Summer is almost over, but groups can take advantage of the still-warm weather and quintessential pleasures of autumn with these bonding activities.
Located in Scottsdale, Arizona’s expansive McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the Brown’s Ranch Trailhead will host its grand opening in October. Named after a former cattle ranch, the trailhead has paths that meander through the desert. Arizona Outback Adventures can lead corporate groups on guided hikes or mountain-biking excursions through the area; group horseback riding is also an option.
Meeting guests at Harbor View Hotel on Martha’s Vineyard can accompany in-house chef Nathan Gould on foraging missions. Best suited to groups of 10 or fewer guests, the outings typically take two to two-and-a-half hours. Guests scour the island for seasonal, island-grown herbs and veggies; in the fall, findings may include sassafras, rose hips, sea beans, and watercress. The foraging mission can end with a cooking class that incorporates the found ingredients.
The Wild Dunes Resort near Charleston, South Carolina, offers a group activity known as the Fall Oyster Roast. The outing starts with a 45-minute boat cruise up to Capers Island Preserve, where wildlife such as sea turtles and white-tailed deer run amok. Once the boat is docked, guests relax by the water while a catering crew cooks a seafood feast. Meeting attendees can divide into teams to learn how to shuck oyster shells.
The new Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado in Santa Fe has teamed up with Adventure Partners to create a Âseries of outings for meeting guests. Aiming to give visitors an authentic taste of New Mexico, the experiences include a three-hour private tour of the Tsankawi Archeological Site. After a 30-minute ride across the Rio Grande, guests walk along ancient trails, ending at a collection of rock engravings and dwellings from the 1400s.
Idaho’s meeting-friendly Coeur d’Alene Resort has a teambuilding activity that will appeal to card sharks and boat enthusiasts alike. The resort’s Poker Runs on Lake d’Alene take groups out on a Cobalt Armada boat. At each of as many as seven checkpoints, guests pull a card, and the player with the best poker hand at the end of the outing wins a prize. One boat holds six guests, and the property has eight boats available.
In Chicago, City Running Tours offers themed jaunts through the Windy City. Professional guides lead groups of as many as 100 guests through sites that pertain to Chicago’s history. The tours typically take 90 minutes and can be tailored to meet guests’ fitness levels. Organizers can arrange for branded event shirts. The company also runs tours in cities across America, including Austin and Denver.
Nothing says fall like apple pie, and the Park Hyatt Washington has a new activity centered on the autumn treat. During interactive culinary classes held in the newly renovated event and meeting space, chefs lead guests through the process of making a fruity, spicy pie and share details about the dish’s history. The classes typically last around 30 minutes and can accommodate groups of any size.
