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However, today's reunions are going in a different direction than sleeping on Grandma's couch or having just a few hours in a park. Families are celebrating each other and renewing relationships between generations by taking long weekends or more to stay together--and many of them are doing so at a family member's timeshare.

Americans bought $10.6 billion worth of timeshares last year, with 4.7 million people buying into them for the first time, according to the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). The properties let people more easily share their vacation experiences with extended families and, because timeshares often include full kitchens and a number of bedrooms, they can help reunion attendees cut food and lodging costs. Whether you're meeting at a timeshare or anywhere else, the following tips from ARDA could help your reunion be a hit:

Theme It

Creating a theme for a family reunion is a great way to get some excitement generated around your event. Themes can also make things more fun when it comes to being imaginative with food, games, activities, invitations and just about every other aspect of the reunion. Family history themes are popular, as are reunions that celebrate a very special family member's birthday or anniversary, or the family's cultural heritage.

Icebreakers

You don't need to occupy everyone all the time, but planned activities and icebreakers at your family reunion will provide an easy way for people who haven't seen each other for a while to feel more comfortable together. Some great ideas for icebreakers can be found by visiting the Web site at family-reunion.com/icebreak.htm.

Make Mealtime Fun

Turn your kitchens into a traveling dinner. Let everyone share by creating a specialty from his or her hometown. Appetizers can be hosted by the cousins, dinner by the grandparents and dessert by the children. Timeshares provide full kitchens in every unit, helping to make dinner an event in itself.

Games And Activities

Be sure to have games for all ages. From Ping-Pong to shuffleboard, many vacation ownership resorts offer countless activities for all ages--not to mention the variety of activities in your resort area.

ARDA's free helpful hints, "Take Time For Togetherness," provides travelers with tips including invitations, selecting a location, icebreaker games, decorations and ways to stay in touch all year. It is available by request at www.vacationbetter.org.

Many families are using their timeshares to hold reunions.