Wolves, Beavers and Talking Trees: Oh My!

  We just got back from Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, ON. On the trek: my husband, our son, Kash - 5 years, daughter Lily - 2.5 years and me. We had a fab time and can't believe how much we did in about 24 hours time.  When we arrived, the Lodge lobby was absolutely jam-packed. One patron told me that 500 people were checking out and 200 people were checking in.  I'm not sure that's accurate but I wouldn't be surprised if it was.

 

Luckily, the lines moved quickly and the accessories in the lobby - a talking tree, life-sized talking moose and bears; little hand-prints that make chipmunks jump up in tiny windows; views of the gift shop, waterpark, and restaurants - are well thought-out and kept our kids busy through the check-in process.

Our room was impressive and the kids were psyched about the "KidCabin Suite" which contained bunk beds, a twin bed and a TV/games console separated by a half-wall.  The other side of the room has a queen bed, a pull-out couch, another TV and a small patio outside.  There was more than enough room for four people. (Too bad our toddler did not want to sleep in her bed and was up, oh, about 25 times during the night).

Of course the Lodge's main attraction is the ginormous indoor waterpark. Truly awe-inspiring, I have to say my jaw dropped when we took a look through the windows connecting the waterpark to the lobby stairs.  I knew the waterpark was big, I knew it would be a blast but I didn't expect it to be quite as impressive as it really is.  The best aspects about the waterpark, to me, are:

• Diversity - my adventurous son (and husband) tried almost every slide, tunnel and "ride" offered in the park while our toddler and I still had lots to do. Many of the rides have height restrictions. 
• Safety - there were myriad life guards and Lodge staff on hand at every pool and every slide. We also brought our own life-jackets for the kids which added to our peace of mind.
• Temp - it was a balmy 84 degrees F inside the waterpark (although the trip from the water to the rooms was rather frigid as you need to leave your towels with the staff before leaving the park area)
• Bonding - we all had a great time playing together, laughing together and trying new things. I think we'll all remember the good times we had as a family in GWL forever.
• Ease - no driving, no parking, not even many long lines: the beauty of the Great Wolf Lodge waterpark is its ease.  Just throw on your suit, walk downstairs, and there you are!

The food (at Camp Critter restaurant) is nothing to write home about.  I was not expecting much - I realize that the Lodge has to appeal to the masses and there was a lot of generic kids food - French fries, chicken nuggets, pancakes, waffles, etc. but some of the other selections were pretty tasty.  I had roast beef (or was it flank steak?) and salad for dinner.  From what I gather, the prices are quite steep, too so you may want to pack your own snacks/meals and keep them in an in-room fridge (if available). At breakfast the next day, we had to wait 20 minutes just to get a table at Camp Critter so we entertained our own critters in front of the roaring fireplace, and doing more people watching.

Despite long lines and some inconveniences, we had a fabulous time.  Most of the staff were very helpful, the waterpark is utterly amazing, the kids had an absolute blast, the themed room really impressed the kids and we will definitely consider going again.

Have you been to the Lodge? Planning a visit? Let me know what you think.

My Mommy Went to Ottawa and All I Got Was This Lousy Blog Post

We're back in the big smoke after a week in our nation's capital.  I'm happy to report that we were able to enjoy some great summer weather and activities on our vacation after a fairly rainy and activity-light June and July. 

Our kids were cheerful and well-behaved on the 4-hour drive to Ottawa.  Granted, with CD access to the Doodlebops, a portable DVD player with a wide selection of movies and my son's Gameboy blasting and beeping the entire trip, who wouldn't be happy and content?! Lily only got a 45-minute nap during the trip but still maintained her cheery composure until evening.

Our first real day trip after visiting with the grandparents and some friends, involved a journey to Smiths Falls' famous Hershey Chocolate Shoppe and factory. Just a picturesque hour's drive from Ottawa is Smiths Falls -- a small town on the banks of the Rideau Canal. While, sadly, this decades-old chocoloate factory and shoppe is closing down in a few months, the kids absolutely loved going through the self-guided tour of the production plant while the smell of bubbling chocolate filled the air. Of course, we all thoroughly enjoyed shopping in the main-floor Hershey's store and purchasing everything from bars, to bulk chocolates to unique candy dishes and bowls.

The following day, we took another day trip to Saunders Farm in Munster, Ontario.  While the price of admission appears to be a bit steep -- $12 for adults and children over 3 years old, I think it's worth it.  The massive property boasts 11 natural (corn, spruce, cedar) mazes, a large splash pad, puppet shows, a very attractive and interesting "haunted house" play structure, hay jumps, wagon rides, food booths (extra cost), picnic tables, and viewing towers. I found the staff to be helpful and friendly and our kids had a blast.  If you're going to go, make sure to bring your bathing suits -- it was incredibly hot and sunny out in the mazes -- snacks, water and sunscreen. Despite the heat, it was refreshing to take part in a "green" attraction that's not at all corporate.

One evening during the week, my husband and my dad took in an Ottawa Rapidz baseball game, and another night, my mom and I went to see Swing Vote with Kevin Costner -- a surprisingly entertaining and thoughtful film. My parents also generously agreed to babysit the kiddos for an entire night so Jay and I hit Social -- a trendy (and expensive) restaurant and lounge. The food, service, and live jazz was mostly excellent. We had a lovely walk and passed by the Rideau Canal and the market area and took in a rather bizarre sound and light show with pre-recorded bilingual intros and music with coloured graphics beamed up on the historic walls of the Parliament Buildings.

On our journey home, we decided to travel in the evening.  We left Ottawa at 8 pm and arrived back in T.O. around midnight.  Less than four hours with no traffic -- not bad. The kids slept most of the way while I quietly scanned the radio channels for stations in Brockville, Kingston, Belleville and the GTA. All in all, a great week away.