If you’re looking for a family-friendly vacation destination that’s sure to keep everyone entertained, look no further than Great Wolf Lodge in Bloomington, Minnesota. This indoor water park resort has something for everyone, from toddlers to teens. The Undem Family Adventures spent a weekend there in February and we had an AMAZING time!!
With its spacious rooms, delicious food, and endless activities, Great Wolf Lodge is the perfect place to relax and have fun as a family. Here’s a closer look at some of the things you can expect during your stay:
The Rooms at Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge offers a variety of room types to choose from, so you can find the perfect one for your family. There are standard rooms, family suites, and even themed suites. All of the rooms are spacious and comfortable, and they come with all the amenities you need for a relaxing stay.
If you’re traveling with a toddler, you’ll want to consider booking a family suite. Family suites have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchenette. This gives you plenty of space to spread out and relax. Plus, the kitchenette is great for making your own meals, which can save you money. We had a corner suite room with a gorgeous view looking out over Bloomington.
If you’re looking for a more unique experience, you might want to consider booking a themed suite. Great Wolf Lodge offers a variety of themed suites, including a Wolf Den Suite, a KidCabin Suite, and a Lighthouse Suite. These suites are decorated in a fun and whimsical way, and they’re sure to make your stay extra special.
One of the coolest parts about the rooms and quite frankly the entire resort is that the adult wristbands contain a chip that acts as a room key/wallet. You can use this in most places so you can leave your wallet in the room safely. If you are over the age of 21 and want to consume adult beverages, you will want to bring your ID with you if you head down to the bar or want to grab a beer from the various food options.
No matter what type of room you choose, you’re sure to have a comfortable and relaxing stay at Great Wolf Lodge.
The Water Park – Slide Into Fun at Great Wolf Lodge
The centerpiece of Great Wolf Lodge is its indoor water park. With over 50 water slides, pools, and interactive features, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Little ones will love the Cub Paw Pool, a zero-depth pool with interactive fountains and water features. Older kids will get a kick out of the Howlin’ Tornado, a four-story water slide that drops you into a giant funnel. And for adults, there’s the lazy river, where you can relax and float along the current.
Carolynn LOVED floating around in the lazy river with Mom and Dad and she even enjoyed going into the wave pool – which REALLY surprised us. This was by far her best waterpark experience even though it was quite busy the weekend we went!
One huge suggestion that we did NOT do but I would highly recommend would be to book a private cabana BEFORE your trip – these sell out fast. This gives you a dedicated “home-base” area to check back into and an easy way to remember where your towels are located. You are able to rent a locker for the day if you want to keep your stuff secure.
The air temperature is quite warm when you first walk in, but as soon as you are wet from swimming and playing in the water, you will quickly appreciate the warm air–but it can be quite humid for guests who may not be swimming.
Hours of Fun At Great Wolf Lodge Arcade
After a day of splashing around in the water park, head to the arcade for some more fun. With over 100 games to choose from, there’s sure to be something for everyone. You can even earn tickets that can be redeemed for prizes. Of course – the prizes vary from small bracelets and bouncy balls all the way up to some pretty amazing games and activities – there were even skateboards and more when we were there!
The Arcade is conveniently located in the main floor near the front entrances and has a good variety of games from racing, to throwing at targets, and classic arcade games as well.
Bowling
If you’re looking for a more low-key activity, head to the bowling alley. There are four lanes available, so you can challenge your family and friends to a game. The best part? It’s mini bowling and the games are interactive so you can capture fun family moments while enjoying a fun twist on a classic family activity. You will need to check in by the ropes course to get coins to play the games.
Mining for Gold
Another fun activity at Great Wolf Lodge is mining for gold. Kids can pan for gold in a simulated river and see if they can find any real nuggets and other precious gems. Carolynn carried around her bag of gems for WEEKS after we got home – this may have been one of her favorite parts.
Onsite Food and Entertainment
There are several restaurants on-site at Great Wolf Lodge, so you can find something to suit everyone’s taste. There’s also a pizzeria, a snack bar, and a coffee shop–which you know we needed the caffeine to keep up with a weekend of three-year-old energy.
The breakfast bar was AMAZING. Listen, we stay in hotels all the time both with free breakfast and paid breakfast options. This is an add-on option that you do not want to skip. There was literally almost every single breakfast food you could want, the fresh fruit was great and replenished multiple times even though it was packed in the dining area, there were vegan options clearly marked, and the service was great. Our server even brought Carolynn a sticker book so she could play – I mean how sweet is that?!
In addition to the water park, there are also several other entertainment options available at Great Wolf Lodge. You can catch a show at the Howl at the Moon Theater, go bowling, or play laser tag. There’s also a ropes course and a climbing wall. We enjoyed the Magic Quest that is located through the main floor and second floor of the resort and allows kids to use an interactive want to find gems, battle against characters, and unlock quests. Carolynn did a great job finding the gems and LOVED that she got to build a custom wand at the shop located near the waterpark entrance.
There were also character meet and greets available throughout the lobby and main floor, as well as fun dance parties, arts and crafts, and more. There truly is an activity for almost anyone in the family.
Great Wolf Lodge is the perfect place to create lasting memories with your family. With its endless activities and amenities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So what are you waiting for? Book your stay today!
More Tips For A Great Trip
Here are some additional tips for planning your trip to Great Wolf Lodge:
- Book your stay in advance, especially if you’re traveling during peak season.
- If you plan to spend a long time swimming, book the Cabana.
- Purchase a Wolf Pass, which gives you unlimited access to the water park, arcade, bowling, and other activities.
- Bring your own towels and some snacks for the room to save money.
- Dress in layers so you can adjust to the temperature in the water park.
- Be sure to check the height requirements for the water slides and other attractions.
With so much to see and do, you’re sure to have a blast at Great Wolf Lodge. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!
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