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Indoor water park
Where you go in the waterpark will depend on the age of your kids. Thrill-seekers beeline for the main attraction: Howling Wolf, a three-person toboggan slide that whisks riders around curves and into a tunnel before splashdown. The four-story Alberta Falls twin tube slides zip in and out of the lodge.
Four-story Fort Mackenzie attracts the climbing crowd of kids who want to crawl across cargo nets, slip down three-story slides and feel the rush of 1,000 gallons of water dumping on them every few minutes.
For kids who prefer submersion in the water, the Crooked Creek lazy river winds through the park, and Chinook Cove provides a hub for water basketball and practicing swimming. Big Foot Pass challenges kids to hop across floating lily pads without falling in.
Adults can soak in a kid-free or family-friendy whirlpool.
Thunder Bay Outdoor Water Park
Summer visitors craving sunshine and a big open pool can find it at Thunder Bay, a seasonal 120,000-gallon outdoor pool up to four feet deep. The pool includes slides, a play area, spray features and water basketball.
MagiQuest
With computerized wands and a book of clues for acquiring runes and solving quests, kids and parents set off on this game that starts near the lobby and climbs to the fourth floor. When the kids find the right objects, their wands open treasure chests, bring paintings to life, illuminate jewels, talk to fairies and slay animated dragons.
Each game is about $12, plus the cost of wands, which usually start at $15. Kids may clamor for accessories, too, such as dragon and unicorn add-ons for wands, rune amulets, wand belts, hats and crowns, velvet and satin capes.
Great Wolf guests can keep using their wands to animate additional objects throughout the lodge such as squirrels that teeter-totter, an otter that belches and lights that illuminate above tables at the Camp Critter restaurant.
Howl-in-One Mini-Golf
The 18-hole mini-golf course challenges players with golfball-eating fish, floating greens and giant beavers that provide chatter and commentary after successful shots.
Nightly story time
The centerpiece of every lobby is the tree-like clock tower that opens up for an animated story time. A group of critters sing about the "Rhythm of Nature" in a "Circle of Life" kind of send-up. Afterwards, a staffer accompanied by a resort mascot (Violet or Wiley the Wolf) reads a story to the kids nestled up in their pajamas. Go early for the best spots on the carpet.
Morning Wolf Walk
Staffers take kids on a free educational walk through the resort each morning to talk about the different woodland animals, including wolves, bears and moose. Kids also have the opportunity to go watch the bison herd in the field across the parking lot, weather permitting.
Spa packages
Tucked into the aromatic adult Aveda spa on Great Wolf's lower level is Scooops Spa, a separate ice cream themed area just for kids. Girls ages 4 to 12 can get their own version of a grown-up pedicure and manicure with scrub balls scented like vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream and a complimentary nail polish kit when they're done.
If you just want to shop, spa gifts include little purses, bathrobes, sparkly T-shirts and bubblegum bath gel that each young guest gets in their room.
Grownups can choose from massages, manicures, pedicures and facials, all using Aveda products. The spa, like MagiQuest and the Camp Critter Restaurant, is also open to non-guests.
Cub Club Crafts
At Cub Club, kids can pick out craft projects such as T-shirts, bags and picture frames to color and decorate for a hands-on Great Wolf souvenir. (A small fee is charged for crafts.)
Shopping
Bucking Exchange Gift Shop sells a variety of stuffed animals, craft kits, candy, stuff-your-own stuffed animal with outfits, games, pajamas and robes, blankets, giant wolf paws, frames, candles, jewelry and scrapbooks. Bear Essentials swim shop sells suits, sandals, goggles and everything else that comes in handy for waterpark vacations.
Nearby attractions
Great Wolf sits along Traverse City's retail strip south of downtown. There are plenty of chain restaurants plus grocery and retail stores for snacks and anything you might have left at home. It's a 10-minute or less drive downtown for local cafes and unique boutiques.
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