Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg Family Activities

The most prominent recreation option is of course the 300,000 gallons of fun, always 84-degrees, indoor water park. Babies and toddlers can wade in shallow water and play with sprinkle bucks at a zero-entry pool located conveniently near the park's entrance.(Diaper wearers must wear waterproof swim diapers, which are available in resort stores). Elementary-age kids can climb, slide down open-topped slides, and get soaked by a 1,000 gallon tipping bucket at four-story Fort Mackenzie, the centerpiece of the park.

The wave pool is fun for all ages with gentle waves and a pool depth that graduates from zero to five feet. Three different size life-vests are available on nearby racks as well as clear inner-tube rafts. Be prepared to accompany young children when this massive pool is crowded. It can be hard to track them from the side.

A lazy-river, pool for basketball, Flowrider surf pool, and eight water slides, including a fun family raft ride, round out the park offerings. Howlin' Tornado is one of the most popular slides with preteens on up (and adventurous younger siblings that are at least 48 inches tall). Four-person rafts sail down the Tornado and drop into a six-story funnel, where they swirl up the sides before making a splash landing in an exit pool. Swimmers can relax in two very large hot tubs overlooking the wave pools - one for adults-only, and one for families.

Summertime visitors can take advantage of the large outdoor pool, mini-golf course, and an outdoor bar & grill, all of which are open Memorial Day through Labor Day. Mini-golf operates on a longer season, weather-permitting, and at night with glow-in-the-dark balls.

Note: the park was un-crowded with short lines and plenty of seating available on the Friday evening of our stay. Not so on Saturday. We arrived at 11:15 am and could not find a single available chair, even though there were hardly any people sitting in them.

There are four indoor cabanas (and five outdoor) that rent for $149 per day, and include a flat-screen TV, comfortable lounge chairs, table and chairs, a fully-stocked mini-fridge, plus playing cards. A locker is also included inside the cabana. The cabanas looked especially handy for large families or those with infants.

The waterpark, arcade, and public areas all seemed clean and well-maintained, which is no easy task I'm sure given the number of young children running about.

The waterpark is staffed by more than 100 certified lifeguards, with an average of about 20 guards per shift. Slide height requirements range from 42 to 48 inches tall. Those who are scared of the dark (whether adults or kids) should note that the fully-enclosed slides are brighter inside during the day than at night.

While the pools get the press for Great Wolf, surprisingly, what our children loved even more was a game we didn't know much about: MagiQuest, an interactive adventure game that seemed very Harry Potterish. To play each child needs to buy a wand from the MagiQuest shop ($14.99 but usable on subsequent visits), plus pay $9.99 to play the game, which includes a copy of "The Ancient Book of Wisdom" (a field guide that lists what players need to find in order to accomplish each quest).

The players then run around two floors of the hotel "fighting" dragons, opening treasure boxes, finding crystals, and more, all with a flick of their magic wands. The goal? The more challenges players solve, the more points they receive, and the closer they get to becoming a "Master Magi." Our kids loved MagiQuest so much that they skipped the water park on the last morning in order to play one more level of the game.

Cub Club is the resort's center for kids age 3 to 12. Here kids can participate in activities and crafts designed in conjunction with National Geographic Kids magazine, plus enjoy stories from Nati