Great Escape

Your teens are holding a car wash at the high school Saturday. The grandparents volunteered to take the younger children to a movie Sunday afternoon. Your tweens take tap on Wednesday evening. It’s your time. Take it.

Each week, we’ll tell you about one great idea to give you a much deserved break, and make your life a little easier, maybe a whole lot easier.

So this might put the “great” in great escape, but there are the occasional times when the whole family needs to get away. Why not flee to the mountains and let the kids ravage the local candy store while you two look over maps and brochures for exploring the nearby hiking trails and kayaking adventures?

Welcome to Great Wolf Lodge, Poconos, Pa.

Here’s what Hyattsville mom Carol Ramsey-Lucas had to say about her family’s experiences there.

“The rooms are very child friendly with designations as a wolf den or bear cub den. There are rooms with bunk beds and the kids in these rooms have their own TV and video game set up.  

There is an arcade called Northern Lights Arcade that is great fun for the kids. By far the most exciting part of Great Wolf Lodge is the indoor water park. With sometimes eight water slides and a wave pool, a regular pool with basketball hoops, and a kiddie pool area, there’s enough to keep the kids busy all day. 

“My kids age 12 years to nine months have a great time. There are special activities including a wolf walk on Saturday morning, an evening story time with a talking tree, and a craft area for the child who needs a break from the water park. (In the water park the temperature is kept above 80 degrees so even when there is snow on the ground outside it is warm enough to walk around in your bathing suit). 

“There’s also a restaurant with a fantastic buffet but we usually order pizza and enjoy it together with our extended family in the room. And for the teens, there’s a space called, “gr8_Space” with video games. My kids have never done the MagiQuest activities but kids can rent magic wands and go on a quest throughout the lodge.

“The best part is that at the end of the day the kids are exhausted and happy and drop off to sleep before their heads hit the pillow.