So when scheduling my time home, I was given the opportunity to visit the Great Wolf Lodge. Have you heard of this place? I had from my friend Shanna who recently went and took a trip up there with her family. I knew I wanted to go. The best thing about this place is that it is a year-round water enjoyment – that’s right a water park built into the hotel. I love rides, I’m a ride junkie. A few years ago (before Madeleine) we decided to not do an out of town vacation and instead got season passes to Six Flags and White Water – that was a fun summer! So I was extremely excited to visit the Great Wolf Lodge.
The Great Wolf Lodge is just outside of Charlotte, NC and took me just over 3 hours to get there. It was nice and easy to locate (thank goodness because I can sometimes be directionally-challenged) right off the interstate. I checked in and went to my room. It was amazing! First, I have to say, I love the way how they do the room keys. You wear a wrist band that includes a micro-chip that opens your door and allows you to charge things to your room and is your “ticket” to the water park. I never had to worry about misplacing the room key. The rooms were nice and spacious and stocked with a fridge and microwave (super convenient – when you have to bring a million snacks to keep a 2 year old content). We got settled in and changed into our bathing suits to go to the water park.
It did not disappoint! So many things to do. They have a toddler area with a few small water slides – we spent a lot of time there! We also spent a lot of time in the wave pool, the rec pool (it has basketball goals and balls and lots of things to sit and play on) and it was warm in there. Andrew and I traded off watching Madeleine so that we could ride the rides. Our favorite was the Howlin’ Tornado – the only thing that stunk is that we couldn’t ride these be ourselves, so we would prey upon unsuspecting groups and crash their ride – just kidding, but we were forced to beg others to allow us to ride with them (which they did, most graciously!). I’m a little bit of an indoor pool snob – I don’t like it cold, not the water or the air temperature, and it was perfect inside. They do have an outdoor pool area, but we never seemed to make it outside. I should also note, another thing I really liked is that your accommodations include your entry to the water park, and it’s not like the water park is open to the general public. It was not crowded at all, which meant – no lines to ride rides! Plus, you are allowed access to the water park every day that you are there. So for us we arrived on Thursday and left on Saturday, but we had access to the water park all day Thursday to all day Saturday.
What I also loved about this place is it’s proximity to shopping. Being withdrawn from the world of retail in Maine, I was excited to have a plethora of shopping options so close by – there’s even an Ikea right down the street. They have a “Mills” mall – no relation to the Mills family (darn it – I would love a discount!), but it could’ve been my own little shopping oasis – hello Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic Outlets!
At the lodge they do a story time, it’s like a mini theme park contraption with automated characters that sing and dance in the lobby – Madeleine absolutely loved it! However, she didn’t like after the actual story reading (from a hotel employee) you could go up and meet one of the animal characters. For the rest of our stay she didn’t want to walk in the halls or in the lobby for fear that – and I quote, “the bear, get me!”.
It was so nice having some time away from our crazy lives and spend some time with our little family. I totally recommend heading up the Great Wolf Lodge – I can’t wait to go back. It would be perfect for a little family reunion.
