Tags
family, Fun, Great Wolf Lodge, Journal, Kids, Life, Poconos, summer, Swimming, vacation, water park
Last Sunday, we arrived at Great Wolf Lodge for a one-night (two day) stay to celebrate the twins’ 10th birthday. The boys chose this trip over a party with friends at a pool, a laser tag arena, bowling, etc., and it was a great family getaway.
A one-night stay at the Lodge included four passes to the giant indoor water park that the Lodge is famous for. Guests may use the water park on the day of check-in, beginning at 1pm, and after check-out the next day, until 9pm.
The whole place has almost too many amenities to list, including four eateries, a bowling alley, arcade, and Starbucks. Some cost additional money, but others, like a kids’ Cub Club with crafts and games, as well as an evening story time, are FREE.
Hope you enjoy our photos. There are ten other locations across U.S. and one in Niagara Falls, Ontario. I’d recommend it for families with kids ages 2 and up, as well as young adults who love water parks. Seriously. We saw young couples, youth groups, and families with at least three generations at the park together.
Hope you enjoy our pictures!
It was the twins’ first stay at a hotel EVER. All rooms at the lodge are suites, and some (which we did NOT spring for) have log cabins WITHIN the room, with bunk beds for the kids or corners that are tents for the kids to sleep in. Ours was the most basic room, with two queen beds and a fold-out sofa (which Evan claimed, because he wanted his own bed).
Sunday afternoon we spent a few hours at the water park, headed out to Pocono Brewing Company for dinner, and returned to the lodge with plans to return to the water park. Everybody was up for it, but me (designated family party pooper, ask any of them, ha ha). I was having a hard time reconciling the huge burger and local brew I’d just enjoyed with going back down the water slide any time soon. The boys, however, were WAY into it. Go figure…it may have been the Mountain Dew.
BUT, I suited up and was glad that I did. We splashed until almost 9 pm and finished the evening at the lodge’s ice cream parlor, before crashing for the night. Interesting note: the lodge makes an announcement over loudspeakers at a bit after 9 pm, reminding everyone that “hibernation begins at 11pm, please be considerate of other guests and keep the noise down.” Now THAT is my kind of hotel. Totally quieted down, even before the “hibernation” hour. NICE.
The next morning, we started with the breakfast buffet, checked out and spent a few more hours at the park, before heading home.
All in all, a great, GREAT time was had by all, and we MAY make it an annual trip!
Charnelle said:
Love this place! We are going there in a couple weeks to celebrate Tyler’s 13th birthday too. His choice over a birthday party – we had gone last year and he really wanted to go back this year. Glad you guys had fun!!
squirrel circus said:
That’s terrific! I literally have not been able to stop telling people what a great time we had. I also wanted people to know that I think it’s SO clean and well staffed, on top of being so much fun. Enjoy your trip!!!!
Vicky said:
Sounds like it was a fantastic trip! The slides look like a lot of fun! Happy birthday to the twins 🙂
squirrel circus said:
It was, thanks! 🙂
littlemissobsessivesanatomy said:
Looks like you guys had fun…boys look all refreshed…
okay confession im scared of fun rides.. but i can jump and splash in water for fun.. 🙂 and when i was 17 or 18 i was a crazy mountain dew lover… 🙂
squirrel circus said:
Well, I’ll tell you, I can’t do ANY ride that spins me around in a circle or back and forth — so, no teacups or pirate ships! 🙂
Sallie Mercer said:
We took Makenna there a few years ago (before Aidan was even born) and had a fabulous time, too! Do they still have that LaserQuest or whatever its called, where the kids do a big scavenger hunt with their wands? Makenna is almost 16 and still has hers…. 🙂
squirrel circus said:
That’s great! Scott continues to be amazed at all of the people we know that love it. They DO have the wizard quest-y type thing. Kids were running all over with their wands — Evan and Will vicariously experienced it while following people around — we could hardly get them out of the water park long enough to eat! 🙂
dianeskitchentable said:
What an awesome place. I’ve never heard of it but talk about an ultimate family vacation – I think the boys make a great choice. I’m a fun sucker on a lot of thrill rides but they look like they have something for everyone. Come on… you didn’t really delete that picture of yourself now did you?
squirrel circus said:
Ermmmm…..nooo. It’s around here somewhere 😉