Frequently Asked Questions Where is the reunion? The 2019 Harris Family Reunion will take place in Manchester Beach, California, which is in Mendocino County. Manchester State Park (also known as Manchester State Beach) is a California state park including 18,000 feet of protected beachfront on the Pacific Ocean just north of Point Arena. The park, which features sand dunes, flat grasslands and five miles of beachfront, is noted for steelhead and salmon fishing. The 5,272-acre site was established as a California state park in 1955 and takes its name from Manchester, California, seven miles north of Point Arena. What kinds of cabins does the KOA offer? The answer to this depends on availability, so you should go to the website or call the KOA (800-562-4188) to confirm what is still available at the time that you’re looking. There are various sizes of cabins (which they call “kabins”), some with bathrooms inside and some without (which have shared bathrooms). Some sleep 2 people, some sleep 4 people, and some can sleep up to 6 people. Tents and RV’s can also be used (and rented, if available). When you book, be sure to mention that you are part of the Harris Family Reunion. There is also a 15% discount for active duty or retired military. When should I plan to arrive at the KOA? You should plan to arrive by either the evening of Sunday, July 14, or early, Monday, July 15. Click here for a more detailed schedule of events. Check-in is at 2:00 p.m. and check-out is at 11:00 a.m. What kind of weather should we expect? Temperatures near Manchester Beach rarely rise above 72 and usually do not drop below 50. It’s usually cool, windy, and foggy, including during the summer months. Layered clothing is recommended. Where should we stay? Most people are staying at the KOA campground, which is where most reunion activities will take place. But there are several other options in the area. What Activities & Amenities Does the KOA Offer? In addition to the beach and nature walks and hikes, the Manchester Beach KOA offers: Pool 9 Holes Disc Golf Course Arcade/game room Cable TV (no charge) Community Fire Pit Horseshoe Pit Hot Tub Dog Park Laundry room Military Clubs Two Bocce Ball Courts ($) Volleyball Court Wi-Fi Which meals should we plan to have with the rest of the family? Our kick-off breakfast will start at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, July 15. We also plan to have a dinner (exact menu items TBD) on Tuesday, July 16. Click here for a more detailed itinerary. What should we bring? You’ll definitely want to bring clothing that allows you to dress in layers, and have a jacket or sweatshirt, for when it gets cold near the water or at night. We can’t emphasize this enough. While the reunion is in California in July, it will be cool outside, and at times chilly by the beach, so bring warm clothes! We plan to take walks down to the beach, so a towel is a good idea as well. If you’re staying in a cabin that requires linens, be sure to bring those too. Sunscreen is always a good idea because while it can be chilly and foggy, the sun has a way of still burning. There is a small convenience store at the KOA campground as well as a small grocery store a few miles from the KOA for snacks. You may also want to throw in a few fold up chairs and a blanket, sand toys for the kids, and maybe even a kite for the beach! If it easy for you to bring, you may want to grab your camping dishes but we’ll have disposable cups, plates, etc. available for those of you who are flying in. If you’re a musician, by all means, bring your favorite campfire instrument. Also, don’t forget your item to donate to the auction as well as any family photos you want to bring with you. Can we bring pets? Yes, although you should read the KOA’s policies, which are located here. Where can I get a Reunion T-Shirt? We will also have camping mugs available for purchase shortly. Check back here in March, or if you’re on Facebook, we’ll send a note to the group on Facebook as well as a group email. Who should we contact if we have questions? Feel free to email harris2019reunion@gmail.com with any questions. You can also reach Renee at her home phone: 530-271-0897 or cell phone: 530-271-7599. You can also text Kathryn at 707-814-5724. Alternatively, just click here and fill in the fields to send us a question. Are there any day trips planned? There’s lots to do around Manchester State Beach. Two great options that we hope to incorporate into our two-day reunion are the lighthouse and Stornetta Public Lands. On Tuesday morning, we’ll gather as a group and take the official reunion photo. Then we will organize ourselves into two groups to go on one of two optional outings. Both outings are group-friendly, easy to do (even the hike is easy), absolutely gorgeous, and a “must see” for the area. In addition to these two trips, there is also Manchester Beach which you’ll definitely want to visit even if it is just to walk down the beach for a bit and dip your toe in the Pacific Ocean. Some of us might want to do this during the day on Monday. Please note that we planned the reunion on a Monday and a Tuesday so that those of you coming from far away can take Saturday and Sunday to see other sights on your way to Manchester. There are ample wineries, redwood forests, other beaches, tiny salt-worn beach towns, as well as other nearby historic sites like Fort Ross. So, please plan accordingly but make sure you clear Monday and Tuesday for maxing out on family time. While there are plenty of distractions, we hope to be able to keep us mostly together to really make the gathering a memorable one. Where will the actual reunion activities take place within the KOA site? This KOA location does not have a gathering hall or facility like other reunion sites have had in the past. Instead, there is a large area by the cabins we have reserved for the Harris family that we will turn into our “reunion site”. This area stretches from the tent sites T20-T17 and includes the “backyard” of all of the cabins from KT1-K31. That whole area shown in green on the KOA map is open and available for our use. There are fire pits, picnic tables and a large grassy field for kids to play as well as tall trees to offer shading. This area is where we will do our cooking, campfire gathering, singing, and family gathering. We will have extra chairs and shading structures as well as stoves for group or individual cooking. This is no 4-star hotel, so bring the clothes that you're with getting dirty, your sweatshirt, and your favorite beverage and we’ll all have ourselves a grand time.