and the Haunts of Mackinac Haunted History Tour, as seen on SyFy Channel’s Ghost Hunters. For the whole family, croquet and bocce ball on the lakefront lawn overlooking Lake Huron and the Straits are great options for breakout sessions and teambuilding. The resort also offers an “Out of Office” package that allows groups to customize their events and activities like lawn games, horticultural tours and bicycle rentals while also having their basic meeting needs covered.
Eaglewood Resort & Spa
Itasca, Ill.
Eaglewood Resort & Spa has more than 37,000 square feet of IACC-certified function and meeting space, not to mention its proximity to downtown Chicago and O’Hare International Airport, which makes it a great option for bringing the family along or extending the trip.
The 18-hole championship USGA-certified golf course is obviously a big draw, but groups and families can also play night golf games of three to nine holes with glow balls, light headbands and lit pin sticks, or enjoy night putting on a glow-in-the-dark course.
There is a retro bowling alley on property that can also be used for customized events like karaoke.
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And when it comes to the events themselves, “the kids and siblings of the kids all had their own ‘breakout’ and ‘activity’ sessions,” says Julie Berry, director of sales and marketing, regarding a recent family-oriented conference held at the resort.
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Acme, Mich.
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, with about 600 rooms and condominiums, is ready for families and events year-round. With 86,500 square feet of meeting space and as one of the Midwest’s largest full-service, resort and conference destinations, the property knows how to mix business with pleasure. In the summer months, the Beach Club is a hit with kids of all ages, and nearby Grand Traverse Bay offers activities such as sailing a 40-foot catamaran or tall ship. Teens and adults can also rent ElliptiGO bikes for exploring and exercise, and tennis and golf lessons are also available for all ages. In winter months, ice skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are all available on-site.
The popular 15,000-square foot indoor Water Playground is a hit all year, of course. The Event Design and Health Club team can create custom kids programming during meetings, like scavenger hunts, campsite s’mores and even going into the kitchen for some pizza-making.
Lied Lodge & Conference Center
Nebraska City, Neb.
The recently renovated Lied Lodge & Conference Center was designed to serve as a facility and destination for the Arbor Day Foundation members and other conservation-focused organizations. As a full-service meeting facility with 140 guest rooms and 14,000 square feet of space, the property has hosted events of all kinds and all sizes. In addition to the conference center, the adjacent Steinhart Lodge has a fully equipped kitchen, and can also be used as a meeting and dining facility for smaller groups.
Families are drawn to this property largely because of the Arbor Day Farm, a 260-acre National Historic Landmark and the birthplace of Arbor Day. The Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure is great for all ages and has miles of hiking trails, a 50-foot-tall treehouse and Discovery Ride, which takes groups through the backwoods of the property and through orchards and vineyards. The Discovery Ride tour can also be booked for private events. The Arbor Lodge State Historical Park includes Arbor Day founder J. Sterling’s 52-room mansion, a carriage house, gardens, a playground and picnic areas.
Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center
Okoboji, Iowa
Located between Omaha, Minneapolis, Sioux Falls and Des Moines, Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center is easily accessible for much of the Midwest, making it a snap to bring the family along. With 38,000 square feet of meeting space, including a new 10,000-square-foot event hall and 100 guest rooms, the property is equipped to hold meetings of any size and events of any nature. For groups bringing kids, the resort arrange for a Kids Club.
“We have done different activities with the kids, ranging from watching movies, painting t-shirts and nature hikes to taking them to Kurio Kastle in Spirit Lake to paint pottery,” says Deb Jungjohan, sales manager.
And for the whole family, the resort offers Arnold’s Park Amusement Park packages. On-property, the main hit for everyone is the indoor Water Playland, which has slides, pools, a water-walk, a basketball hoop and other water features.
