Family Fun at Great Wolf Lodge
Recently our family had the opportunity to get away for a two-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge. It was exactly what we needed. Between baseball tournaments, soccer games, piano lessons and getting re-adjusted to early mornings and homework, life can be exhausting. Sometimes as a family you need to unplug from the routine and get away. Mom needs it. Dad needs it. The kids need it. It was no surprise then that when we picked our kids up from school on Friday and told them why we weren’t headed home but instead taking them to Great Wolf Lodge, the van erupted with excitement. The weekend didn’t disappoint! For both parents and kids it was the perfect blend of fun and relaxation. Here are five reasons why you should consider Great Wolf Lodge for your next family get away.
#1- Family
More than anything else our weekend was a great excuse to be together. Sure, we had a lot of fun, but more importantly, we had a lot of fun together. Whether it’s going down slides, sitting together at meals, playing miniature golf, eating pizza in the waterpark or playing cards on the bed there are so many occasions to pour into your kids life by simply being with them.
#2- Location
When you only have a few days to get away the last thing you want to do is spend hours each way behind the wheel. It was such a blessing that we were able to pull into the Great Wolf Lodge parking lot less than thirty minutes after picking them up from school. If you are worried that it will take the vacation feel away from your weekend by being in your own backyard, don’t be, once you walk into the lobby you immediately feel like you’ve stepped into an out of water cruise ship. But, if you want, you can step off the cruise ship and enjoy everything the Legends shopping area has to offer.
#3- The Waterpark
It probably goes without saying but the indoor waterpark really is fantastic. Our kids are 10, 8 and 6 and over the course of 2 days we easily spent half our time in the waterpark. The 5 different waterslides, Crooked Creek lazy river, Big Foot Pass floating lily pads, North and South Hot Springs hot tubs, and the Fort Mackenzie tree house kept us wet, busy and entertained. But even more important to Mom the water park was amazingly CLEAN and SAFE. I learned this weekend that all lifeguards at Great Wolf Lodge are put through extensive training beyond their basic lifeguard certification (Ellis Lifeguard Training). The lifeguards are continually moving and scanning. As a parent it made my time so much more enjoyable and relaxing knowing the lengths that Great Wolf Lodge has gone to ensure our kids’ safety.
#4- MagiQuest
Thoroughly unique to Great Wolf Lodge is the MagiQuest adventure. To call it a scavenger hunt is really an understatement. With an interactive and personalized magic wand the kids work through “quests” that keep them moving throughout and exploring the Lodge. Our kids (and Dad) spent two solid hours working through the puzzles on Sunday morning with hopes of being knighted (yes, that really happens, every day at 11:30 there is a knighting ceremony!). When we asked our kids their favorite part of the weekend it was a toss-up between the waterpark and MagiQuest.
#5- Options
When you think of Great Wolf Lodge you probably think of the waterpark and for good reason (see reason #3), but the waterpark is only one of many attractions to keep you and your kids busy and entertained. Miniature golf, a huge arcade, the Creation Station stuffed animal shop and the bulk candy shop where all included on the Paw Pass. And I haven’t even mentioned nightly story time, character appearances, the big talking clock show and our kids favorite, Rise and Shine yoga. In addition, during fall and winter enjoy seasonal activities like the trick-or-treat trail and cupcake decorating.
I’ve only given five reasons why you should plan a vacation to Great Wolf Lodge; I could easily give five more. When we pulled into the garage on Sunday evening after a very weekend of fun and time well spent together, I knew that this would not be the last time our family escaped down I-435 to Great Wolf Lodge.
Katie Metcalf is a teacher and mom to three awesome kiddos. She and her husband live in Kansas City.
