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Our Winter Weekend at Woodloch (The Best Poconos Family Vacation)

3/20/2018

16 Comments

 
We were just hosted for a long weekend at the family-friendly all-inclusive Woodloch Resort in The Poconos and had THE BEST TIME!! Not being a cold weather kinda girl, I was a bit nervous, but it was just as awesome as when we went in summer (see that review here). For a taste of what activities and food to expect, keep reading, and don't forget to watch our highlights video on our YouTube channel!
Our Winter Weekend at Woodloch - the Best Poconos Family Vacation!

OUR RIDE THERE:
Last time we journeyed to Woodloch, we took the bus and got a complimentary shuttle from the station to the resort. This time, we rode in style!! We were provided a beautiful 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE from Toyota for the weekend. With seating for 8 passengers and producing a 280 hybrid system net horsepower with 30 city mpg and 28 highway mpg, the Highlander was just what we needed for our familiy of 5. Using the LATCH system for our twins' Combi Coccoro car seats (affiliate link) and our 5 year old sandwiched between them in his Mifold booster (my blog review here), we were able to easily fit all 3 in the center row. This meant I was able to hand them snacks and screens, and it was extremely helpful when my son got super car sick on the way home. Thankfully mama had thought ahead and brought some metal bowls just in case the Dramamine didn't do its job!
Seating 3 across in the 2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE
The 2018 Highlander has great cargo space, especially with the back row folded down (or you can utilize the back row's 60/40 split). It earned the "Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle" (SULEV) rating, which is surprising for a SUV, and its electric on-demand all wheel drive with intelligence (AWD-i) made driving on curvy mountain roads a dream (except for aforementioned carsickness...). With a MSRP starting at $36,670 it's a great option for families needing safety and space!
2018 Toyota Highlander Hybrid LE for a safe and spacious family car


OUTDOOR WINTER ACTIVITIES​:
There was a lot of snow, but we didn't cross a single slippery step. They do such an amazing job of clearing paths and roads, even the go carts were safe to race around the track! My kiddos loved simply playing in the snow, but we all had a blast on their complimentary Snow Tubing run!! It's a hike up the hill lugging the tube (especially with a toddler bumming a ride) but a great way to burn off that morning's breakfast LOL! We didn't partake in their "Winter Olympics" but watched others for a bit and it looked like a lot of fun!
Snow Tubing at Woodloch Resort in The Poconos
Some of their outdoor activities are seasonal and thus closed during winter (such as lake and outdoor pool activities, horse-drawn wagon rides, and snow covered play grounds) but others are year round, weather permitting. We had a blast driving the go carts, even our twins got to ride along this time!! They also have a new outdoor covered 9,000 square foot synthetic ice skating rink, with skate rental ($5 per 2 hours) and walkers for little ones to learn to skate with.
Go Carts & Synthetic Ice Skating at Woodloch Resort in The Poconos


INDOOR YEAR ROUND FUN:
​Our go-to indoor activities at Woodloch are the bumper cars (1 rider per car, 40" and up can drive - this was the first time our son was tall enough and he looooooooved it!!!), Woodloch Forest Indoor Playground (a multi level climbing structure for ages 3+ though our 2.5 year olds did ok with our help, with zip line, slides, rolling barrels, you name it - SO fun for the kids and parents, you'll have to watch our video to get a better feel of it; they also have a 5 and under section for the littlest ones), and the Toddler Room (a small play room with TONS of toys, and parents can kinda sit back and relax). Our kids love the "kiddie cars" (electric kid-sized SUVs) but to be honest they make me really anxious since the kids are HORRIBLE drivers and crash into each other and parents as they try to supervise. It's hilarious, but nerve wracking haha!
Forest Indoor Playground at Woodloch Resort in The Poconos
And of course, the indoor pool complex!!!! Be sure to set aside at least 2 hours for this on the daily. There's a huge room with a big pool, a few hot tub options for various ages (one is adults only because it's so hot, one is 1' deep wading/infant pool), and one is an all ages not-too-hot hot tub LOL). In another section is a decent sized kid's area with lots of little water jet activities, and 2 teeny water slides. In a completely separate room, and not to be missed, is the Splash Zone with a huge double cork screw water slide (you must be 42"+) and 300 gallon bucket that tips over every couple of minutes!! They have a rack of PuddleJumpers and life vests to borrow (though I didn't notice any for under 30 pounds, so you may want to bring your own baby float or be prepared to carry babies and smaller toddlers)!
Pools, splash zones, and water slide at Woodloch Resort in The Poconos
There were some new activities we didn't get a chance to do, but definitely worth mentioning!!! They have a new Escape Room (ages 13+) and mini bowling (extra charge for both).


