The fabulous Casa de Campo resort in La Romana, Dominican Republic, has extensive amenities and activities for multi-generational travelers. In fact, as my family discovered, there's more than anyone can do on a beach vacation. And for this year, both American Airlines (from Puerto Rico) and JetBlue (from New York) are flying non-stop to the nearby La Romana Airport, making a family beach vacation or family reunion even easier than before.

"Bella balla! Bella balla!" cheered Enrique as the 70-something grandmother drove the 15th hole of Teeth of the Dog Golf Course. This famed fairway, the Number One ranked golf course in the Caribbean and 47th worldwide by Golf Magazine, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Despite the intermittent bouts of tropical rain, she and her husband were thoroughly enjoying teeing off as part of their family reunion at the Dominican Republic's Casa de Campo Resort.

Their son, a single, over-worked music industry executive, was back at the four-bedroom villa reading by the pool. Their daughter (this reporter), son-in-law and grandson were at the main hotel complex shopping for Aloha shirts.

"More high here," urged their caddy, as he watched Grandpa drive his ball above the jagged coral coastline and onto architect Pete Dye's most celebrated fairway. Considering all the activities they had done together, these energetic grandparents were playing remarkably well.

Busy Days at Casa de Campo

Casa de Campo, known since 1971 for its extensive (if expensive) recreational facilities, had learned that its growing family clientele required a fresh approach “togethering” multi-generational vacations.

Our family’s day had begun with an enormous breakfast of tropical fruits, ham and eggs, fresh
croissants, Dominican coffee and pitchers of fresh orange juice prepared by the butler and maid assigned to tend this reunion's Villa Rancho Arriba 14.

After breakfast, three generations had hopped onto the villa's red carritos (golf carts) to go "shoot clays" at the Shooting Center. Although children under 12 are not allowed to fire the long-barreled shotguns, the guide offered as much instruction to an awed 9-year-old as to his fearful grandmother. In an hour, with 25 shots apiece, they practiced shooting at clay Frisbees mimicking the flight of pigeons, quail and ducks at three of the range's 10 stations.

Then the entire family had taken the free resort shuttle to Casa de Campo's central recreation and dining complex. With 7,000 tropical acres to play Casa de Campo is known world-wide as the Caribbean’s Most Complete Resort. Its beauty is not only obvious in its lushly manicured landscapes and gardens, but its diversity of world-class options for all ages.

This Must Be Italy? No, It’s Altos de Chavon

Next stop: the re-creation 16th-century, Italian village at Altos de Chavon. This delightful and somehow appropriate architectural folly was built above the Rio Chavon by Paramount Pictures. If one recalls the U.S. patrol boat steaming up the Mekong in "Apocalypse Now," filmed on the Chavon when Casa de Campo was owned by the Hollywood studio, Altos begins to make sense. Fortunately for today's visitor, private funds have allowed the incredibly picturesque village to thrive as an artists' colony and venue for shops and restaurants.

Creativity abounds at the bustling Escuela de Diseño associated with New York City's Parsons School of Design, where resort guests can return for two-week to two-year-long programs in fashion, interior, graphic or product design.

Development continues --especially in the golfing facilities -- as Pete Dye’s newest nine holes opened near Altos de Chavón in November 2011. The new course took 5 years to build and connects Dye Fore Chavón, the original nine of Dye Fore, and the Marina Nine for another 27-hole complex at Casa de Campo, which is already home to Teeth of the Dog and The Links.

Reunionplanners may even customize a seminar or plan a special event in the village. Several of the hand-hewn coral and limestone block structures house crafts, woodworking shops or jewelry boutiques; others are appealing venues for Italian, Mexican, patisserie and other gourmet fare. The small, comprehensive Archeological Museum of Altos de Chavon boasts a well displayed collection of Arawak, Taino and other native artifacts, as well as priceless mementos from the

Colonial era that began with Christopher Columbus' landfall in 1492.  Nearby, the La Marina Chavon pier has spawned a new community of waterfront homes, shops
and outdoor dining venues.

