Between the Gulf and the Atlantic, the southern realms of the U.S. boast an enviable number of beautiful beaches, not to mention the climes that are ideal for enjoying them. Small wonder that most attendees pack the sunscreen and sandals when they find out their meeting will be near a Southern shoreline.
So don’t keep them waiting. Planners can use the beaches in their programming—for events, for downtime activities or even the sessions themselves, as there are oceanfront gazebos, boardwalks and decks galore, sands groomed for special events and myriad other venues that, if not on the water, offer amazing water views.
“People want to be outside. They want to see daylight and get fresh air,” says Kevin Hellmich, director of sales and marketing for the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Point Clear, Ala., whose beach is a focal point for group activities (see below). “People are fascinated by the water. It’s a change of pace for them and better for networking. Their energy level will stay higher than if they’re sitting in a meeting or banquet room.”
Following are eight great ways to get attendees going—toward the water and memorable experiences.
Galveston Paddleboard Center
Mere blocks from the Galveston Island Convention Center—which is itself on the beach—Galveston Paddleboard Center will launch your group on stand-up paddleboards, with rentals, equipment delivery and lessons available, if desired.
“We have one instructor for every four people, and we have about four instructors, though we can add more if it’s a larger group,” says owner Damien McDonald. “We tell people to wear something comfortable that you don’t mind getting wet.”
McDonald says that if part or all of the group feels comfortable, they’re free to paddle on their own.
“The boards we use are really wide and stable and we go out on flat water,” he says. “Once the group is ready, we send them on their way.”
Biloxi Shrimping Trip
The name pretty much sums it up. Biloxi Shrimping Trip takes up to 49 people out on a real shrimping expedition into the Mississippi Sound, trawling the bottom and hauling up catches that include shrimp, fish, crabs, stingrays and squid.
“Once we bring the net in, we go through all the shrimp and fish and identify them,” says Brandy Moore, owner and captain. “Then we put them in an aquarium so people can look at them.”
But it isn’t only sea life that gets examined on these excursions; local lore and geography are highlighted as well.
“While the net’s dragging, we talk about the history of shrimping here on the coast, and we include information about the Gulf and the beaches,” she says.
Among the topics discussed: Biloxi’s 26-mile manmade beach, constructed in 1952 to bolster the protective seawall. To this day, many visitors driving Highway 90 through town are amazed at how close the water is.
Grand Hotel Marriott Resort
With a history dating back to 1847, the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Point Clear, Ala., has been fully updated in every way, with 405 guest rooms, 37,000 square feet of meeting space, a European-style spa and a host of on-site recreation, including two golf courses and a marina.
The 550-acre property also has its own beach and a full-service recreation department that can help plan teambuilding activities—such as building person-sized boats that set sail with attendees in them—as well as shrimp and crab boils on the beach and bonfires for roasting s’mores following a spectacular sunset over Mobile Bay.
Seaside
The coastal village of Seaside on Florida’s northwest Gulf Coast is like a dreamy vision of yesteryear with its quaint town square and whitewashed cottages lining brick streets. A good percentage of more than 300 privately owned homes are available for rent, with layouts of up to six bedrooms featuring generous parlors and dining rooms suitable for group events. Outdoors, oceanfront gazebos and pavilions welcome private receptions with brilliant white sands and emerald waters providing the picture-perfect backdrop.
Bodacious Bob’s Bike Tours
If bicycling on the beach sounds, well, bodacious, Bodacious Bob’s in Little River, S.C., north of Myrtle Beach, can help, with bike rentals and tours that include cycling the sands of Sunset Beach and other locales.
“We have several routes that take you to two different beaches,” says owner Judy Panarello. “We stop, drink some water and talk about the different historical and natural sights.”
Bob’s can guide about 30 cyclists at a time, though Panarello says some groups split up, letting the more avid cyclists ride ahead while the less experienced take a more leisurely pace.
“Groups have also done day trips on their own,” she says. “We get the bikes ready, get the lunch ready and they take off to the beach for the day.”
Vagabond Cruise
Group escapes galore are offered by Vagabond Cruise on Hilton Head Island, S.C., whose excursions include dolphin watching sails, day trips to Savannah and group charters to Daufuskie Island, narrated by a naturalist captain and taking in such historic sites as the ruins of antebellum slave quarters. Once on the island, groups can rent golf carts and explore for three hours.
“We also run the only dinner cruise on Hilton Head Island,” notes Danny Pegg, marketing director.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
Seashells by the seashore? Your group will see that and so much more—including nesting seabirds, sea turtles, historical lighthouses and unspoiled vistas—at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, set near the mid-point of North Carolina’s Outer Banks.
They also can go beyond observation and picture-taking to pitching in via volunteer programs offered by the park, with trash pick-up being the most common CSR task for large groups, says Volunteer Coordinator Nicole Loiseau.
“There’s a lot of microtrash, for sure,” she says. “The easiest thing for a larger group would be a beach cleanup, but it depends on the time of year.”
Groups also may find themselves trimming back vegetation on the trails and roads or painting on-site government houses. “They may even do some landscaping,” Loiseau says. “We like to rake pine needles up and transfer them to the trails. It helps identify the path.”
Saddles by the Seashore
People aren’t the only ones who love the beach; horses do, too, clomping across the sand and tossing their heads against the sea breezes. It’s a great thing to witness, and experience, with operators that offer horseback riding on the beach.
Galveston Island Horse & Pony Rides, for one, can accommodate up to six riders—though that number will grow in the near future—and is located 10 minutes away from the convention center. “Our trail rides are along the beach shoreline,” say owner Pete Alcocer. Horseback… riding? Try horse surfing in Bradenton on Florida’s Gulf Coast with Great World Adventures. Meanwhile, Florida’s Atlantic shoreline is showcased on beach horseback rides with Kelly Seahorse Ranch.
