The same iconic Western experiences that are magnets for families from around the world also attract meeting groups with spouses and children in tow.
Exploring the West’s national parks and major cities, diving into its oceans, swooshing down its mountains, enjoying its amusement parks and saddling up at its dude ranches are all possible for attendees and their families during or after the meeting.
Ocean Adventures
The waterfront destinations lining the Western U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Mexico are among the most popular places in the country for meetings. Planners can count on record attendance, while attendees will find plenty of fun for the whole family.
If the meeting is held at Park Shore Hotel in Waikiki or at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu, attendees and their kids can make like Hawaiians and learn to “hang 10” with Hans Hedemann Surf School.
While a surf lesson promotes parent-child bonding, sessions with surf dogs Hina and Kahuna are extra fun for kids, who get to ride in tandem with the dogs, according to Bobby Balouskus, operations manager for Hans Hedemann Surf Inc.
In San Diego, groups can arrange surf or stand-up paddleboarding lessons with Surf Diva Surf School.
“When parents are in meetings, kids can enjoy half- or full-day camps during the week,” said Izzy Tihanyi, Surf Diva’s founder and co-owner.
Among the many whale-watching destinations and outfitters throughout the West is Baja, Mexico’s O.A.R.S., which offers 10-day outings for those interested in a kid-friendly trip, according to according Mindy Gleason, the company’s reservations manager.
“Families can explore the dunes, beachcomb the western shore and kayak the mangrove areas,” she said.
Mountain Meetings
The West’s beautiful mountain destinations also attract meetings year-round, and attendees with young skiers and outdoor lovers in the family should bring them along.
Sun Valley in Idaho is one such destination.
“Parents can attend meetings while their kids are in our Playschool/Adventure Camps in the summer or SnowSports Ski School in the winter,” said Brent Gillette, Sun Valley’s director of sales. “After the meetings, families have a wide variety of activities they can do together, from bowling in the renovated Sun Valley Lodge to enjoying the year-round outdoor ice- skating rink.”
According to Sarah Morden, public relations coordinator at Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada, the mountain’s family-certified ski routes accommodate all ability levels.
“Skiing or snowboarding as a family is one of the most rewarding mountain experiences,” she said, adding that families also have a great time at Coca-Cola Tube Park.
One of the many meetings-friendly mountain properties in Colorado is St. Regis Aspen, which according to Tobias Rimkus, the resort’s director of catering and events, is encouraging families to explore the parks and fields around Aspen with its new complimentary Snowman Kit.
“It includes wooden eyes, buttons, a smile, a nose and arms to make the ideal snow person,” he said. “The kit also comes with wooden antlers for the creation of a snow pet.”
And in Wyoming, the Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole takes advantage of its prime clear-sky location by offering an astronomer-lead, family-friendly star- and planet-gazing event complete with hot cocoa, according to Cory Carlson, the resort’s director of sales and marketing.
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Parks Aplenty
Amusement, theme and waterparks that welcome groups to both take care of business and have fun via thrill rides, shows and more are the places children dream of visiting.
The granddaddy of them all is Anaheim, Calif.-based Disneyland Resort, where Mickey Mouse mingles with newer Disney characters like Anna and Elsa from Frozen.
According to Robert Donahue, director of resort and park event sales and services at Disneyland Resort, the new show Frozen–Live at the Hyperion at Disney California Adventure Park is hugely popular for the whole family.
Another hit with families is Disney California Adventure Park’s new Soarin’ Around the World attraction, which showcases exciting locations such as the Great Wall of China.
“For a fresh new way to experience the theme parks at Disneyland Resort, families and groups can gather for a picnic in one of the resort’s two theme parks,” Donahue said. “A private dining location, music, a delicious all-you-care-to-eat menu and more are offered for this exclusive family-friendly group event.”
Also located in Southern California is the Garden Grove-based Great Wolf Lodge, an all-in-one option for attendees and their families. It features more than 21,000 square feet of event space, spacious accommodations, including family suites, and a 105,000-square-foot indoor waterpark. Farther north along the coast is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, where groups can arrange seaside picnics and beach parties.
According to its communications manager, Brigid Fuller, the boardwalk also offers activities galore for attendees and their families, from seasonal rides and games to year-round bowling, arcades and miniature golf.
Located in downtown Denver is Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park, which has hosted many events, including celebrations for the Democratic National Convention and Harley-Davidson, according to Cindy Hann, the park’s general sales manager.
“There is truly something for all ages to enjoy, from pint-size adventures in KiddieLand, to thrilling coasters and cool waterslides for the teens, and tons of summer entertainment for all,” she said.
According to Tom Nolan, vice president of attractions at Las Vegas-based Circus Circus, the most popular option for families at the on-site Adventuredome is a visit to the FX Theater for a 4-D special effects film.
“The Adventuredome also offers many different activities that children may enjoy while their parents are in a meeting,” Nolan said, citing the indoor theme park’s 25 rides and attractions.
And back in California is Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City. It is the only working movie- and television-based theme park that accommodates groups.
Attractions here include the recently opened Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where families can explore Hogsmeade village and Hogwarts castle, sample Butterbeer and take a roller coaster ride.
