If you are looking for a fun filled family getaway, get ready to have a howling good time at Great Wolf Lodge. Located in the scenic Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania this resort features a never ending array of activities that will delight parents and kids alike.
From the moment we checked in, we were greeted with smiling, helpful staff who went above and beyond in every way possible to make our stay perfect in every way. The kids were given Wolf Passes upon check in that were able to be redeemed for all kinds of things inside the resort as well as activities like the Ropes Challenge.
They had a nice surprise of goodies waiting in our room to welcome us. We appreciate the extra things they did to make us feel welcome.
The water park was very clean and had ample seating around the attractions. There were cabanas that could be rented as well. There is pool side wait staff if you want to order drinks. Unlike other water parks you can bring food and drinks into this water park. That is very nice, especially if you have a family member with special dietary needs.
The Big Foot Pass was a favorite of my son Ethan as well as my husband. They navigated their way across a pool holding onto cargo nets above or braving it and not holding anything as they jump onto giant floating lily pads. A great way to build dexterity and strength while having fun! Videos for this will be on our YouTube Channel soon.
We spent great family time in Crooked Creek swimming in single or double tubes as well as free swimming. There is a gentle current but don’t be fooled in thinking this is a calm lazy river! You are bound to get soaked by the overflowing buckets that seem to know just when to empty their water onto your head! It is all great fun, even when you get soaked!
Speaking of soaked, Fort Mackenzie is a water tree house with multiple levels of splash-crazy fun! Interactive water toys and kid activated splash features line the way to the Totem Tower Body Slides! Listen for the bell and then take cover if you can because that means the gigantic bucket on top is ready to tip and when it does…you are going to get drenched!
Dining At GWL
Our family enjoyed an awesome breakfast buffet with choices of farm fresh eggs, apple wood smoked bacon, signature wolf waffles, organic yogurts, granolas, made-to-order omelettes, fresh fruits, berries and much more at The Loose Moose Family Kitchen. Seasonal family lunches roll out lighter fare, and dinners overflow with entrées inspired by world cuisine. Of course no vacation is complete without dessert and they have a simply splendiferous variety of desserts.
On the water park level there is the Hungry Like A Wolf which is just what we were after staying until closing at the Water Park. A large pizza and a bottle of ice tea hit the spot! Crowd pleasers like Brooklyn style, hand-stretched pizza, savory Italian and meatball Parmesan sandwiches, garlic cheese bread and freshly made salads fill the menu. You can call ahead and make make meal time a snap with easy pick-up.
There is a Starbucks on the 2nd floor and for convenient poolside dining choose Grizzly Jack’s Bar & Grill or Buckets Incredible Cravables. Have a Sweet Tooth? Whether you want fudge, ice cream, cake, cupcakes or cookies, Bear Paw Sweets & Eats is the place!
The staff in the stores and attractions are very friendly and helpful. Our kids loved redeeming their wolf pass in the Creation Station where they could choose to make their very own Great Wolf Lodge Character. There are lots of outfits and clothing choices for these critters that really makes creating their new friend super fun! They were also able to activate a Clubhouse Crew game to play with their new friend and when they helped Sammy Squirrel find her nuts they were able to return to the for a prize!
We had a full-immersion 4-D thrill ride at the Howlywood XD Theater. After choosing our movie we were taken to our seats to strap in for a multi-sensory adventure that we will never forget as we traveled along a haunted mine! The motion enhanced chair, glasses and special effects transported us to a totally different dimension.
Next we embarked on some dazzling mini golf at the Howl At The Moon Glow Golf indoor course. The kids had a blast putting and swinging along a nature-themed filled challenging course of black light illuminated fun!
For fun with something bigger than a golf ball we headed off to Ten Paw Alley for some exciting bowling fun!
Howlers Peak Ropes Course can elevate your family adventure to a whole new level. When you are ready to come down there is the Raccoon Lagoon Play Park to roast marshmallows or play a giant game of checkers.
The Northern Lights Arcade lets you get your game on in a big way! This gigantic arcade is filled with fun things to do for kids of all ages. All kinds of driving games, air hockey, basketball and much more provide some game fun for everyone! Our kids were able to redeem some of their tickets for adorable crock charms of the Great Wolf Lodge logo and characters.
Our kids were busy with something the entire stay and said it was the best water park resort they have ever been to! They wanted to know if people could live here and before we left wanted to know when we could come back!
Have you been to Great Wolf Lodge? If you have or are planning a trip please let me know in the comments. If you have any questions, just leave them in the comments and I will answer to the best of my ability! Visit YouTube to see our video compilation of our experience HERE! More Videos will be posted soon. Also check out the videos and photos posted on Instagram.
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Love this so much!
Oh wow, my kids would totally love that place. Now I see what all the fuss is about.
What Fun!!! We love GWL!!!
That is so different than I thought. So much for the kids to do, thank you for letting me see it all. I have been thinking about where to do a short getaway with my husband and kids and this looks like what we should do. Thanks again.
