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March 28th, 2012

Reader Review of Great Wolf Lodge (Part 2 of 2)

This is post is a continuation of this one here if you’d like to catch up. Coffee with Julie reader Sarah McCormack of Photos with Sarah is sharing her recent experience at Great Wolf Lodge with us!

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The water park itself was incredible, lots of slides for all age groups. I would recommend it for children ages 3-13. Although there are some big, thrilling slides, they may not be as thrilling for teenagers, although there were many enjoying them when we were there. I guess it really depends on your child.

Photo credit: Sarah McCormack

The web site includes descriptions of all the slides, and also height guidelines which are good to check out before you go, so you won’t be disapointed. Our (average height) boys were tall enough for all the slides without an adult or life-jacket, so they were very happy. The line-ups for the big slides were very short, the longest we waited was probably 10 minutes. Most often, there was no line-ups at all. We also really enjoyed the lazy river, activity pools, and lily pads (that you had to try to walk/run/ hop across the pool on).

Photo credit: Sarah McCormack

They also had 2 hot tubs…one for adults only, which were nice and a pool area for little ones as well. We found, for us, the water park was good for about 4 hours max, and then the warm temperatures started to make you feel a bit light headed and you needed to take a break for a while. Also, both our boys had very sore, red eyes in the evenings, so goggles may be a good idea if you children are sensitive to chlorine. There are many lifeguards around the park who were all very attentive and friendly. The entire hotel, including the pool area was very clean.

We had pre-purchased the breakfast package when we booked our room so we ate a buffet breakfast at the hotel in the “Loose Moose Cottage” each morning. We never had to wait for a table and the food was very good with lots of choices. They also have a dinner buffet, but we chose instead to go into town (about 5 minutes drive) and eat outside the hotel, which was not only cheaper, but less food. Two buffets in one day is a lot! They do have a pizza take-out in the hotel where you can get a large pizza and have it in your room and also a Pizza Hut Express which we enjoyed the first night. They also have a Starbucks, by the hotel lobby, only steps from our room, a big a perk for me! We did also have a fridge and microwave in our room, so you could bring your own food if that is your liking.

Photo credit: Sarah McCormack

One of the things I really enjoyed were the wristbands they gave you at check-in. Not only are they your entry to the pool area, they also serve as your room key, and if you choose, as a charge-card for all your expenses throughout the hotel. I loved not ever having to worry about my room key or having to bring a wallet. They make it very easy to spend money, which is very smart of them, but also very convenient for you! I would really like one of those in real life, perhaps with my car key on it!

Let me be very clear… this is a hotel full of families, and a trip for the KIDS! Don’t get me wrong, I loved the water slides myself (and for a break, you could visit the Spa or the 100 store Outlet Mall down the street), but I also longed for our usual March break adventures in New York city. This trip was one for the boys, and they gave it a 10, and seeing them have so much fun was so much fun for us! Actually, I really wished we had gone years ago so we could have returned many times. They offer a lot of activities for young children, including crafts, bingo and story time by the fire (in your p.j.’s) every evening that my boys weren’t too interested in, but would have loved a few years ago. They did sit through one round of the “Great Clock Show” in the lobby, but it was more for the little ones too.

If you are considering a future trip, I would recommend booking for 2 nights, and doing so during the “winter” months. Although they do have some outdoor pool areas, they are nothing special. What is special is leaving behind your winter boots, driving a short distance and spending 3 days by the pool in flip flops! I think two nights is plenty of time to enjoy all the amenities, especially if you take advantage of their early check in and late check out. They also have a ”one night, two days” offer if that better suits the budget. As far as cost, everyone has a different opinion (and different budget) regarding what is an affordable family holiday. This is not an inexpensive holiday, but I found it to be reasonable. They do occasionally offer discounts on the web site so it’s worth keeping an eye out for those. We are hoping to return next year for one more night of Great Wolf Lodge fun, on our way back from New York hopefully!

Photo credit: Sarah McCormack

What do you think? Sarah has convinced me that it’s worth a trip! Have you been before?

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March 27th, 2012

Reader Review of Great Wolf Lodge (Part 1 of 2)

This week, I am so happy to introduce you to one of Coffee with Julie‘s regular readers and commentors (bloggers love their comments!). I first met Sarah when long-time friends were proudly sharing their professionally taken family photos. I immediately asked for the photographer’s contact info, because the photos were just that good! (Warning, one look at Sarah’s newborn portfolio makes me clucky and might do the same to you!) I booked Sarah for a family photo shoot as a gift to myself back when Max still had toddler cheeks and Stella still had gaps in her teeth. We were thrilled with the results and are planning another session for this spring.

