33rd Reunion and Annual Meeting - Pensacola Beach, Florida

May 19 - 22, 2016

The 2016 Reunion and Annual Meeting of the Society of John Gaither Descendants, will be held in Pensacola Beach, where you can experience all the Florida Gulf Coast has to offer. World famous for its sugar-white sand beaches and emerald-green waters. Pensacola Beach was selected as #5 of TripAdvisor's Top 25 Beaches in the U.S., and the bordering neighbor to the east and west, the Gulf Islands National Seashore, was selected as the #3 beach in the U.S. and ranked in the top 25 worldwide.

Our host hotel, Hilton Pensacola Beach, is located directly on the beach facing the Gulf of Mexico. All of the stylish and comfortable rooms come with a view, because there’s water in every direction – whether you’re looking at the Gulf of Mexico or the Santa Rosa Sound. Located in the center of everything on Santa Rosa Island, within walking distance of the most popular local restaurants and attractions, and only minutes away from the City of Pensacola across the Bay Bridge. The hotel is approximately 10 miles or a $40.00 taxi fare from the Pensacola International Airport.

THIS IS A HIGH-DEMAND, BEACHFRONT HOTEL AND AVAILABILITY OF THE SPECIAL GAITHER RATE IS LIMITED. NOW IS THE TIME TO BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM.  Click here to make your hotel reservations.

This year's activities are superb. Weather permitting, the Gaithers will shove off on a Dolphin Boat Tour of the beautiful waters of Pensacola, (TripAdvisor's #32 of 93 things to do in Pensacola). 

On Saturday, we will tour the National Naval Aviation Museum, (TripAdvisor's #1 of 93 things to do in Pensacola) and Veteran's Memorial Park, (TripAdvisor's #15 of 93 things to do in Pensacola), home of "Wall South", a one-half scale model of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.

In addition to these group activities planned for the Gaither reunion, check out the following fun family activities available in the Pensacola Beach area by clicking on any of the following in blue:

Swimming, fishing, snorkeling, diving, sailing - Spending time on Pensacola Beach is not limited to swimming or relaxing on the beach. From fishing off one of two piers to floating above the water while parasailing, Pensacola Beach has plenty of activities to choose from.  And when you've tired of those activities, there's plenty of shopping, dining, or partying available.

Footprints in the Sand - Eco Trail - Birds, fish, crustaceans, turtles, and more—every inch of Pensacola Beach is teeming with life. When you look across the white sand, it may appear to be lifeless, but there are many different invertebrates that live beneath the sand — ghost crabs, coquina clams, and the mole crab (sand flea) are a few that can be found buried near the shore's edge. The luckiest of visitors might get to see a sea turtle crawl onto the shore to nest.

Forts of Gulf Islands National Seashore - The forts were built between 1797 and the 1940s, their walls tell the story of constant evolution from the Spanish colonial Bateria De San Antonio to the American Battery 234. These forts represent the value placed on the anchorages at Pensacola Bay, Florida and Ship Island, Mississippi. While the national seashore preserves forts that span a long period of defense, possibly the most striking among these are the American Third System forts: Fort Pickens (located near the hotel on Santa Rosa Island), Fort Massachusetts, Fort Barrancas (TripAdvisor's # 5 of 93 things to do in Pensacola ), and the Advanced Redoubt, all of which saw action during the Civil War.

Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum - Climb 177 steps up the historic Pensacola Lighthouse & Museum for one of the most beautiful views on the Gulf Coast. Built in 1859, the lighthouse is located on board NAS Pensacola. The top of the tower offers stunning views of Pensacola Pass (where Pensacola Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico), three forts, the Pensacola skyline and the historic Navy Yard. The fully restored Keepers' Quarters, built in 1869, is home to a museum and a gift shop.

REGISTRATION

CLICK HERE to get the Reunion Registration Form.

Hotel registration is also now open. Be sure to book your room early to take advantage of the special Gaither rate.  CLICK HERE to reserve your room.

QUESTIONS

If you have questions regarding the Reunion and Annual Meeting, please submit the following form.  Our event coordinators will respond to your inquiry.