MEAL TIME:
You don't have to get a meal plan at Woodloch, but I highly recommend splurging for it (you can get a 2 meal or 3 meal plan). The food is phenomenal and meals are a highlight of our trips there!! A different character greets your children at the entrance for each meal, 2 of our 3 kids were over the moon about this, I loved seeing their faces light up as they run over and give hugs and high fives to them (our more reserved child was terrified of all except the "human" characters i.e. Minion was a no-no, but Captain America was great!).
Character Meet & Greet before meals at all-inclusive Woodloch Resort in The Poconos
Breakfast doesn't start til 8:30AM though, and if you have early 5-6AM risers like we do, it's pure torture waiting for food, and none of the activities open til 8-10AM, so consider bringing snacks to munch on and activities to kill time in the early morning - or make use of their cable TV and free wifi.

​I can't even go into all the yummy food we had, so I'm including a slide show of some of the meals below. You're given a table that will be yours for the entirety of your visit, which is cool because you don't have to figure out seating and where to put the high chairs and all that, and the kids enjoy being the leaders and taking the family to your table each day!!

Each breakfast you'll have a HUGE crumb cake waiting for you on your table. Lunch and dinner have a selection of entrees to choose from, but each meal is all you can eat, so you can select multiple entrees or custom order such as a half size of 2 different ones. Some side items are family style, and Sunday lunch is a buffet. They also have a selection of kid-friendly staples such as pizza, chicken tenders, PB&J, and grilled cheese. They have crayons and coloring booklets if you ask, and their high chairs are really great, escape proof for my little Houdinis!!


OUR ROOM:
We were provided 2 nights in an Edgewater Suite in Springbrook on the main Woodloch Pines property. It was the perfect location in winter because we could get to the pool complex without going outside! And it was just a 5-10 minute walk to the dining area, indoor playground, and bumper cars, and a 10-15 minute walk to the go carts and ice skating area. 

They do have a shuttle that goes around the property every 20 minutes or so, but mostly we walked because we were lucky with beautiful, albeit cold, weather and enjoyed walking around the property. Last time, we had our double stroller with us and found it doable, though some of the paths are quite steep!

The room was spotless, with gorgeous lake views from the living room (with balcony) and bedroom! A sleeper sofa and matching love seat, and they installed bedrails on both of our queen beds so we could co-sleep with our kids without worrying about anyone falling out! Every plug not in use had a baby proof cover on it - they really think of everything! The room also had 2 bathrooms (one with a shower, one with a tub) which was a treat since our own home only has one bathroom!!
Picture

So, pretty ahhhhmayzing, am I right!? It should go without saying that Woodloch is by no means considered a "budget" vacation. But you get what you pay for, and you get a LOT at Woodloch! You could spend well over a week here without doing all of the free activities they offer! With a 3 meal plan for a family of 4 during peak vacation times, you could easily spend over $1K for 2 nights (but don't forget, that covers your room, food, and activities!). That said, there are certainly ways to score a better deal, so check out the "exclusive offers" page on their website occasionally - off peak rates start at $159 per adult per night (plus tax and 15% gratuity that gets divided by all the staff).