You do the greatest vacation reviews, I can learn so much from all your details, photos and videos. Kudos to you for doing this. I think we are going in May for the first time. I am so excited now seeing your post!
Wow, I have heard about Great Wolf Lodge so much but your photos and video have made me bite the bullet and take the family there. I just told my wife to pick 2 days in June and we are going. Thank you for giving me the push I needed.
You are welcome! Enjoy your trip!
Well, that certainly looked fun. I have never been to one but after seeing this, I will be booking a family weekend there next month. Thank you for sharing.
Oh you will love it, please let me know if you have any questions and I would love to hear how you enjoyed it!
It looks like yall had a blast there is one just a couple hours from here that we have been wanting to get to. You know how it is. Its always something. But things are getting better
So jealous. I’ve heard so much about the great wolf lodge and have always wanted to take my kids. It looks like it’s even cooler than I imagined.
I brought my kids to The Great Wolf lodge and they loved it! It is a great place to stay.
These place looks like so much fun.
So much fun the nearest one to us is over 8 hours away~ that I know of
You’ve just about sold me. There’s a Great Wolf Lodge just over the state line from me and it sounds like a great weekend getaway for my kiddo and me.
It looks like a really fun place to stay.
We are very interested in taking the whole family on a vacation here!
I have never been here but I wish I was! It looks very interesting and family friendly environment
Looks like a lot of fun
Oh my gosh what a great place to go. I cannot wait to take my granddaughter she will love all the things to do!
There’s one up north from me and I have wanted to take my kids there for years, but the whole single mom thing kind of bites into my wallet even with two jobs. Have looked at saving up for a Groupon to go.
We love the Great Wolf- it’s one of our favorite spots!
This place looks awsome i jave been telling my kifs every year we will go here
Our family loves the great wolf lodge! Brings back memories reading through your post 🙂
Yes, it is a great place and perfect for making lifelong memories.
Oh my goodness…I cannot believe how much they have to do there! Wow!!! You would never need to leave the lodge! Oh our little one would love this so much!
I like the Creation Station. Looks like a fun family time.
It really was!!!
We love GWL! We have been to a Texas location & Colorado Springs.
We’ve never been to great Wolf Lodge but I’ve always wanted to go! This looks like you guys had so much fun!
You should take a trip sometime, we had a blast!!!
I want to go so bad, there is a lodge 30 min from us I didn’t even realize was there, until I found out I was pregnant again. So I suppose well be going with all the son’s after a couple years. It looks great!
I have never been but I will say, your review makes this look amazing. We are thinking of going possibly after tax return time 🙂
i have been here before such a great place!
We keep saying we are going to go to this but have not made it yet. Hopefully this year.
Thank you for sharing so many wonderful pictures. I never knew there were so many activities other than the water park. I think this would be such a special family trip.
My daughter has been talking about taking my granddaughter here. I would love to go also. Since we have been checking it out, it looks like a great time, but a tad bit expensive.
wow that really does look like a great family vacation.
It looks like fun for the whole family. We’ve not been yet!
I have always wanted to go. the closes one to me is like 3 hours away.
This place looks nice. My kids would definately love it.
This place is absolutely amazing!! I wish we had something like this around where I live- except we would need it indoors to survive the hot summers!
We have talked about going here. Looks like a ton of fun and I think the kids would love it!!
Oh wow! I wish it never ended. I loved the pictures and your post. Makes me want to sign up my family and go. Seems such a great time and so many things to do.
This looks like a lot of fun. I would
Over to take my grandkids .
This looks like a amazing place to visit with the kids to have lots of fun for a mini vacation
Looks like a great place to visit – my son would love it!
This looks like a great place for a family to vacation.
This looks like a cool place.
This is the first I have heard of Great Wolf Lodge and it certainly seems to be a great place for a family vacation, with lots of activities for kids (and adults as well).
looks like you had a great time. We have been to the one in Virginia.
This is not too far from me, but I’ve never been there. It looks like a great place for kids to have summer fun odd season.
This place looks awesome so many great things to keep you busy..I would love to visit someday.
It looks like you guys had a great time! I hope to take my kids some day.
Great Wolf is an awesome place to go with your family, it’s always a blast!
Great Wolf Lodge is so much fun! We took are kids when they were small and had a blast!
The Accessory Connector 60 Piece Kit is cool!
Looks amazing would love to take my kids some day thank you for sharing your experience
Looks like a lot of fun. Wish we could afford to do something like this.
it looks so fun, i like how much there is to do!
This looks like a wonderful place and so much fun for the kids and everyone to enjoy
There is one in my town but I have not been there since I have no children. It sounds like a fun place to go to.
This is where I’m planning our next vacation. So much fun!
This looks like so much fun! We need to go here.
This looks like a great place for family fun!
The Great Wolf lodge looks amazing for the family to take a trip too!
Can’t wait to take my kids here when they’re older