Hi Friends! All is well over here and I haven’t been blogging because we were on vacation:) The intentions were honest, but the laptop never left my suitcase.  Let me catch you up to speed…

Last week, Avery’s school was out for an entire week of Winter Break.  At Christmas time, Michael and I decided to give the girls a trip during this break instead of more toys.  Disney World was an option, but we wanted something more affordable at the time.  Enter ‘GREAT WOLF LODGE’ in Charlotte, North Carolina.  One fourth the cost of Disney, this looked like a winner.  What is Great Wolf Lodge? (click HERE for the website) It’s a resort style lodge with an indoor heated water park.  Other attractions in the lodge included:

• Enormous Arcade Room
• Bowling Alley with smaller pins, lanes, and bowling balls for the youngsters
• Kids Spa and Grown up Spa
• Club room with face painting and arts and crafts
• 4 D Virtual experience
• Magic Quest, Compass Quest, and Shadow Quest games
• Story time in the grand lobby
• Hula hoop and dance parties

When we arrived, each of us received wolf ears to wear along with our wristbands.  The two grown ups’ wrist bands had the room key built into it, which was helpful for not having to carry keys everywhere.  Since we were celebrating my birthday, I got a FREE ICE CREAM wrist band.  Any time the girls wanted ice cream, that wristband was like a magic wand that made dessert appear…FOR FREE! WHAT ABOUT FOOD?

There are restaurants located in the resort.  Casual eating included a sit down buffet, Dunkin Donuts, a pizzeria where you can buy a box to go, Ice Cream Shop with Sweet Treats, and concession stands inside the water park.  A nicer option for dinner is the Wood Fire Grill similar to a Longhorns menu.  We never left the resort for food.  We brought our own cooler into the room with breakfast and lunch foods.  The room did come with a mini fridge and microwave.  For dinner during the three nights we stayed, we ate pizza, the buffet which had plenty of healthy foods, and the Wood Fire Grill.  Everything we purchased could be charged to our room, so there was no need for cash or even taking our credit cards with us.  WHAT MY KIDS LOVED:

• The water park of course.  It was appropriate for little babies up to adult sized slides.
• The arcade and bowling alley.  Even tiny Charlotte could hold the ball herself.
• Kids Club craft room where they got amazing face painting and made their own glittery bath wash.
• Our hotel room! We booked the Kids Kamp room that had a separate bunk bed quarter decorated like a tent with their own TV.
• Story time and the hula hoop/dance party in the grand lobby.  They met different characters dressed in costume and had pictures taken with them.
• Avery enjoyed playing Magic Quest that took her on a journey around the resort looking for clues, treasures, and lighting up magic crystals with her wand.   This game is enjoyable for kids 6 and up.

WHAT MOMMY AND DADDY LOVED:

• Resting! Seriously, this was our most restful vacation ever.  If you’ve ever done a Disney vacation, you know how exhausting it is.  Michael and I actually laid in the bed in the middle of the day! Only one of us took naps:/ Since everything is one place, it was so easy to return to our room and chill after an activity.
• Pajamas in the hallway! The attire for everyone, especially the kids, were lounge clothes. If you weren’t in a swimsuit or cover up, you were in pajama pants.  Hellllllooooo!!!! I loved it:)
• Keen attention of life guards.  They were everywhere, and watching like a hawk, constantly.  I felt safe enough to turn my back away from Avery in the wave pool because of the attention the lifeguards were paying to the water.
• Refreshments in the water park.  There were two locations to grab food or drinks while playing.  Didn’t bring your wallet? Charge it to the room.

While Avery loved the wave pool, Charlotte was just as content in the bathtub. The inside of the water park was 84 degrees and the water was lukewarm.  I’d compare it to jumping in a pool in late May (if you’re in Georgia!) You’re going to be chilly when you get out.  There’s no need to bring your own towels or even floaties for the kids.  They provide towels, life jackets, and puddle jumpers for anyone who needs it.  No charge.  WOULD WE GO BACK AGAIN?  Yes!

WERE 3 NIGHTS ENOUGH? Yes!

WOULD YOU STAY LONGER? No more than 5 nights…you’ve seen it all by then!

WOULD MY TEENAGER BE BORED? Maybe.  If you have a pre-teen up to maybe 13 or 14 years old….they would still enjoy the large slides, arcade, bowling, Magic Quest, and 4D Virtual games.  Any older than that and they need to be there as a babysitter:)

We loved our time there and the time we shared together as a family. Great Wolf Lodge was well worth it!