As my daughter’s 8th Birthday approached I started asking her how she wanted to celebrate. For our family Birthdays are a Big Deal and we always celebrate for far more than just a day. First she wanted a party with friends and family but then she started hinting that she wanted to take a trip. A trip? What sort of trip? She said she wanted to ‘get away‘ – yes folks this was a then 7 year old but she said she was tired of the ice and snow we had been enduring and wanted to go somewhere. We decided a family trip to Great Wolf Lodge would be the perfect getaway for the kid in all of us!
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- Best Site To Drive Up To
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- The Amazing Great Wolf Lobby…
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- Got my Wolf Ears!!
I know, how do you escape the winter without a journey to a tropical destination? The answer is definitely Great Wolf Lodge because they give your entire family a chance to enjoy all the fun of a summer getaway without all the travel. At Great Wolf it can be winter and snow outside but a perfect 84 Degrees with waterpark fun indoors plus so much more.
I booked our trip online and wanted to make sure that we were going to make this trip the Birthday she would never forget. We decided on the Great Wolf Lodge in Concord/Charlotte North Carolina because it was the shortest drive for us. Then came the reservations and specifics – we decided to stay 1 night (at first 😉 ). Next decision was what type of room, attractions and fun did we want to have? Her first request: she wanted to stay in a cabin. Yup a cabin and luckily Great Wolf has and amazing set of themed suites that include Kid Cabins! We decided on the Kid Cabin Suite which can sleep 6-7 people the perfect option for our 6 member family.
This room was perfect! Not only would our youngest Kiddies have their own little space (including a TV just for them) but my Teenager would have his own bed and so would my Hubby and I. For a family like ours that can be hard to find at most destinations. We either end up sleeping with a Kiddie between us or doubled up somehow. Another issue we always run into is the room never having enough towels and face clothes for our entire family. No problem here! We didn’t need to call housekeeping at all…
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- 7 Towels!!!
Oh and don’t let me forget to mention the amenities! Full sink, microwave and fridge corner PLUS the view from our room was beautiful. If you look hard enough maybe you can see the snow that was still on the ground!
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- Mini Kitchen…
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- Our Lovely Patio and View
Now that our room was all set it was on to the fun!! I decided to get the Paw Passes for each Kiddie so that they could have tons of fun without breaking our budget. Paw Passes are a great way to do just that you get a full set of activities and fun for nearly 40% of the cost if you did them individually. Great Wolf offers several different packages of activities but we picked the basic one which included the following:
- 1 MagiQuest game
- 1 MagiQuest classic/color wand
- 1 Creation Station animal (outfit not included)
- 1 Mike and Ike candy cup
- 1 pair of goggles (perfect for the waterpark)
- 1 Glitz Glitter Tattoo
- 1 6×8 3D Paw Prints photo & frame
- 1 scoop of ice cream
- 1 Leather Treaty bracelet (with name engraved)
My Kiddies had so much fun!! We arrived and after our first day realized there was no way to take in all the fun in just one night. We were so happy that our room was available for a second night and we were able to extend our stay. Knowing we had more time we had a blast finishing the MagiQuest with each Kiddie, getting Glitter Tattoos, Creation Station Animals (think like a popular build and stuff shop 🙂 ) exploring the shops and fun of the Cub Club, Arcade, Ice Cream Shop, Waterpark, Wade Pool and so much more!
By the end of the day my Kiddies (and even me) were exhausted in the best way possible. We were able to fill our entire day with fun and family time. We ended the night with story time which takes place each night at 8pm in front of the clock in the main lobby, we all got to wear our pajamas and there was even a visit from a surprise guest 🙂
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- Story time Clock
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- Brinley Bear
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- My amazing Leopard Pajama Pants!
So if you’re looking for a quick getaway for the entire family Great Wolf Lodge is definitely the destination that can give you an escape, fun and family time all in one place – perfect for the kid in all of us!
**Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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61 thoughts on “Great Wolf Lodge | The Perfect Getaway for the Kid In All of Us”
This lodge does a great job of making the ordinary seem extraordinary. I can tell your daughter must have had a great time at the lodge!
Yes Leah!! She had an amazing time and we always love our Great Wolf Lodge visits…
OMG! I want to go there, NOW! I'm pretty sure there's one near me. How old is your youngest child? My son is only 2 1/2, do you think that's too young for me to take him??? This seriously looks great! We're sick of the snow here, too!
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LOL…it was SOOOO much fun!! I\’m sure there is too…they seem to cover every major city and don\’t seem to be more than a couple hours drive from anywhere..
No, my youngest was 1 when we went out first time and she still remembers it LOL
OMG how fun is this??!!! You 7 year old wanted to get away…was she turning 8 or 28 lol! I loved your review and I actually knew someone who went here before too and I think it is an wonderful family experience! I would love to go one day thanks for your review!!
8!!! LMBO…funny right? 😀 Thanks so much! We definitely had a blast and I think maybe we will let her pick out destinations a bit more often…I hope you get to go!
We've never been to GWL but have friends who have and rave about it. We'd love to go during the holidays to see the ginormous Christmas tree.
Yes!! We haven’t been during that season BUT I have heard how beautiful and festive it is…that would definitely be a great time to make your first visit 🙂
I'm glad that the Philippines does not have winter season. I think I cannot really stand the cold. Oh wow the room's ambiance looked cozy and convenient for the family. This lodge is perfect!
Oh no winter…that must be lovely 🙂 Yes, the rooms and decor really do fit everything so perfectly!
Love Great Wold Lodge! So much fun. The kids really like the big water slides and… well, so do I. Haha. The rooms are cool – love the different themes and decor. So many activities also. It really is fun for the entire family.
