Great Wolf Lodge: Spring-a-Palooza!

Has your family visited Great Wolf Lodge lately? My first trip was back in 2013 and a lot has changed since then! My family had an opportunity for a weekend visit and a preview of their Spring-a-Palooza event, where for 6 weeks the entire lodge is transformed into a bursting bouquet of spring colors and flowers. There are special seasonal activities during Spring-a-Palooza, including Northwood’s Tea Party with Violet and Friends, special Spring crafts, a bubble dance party and a whole lot more.

Located just under 100 miles north of Portland in Grand Mound, Wash, Great Wolf Lodge is as accessible as the coast and is truly a destination for family fun.

My kids (ages 7 and 13) and I arrived at around dinnertime on Friday and our check-in was orderly and painless. While there is a lot to do at GWL, the lodge and hotel themselves are not so vast that it takes forever to get from your room to the water park, restaurants and other attractions.

Our room was comfortable (we learned that they recently replaced all of the mattresses in the hotel and they are truly comfortable beds), spacious and surprisingly quiet. I was a bit concerned about the noise level at night, but we did not have any issues at all. I guess a full day of play at a water park makes for kids who would rather rest up for another day of fun than run up and down the halls!

TIP: The water park itself is open from 9am-8pm but people start lining up early to get the prime spots. From the Cub Paw Pool for the littlest guests all the way up to the Howlin’ Tornado (a HUGE attraction, which you’ve no doubt seen from the freeway if you’ve driven past!) there is somewhere for each family member to find their water zen. Great Wolf also has special wheelchairs that can go into certain areas of the water park so that kids of all abilities have access to play and fun.

One of the newest features at the Grand Mound location is Oliver’s Mining Company and Moonstone Mine, where kids can pan for special rocks and gems and take a journey through a mine (a literal house of mirrors) and learn a bit along the way.

During our stay we had the opportunity to try every restaurant in the lodge and the choices range from a very casual pool-side option with burgers and sandwiches (this was our only meal that left a little something to be desired, so we will probably skip that on our next trip) to a sweets and snack stand, a take-out pizza and salad option, a breakfast buffet and a more upscale grill (with an attached bar for the grown-ups). There is also a candy shop, which my kids were pretty excited about and a Starbucks, which I was pretty excited about! They have recently revised their menu and we really enjoyed our dinner at Lodge Wood Fired Grill. The executive chef is also innovating their menu so that there are tasty and safe options for guests with food sensitivities and allergies. (The chicken strips poolside are NOT gluten free, but the ones at the Grill are both gluten free and delicious!)

If your family wants to get involved with all of the activities the lodge has to offer, I would suggest buying a Wolf Pass for each child. It not only includes access to the very popular MagiQuest, which will keep your kids active and engaged during their breaks from the water park, but also includes access to the glow mini golf, Oliver’s Mining Company, Moonstone Mine, a free cup of candy, free swim goggles, and a bit of money to spend at the arcade, in addition to several other bonuses.

The improvements that GWL Grand Mound has made since our last family visit were noticeable. They still have their signature Fireside story time nightly, The Great Clocktower Show and character appearances and photo ops, but have added other fun activities (there is a daily events calendar on their website and you can see exactly what’s planned for that day!), including morning yoga and evening dance parties. If your child is more into a little pampering, they even have a spa on site. There really is something for everyone.

Spring-a-Palooza goes through April 28th, but there is always something special to do at Great Wolf Lodge. They transform the lodge into a winter wonderland each December as well. Before we were out of the parking lot, my son was asking to return for his summer birthday, so we will be seeing the gang in Grand Mound again soon!

TIP: If you visit the lodge during the month of April, be sure to buy a pair of their special blue wolf ears, which support Autism Awareness Month.