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Plan a Great Family Reunion on a Budget

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(NewsUSA) - With American families becoming separated by vast distances throughout the country, family reunions have become an increasingly important way to keep connected. According to the United States Travel Association, 72 million adults traveled to a family reunion in the past three years. But as the economy tightens purse strings, expensive transportation costs and hotel rates might keep family members at home.

Despite limited budgets, extended families do not have to take out loans to enjoy each other's company. Here are some tips from Ancestry.com:

- Set a family reunion budget. Talk to different family members about what they can spend on travel, accommodations, food, activities and other expenses.

- Decide the reunion's length and location. If you're on a tight budget, consider a weekend barbecue and trip to the lake rather than a week at an oceanfront hotel. Consider hosting the reunion in one family's hometown where some family members can stay with the host family. Keep in mind the number of people who will attend, their ages and any specific needs they might have.

- Plan your itinerary. Use your set budget to plan your activities. Think of free activities that families can enjoy together, like swimming, hiking and playing games. Don't feel the need to schedule every moment -- allow family members plenty of opportunity to talk and catch-up.

- Make assignments. Assign one person to handle accommodations, one to handle activities and another to plan meals or other details. Break up tasks at the reunion in the same manner.

- Share family history. Sharing family history builds memories. Display a slide show of family photographs. Interview family members about their lives, fill out a family tree and take plenty of pictures.

Once the reunion is over, document the collected photos and stories. Certain Web sites, like Ancestry.com, can help you create keepsakes for long-lasting family memories. Ancestry.com lets users build an online family tree, record audio and upload photos for free. With its MyCanvas application, users can easily create digital scrapbooks, then order printed, bound copies.

For more information on planning reunions, or to create your own family tree, visit Ancestry.com.