It’s the best family destination! Oh yes…the water slides are the best 😀 Oh and the fun that can be had…definitely a big selling point for me 🙂
I have never been but I would love to go and take my kids. I think I want to wait until they are a little older though. Maybe just a trip with the husband and I? HUmmmm now you have me thinking 🙂
How old are they?? The first time we went my Girlies were 2 and 1 and they both still remembered it. This time they were 8 and 6 and my buddy is 4. They all had a blast both times. 😀
I love Great Wolf Lodge!!!!! I honestly went there and became more excited than the kids. Well.Maybe the kids and I were competing on the excitement level. It was nice to be in a place where we all could find enjoyment. And that we did. Thank you for sharing. It makes me want to go book a room again!
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So Did I!!! LOL… I think I out did them totally…it really is a place great for everyone, I think that\’s what I love most. You Should!!!
I've always wanted to visit one! I drove by the one in Grapevine, TX & promised to go back. It looks like a lot of fun.
You should!! It was so much fun and I can\’t wait to go back.
I've never been on a family trip like this, thanks for sharing! Those glitter tattoos look really cool and it was funny to see your teen taking over the room ^_^ I hope your girly had a happy birthday! Maybe I should celebrate mine + baby's bdays all June this year!
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It’s amazing. The cool part about the Glitter Tats is that they last for about a week even with showers and baths BUT I would suggest getting them right before you leave because they probably wouldn’t last through the water park 🙂 She had an amazing time and is already planning her next visit…LOL You should! We love Birthdays here and celebrate them as long as possible 😀
We have stayed a Great Wolf Lodge in the WI Dells and loved it! There was so much to do and the resort was beautiful!
That’s amazing! They definitely give you the full experience from decor to activities.
There's a great wolf lodge near me, literally down the street! I've always wanted to know what the interior looked like, thanks for the peek inside =)
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Really?? Your Welcome but Girl you’ve gotta go see it in person…plus experience it LOL 🙂
Sounds like you all had a good time! I love the rooms. We'll have to add this place to our list!
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We did!! You should…it is designed perfect for families of any size…
Now, that's an awesome staycation! Your kids must of had the time of their lives. Ive never been to an indoor water park in the middle ignore winter but im pretty sure that I would love it.
Perfect word because it wasn’t a long drive at all…they had a blast and are already asking for a return trip! LOL I had never heard of one before Great Wolf but they do a great job of making you forget whatever the weather may be outside….
We love staying at the Great Wolf Lodge in the Wisconsin Dells. The décor is fun (my boys loved their own separate area and storytime was always a hit with all of the kids staying at the hotel. Since we haven't been there for a few years, you are reminding me to book a trip soon!
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Yes we all had to make sure we took a picture with all the carved bears and wolves…does yours have those? So cool! You definitely should!! 😀
I'm not entirely sure where you're from but when I lived in Ontario, there was a Great Wolf Lodge near Niagara Falls. I'm wondering if this is a chain sort of hotel, considering you went to the one in NC. Looks like so much fun for not only the kids, but the entire fam.
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Hi Nancy. Yes Great Wolf has locations in more than 10 locations including Ontario and North Carolina and it is definitely an amazing family experience. 🙂
Sounds so nice!!! Love that the kids all got their own spaces 🙂
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It really was. Yes that is always so hard with a Team as big as ours but this was perfect.
What a fun family vacation spot! =)
It really is! Thanks for coming by Miranda…
Great wolf Lodge looks like such fun. We haven't been yet however my husband had said in the past he wants us all to go there but he wants to wait until the kids are a bit older. I secretly can't wait because I know my kids would flip! Hoping to change his mind and go sooner. This looks like such fun!
It really is Jeanine…it’s a great place for kids of every age. The first time we went my Girlies were only 2 and 3 but they had an amazing time and remembered it even until now…and this time my youngest was 4 and he is already asking when will are going back 😀
My parents took me here once with my brother when we were younger and it was THE best memory I have of us as a family 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it!
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Awww. That’s awesome Tanisha. I hope she remembers it as fondly.
Great Wolf Lodge looks like a great place to kick back and relax with the family. I love the accommodations, and there's so much to do for everyone there. I may have to make this our next vacation spot. Thanks!
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It really is Stacie. We didn’t even do everything available. Please let me know if you do – is love to hear about it 🙂
Yes! We love Great Wolf Lodge too! 🙂
Aaah a fellow fan 🙂
What an awesome way to spend a birthday!
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I agree. Shoot – I may pick to go there for mine too 🙂
This looks like so much fun! There is a great wolfs lodge close to us and we love going there.
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It was. I was definitely glad she chose it over a party. Lol.
I need all the ideas I can get!!!
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Haha!! This is definitely a great family trip even just for a weekend 🙂
This looks great! I've heard NC is beautiful but have never been.
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North Carolina has so much natural beauty to offer and plenty of fun too 🙂
My brother takes his wife and kids there all the time in Ontario, I hear amazing things. Great pictures!
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Wow!! That\’s awesome…I keep finding out there are so many locations…Great Wolf is definitely amazing fun. Thanks Kayleigh 🙂
My boys love GWL…we go to the one in Grapevine, TX. It's fun to be able to go to a waterpark in the middle of winter!
I didn’t know they had one in Texas!! So cool – it’s definitely a great way to escape yucky weather!!
I have heard of this place several times but have never been to one! The last time I was in southern California visiting my parents I saw that they're building one down the street from Disneyland! What a fun vacation that would be!
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Oh it’s great! If you ever get a chance to go I would definitely suggest it. Summertime fun any time of the year! 😀
sounds cool
It is 😀