Venues Perfect for the Summer

As the weather heats up, so do opportunities for new venues to explore for meetings and events. The summer is prime time for booking, since more spaces come online that would normally not be available to reserve the rest of the year, particularly in the non-traditional venue market. Colleges and universities are a prime example. As students head home for the summer break, residence hall accommodations are available as are nearly every type of venue on campus, from student union ballrooms to traditional classrooms and auditoriums.

At Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, guests can converge on a scenic 800-acre campus at the foot of the Mount Holyoke Range, providing ample opportunities to enjoy the outdoors after meetings wrap through hiking excursions and other activities. One of the most popular venues here is The Red Barn with a patio and picnic grove. There are also sporting fields and an apple orchard to explore, making any meeting or event here feel like summer camp.

Western Carolina University is another option located within the Blue Ridge Mountains, just 25 minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The university’s outdoor recreation program, Base Camp Cullowhee, can arrange guided trips and activities including kayaking, white water rafting, paddle boarding, caving, rock climbing, hiking, and backpacking, all coordinated by trained students and staff. In fact, WCU has been named the Number One Outdoor Adventure University in the Southeast by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine for three years in a row thanks to its unique setting and adventures that are at their prime in the summer.

The Christian Retreats Network offers a non-campus option, providing a collection of venues throughout the country with recreation packages that provide a choice of lodging, customized meeting space, buffet dining, and activities ranging from the use of sports fields and courts to adventure courses.

Here are more of our favorite venues to make the most of the summer.