Hi all! My parents are having their 50th anniversary next year. My wife and I would like to surprise them with a trip and a surprise party at the destination. Here is what we're thinking so far: We'd like it to be in the U.S. as we're inviting ~30 people (not all will show) and we don't want to have getting a passport be a requirement Kid friendly (Grandkids and Grand neices/nephews will be attending)...so probably not Vegas We were originally thinking Hawaii, Maui specifically, but we're re-considering due to the long travel time with toddlers. We have a large budget (our original plan was the Montage in Maui) Open to suggestions!
Base it around some concert/event that the parents have always been into. Make that the grand finale. Or some big attraction that they like or have wanted to see. It should be more about them.
Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge, Tennessee Lots of great wilderness and vistas, and tons of amusements for kids. If you can handle Disney, the kids will enjoy Pigeon Forge. I hated driving through it, but Disney sounds like Hell on Earth to me.
Those are decent ideas. We used to live in Tennessee for a brief while and we'd always take day trips to the above mentioned places.
With that many people and kids, I second the cruise idea because there is not a better way to have stress free travel. No planning meals, no planning **** to do, no worrying about drinking and getting anywhere, just hang out and enjoy your people. Parents can drop their kids off for playtime meaning they get a needed break and can truly enjoy their time as well. I'd splurge on at least one big room with a big balcony so that you can entertain privately. We always live by the rule of you get what you pay for and the same is true of cruising. You say you have a large budget so spend the money on a good ship and itinerary so that you weed out most of the people you really don't want on a cruise.
I went to a destination wedding in Brecknridge Colorado over the summer. They booked to Air BNB's in the mountains. It was amazing, Both Bnb's had game rooms with fooseball and pool tables, and there is a resort with rides in Breckenridge. Also did some white water rafting about an hour away.
I love CO, especially in the summer when it is hot in Houston...get up into the mountains and enjoy evenings at 55 degrees. We thought about Aspen (a place my wife and I have frequented), but not sure its my parents' thing.