Some offers they currently have going on include:
  • March Midweeks – KIDS FREE!
  • ​Peter Cottontail Weekend
  • Spring Break

​Have you been to Woodloch or any other family-friendly resorts or destinations? Leave a comment below and let us know!! And don't forget to check out our fun highlights video of our trip below (be sure to subscribe!)
DISCLAIMER: While we were provided complimentary room & board by Woodloch and a complimentary vehicle by Toyota in exchange for our reviews, all thoughts and opinions are our own - completely honest and unbiased - we're no sellouts!! We only share what we truly loooooove!! 
16 Comments
Christina C.
3/22/2018 12:06:35 am

This looked so much fun. I'll have to put this on my to do list since it's only a short drive away from NYC.

Reply
Yan
3/26/2018 08:45:50 pm

Looks like your family had a blast! Thanks for sharing! Will have to add to list of places for the family to check out.

Reply
Emily link
4/17/2018 02:57:26 pm

I loved this video and the room looks awesome! Totally spoiled!!!!!!! What a fun getaway !

Reply
Kam Balitaan link
8/24/2018 10:53:04 am

Looks so much fun! I’m starting to enjoy winter outdoor activites too. Looking forward to some winter fun adventures!

Reply
Melissa
8/24/2018 11:01:12 am

Looks like you all had so much fun!! I have never been there, but hopefully we will!

Reply
Sarah S Kasulke link
8/24/2018 02:27:00 pm

Everything about this post I love! The picture of the three of them asleep in the back seat couldnt be more perfect. I see a lot of stuff to do for kids- would you recommend going here to someone who doesnt have kids? jw

Reply
Arnab Majumdar link
8/24/2018 02:46:13 pm

This looks a fun family trip. adding it to my bucket list. Thanks for the info.

Reply
kumamonjeng link
8/24/2018 10:55:46 pm

Wow, what a fun time you have with you family. The view from the room is simply amazing, looking out is the lake and snow. Love there are also two big sofa for the kids to jump around. The indoor playground is really awesome for the kids too. I love the heated pool.

Reply
Aditya Tiwari link
8/25/2018 02:06:38 am

Looks like you had so much fun with your family doing these activities. The Hotel room is simply awesome. Even the pool looks fresh. Some what, I am jealous, somewhat. I will think somethink about like this.

Reply
Natalia link
8/25/2018 03:45:15 am

Winter weekends can be fun too! Although, now in summer I'm trying to focus on warm days attractions more.This spot looks really great. I love the accommodation and the possibility to use the pools! :)

Reply
Mom Life Optimized link
8/25/2018 11:53:26 am

See! You can still vacation in the winter. And with kids! This is a great writeup and it looks like this can be so much fun!

Reply
Evelyn Hernandez link
8/25/2018 07:21:51 pm

Looks like an amazing family vacations. The rooms looks so comfortable and perfect for a family.

Reply
gladys nava
8/26/2018 12:36:41 am

I always love having vacation with family and that place is a perfect for vacation. Stunning photos!

Reply
LavandaMichelle link
8/26/2018 12:39:25 pm

What a wonderful post! This place looks like an amazing, I'd love to see this for myself. Thanks for sharing! :)

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Terri Beavers link
8/26/2018 01:18:46 pm

That's a nice roomy ride to travel in. It looks like everyone had fun and them little ones are just puckered slap out. A memorable vacation for sure.

Reply
David Elliott link
8/27/2018 03:52:39 pm

I love family vacations like this on a road trip out somewhere new. I also love they have indoor swimming even when it's ice cold outside. I would love to take a winter weekend there.

Reply



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    I'm a NYC metro area mom blogger living in NJ with my Japanese husband & our 3 kids (twins plus 1).  This blog is chock full of product reviews, family travel guides, and giveaways galore! It's also home to Bay Ridge Families, and several guides focused on kid-friendly activities and guides to South Brooklyn, Hudson Valley, and New Jersey, as well as family-friendly destinations beyond the NYC area (check the menu bar!)

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