Family-Friendly Fun at Great Wolf Lodge
Blog by Andrea Limke of Cincinnati Parent and Indy's Child Magazines
It's been a rough winter weather-wise, especially for those of us with little ones at home with excessive energy. My kids have literally been running around in circles, because it’s been very difficult to get them outside in all of this cold, rain and snow. Just as I was about to invest in a treadmill to let them run out all of that energy, we decided it would be much more fun to pay a visit to Great Wolf Lodge in Mason. This family-friendly destination is one of several exciting places to visit in Ohio’s Largest Playground, and has been at the top of our list for a while. So we packed a bag and headed about 45 minutes away for some much-needed family fun time at Great Wolf Lodge.
Our 6-year-old and 4-year-old had already seen the Great Wolf Lodge commercials on TV and I showed them the website before we left, so they were pumped! I couldn’t wait to escape the cold and feel like I was on vacation, but without any of the extensive travel, time or money that a typical getaway requires. That is the best thing about Great Wolf Lodge. No matter where you live, it’s just a short trip away and in no time at all you can be lounging in 84 degrees and spending quality time as a family.
We checked in on a Sunday afternoon and had big plans for the massive indoor waterpark and many other amenities offered at Great Wolf Lodge. We all loved our Family Fireplace Suite, which was a great size for our family of four. We were on the first level, which was ideal since that meant just a quick walk to the waterpark! Great Wolf Lodge offers many standard and themed suites to meet everyone’s needs and we found the room to be clean, comfortable and perfect for a relaxing getaway.
After checking in and receiving our wolf ears, we changed right away for the waterpark. Admission to this huge area, which includes 13 slides and 8 pools, is included with your overnight stay, and only guests can use it. That means even on crowded days, the wait times are very manageable. When you consider a visit to Great Wolf Lodge, keep in mind that this is a wonderful place for all ages. We saw families with babies, as well as teenagers, and everyone enjoyed the wide variety of activities offered, including the waterpark.
Although we spent most of our time swimming, splashing, and sliding, we did take the time to explore the other activities and amenities offered on the property. We were hungry after an active day, so we headed to Lodge Wood Fired Grill for dinner, which was right off the lobby. This worked out perfectly, as we ordered our food and then the kids were able to watch the popular Clock Tower Show and Story Time with Sammy the Squirrel! My kids were enthralled and then we enjoyed a delicious meal to round out the day.
On our second day, we played in the Northern Lights Arcade, which had games for all ages and interests. This may have ranked right up with the waterpark for my son! There are plenty of other ways to take a break from swimming, including a sweet spa called Scoops, free activities in the lobby, quest-like scavenger hunts, bowling, mini golf and more.
Any time of year is ideal for a visit to Great Wolf Lodge, and school breaks make for the perfect excuse to treat your family to a mini-vacation. Also keep Great Wolf Lodge in mind for birthday celebrations, as they know how to make the birthday boy or girl feel extra special and of course there’s no better way to celebrate than at an 84-degree waterpark!
Along with the slides, games, food, and everything else you’ll experience during a stay at Great Wolf Lodge, the best part of a getaway is the quality time with family. Amidst the busyness of sports, activities, work, and all of our day-to-day obligations, you can easily escape to this vacation destination that is close to home, but allows your family to simply focus on fun and being together. We thoroughly enjoyed our “staycation” at Great Wolf Lodge, and can’t wait to return soon!
Disclosure: Andrea Limke was provided a complimentary stay by Great Wolf Lodge in order to produce this article.
