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Great Wolf Lodge - to Experience Michigan's "GREAT
INDOORS" in Traverse City.
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Great Wolf Lodges give families the adventure of a
northwoods retreat combined with all the thrill and excitement of one of
America's Premier Indoor Waterpark Attractions for year round fun. |
| Recently we have had a number of web site visitors tell us
about these great indoor water park resorts called Great Wolf Lodges.
All the accolades made a
www.hotelfun4kids.com "Visit..." a must. This
"VISIT" showed just HOW MUCH FUN a Hotel Fun 4 Kids™
Vacation can be at a Great Wolf Lodge. This Great Wolf Lodge is located in Traverse City, Michigan
and is
one of the newest Great Wolf Lodges. |
| As we approached the Resort,
we couldn't help but notice the green, yellow and blue tubes that exit and
enter through the towering log Lodge on the Hill. This made for some
very excited kids who were ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead.
Entering the grand lobby of Great Wolf
Lodge, brought us into the world of a mountain retreat warmed by the
4 story fireplace. It's as if you have arrived in a grand "Living
Room" to be welcomed by nature itself. A family of wolves,
deer and more woodland creatures are set amongst comfortable rustic
furniture. |
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A focal point of the lobby
is the Clock Tower, one of the most photographed spots at the lodge.
We couldn't resist taking this one.
Later learned about the special role
the Clock Tower plays in family entertainment at Great Wolf Lodge. |
| While we proceeded
to check into our room, which is a great part of this
Visit, I just have to talk about all the fun we had first. Since the
boys couldn't wait to experience the waterpark, I think it only
appropriate that I start there, after of course, we put on our wrist bands
- I'll explain that later too. |
The Waterpark
| Donning our swimsuits,
we were off to Bear Track Landing, located on the first floor, which we
dubbed the FUN FLOOR. |
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After grabbing
some towels as we entered the waterpark and staking out our chairs we were
ready for some great water adventure. There are specially trained
life guards everywhere in this large facility. Before we knew
it, the boys were off and it was easy to see that they were going to have
a ball.
There is no doubt
that this is the premier attraction at Great Wolf Lodge. The
four-story indoor waterpark encompasses 38,000 square feet of pure water
fun for all ages. At its center is Fort Mackenzie, a towering water
playground topped off with a huge water bucket that
dumps over 1,000 gallons of water every few minutes.
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When the warning bell sounds, everyone gathers, either to get dumped on or
to take pictures of the dumpees. This is the most popular spot for
picture taking and I could not pass this one up. |
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In addition to the
bucket, Fort Mackenzie has 12 levels of water activities, rope ladders,
tunnels, water guns, spouts and the Totem Towers body slides.
Here is just a
sampling of the Fun we had at Bear Track Landing:
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Stephen was the first to challenge the ropes on Fort Mackenzie
while Mitchell's favorite activity was to dump water on unsuspecting
climbers, his mom included. |
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Mitchell is having too much fun to stop and tell me how the
slide was when he lands at the bottom. |
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Around the back
side of the fort, under the shadow of the Totem Towers, epic water battles
took place. No one got by dry here. |
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Howling Wolf, a
raft ride for two or three riders winding over 336 feet in and
outside of the park quickly became my favorite. Here I catch Mitch
and Stephen upon re-entering the park. |
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Here are some tips
to keep in mind when heading to Bear Track Landing:
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Children under 48" must be accompanied on some of the slides.
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Children over 48" are not allowed in Cub Paw Pool unless accompanying a
younger child.
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Swim diapers are required. Regular diapers are not allowed in the
pools. Swim diapers are available for purchase.
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Only coast guard approved life vests are allowed and a limited number are
available for guest use.
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Spirit Island is located inside Bear Track Landing for convenience and
offers snacks, lunches and even a little something special for mom and
dad. Items can be signed to your room.
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Washrooms and lockers are available.
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During the summer months there is an outdoor pool and patio.
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Northern
Lights Arcade
When it was time
to dry up, we headed over to the Northern Lights Arcade (also located on
the Fun (1st) Floor). 125 games are spread over 7,000 square
feet. There was no shortage of ohs and ahs from my boys, especially when
they got just a glimpse from the glass elevators. The arcade is
open from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm daily - until 11:00 pm on Friday and
Saturday.
Since arcade was
their domain, they each received a daily budget, collecting
tickets along the way. At the end of the visit, the redemption
center yielded some interesting treats for the mountain of tickets they
amassed.
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| Although the room is usually black-lit, I had them turn on the
lights for this picture so I could show the extent of the gaming
fun. |
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We did take in the
Biko's 3D Theater and virtual reality game - a pirate adventure - where
body movements lead to a winner in the game. I got bragging
rights after winning this one.
Cub's Cabin -
Children's Activity Center
The Lodge's Cub
Club Crafts and Activities take place daily. Don't forget to
pick up a schedule at check-in. Crafts take place in the Cub's
Cabin , a 1200 square foot children's activity center located down the
hall from the waterpark and arcade. Parents and children can also
enjoy the facilities just to play.
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These dads were busy making necklaces with their
daughters, hope the boys back at their offices don't see this one.
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These two girls took a break from
playing "Log Cabin" to relax on the swing. |
Stephen waits patiently after
setting up the checkers for a game. |
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And There is
Still More!!!
A daily schedule
of activities includes character breakfasts with Wiley Wolf, wolf walks where a tour guide
talks about the animals displayed in the lobby and the three times daily
Great Clock Tower display.
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Here is where the
Clock Tower takes on its special role as the
animals located on the clock come to life to explain the Rhythm of Nature.
After the 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm Rhythm of Nature displays, its time
for pajama story time. |
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Children come
dressed in their pajamas as Lodge Memory Creators tell stories and help
children settle down for a good night's sleep after a busy day of play.
