Things to Do With Toddlers at Great Wolf Lodge

Is Great Wolf Lodge a good place to stay when you have a toddler? Check out these things to do with toddlers at Great Wolf Lodge! 

The day after the big kids got out of school for the summer we surprised them with a fun staycation to kick off the beginning of summer. Over the 4 day getaway, we spent two days at Great Wolf Lodge Southern California. We’d never stayed at a Great Wolf Lodge and have been dying to try out the closest one to our house. So when I saw the opportunity to purchase a Groupon again (we missed the first opportunity), I jumped on it and booked a night. 

As we did a bit more research on our upcoming stay, one thing was clear: there is a TON to do for all age groups. Including toddlers. And once we got there, we found this to be 100% accurate. Not only were there fun things for the big kids, but for the small kids and adults as well. 

If you’ve planned a night at the Great Wolf Lodge, here’s what you should put on your list to do with your toddler: 

Things to Do With Toddlers at Great Wolf Lodge

1. Grab a puddle jumper or bring your own – 

While there are quite a few places your toddler can go at Great Wolf Lodge, safety is first. Make sure you either bring your own life jacket (or favorite puddle jumper) or use one that’s provided for you at the various life jacket stations. We preferred our own because sometimes they’re out of life jackets at certain times of days or locations and it’s easier to just grab our own. 

2. Park yourself somewhere close to the Cub Paw Pool – 

After enjoying an afternoon at the water park on our first day there (you can enjoy the park starting at 1pm on your check-in day even though check in is at 4pm) and exploring everything for the first time, we knew that as soon as we arrived at the water park on our full day at the park, we needed to snag a spot near our toddler’s favorite area: Cub Paw Pool. 

Now not only does this area have a zero-depth entry that makes it easier for toddlers and infants alike to explore at their own pace, it only goes to 24″ deep in the deepest area. There are age appropriate slides, water funnels, and fun splash areas that are sure to excite any little one. And parents can just relax (as much as one can when they’re in the water with kids) while their littles play around them and have fun. My husband literally sat at the bottom of a small slide as he watched our daughter go up the stairs and down the slide 100s of times as I took the other two to the “big kid” areas of the park. She seriously did not want to leave to go anywhere else once she found Cub Paw Pool. 

3. Enjoy a fun splash area that older siblings can have fun at too at Fort Mackenzie – 

While Cub Paw Pool was perfect for the toddlers and infants, if your toddler is a bit more adventurous, let them splash and explore around Fort Mackenzie. The older kids can enjoy the medium size slides while the younger kids take turns trying to shoot water at passersby or stomp around in the big puddles. But watch out! That bucket on top of Fort Mackenzie does fill with water and tips to empty every few minutes. 

You may be surprised to find that after your toddler tries out the small slides in Cub Paw Pool that they ask to try the medium sized slides over at Fort Mackenzie! Maybe. If they’re daredevil 2-year-olds like mine…

4. With life jackets on, enjoy the waves of Slap Tail Pond’s wave pool.

There are lulls in between the waves (pictured above) but once the wave machine starts going, the littles LOVE trying to jump over the waves closer to the shore as the big kids swim in deeper. This pool also has a zero-depth entry that makes it easy for all to enjoy. And your little one might surprise you by asking to be taken further into the waves. Just make sure to hold on a bit tighter as you go in deeper. 

5. Looking for some sun? Enjoy the rays (with sunscreen lathered on, of course) at Raccoon Lagoon. 

Another zero-depth entry pool that gets to about 4 feet deep, this pool has two entrances on either side that offer fun play areas for toddlers to explore. The big kids will take over the center of the pool where the basketball hoops are but that’s ok, the edge is closer to the restaurant and drinks! 

In between splashing in the water and played with the water funnels, our 2-year-old munched on a delicious corn on the cobb snack from the Grizzly Jack’s Bar and Grill. I couldn’t pull all of the kids out of here but sadly had to as our day was coming to a close. You can stay the full day on the day you check out but we were ready to dry off and head to our next adventure by then. 

