Your Family-Friendly Guide to Great Wolf Lodge

Welcome to our family travel series dedicated to Pacific Northwest adventures! Join us as we explore top destinations, featuring must-see attractions, delightful dining spots, and activities tailored to the whole family. Writer Kate Neidigh launched this series in 2018 as a new mom, determined to get out and explore with her little one. Fast forward to 2024, and she’s now a seasoned mom of two, excited to share her travel experiences and insights learned along the way. So, pack your bags, gather the fam, and let’s discover the wonders of the PNW and beyond.

Welcome to Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound!

If you’ve ever wondered what Vegas would look like if it catered to the under-12 crowd, look no further than Great Wolf Lodge, just an hour and a half south of Seattle in the small town of Grand Mound, Washington. Picture flashing arcade lights, copious amounts of sugar, and magical wands for sale — it’s the ultimate kid paradise! I can vouch for the magic. I just took my daughter and her best friend on our annual girls’ weekend, and they haven’t stopped talking about it since!

Great Wolf Lodge isn’t just the Pacific Northwest’s largest indoor waterpark resort, it’s a world where everything’s an adventure. Following a $40 million renovation this past summer, the lodge now has eight floors of upgraded rooms. There’s even a new family suite called the Wolf Den Skylight Suite, where kids can bunk down in a cozy cave-style space. You could call it “rustic luxury” for little wolf cubs.

It’s All Fun and Games

With so much to do, Great Wolf Lodge feels like a campus of kid-centric fun. The waterpark — a constant, balmy 84 degrees — offers everything from wave pools to waterslides, and yes, the towels and life jackets are on the house. You’ll also find daily activities in the grand lobby, where there’s a rotating lineup of dance parties, meet-and-greets with the lodge’s resident characters, and crafts galore. From Howl-o-Ween spookiness to Snowland’s winter wonder, there’s always something festive happening.

The arcade, known as Northern Lights Arcade, is packed with flashing lights, endless games, and prizes that’ll keep everyone entertained (and slightly hypnotized). And if your kids want to feel like knights and wizards, MagiQuest turns them into heroes on an interactive, lodge-wide quest.

Dining for Every Craving

If all this fun works up an appetite, there are 10 dining spots catering to every taste. Favorites like Hungry as a Wolf serve up family-friendly fare like pizza and pasta, while Wood’s End Creamery dishes out ice cream that’ll have kids and adults alike lining up. But here’s the kicker — the adults-only bar is right in the middle of it all, so you can keep an eye on the kids as you sip on a well-deserved cocktail.

For something a little special, Fireside is the lodge’s latest addition. Inspired by the outdoors, Fireside offers fire-cooked meals with a hearty Northwoods twist, from build-your-own dishes to shareable bites. And for a sweet treat or quick snack, the new Pretzelmaker serves hot pretzels made fresh daily, which is perfect when you need a snack break between slides.

More Adventures Await

Beyond the waterpark and arcade, Great Wolf Lodge offers so many fun extras. Kids can dig for treasure at Oliver’s Mining Co., test their climbing skills on Howlers Peak Ropes Course, and even create a furry friend at the Build-A-Bear Workshop. Add in Starbucks and a Freshwoods Market for snack breaks, and you’ve got all the bases covered.

From splash-tastic slides to cozy family suites, Great Wolf Lodge is a destination that’ll keep your kids talking until next year’s visit — just ask my daughter and her bestie, they haven’t stopped giggling since.

Where should we go next? Email [email protected] to share your ideas.

Kate Neidigh is a writer for Seattle Refined, covering lifestyle, fashion, beauty, travel, real estate, gift guides and feature stories. See more of her work on Instagram here.

While the products, services and/or accommodations in this story were provided without charge, the opinions within are those of the author and the Seattle Refined editorial board.