For Moms and Dads,
Great Wolf Lodge also boasts an Aveda Concept Spa and Salon as well as the
Iron Horse Fitness Room. My husband did check these out and reported
back (a couple hours later) that they were great too!!!
As is our
tradition, we always get a christmas tree ornament from each vacation .
A visit to Buckhorn Exchange Gift Emporium provided some interesting trading post
options. I settled on a howling wolf for this "VISIT".
Chowing Down
at Great Wolf Lodge
After expending
all that energy at Bear Track Landing, Northern Lights Arcade and the Cub
Club activities, our stomachs began to growl like a bear, telling us
it was time to look for some grub.
Conveniently
located in Bear Track Landing is the Spirit Island Snack Shop. No
need to change and get dried up, we just grabbed some munchies and drinks
then kept right on splashing.
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Bear Claw Café
serves up Starbucks coffees, pastries, ice cream, sandwiches and snacks.
Open from 6 am to 10 pm, it was a great place to grab a treat or two, I
think that's why its on the "Fun Floor" too.
The boys couldn't believe their eyes when
they saw the M & M's dispenser, but decided on the fudge for a treat.
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Just off the lobby
are the Great Wolf Lodge's two themed restaurants.
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Lucy Moose Mount welcomed us for breakfast and dinner from her
perch over the fireplace in the Loose Moose Cottage. The
whimsical cottage decor made for enchanted meals with moosey
entertainment. |
| The rustic campsite ambiance of Camp Critter Bar & Grille is open for
lunch, dinner and overflow breakfast from the Loose Moose Cottage. |
| Surrounded by a forest of maple and oak, our picnic table sat under
the canopy of a dining tent for a cozy place to eat. We took turns
choosing from the Menu and buffet. Don't
forget to spot the bear hiding in the tree and write your name on the wall
with crayons. |
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Log Cabin
Guest Suites
Grand is a word that comes to mind when you check into the
Lodge and this continues on into all of the resort's 281 guest rooms
and suites. With 7 layouts to choose from, any size family can
enjoy the spacious luxurious comfort and convenient suite amenities.
The largest suite includes a loft and sleeping capacity for up to 8. |
| While a themed suite wasn't available for our
visit - it pays to book these in advance - I did get an opportunity to
peek into one of the KidCabin suites. These unique "Kid Suites"
within a suite create a camping experience for kids, while affording mom
and dad some extra privacy. |
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Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge |
Themed suites come in three varieties - the KidCabin, themed as a bunkhouse, the KidKamp,
modeled after a logging camp tent and the extremely popular WolfDen.
Bunk beds with sleeper bags and a TV area for kids make these
suites a family favorite at the Lodge. |
| In our spacious family suite, as with all the
suites at Great Wolf Lodge, plenty of counter space combined
with amenities including a microwave, refrigerator and coffeemaker
offer a
perfect place to relax and prepare some quick snacks. |
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The suites are designed to provide a semi-private sleeping area and in
the family suites a privacy wall separates the living area. The living
areas feature sofa beds and a convenient table for dining if you wish
to order room service - I hear there is great pizza. |
| Each suite has a large balcony or patio. From our balcony
we could watch the Buffalo and new calves munching on some fresh
grass - there is a fence. There are over 40 Buffalo
on the 48 acres surrounding the lodge. |
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Tips for a Family VISIT at Great Wolf Lodge:
When you are ready to plan a Great Wolf Lodge Visit,
here are some tips to keep in mind:
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Check out the web site at
www.greatwolflodge.com for packages and more information.
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If you want one of the lodge's suites with a KidCabin,
WolfDen or KidKamp, book it well in advance.
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On check-in you will receive a bracelet for each family
member depending on your suite size. If you need additional
bracelets, these can be purchased at an additional cost per night.
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Great Wolf Lodge is smoke free. All suites are
smoke-free.
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Get your copy of Lodge Life for a guide to events and the
Cub Club Activity Guide on check in.
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Waterpark level rooms are at a premium.
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If your visit is in the summer, bring plenty of sunscreen
and apply often.
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Don't loose your bracelet. Put the bands on the
children right away.
A replacement bracelet is $15.00.
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There is plenty of parking at the lodge.
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Weekends, holidays and peak periods require a two night
booking. I recommend a two night minimum stay since there is just
too much fun to pack it all into a one night stay.
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Consider eating at non-peak times for faster service.
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Once you arrive at Great Wolf Lodge, you won't want to
leave, but if you do want to take a drive along the bay, there are some
great beaches.
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Traverse City has a children's museum called the
Great Lakes Children's Museum and the Clinch Park Zoo.
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There are more Great Wolf Lodge locations to visit.
Coming soon - Niagara Falls, Ontario and Williamsburg, Virginia. Great Bear
Lodge is located in Sandusky Ohio.
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We had a Howling Great Time!!!
As a family resort destination, Great Wolf Lodge has it
all. Great Accommodations, Great Food, Great Fun - it doesn't get
much better than this. From the moment we viewed the log sided
resort, reminiscent of the grand lodges of the past, stepped into the
inviting "Grand Livingroom Lobby", entered the exciting indoor waterpark
attraction and experienced all the great amenities at Great Wolf Lodge we
had to agree with the accolades. This is one Great Year-Round
Vacation Destination that epitomizes what a Hotel Fun 4 Kids™ Vacation is
all about.
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For more information on Family Attractions go to Michigan Family
Attractions
For more information on Hotels and Resorts go to Michigan Hotels and
Resorts
www.hotelfun4kids.com"Visits
..." is an unique opportunity that encourages you to ask us
questions about the Visit location. Go to www.hotelfun4kids.com/contactus.htm
to submit your question and we will do our best to answer
it. By
Maureen Hall
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