I’ve been wanting to try out Great Wolf Lodge (GWL) for some time now, but the driving distance and cost have so far held me back. So when Sarah told me that she’d visited a GWL over the March Break, I implored her to share all the details! She was kind enough to take the time to do so. I love getting an insider’s review of a vacation spot, and I thought you would too!

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Photo credit: Sarah McCormack

We have been thinking about going to the GWL for several years with our boys, currently ages 7 and 10. We had always focused on the Niagara Falls location but the high price always put me off.

Last year, a friend in Ottawa recommended the location in Pennsylvania, and after checking out the web site, we decided to book for 3 nights during the March Break. Not only was the U.S. location significantly cheaper, it is also NOT Spring Break there, unlike all Ontario destinations. We booked during the week, thinking we’d avoid the weekend crowds but I am pretty sure the hotel was booked solid regardless. (We even ran into 4 families we knew from Ottawa, so I guess the secret is out!) However, I must say that although there were crowds, it truly never felt crowded.

: Photo credit: Sarah McCormack

We booked a “Wolf Den” suite online, which meant that our boys had their own seperate sleeping quarters (within our room), made to look like a (you guessed it) wolf den, which included bunk beds and their own tv. Our room was very spacious, and included a queen bed and pull-out sofabed, and a balcony. Most of their rooms seem to sleep up to 6 people. The standard rooms are slight cheaper, but we thought we’d slurge and go with the “theme room.” The Lodge itself was very easy to find, and had ample free parking on site.

Photo credit: Sarah McCormack

Official check in time is at 4pm, but they offer use of the waterpark from 1pm if you don’t need access to your room right away. You can use the change rooms, lockers (at a fee) and showers and enjoy the waterpark for the afternoon before getting your room. We decided, since we were staying 3 nights, to check in at the regular time, and found the staff very welcoming and our room ready for us.

Photo credit: Sarah McCormack

The use of the entire waterpark is included in your room rate. Everything else you pay seperately for, but can get deals when you book or at check in if you want to try several different activities, at a discounted rate. We chose not to get the “pass” as there were several things we knew we didn’t want to do. The pass is a great deal is you want to try everything!

My boys were very curious and excited about the MagiQuest game, so we bought them both a wand and digital access to the quests (cost approx $70 total). They had hours of fun playing this digital game all over the hotel. They searched for treasure and runes, fought dragons and had tons of fun completing all 10 quests! They loved it and it provided a great break from the water park.

Photo credit: Sarah McCormack

The water park itself was incredible …. (stay tuned for Part 2!)

7 Comments »

March 18th, 2012

Cool Cafes: The Sunrise Cafe, Jeffersonville, Vermont

Just outside of Smuggler’s Notch, a bright yellow building beckons you in for a coffee. Naturally, we accepted!

We walked in the door and entered into a hallway. To our right, we could peer into a window and see a yoga class taking place in a lovely looking studio. To our left, we could see a homey cafe to grab some brunch. As we opened the door, three children’s faces glanced up at us. All three faces then returned back to the laptop they were huddled around. I think the cafe’s free WiFi was treating them to a kids’ movie.

A man, whom I assume was the children’s father, welcomes us inside. We shed our coats and take in the atmosphere. There’s artwork on the walls, jewelry and pottery on display, and some jazz music playing. Nice.

We order a couple of lattes.

Then, we checked out the menu. There’s an interesting selection of sweet and savory crepes, paninis, and burritos.

For the kids, we decide on simple basic cheese quesadillas, which went over well. I opt for a crepe called the “Mamma Mia,” which is a crepe wrapped around tomato, spinach, and mozzarella cheese ($6.75). It was a bit bland for my taste. However, Hubby’s selection, a burriotos called “The Firefly,” was just delish. It was made with field roast chipolte sausage, sauteed peppers and onions, salsa, hot peppers, sour cream, and cheddar ($7.50).

The man serving us was babysitter, coffee barrista, cook, and dishwasher, I assume. Like much of the area around here, there is a distinctly hippy vibe, which I enjoyed because it was also mellow and relaxing. No rush-rush-rush, and nothing overdone with artifice. And a “back to the earth” sentimentality that also extended to the cafe’s food — fresh, organic ingredients; locally roasted espresso; and a mud oven out the back for the nicer weather.

We really enjoyed our visit to this cool cafe. If you’re in the neighbourhood, it’s definitely worth stopping in for a visit. Directions and a full menu available on The Sunrise Cafe website.

