Tropical Bash: Activities That Transport Your Guests

Decorations are nice, but games turn a get-together into a party.

Adding island-inspired activities to your tropical gathering gives attendees the sensation of a brief getaway. A wide range of familiar party games can be adjusted to fit an island motif, and the majority take only a short time for guests to grasp. The amusement lasts for hours and helps make your event a memorable occasion.

Activities for Kids

Desert Island This variation on musical chairs involves paper islands spread across the floor. You may make the preparation part of the entertainment by letting every child cut out and decorate a personal island. For the game itself, put down one fewer "island" than the number of players and start some calypso or tropical tunes. Once the music halts, every child must be positioned on a desert island, and whoever fails to do so is eliminated. Continue until a single child remains and name that child the winner.

Survivor Food Challenge Put a blindfold on each participant and offer them "survival" foods. Tell them the items might be mud, twigs, bark or bugs. Actual foods to use include pretzel sticks, gummy worms or bugs, pita bread and water crackers. After eating, the child attempts to identify what the food truly is. Whoever guesses the most items correctly takes the win.

Scuba Hunt If a pool is available, toss in tropical party favors that sink, for example shells, plastic tiki mugs, toy gold coins and costume jewelry. Each child gets 10 seconds to collect as many objects from the pool bottom as possible. The child who gathers the most objects wins.

Activities for Grown-Ups

Adult Scavenger Hunt Scavenger hunts entertain adults just as much as children, particularly when the clues and items are given a mature edge. Try grown-up clues such as a bottle of liquor, a bikini top, a grass hula skirt and sexy underclothes.

Tropical Drink Contest Purchase a handful of essential drink components like mixers, fruit, grenadine, lime and sparkling water. Prepare a blender (or more than one if you can), a table, cups, shakers, ice and whatever other bar tools you own. Ask three to five guests to invent their own original tropical cocktail within five minutes. The remaining guests then evaluate the drinks and cast votes to choose a winner.

Television Trivia Run a trivia game with questions about TV programs such as "Loveboat," "Gilligan's Island," "Fantasy Island" and "Hawaii Five-O." The nostalgia brings extra fun and conversation to the evening, in addition to the amusement of the game itself.

Island-Themed Prizes

For kids, prizes for island-themed games might include chocolate gold treasure coins, plastic leis, sea shells, sand equipment, swimming goggles and hula skirts.

Captain Morgan rum and coconut massage oil are worthwhile presents for adults.