Hey Family!

This year we are taking a new approach to our reunion excursion schedule. We are based in the beautiful resort hotel, South Shore Harbor, in League City, Texas, which is approximately halfway between Houston and historic Galveston, Texas. Since we are so uniquely positioned close to many areas of interest, on Friday June 28, we will allow each of the families to decide which excursion location is the most interesting to them. We will provide van transportation for all members from out of town to an official location and back to the hotel on a flexible schedule. Family members with their own transportation are asked to use their own vehicles to get to the location of their choice and to offer rides to out-of-town guests. In addition, the use of rideshare options are also available for any members who want to reach locations other than the official excursions (shopping, eating, etc) or to return to the hotel if the van schedule is not suitable. 

We highly encourage the family to discuss destinations with other family members who want to share the same experiences, especially with families who are distant from one another. In other words, we want the family to intermingle with each other in activities which are of mutual interest. We will have additional time together on Saturday which family members can use to visit locations close to the hotel or Galveston. We will also have a dedicated area, at the hotel pool as well as the usual hospitality room, where family members can gather and enjoy time with each other. The goal is to get to know each other and share special time together.

Below you will find links to the official excursion destinations:

1. Kemah Boardwalk - is home to waterfront restaurants, amusement rides, retail stores, and shows. There is no cover charge but rides require the purchase of tickets and is open from 11am to 9pm

https://www.kemahboardwalk.com/visitor-info

2. Pleasure Pier - is an over-the-water pier originally built for military purposes that has been re-developed into a family-friendly venue including 16 rides, retail shops, and food venues, including Texas's first Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. it is open from 12pm to 10pm. All Day ride passes are $24/$30 based on height or $11/$12 to access the pier and $6 per ride. Across the street from the pier are additional restaurants, beach access, bicycle rentals, and other activities so bring swimsuits and towels if you want to enjoy the beach and sun.

https://www.pleasurepier.com/info.html

3. Schlitterbahn Waterpark - for the hot Texas days, go to the famous Texas water park that has many rivers, slides, rides, and chutes that can be used to enjoy a cool rest from the heat. If our family group is 15 or more they will be eligible for discounts on the individual ticket price of $45. You can bring your own coolers/drinks (non-alcoholic). They also offer military discounts and meal plans. It is open from 11am to 7pm.

https://www.schlitterbahn.com/galveston

4. Moody Gardens - is a unique combination of hotel, aquarium, rain forest, zoo, golf and steamboat excursion. The family will be able to choose among the various offerings to have an exciting visual and educational experience. Day passes range from $70 to $85 for child/senior to adult. It is open from 10am to 5pm now but maybe later in June. 

https://www.moodygardens.com/

5. Space Center Houston - NASA Tram Tours are the most popular experiences at Space Center Houston – add them to your visit! These tours are your chance to go on-site at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) and get an up-close look at human space exploration.

Our contact at Space Center Houston is offering us a private tram tour if we have 20 or more people.  The tour would start at 9:15a, before the facility opens to the public at 10a.  The private tour would go to all three tram stops: Historic Mission Control, Rocket Park and the Astronaut Training Facility.  It lasts about 90 minutes. The cost is $69.95 per person with a minimum of 20. This would include entrance into the museum. If you get hungry, the Food Lab Restaurant, with a menu curated by Wolfgang Puck, is available. No outside food/drinks are allowed. The Space Center closes at 5p.

https://spacecenter.org/exhibits-and-experiences/nasa-tram-tour/

In addition to the official excursions above, the hotel location also allows access to other activities such as jet skis, fishing, dolphin watching, and picnics by the lake. The family will have free time on Saturday which can be used to enjoy these activities. These can be arranged by individual family members. We will try to accomodate transportation to nearby venues but we may be limited, by our capacity, in how many activities we can support. Rideshare remains an alternative transportation option.

For our excursion options to work we must know how many are interested in each venue. Therefore, we must receive from each family which location they would like to visit. Due to the comprehensive nature of each location, it is only realistic to visit one location. There are enough options at each one to keep everyone busy for several hours. You can notify us of your preferred excursion via survey to be sent later this week. So, review each option carefully before letting us know. We will be flexible until we hit our cutoff date which will be determined and sent to the family. After the cutoff date, we will determine the van schedule which will be maintained during the reunion. We're looking forward to seeing everyone on June 27, 2024. Thanks!