Part 4 – The Activities/Attractions

Great Wolf is so much more than a Water Park and that is why today we will include a part dedicated to Activities. There are some great add-on Pass options you can pre-purchase or purchase at the lodge. These are great especially if you are planning to stay for more than a night. These activities can add up so any discount is helpful unless you plan to only do a couple in which it becomes a better option to pay for them individually.

• Oliver’s Mining Company – Mine ‘gemstones’
  • If you have a rock or gem lover, this might just be the attraction for them! We rarely saw more than one family at a time taking part so you can really take your time and enjoy panning & sifting through the dirt you are given that has guaranteed gemstones. There is a collection bag and an identification card to show what gemstones you collected.
• Oliver’s Mining Company – Single $10.99 no mining bag, Family $49.99 up to 6 people, 2 mining bags (5.99 per extra bag), $19.99 Individual mine and mining bag
  • Moonstone mine is a mirror maze that can be fun but is also quite dark. There are a couple interactive pieces as well and you can accompany your child. It is located inside Oliver’s Mining Company as well and generally a shorter activity so it is paired with the gemstone mining experience after you come out of the maze.
• Build a Bear Workshop – Starts at $34.99, Outfits $15.99, Accessories $9.99
  • Note, they do not accept build a bear gift cards at this location but do accept Great Wolf Gift Cards. Exclusive options for Great Wolf Lodge are available here with lots of outfit and customizable options. This can become busy but generally less busy during the early morning (during breakfast hours).
• Northern Lights Arcade – Cards can be loaded in any amount but we generally do $20-30
  • The arcade gets very busy after the water park closes so try to make this a morning or mid-day break. You get a card and the points do not expire so don’t feel pressured to use them all if you plan on coming back. Exchange tickets for prizes or use on non-ticket games/rides. It gets pretty crowded near the front but there is often less people once you get towards the back.
• Great Wolf Candy Company – (plan for around $10+ per person)
  • Price here ranges quite a bit but they specialize in their bulk candy and do a make your own mix cup of candy option
• Howl at the Moon Glow Golf – $7.00 per person, per game
  • Our family loves us some mini golf and this is an easy activity to miss because it is tucked back across from the arcade. Paying for this activity can change as we had to go to the prize county in the arcade to purchase ours. Because it is glow golf it is dark but we did not always anticipate how dark it would be. A few times we had to use our flashlights on our phone when getting overwhelmed or just having a harder time  hitting the ball. There are 9 holes total that can go by pretty quick. If someone is coming behind you we would often feel rushed. You can always opt to take a break and come back as long as you still have your ball. The last hole takes the ball like most mini-golf.
• Howlers Peak Ropes Course – Single Climb $14.99, All day $19.99
  • Currently CLOSED – this is an outdoor attraction and only open when weather provides and from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day
• MagiQuest  – Wand: $17.99-22.99+ tax, Game: $13.99 + tax
  • I won’t spend too much time on this since I plan a whole blog post around it. MagiQuest is very popular and has 3 different types of quest to fit the need of your family. Even adults get in on the fun! It is basically an interactive scavenger hunt that leads up to bigger ‘quests.’ A wand and a new game are required but your progress is saved so the wand can be used time and time again at all Great Wolf Lodge locations! Plan to spend about $35 per a child. Younger children can also get a wand and not have to pay for a game but still get in on the action with mini magi mode. It basically unlocks some of the magical features of items to make them come to life when the wand is pointed at them.

There is always something fun to do but it can certainly add up. You can easily bring the fun back to your room by bringing card or board games. They also tend to stock them in the gift shop if you left your deck of cards at home. It is totally ok to do as many or few of these attractions as you like but because there is so much it is hard for kids to not get caught up in the “I wanna do this and that.” Always try to have some alternative options ready for when the “I wannas” start.

Upon check-in you will get a list of all their other planned activities and the best part is that many of these are FREE! From Yoga to Crafts, Great Clock Show and PJ Dance Parties. If you are looking to keep busy they have different activities at all different times of the day. The dance parties are very popular since the Water Park has closed and the music is inviting (and quite loud!). All of this happens in the back area behind the lobby by the grand fireplace. The dance party especially has lots of lights, sounds, and many kids using bubble wands so it may not be the best option for everyone. You can stand toward the back to avoid feeling so crowded or just plan for a quick dance.