Busy Nights all over Casa de Campo

More than a dozen restaurants serving delightful seafood, international buffets, or gourmet fare were cooperating in a "Family Values" summer promotion meal plan during our visit. At any of them, children will find a warm reception, inventive kids menu and highchairs, even at those with a dress code (strictly enforced only in winter.)

Mumba and Grandpa's post-golf celebration was at the Family Fun Zone, a large lounge area where scheduled activities and special family events are held. The Family Fun Zone is an entertainment center for the entire family with a billiard table, air hockey, board games, basketball, video games, computers with internet access, a snack bar, movies, karaoke and more are featured. Because the Zone is always supervised, parents are also free to listen to live music in the bar next door, or shop in the Paris-calibre fashion boutiques nearby.

Kids Together, Teens Apart at Casa de Campo

One of the strongest appeals of Casa de Campo for multi-generational family reunions is the breadth of supervised children's programs. Parents familiar with ordinary 'kids camps' will be impressed by the intelligent program and multilingual, super energetic and genuinely kid-loving staff. The Family Activities Coordinator recruits staff from a pool of ex-pats, hotel staff and local University graduates; the recreation staff is further trained in CPR, 1st Aid and water safety.

The Kidz' n Casa bunch of 4- to 7-year-olds play in an airy casita with its own shaded playground and picnic area, that is, when they're not being shuttled around the resort to the stables, pretty sand beach, pool or tennis courts. Casa 'Tweens (8 to 12 years) are even more active in their use of the resort's incredible facilities, and will bicycle, fly kites on the polo fields, take merengue lessons, tour Altos de Chavon or mount the banana boat for a wild ride in the Caribbean with their counselor.

One of the resort's challenges is entertaining the teens, a demand made by many of the 1,800 villa owners whose children have grown up spending weekends and school holidays at their "country houses". The teens-only Bonche Café is where resort guests ages 13 and up play pool, Foosball, check their email, or watch a movie. Young counselors staff this private club, open 7pm to midnight daily.

Family Togetherness is the Dominican Way

Over the course of several days, there are other family-together activities which less active reunion-goers can participate in or avoid. Kayaking on the Chavon River offered a different perspective on a river teeming with bird life. As single and two-person kayaks gently paddled upstream, a 'safety' motor launch puttered along to sweep up the youngest and less fit paddlers. Within a half hour, a clearing appeared on the opposite bank. The group paddled ashore to discover waiters hovering over a fully dressed lunch table laden with sandwiches, fruit and cold drinks. Such is the Casa de Campo picnic.

Another excursion promised an early morning horseback ride (or buggy for the elders) followed by a ranchero breakfast.  The sight of polo ponies in training, Andalusians with their masters, and helmeted little girls in pink jodhpurs made it clear that for many families, the Equestrian Center is Casa de Campo's main draw. Chipper elders and sore-butted youngsters soon met back at the 250-horse stable to find breakfast set on the patio at the Polo Field Clubhouse, a private chef in white toque waiting to customize his guests' omelettes. Such is the Casa de Campo calibre of pampering.

El Tiempo Para Gastarlos

When Dominicans raise glasses, they toast to Salud, Amor, Dinero y el Tiempo para Gustarlos (Health, Love, Wealth and the Time to Enjoy It.) At a 7,000-acre resort with three golf courses, 13 tennis courts, countless kilometers of bicycleable roadways, beach, river, a myriad of watersports and an over-burdened shuttle system, there is never enough time to see or do everything.

The adults in our group didn't have time to linger at the luxurious Cygalle Healing Spa, whose reputation preceded it.

In fact, there was hardly enough time to enjoy the Dominican Republic's endless summer breezes, or savor the clusters of bougainvillea at every turn.

But then, of course, there's next year's reunion.