Family beach house fun: Casino nights, luaus, competitions

NORTH TOPSAIL BEACH, N.C. (AP) — Renting a house for a week or so with extended family or friends is an economical way to vacation while offering quality time with loved ones.

For a casino night, my sister-in-law designed money printed with the faces of several family members and everything we needed to play bingo, blackjack and roulette.

A Vegas-style buffet of baked potatoes and burgers included options for those on gluten-free, vegetarian and lactose-intolerant diets.

Faced with dining out with a dozen or so small children, at-home theme nights became a more appealing alternative.

"Time has gone on and the challenges of having all those people together on a vacation change," Zerkle said, adding that themes had to evolve to appeal to kids as they grew up.

An earlier neon-themed dance party included decorating T-shirts, glow necklaces and black lights.

The adults plan games according to the theme and ages of the children, including scavenger hunts divided by age.