Great Wolf Lodge is the biggest brand of resorts with indoor water parks. The original's in Wisconsin Dells, the top town for indoor water parks; and Great Wolf Lodge has led the pack in building new properties in other states. Indoor waterworks are only part of the fun; take a look below, at key features that repeat at Great Wolf Lodge resorts.
Click on the photos to see large-sized.
11. Animated Clock Tower
Several parts of the Clock Tower -- including this talking tree -- get animated during the show that repeats every night, with music and animal-loving theme. Nightly storytelling follows the show.
12. Storytelling - Crowd
Nightly storytelling enthralls lots of kids and their families during a Howl-O-Ween weekend.
13. MagiQuest Interactive Fantasy Game
A popular activity at many Great Wolf Lodges is MagiQuest. Kids and parents roam the resort, seeking the next item in their quest, pointing with their Wands to activate magic crystals or open boxes of treasure. Players can progress through different adventures and different levels of the game.
Players buy a Wand in the MagiQuest shop, which has costumes and paraphernalia, too; once activated, the Wand is good for several days of play. Many players are return visitors and simply have their Wands reactivated.
14. Cub Club
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge Resorts.
Kids, accompanied by parent, can do crafts -- -- such as Wood Bear Photo Frame, or Paint A Ceramic Bank-- and other activities. Some activities, such as family games, are free.
15. Gr_8 Teen Zone
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge Resorts.
This teen hangout has internet, docking stations for iPods, gaming stations, and special events. Kids might find a Rock Band videogame competition, or a dance, or a movie going on; for some activities, they'll have to fork up a modest fee.
16. More Activities
Other activities might include: "Junior Lifeguard" program (- kids dress like a lifeguard, learn skills, and earn a certificate); a "Stuff Your Animal" mini-store, reminiscent of Build-A-Bear Workshop ® ( - stuff your animal, name it, dress it); a "Wolf Walk" tour that take kids around the lobby to learn about wolves and other animals represented in statues or pictures.
17. Northern Lights Arcade
photo © Teresa Plowright
An action-packed game zone, fueled by tokens.
18. Howl-O-Ween
Special Halloween activities in October include nightly trick-or-treats, ghoulish decorations, crafts in the Cub Club, and -- varying at different properties-- costume contests, horse-drawn hayrides, pumpkin decorating...
19. Snowland
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge.
In December, "Snowland" transforms the Grand Lobby with Christmas trees, snowflakes, icicles, and indoor snow. Festivities include Santa's Arrival and Tree-Lighting, carol sing-a-longs, Santa's Workshop in the Cub Club. End the year with Snowball, a New Year's Eve bash.
20. All-Suite Guest Rooms, Themed Suites
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge Resorts.
Great Wolf Lodges are all-suites resorts, so even regular units are family-sized. Guests can also choose themed suites such as the KidCabin Suite, left, or Wolf Den, where kids sleep in a cave-themed area with bunk beds.
21. Spa and Kids Spa
Photo courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge Resorts.
Typically the spa at a Great Wolf Lodge offers a full range of treatments and features Aveda products; some properties also have a Scooops Kid Spa for ages twelve and under. Great Wolf Lodges also have a fitness room.
22. Eats and Treats
Every Great Wolf Lodge has several restaurant choices. Grand Mound, for example, has a snack shop in the water park; a Pizza Hut Express; Starbucks; Camp Critter Bar and Grille; and Loose moose Cottage for giant breakfast and dinner buffets. At the Bear Claw Cafe, left, fudge is a specialty: kids love a sweet treat, or giant ice cream, after all that exercise in the water park.