6. Staying a second night? Make sure to head down for storytime. 

Some littles may be in bed by the time this starts (I believe it was 8 or 8:15pm) but both of our girls headed down with dad to check out The Forest Friends Show followed by Great Wolf Lodge bedtime stories as told by one of their Ambassadors of Fun. Don’t forget your camera because after Story Time, meeting Wiley, Violet or one of the Great Wolf Kids characters is an unforgettable memory you won’t want to miss – and a pretty cute one too! High paws are always welcome and definitely encouraged.

As you can see, there is plenty to do at Great Wolf Lodge when you have a toddler. And some things we didn’t even get a chance to do! Good thing the whole family was in agreement that we’d have to come back soon! 

A few highlights I didn’t mention above but the toddler loved: Pizza from Hungry Like a Wolf for dinner, Donuts from Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, brownies and fudge at Bear Paw Eats & Sweets, the mini carousel and candy claw at the Northern Lights Arcade, and ending our trip with a souvenir wolf from the Buckhorn Exchange Gift Shop. 

Don’t forget to book a Wolf Den room if you have more than one cub! The bunk beds were a huge hit with our kids. While one night may be great for a lot of families, we’ll be booking two nights next time we head up so we can enjoy more of the amenities offered. 

Have you been to Great Wolf Lodge? What was your favorite part? 

Exploring Santa Fe With Kids: Meow Wolf

explore santa fe meow wolf

A few weeks ago our family set out on their first summer adventure. We hit the road in a Kia Sorrento that Kia so graciously lent us and traveled across two states to arrive at our destination – Santa Fe, New Mexico – for a few days. I was there for a conference and the family came along for the adventure. 

While there, we wanted to find fun, new things for the kids to explore so the first thing we did was spark up a conversation with a few parents we ran into and asked what they did with their kids for fun. And while we got some great suggestions for various things to do around town, the one suggestion that was the same from everyone was to visit Meow Wolf. 

Meow Wolf? What could that possibly be? Well let me tell you. If you are anywhere around Santa Fe, you NEED to check out this exhibit. It is absolutely amazing. And the perfect experience for adults and children alike. 

explore santa fe meow wolf house of eternal return

explore santa fe meow wolf house

Meow Wolf: The House Of Eternal Return Exhibit

When we first stepped inside The House Of Eternal Return exhibit at Meow Wolf all we saw was what appeared to be the yard of a large house. There was a mailbox, a porch, and we entered into the front door. Inside we walked around the house and saw the various rooms inside. Kitchen, dining room, living room downstairs, and bedrooms upstairs. 

After exploring each room downstairs, we headed up to the bedrooms. And from within the bedrooms we found our way into what appeared to be a different dimension. We walked around the exhibit allowing the kids to lead. Around every bend was another crazy, amazing room after another filled with various sites and sounds.

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What was most enjoyable about Meow Wolf was the hands on feel. Our kids could explore this exhibit with every sense and really experience each new finding. We didn’t have to worry about standing back and watching, or keeping our voices quiet. Although the sites we explored did leave the kids quiet as they busily walked (and ran) around to find the next new thing. 

About Meow Wolf

With the help of George R.R. Martin, who recently purchased a vacant former bowling alley, Meow Wolf has converted the building into a multi-use Art Complex. The Meow Wolf Art Complex stands as a beacon of creativity and community in Santa Fe’s emerging Midtown Innovation District, welcoming locals and tourists alike to take part in fun, enriching art experiences, workshops, and community activities.

The building is home to the JoAnn and Bob Balzer Creative Maker Studio hosted by Make Santa Fe, The David Loughridge Learning Center inhabited by Meow Wolf’s non-profit educational outreach program Chimera, and the 20,000 square foot interactive art experience “House of Eternal Return.”

explore santa fe meow wolf statue

What Else To Do At Meow Wolf

Meow Wolf does not just house The House of Eternal Return exhibit. You can also participate hands-on in some of the artist’s projects in the Maker Studio as well as various workshops held. But make sure to check out the website before visiting so you can sign up in advance for the workshops you or your kids are most interested in. 

