Sunday, August 19, 2012

Great Fun at Great Wolf Lodge


Hanging out on the top bunk in our room.
Take two young kids, two parents desperate to have fun making memories on vacation because family-time can be hard to come by, add half a dozen water slides, a few less naps than usual, and you have the recipe for more smiles than one family could ever hope for. Our little trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Ohio was nearly a month ago and Colton is still randomly saying, “I had fun water park!” with the happiest look on his face. To think that I actually had considered not going there for our vacation because I wasn’t sure that Colton was old enough to enjoy all the attractions. I could not have been more wrong.  

Smiles so bright they could light up the room.
 I'm pretty sure Clara and Colton grew gills and sprouted fins the three days at the water park. We had the joy of seeing a whole new side of the independent, carefree spirits we know and love. There is a "no double sliding" rule for all the smaller slides so we were forced to let go and witness Clara and Colton explore the thrills of water slides. They could not get enough of the slides and we couldn't get enough of watching them.

Ahhhhh! I can't wait to go again!
Ready, set.....
GO!!!!
 
The "Whooping Hollow" slides where we
spent most of our time.
I am amazed by how willing both the kids were to just go down 3 story-high slides by themselves and Clara was more than willing to go down the full-size water slides with Aaron and I. Our little fish were eager to explore, float, zoom and splash until their hearts were content. Well, that's kind of a lie. Their wonderful hearts were never content - they would have spent 8 hours straight at the water park. We did spend the majority of our time there, but there are so many more fun things to do there, and, we did have to eat! 
Our kids could not get enough of the 3 story-high slide
on the left of this picture.
 
Between the arcade and bowling, story time and meeting mascots at the clock tower, using magic wands to make pictures and statues sing and talk in the hallways, playing at the Cub Club, and a special Mommy-Daughter pedicure at the Scoops Spa, there was plenty to do in addition to the water park. Our one full day at the resort Mother Nature chose to send in a storm that plunged the whole resort into a 5 hour blackout. Nothing but emergency power anywhere in the facility. The staff did a great job of using stories, balloon animals and bbq'ing outside to entertain the guests. We took the opportunity to catch a few zzz's and visit the Cub Club, which had enough light to color, paint, play, and make a sand art project.

Miss Clara getting pampered with a pedicure at Scoops Spa.
Enjoying some ice cream after getting her purple hair extension.

Someone was a little exhausted
from all the fun he had!

Someone else was so excited from
the fun, she just couldn't stop smiling!

We had such a great time. The kids are already begging to go back. If the second time is as fun as the first, we'll most definitely be trying to squeeze in a visit to Cincinnati again before we move next year.

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