Universal Studios also offers a behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, which features a close-up look at authentic film and television sets, as well as thrill rides such as Peter Jackson’s King Kong 360 3-D.
Family-Friendly Cities
The West’s major cities are as iconic as their landmarks—the Hollywood sign, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Space Needle—and wise convention-goers pack their families to explore these cultural gems.
Aside from Universal Studios Hollywood, the Los Angeles area is stocked with options to entertain families.
“We’re seeing a rising trend where attendees and their families are arriving earlier or staying later to experience our dynamic destination,” said Darren K. Green, senior vice president of sales for the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. “Our family-friendly attractions and entertainment options are endless, from imaginations soaring at the sight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center to enjoying L.A.’s near-perfect weather on horseback at Sunset Ranch Hollywood.”
Among the many family-friendly attractions in San Francisco are the Exploratorium and California Academy of Sciences (CAS).
“In a single visit, you can wind your way through an indoor rainforest ecosystem with free-flying birds and butterflies, then grab a seat inside one of the world’s largest all-digital planetariums to catch an immersive space show,” said Kelly Mendez, senior communications manager at CAS.
Seattle is another amazing place for families to explore, according to Rob Hampton, senior vice president, convention sales and services for Visit Seattle.
“Younger kids will enjoy the Seattle Children’s Museum, and slightly older kids and adults can discover their inner rock star at EMP Museum,” said Hampton, adding that families made up of history buffs should check out the Museum of History and Industry.
And among the top attractions for families meeting in Portland are the Oregon Zoo, where animals such as tigers, elephants and monkeys reside, and the Portland Children’s Museum, which has wonderful hands-on activities for families to tackle together, according to Desiree Everett, director of convention sales at Travel Portland.
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National Treasures
Meetings near national parks are particularly special this year, as 2016 marks the 100th birthday of the National Park Service.
“Anchorage is so close to so many of the most iconic parks in Alaska, so a visit to one is high on the list for many delegates and their families,” said Jack Bonney, content development manager at Visit Anchorage.
At Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest mountain, as well as grizzly bears and gray wolves, families will enjoy visiting on-site kennels for cuddling time with sled dog puppies, who are groomed to join sled dog teams that help rangers during their winter patrols in the park.
Whale-watching and glacier and dinner cruises are the best ways to visit Kenai Fjords National Park, which is near Seward about two hours from Anchorage.
Families onboard can play an epic round of “I Spy” as they spot wildlife such as humpback whales, otters, sea lions and puffins.
Groups convening in St. George, Utah, or neighboring Springdale, a community that encourages small meetings, can easily visit Zion National Park.
Zion offers horseback riding and a variety of easy hikes for families, including the two-mile paved Riverside Walk, according to Kristen B. Kaiser, marketing assistant for the St. George Tourism Office.
“Let the kids play in the Virgin River before your hike back,” she said. “On your way out of the canyon be sure to stop at the Zion Lodge for an ice cream cone.”
In New Mexico, White Sands National Monument is a popular attraction near Las Cruces.
“The most popular activities are the full moon nights where you can see the dunes light up under the moonlight, and kids also love to sled the dunes,” said Chris Faivre, director of marketing and communications for Visit Las Cruces.
And from Ventura, Calif., groups and families are encouraged to visit Channel Islands National Park, which is nicknamed “North America’s Galapagos,” according to Cheryl Bagby, vice president of sales and marketing for the Ventura VCB.
“From the playful sea lions and dolphins that surround the boat on the way to the islands, to the island foxes that greet visitors when they arrive, the whole experience is memorable,” Bagby said. “Visitors can hike, snorkel, kayak or simply picnic on the beach.”
Home on the Range
Throughout the West, ubiquitous images of cowboys, horses, wide-open spaces and campfires come to life at group-friendly ranch settings that also boast handsome meeting spaces and luxurious accommodations.
At Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Ariz., groups with families give high marks to the twice-weekly Cowboy Cookout BBQ, according to Christina Canez, the property’s conventions services coordinator.
“Families can make lasting memories while gathering around a campfire to roast s’mores, learning to line dance or simply enjoying an evening meal under the stars,” she said.
Canez added that the ranch also offers a children’s program for ages 4-12 that keeps little ones engaged with activities such as horseback riding lessons and arts and crafts while their parents attend meetings.
The Resort at Paws Up, a luxury ranch in picturesque Greenough, Mont., offers an authentic ranch cattle drive, during which guests on horseback drive a herd of cattle from the working corrals, learn how to sort them and then lead them back to the home pasture.
“The Blackfoot River Float is another family favorite and is especially appealing for those who want a more serene experience on the water,” said Graham Stanley, the resort’s director of group sales.
Meanwhile, the Lodge & Spa at Brush Creek Ranch in Saratoga, Wyo., offers the Lil’ Wranglers kid camp.
According to Amanda Wascher, the property’s senior sales manager, while mom or dad attend meetings, kids will have a ball with activities like fishing, gold panning, scavenger hunts, ziplining, climbing a 30-foot rock wall and horseback riding.