When we visited, after exploring the exhibit, we headed to the Learning Center where, after a small donation, the kids could paint, build, and create various pieces of artwork. They were able to meet other children and have a bit more fun before we returned to our hotel. If we had thought about it ahead of time we would have looked into the workshops they also held to sign the kids up. But that’ll be for next time…

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If you’re in Santa Fe and haven’t been to Meow Wolf, go! 

Give yourself about 2 hours to explore (maybe a little longer if you want to spend some time in the Learning Center). Tickets are $18 for adults, $12 for children 12 and under, and $16 for seniors (cheaper for New Mexico residents). You can purchase tickets online in advance here

And make sure to bring your camera! 

Have you been to New Mexico with kids? What was your favorite part? 

Looking for a new family car? Check out the Kia Sorrento. Roomy, smart, and so comfortable. 

My family of 5 was able to get 3 carseats in the back (2 Britax Frontiers forward facing and 1 Diono Radian rear facing) and while it was a tight squeeze, it worked. There’s an option for a third row for larger families or those who don’t want 3 carseats across. Our favorite features? USB plug ins + 110 volt power inverter to keep all of our tech charged and ready to go, advanced smart cruise control, and superb navigation! 

Thanks again to Kia for loaning us a Kia Sorrento for our family road trip. Stay tuned for more adventure updates from our trip! 

Kia Sorrento In New Mexico

10 Vacation Tips With Kids

10 Vacation Tips with Kids

Recently I read on Facebook from a friend that vacations with kids are simply trips, not vacations. Because as a mom, or a parent, there’s no relaxing as one would expect on a vacation. And while I see where this friend is coming from, I don’t know if I buy it. Maybe that’s because the larger vacations we’ve taken with the kids usually end up being with one set of grandparents coming along as well (which I HIGHLY recommend for those who get along with their parents/in-laws). Or maybe it’s because I put myself into the vacation mentality and try to balance rest/relaxation with exploration.

I guess it all depends on the mindset of the parents, right? And the planning. As a family of 5, our next vacation is going to take a bit of planning. Luckily I’ve found some great tips for vacationing with the kids… and planning the vacations. So starting now means I’ll be ahead of the game when our next vacation gets closer, right? Because planning a vacation for a family of four seems a lot easier than planning for the five of us. And I have no idea why! 

Vacation Tips with Kids

1. 7 Tips for Surviving Family Vacations with Teens & Tweens | Shaken Together

2. Staying Sane While Traveling with Kids | Turning the Clock Back

3. Taking a Road Trip to Disney World with Kids | My Mommy World

4. 12 Tips to Traveling with Kids (Without Losing Your Mind) | That Bald Chick

5. How to Stay Happy When Traveling with Toddlers | Smarty Pants Mama

6. Baby Air Travel Essentials | Meet Kristy

7. Surviving Road Trips with Children | More Than A Mom of Three

8. How Do You Potty Train When On-The-Go? ~Sunshine and Sippy Cups

9. Your Ultimate Family Road Trip Resource Guide ~Carrie Elle

10. Tips for Traveling with Children on the Auto Train ~A TIPical Day

 

Need more help with planning your next vacation? Planning a road trip with the kids? You might find this article helpful!

Road Trip with Kids Survival Gear

5 Must-Have Tools for Traveling

5 must have tools for traveling square

When you have the right tools for traveling a trip can be much easier. By taking the time to research what you might need and finding the perfect products for your trip you can save time, money, and hassle while on the road or in the air.

We recently took a trip to South Dakota to visit friends and found that our trip was made much easier with the help of a few essential tools. Read below to find out exactly how these five must have’s made our lives much easier! [Read more…]



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