Looking for a place to take the kids over Spring Break, or for the perfect summer vacation? Well look no further than the Poconos at Great Wolf Lodge. Recently my family and I went to Great Wolf Lodge to check out what they have to offer for families.
lobby area
When you arrive, the fun starts the minute you step onto the property. Check in was easy and simple. Everyone staying in your room will be given a bracelet that they wear the entire time you are on the property. This serves as your room key and you have the option to charge food on the bracelet too. I like the fact that the bracelet was our room key and I didn't have to worry about carrying a key-card around. My kids loved that they could unlock the door without asking me for the key.
family suite
We had a family suite that had plenty of room for my family of four. We also had a balcony outside that overlooked a mountain that was beautiful. Once we settled in, we hit the water park.
Water Park
The water park is a huge indoor playground for the whole family. It is divided into different sections. There is a water park for the little ones with small slides, and spray and play features. They also have a giant tree house that kids can climb, spray and slide through. Older kids can take a turn on the many slides like the double barrel drop or the hydro plunge. Tweens/Teens will have fun on the Coyote Cannon (think of a toilet bowl because it drops you into a big bowl that you swirl around in and fall out the bottom) or Alberta falls that twists you in and outside of the indoor portion of the water park (even in winter time). The whole family can enjoy Crooked Creak (a lazy river) or take a ride with the family on River Canyon Run. And don't think you won't get wet. If you hear a bell that sounds like a train you may get soaked. I did and my kids loved it!
I was happy to see that the life guards really watched the pools, they walked back and forth constantly looking at the pool. They take safety very seriously at Great Wolf, which made me feel safe while my kids were swimming.Other ActivitiesYou would think that the only thing to do at Great Wolf is the water park, but you would be wrong. There are plenty of activities for your family to do outside the water park. Each evening there is a story time in the lobby, along with face painting, dance parties and much more. I loved that I saw kids walking around the lodge in their pajamas waiting for story time.
Bowling Alley
There is also indoor Glow Golf, a bowling alley, an arcade, a kids spa, and much more. Something that I saw that kept the kids really engaged was MagiQuest. With MagiQuest you purchase a wand in the store and you go on a magical adventure to unlock clues.FoodThere is a snack bar in the water park area, you can buy drinks, sandwiches and snacks. There is also a sit down restaurant in the lodge, the evening we went it was a buffet and there was plenty of choices even for the picky eaters in your family. If your craving Pizza Hut pizza, or a sweat treat they have you covered. You can also order a pizza and take it back to you room and relax. Oh, and Starbucks lovers don't fear, they even have a Starbucks in the lodge.
Dinner Buffet
Tips:
Go during the week for less crowds
Pack at least 2 bathing suits so if you go back to the water park later in the day you can put a dry bathing suit on
No reason to bring beach towels they have towels in the water park
Once you check out of your room on your departure day, you can stay and enjoy the resort amenities until 9pm.
There is a locker room in the water park to change
You can rent lockers in the water park
Rooms all have small refrigerators in them for drinks and food