3 Comments »

March 4th, 2012

On Children, Travel, and Inclusion

In our North American society, children are often considered to be annoyances in air travel, restaurants, grocery stores, and even when they are quietly feeding. I think that as a parent, now used to life with young children, I have far more tolerance than I might have had when I was child-less. In fact, it barely even registers with me that a child is making loud crying noises unless it is the specific crying that I recognize as one of my children. But even still, I freely admit that I can empathize with some of the sentiment behind these movements.

So a piece in Saturday’s Globe & Mail by Bruce Kirby caught my attention. Kirby’s writing is almost poetic, and describes why traveling with young children is a rewarding experience. It was this one section that really struck me:

Take an infant to Buenos Aires, or Kathmandu, or Siem Reap, or any foreign land where children are woven through the strands of daily life. Here strangers will ceaselessly approach — poking, tickling and whispering to the baby — without so much as a sideways glance at you. [...] Within days, the infant has learned to seek the attention of strangers, basking in their affection.

To watch the process in reverse is heartbreaking. Board a plane bound for Canada with an infant, and the collective aversion of eyes is obvious. Ditto for walking into a restaurant once home. The child, of course, will continue to wave and coo at strangers in cafes and supermarkets, although far fewer will return the attention. Eventually, the baby gives up.

Isn’t this perspective, from the point of view of the infant, interesting?

Even though most of us will never be — or even aspire to be — the intrepid travellers that the Kirby family is, the article is definitely worth a read. You can access it in full here.

Max and I taking a feeding break during travels in January 2009.

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February 20th, 2012

Day 2 at Smuggler’s Notch Resort, Vermont

This is a post is a continuation of a short series on Smuggler’s Notch. To catch up, you can find the first post in this series here, and the second one is here. Our family’s accommodation and activities were provided by Smugg’s, while extras like food and whatnot were paid for ourselves. (Image below, credit: Smuggler’s Notch, Vermont.)

Gooooood morning Smuggler’s Notch!

In contrast to the first morning, when the kids had been up early and racing about the condo, this morning was far more quiet. They’d had a big day and evening yesterday, and we parents got to reap the benefits with a little sleep-eye. However, it didn’t last long because Hubby and Stella were so keen to hit the hills again that they were insisting on squeezing in a few runs before Snow Sport University started up at 9 am.

Breakfast was a quick bowl of hot porridge and fruit (and coffee for Mom and Dad!) in the condo. Too quick, in fact, for even a photo. And with a blink of an eye, off they went out into the snow!

Drop off to Snow Sport University

Like Day 1, both children were registered to attend Smuggler’s Snow Sport University. We were really happy to see that Stella would have Blake as her instructor again. One of the neat things about the program is that during the day you can bump into your child on the hill and say hi and see how things are going. In the photo below, this is what Hubby did with Stella and she is trying to avoid the embarrassing parental contact – haha! Also note the red device strapped around her leg. This is a GPS and all the kids have one strapped to them for safety reasons, but at the end of the day you can also log-in and see where your child skiing, for how far, and at what speeds.

Max, who the day before had put on quite a show at drop-off, quietly raised his hand up to the hand of one of the instructors and walked off to join his group. In contrast to Stella’s experience, during the two days that Max was in this program, his instructors were, for the most part, fairly unmemorable. On the first day, one of his instructors was a young man by the name of Justin who was charismatic and full of energy, but the others seemed like they were just going through the motions. Sure, working with the kids in this age group is probably the least favorite choice for the instructors (since three-year-olds are far more work than say, ten-year-olds), but I don’t care — it’s their job and they should at least pretend to enjoy it! (Hey, the rest of us have to, don’t we? )

Ski lessons for the adults

Starting at 10 am, Hubby and I were registered to participate in adult ski lessons. We were really looking forward to this since neither of us had ever had the opportunity to have an actual lesson before.

I had signed up for a Level 3 lesson, which would focus on “tuning your turns.” My instructor was Neal, and he clearly loved his job. He’s been teaching up at Smuggler’s for two decades, but you’d never know it by his youthful zeal. He was patient, offered just the right tips, and peppered our time with jokes here and there. From one lesson alone, I made huge progress on my turns and have almost mastered moving from snowplowing stance to having my feet in parrellel position.

My Smugg's instructor in action

Adult group lessons are two hours in length and cost $75 per person. I lucked out with a great group, and was able to meet some interesting people while we swapped partners on the chair lift rides. In total, my class had two couples and three women. One of the women was from England and she told me that she and her family have been coming every year, for more than five years, to Smugg’s because they felt comfortable there and because their children enjoyed the kids’ programs so much.

