Great Wolf Lodge hosted a stay for the purposes of this review. All thoughts are my own.

Welcome to Los Angeles, California where the weather is warm, hot and hotter. That’s right, we stay hot for almost the whole year, but that’s not a bad because that means we have places like Great Wolf Lodge to escape to all year long!

I had heard so many great things about Great Wolf Lodge, but hadn’t been able to check it out myself. For me, what’s important for places that aim at families is that it offers plenty of fun for all ages, while also providing a great experience to create memories. When we were invited for a special event earlier this summer- I was elated. It was a chance for my little family and I to get away from the stressful year we’ve had, while also trying something new. Located minutes from Disneyland, it is a great location if you want a little trip but not wanting to fly anywhere (which, with kids, can be crazy). We live in the Valley area of L.A., so this was perfect for us.

My daughter is just on the brink of 10, and it shows. Eager to have some independence, ready to try new things, and she has preferences on everything: from food to clothes to even, types of amusement parks she enjoys. Water parks, obviously, are at the top of her list, while this slightly over protective mom freaks over almost everything- Great Wolf Lodge was a great place to kinda provide a happy medium. Nobody that wasn’t staying at the resort had access to the water park area, and there was plenty of staff and life guards around, so I was able to let go a little, and let her and her bestie enjoy some parts without me.

Here are a few of my favorite things about Great Wolf Lodge:

A Water Park for everyone

When Sofia was smaller, I would take her to parks a lot. I used to hate when big kids came running into the little ones area because it made it unsafe for the little ones. Well, at Great Wolf Lodge, the toddler/baby area is off to the side and they make sure it stays for just the littles. And trust me, there was plenty for the big kids (and grown ups) to do! There were tubes, surfing, body boarding, a wave pool, a lazy river and more. I kinda stuck to the lazy river (cause fun for me is relaxing!), while my husband went tubing and Sofia and her BFF hit to the obstacle course. We all would meet up in the middle every hour or so, to check in and see what we all wanted to do next. It was great!

It’s Indoors and Outdoors!

As I mentioned, L.A. has near perfect weather all year long so if you don’t want to stay indoors the whole time at Great Wolf Lodge, you can step outside and enjoy the glorious SoCal sun. There’s a food place outside too and lots of fun to be had.

Arcades, 4D theaters and more!

In case you need a break from the water- the lower level of the resort is packed with even more fun. Again, making sure there is something for everyone, there’s an arcade, mini golf, a 4D theater and more. Each has a separate fee, but having experienced all of them, I can guarantee a great time no matter which one you choose. We got a little obsessed with one of the scavenger hunt type games that has 10 levels, each with endless hunts that has secret spots all over the hotel. The girls played this for hours daily, and still only reached level 4, so you know it’s worth the price- plus they kept their “wands”!

Kids Salon!

Sofia was THRILLED when we walked into Scoops! Kids Spa. You can book a number of services here but we opted for a simple lip gloss application and hair scent along with a mini-shopping spree. Each girl picked out a bath bomb, a gloss and a hair scent and they felt like glamour gals after the attention the received. We booked it for our last day, so they could have their hair scent and gloss ready for the ride home. The staff was very kind and we loved it.

Hospitality is A+

I go to a lot of family locations from amusement parks to resorts, trust me when I say, I know how easy it is to get worn down serving families full of kids day in and out. However, every experience I had with a staff member, was gracious, hospitable and easy. The lobby is so much more than a lobby too. It’s the first thing that welcomes you, makes you truly feel like you’ve escaped the hustle of the city. Plus, they have storytelling, dance parties, crafts and more- schedule changes all the time and it was a great supplement to the other offerings at Great Wolf Lodge. Plus, if you forget anything, they have a couple stores that have things like goggles, swim wear, towels, and more.

We spend one weekend, but created so many fun memories! The fact that they really thought of the whole family, really made everyone happy. I cannot recommend it enough. So, if you’re in LA and want a fun staycation for the whole family, look no further than Great Wolf Lodge…I promise, you’ll thank me.

Great Wolf Lodge, 12681 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840

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