Showing posts with label Indoor Pools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indoor Pools. Show all posts

Review of Great Wolf Lodge



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 Activities


You 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.




Food


There 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



Check out some of the highlights from our trip






For more information:  http://www.greatwolf.com/poconos/waterpark

Fun Things Visits the DoubleTree Resort in Lancaster, PA

Recently I had the opportunity to spend a few days at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton™ in Lancaster, PA.  If you are familiar with the area, the DoubleTree Resort was formerly the "Atrium Building" of Willow Valley Resort. This 185-room resort is very family friendly, but it's also perfect for a weekend get away without the kids.

I have always been a big fan of DoubleTree resorts and have stayed in a few of their hotels over the years. The chocolate chip cookie that you receive when you check in almost saved my life once, after a bad experience at another hotel chain and a late night hotel change in Florida. It's amazing what a cookie can do to welcome you and lift your spirits. This was a also a huge hit with my kids! The hotel is about a 10-15 minute drive to the Strasburg Rail Road, Choo Choo Barn and other Lancaster attractions.

Check In: It was easy to check in and we were warmly greeted by the staff.  They offered us a room overlooking the atrium but warned us that their would be a wedding there until 10pm and we might hear some of the noise.  I loved the fact that they gave us the option to switch rooms, but I knew my kids would love to watch a wedding from their room.

Room:  Our room was larger than most and nicely decorated with plenty of towels available and a small refrigerator   They had a desk in the room, which is perfect for a business traveler.  They had a chair and ottoman in case you wanted to relax and watch some TV. I also loved the free wireless Internet that allowed me to get some work done while the kids were sleeping.

Pool:  For kids, this is the highlight of the hotel. The hotel has 2 indoor pools which are perfect for families with kids. The indoor water playground, which is basically one large pool with a large enclosed slide, some water spray attractions and a small slide for young ones, will keep the kids entrained for hours. It beats the basic hotel with a pool but don't expect a large indoor water park. If you want to take a more relaxing swim there is also a large pool adjacent to the indoor water park.


Other Amenities:  

Two on-site restaurants
State-of-the-art fitness center
Victorian chapel
9-Hole Golf Course
Lighted tennis courts
Full-size basketball court
Duck Pond
Free bus tour
Horse-drawn wagon rides


Getaway Contest
And if you have stayed at the DoubleTree Lancaster Hotel within the last year, you have a chance to win a 2 night stay.  Lancaster Great Family Vacations Getaway Contest announces this summer’s most exciting family vacation giveaway – The Double Treat at DoubleTree Family Vacations Getaway. In celebration of the one-year anniversary of DoubleTree Resort, you can win a 2 night stay at the DoubleTree Hotel in Lancaster

This contest will run from May 13-July 31, 2011. Two winning families will win a grand prize of not one but two two-night stays at DoubleTree Resorts. Visit www.Willowvalley.com/lancaster-pa-doubletree/doubletreat-contest/ for contest details ans more information. Remember this contest is only open to families who have stayed at this resort within the last year. 


We really enjoyed our experience at the DoubleTree hotel in Lancaster and I would recommend it to families with children because it is close to all the area attractions and of course you can spend the day at the water playground.

Watch our video to see all the Lancaster DoubleTree hotel has to offer before you go!




Disclosure: My family and I received a complimentary stay at the DoubleTree Resort in Lancaster.