Meanwhile, Hubby had his ski lesson over on another hill. He was signed up for a level 6 class. (In total, there are 10 levels of classes offered.) When we caught up at lunch, he was raving about his experience. By chance, he ended up as the only student in his class and he said his instructor, Charlie, was fantastic. From just this one lesson, Hubby was able to move from skiing on blue hills to moving over to black ones.

I have to admit that left to my own devices, I probably would not have forked out any cash for adult ski lessons (but willing would do so for my kids). But now? I will happily pay for a lesson every time I get a chance. It really helps to build confidence and enhance your skills. Stella is also now a big fan of lessons. Although she’s had lessons at a local hill, she found her lessons at Smugg’s to be more in depth and far more helpful.

Zip-lining with Arbortrek

More first-time experiences were in store for us today! Hubby, Stella and I (Max was not old enough to participate) were heading over to Arbortrek Canopy Tours. Our tour was called the “Wild Winter Ride,” and involved 6 zip lines and 2 sky bridges in the gorgeous Vermont forest over a 2.5 hour period. None of us had zip-lined before, so we were feeling nervous and excited (or at least, Stella and I were!).

I’m not even sure how to describe the experience. It was all so exhilarating and fun! So perhaps I will let the photos speak for themselves. Our guides were Roger and Stephanie and from start to finish, they were perfect companions who also made you feel very safe.

Here is our full group: Hubby and I are on the far left (it was pretty cold that day, as you can tell!) and Stella is the smallest one, sitting down with the red helmet beside one of our guides, Roger, with the yellow helmet.

I will resist the urge to post every single picture available! But, if you are interested, they are posted from each tour up on Arbortrek’s Facebook page.

It was truly an experience of a lifetime. And I really want to go back and try it out in the summer now too!

Re-grouping back at the condo

Our Arbortrek driver, Ben, was kind enough to drop me off along the way back where I could pick up Max. So Max and I headed back to the condo, and were joined shortly afterwards by Stella and Hubby.

After a big day of big activities, this regularly sedentary body was aching! I decided to fill up the Jacuzzi tub in our ensuite bathroom and soak my bones.

Hubby gave me this time of peace and quiet by happily whisking the kids off to the outdoor pool. From there, we gathered back to the dinner table for an Indian curry with chicken (the same one we made on this camping trip).

After-dinner fun

We decided to try something the Family Snow Tubing tonight, despite how tempted Stella was to head back to the Fun Zone. Just as we were heading out, we heard a huge “boom!” then a “bang!” We rushed out to find a full-on fireworks display! A large group of us gathered on the snow hill to enjoy the lights. Wow, it really felt like we were away somewhere special.

Once the fireworks finished, we resumed our regular plan to hit Sir Henry’s hill for Snow Tubing. After one run, Hubby and I quickly suspected that perhaps this wasn’t exactly a safe activity. The tubes were hitting really high speeds, it was difficult to slow or stop yourself. Add to that was that the two employees at the bottom of the hill, who I assume were supposed to help you stop, were pretty blase.

On my first time down, the tube had been spinning so much that I couldn’t see where the end was and I banged my head into a barricade (luckily, I was wearing a helmet, so no harm done). The experience spooked me though, and I decided then that I wasn’t comfortable doing any more runs. Before Hubby and the kids could even make their decision, a woman flew at high speeds on her tube right up and over the barricades. Another witness estimated she was at least 8 feet in the air before she hit the pavement. All of the parents quickly realized that the speeds were too fast and the barricades were not high enough and gathered up their children to leave. As for the poor woman, the last we saw of her, she was still lying on her back and a medic was checking her eyes for signs of concussion. I really, really hope she’s okay. So, consider yourself warned: I highly recommend NOT doing this activity unless some significant changes are made to make it safer.

We decided to cheer the kids up with a stop at Ben and Jerry’s. This time, with the memory still fresh of how yummy our treats had been last night, we all upped our sizes. Mmmm!

Good night, sleep tight!

Even with ice cream pumping through their veins, the kids were pooped and hit the sack quickly once we got back to the condo. Naturally, the adults weren’t too far off either!

Despite feeling shaken by the tubing experience, the day as a whole had been soooo fantastic. We’d made a ton of wonderful memories together and were no rush to go home. In fact, Stella had already announced that she wanted to live at Smuggler’s Notch forever. (This is high praise because she has done a lot of travel in her young life and has only ever said this once before, and that was when we stayed at Dunk Island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.) Hubby and I could understand how she felt though since we were wishing that we had a whole week to enjoy Smugg’s.

p.s. I’ve added a video of what one of the Green hills at Smugg’s looks like from top to bottom. It’s me skiing on the first day, so you can even admire my fancy snowplow skills. Hubby got a “GoPro” camera from Santa, so the video is taken from the top of his helmet as we skied down it.