This year we didn't go on a fun trip to Mexico but we did want to plan something fun for Spring break with the kiddos that didn't break the bank. Both kids were super interested in going to Great Wolf Lodge so back in November I booked a trip there with their super savings and ended up getting a room for about $250/night for 2 nights. We had a gift card to Skamania Lodge and always wanted to go there so we decided to do 2 nights at Skamania lodge after Great Wolf Lodge before heading home. We got a cheaper rate at Great Wolf Lodge by going on Sunday-Tuesday as well. We got the kiddos "Wolf passes" which allowed them other perks in addition to the water park including the Magi Quest game (an adventure type game with wands), the Magi Quest wands and toppers, mini golf, an ice cream cone, access to the mine maze, goggles, a large cupful of candy, $5 towards the arcade games, and access to the outdoor zip line climbing center. The kids loved the Wolf Passes but we probably will not do it again now that we tried everything.
The two nights before we left for Great Wolf Lodge the kiddos were so excited. They were more hyper than normal and bouncing off the walls. It was cute to see how excited they were. The Saturday before we left Olivia went to gymnastics and I went grocery shopping to get last minute stuff to bring on the trip. Then I headed down to Albany to drop Lulu off with my Dad. My parents graciously took Lulu for the 5 days we were on our trip since dogs were not allowed at Great Wolf Lodge and we were heading to Skamania Lodge right after. I was worried about how Lulu would do being gone from me for so long but she did great! After dropping Lulu off at 12:30 I realized I had a lot of time and decided to go shopping at the Woodburn Outlet mall. It was so nice to not have to worry about kiddos being angry at shopping. I got some stuff for Liv at Carters and some shirts for myself at J. Crew. Then I headed home. It was strange not to have Lulu around the house for a night before we left. I kept listening for the jingle of her collar. We packed up a bunch and I did a ton of laundry. We also had to get the house picked up for our house keeper as she was coming while we were on vacation.
The next morning we left around 12:00 PM. A bit later than we meant to. Sean and I stopped at the liquor store on the way to get "parent juice" which we heard was needed for Great Wolf Lodge time. We got vodka and orange liquor for Cosmos. We got to Great Wolf Lodge around 2:00 PM and we were delighted to be able to check in early (2 hours early). I guess my early check in online in which I told them when we were coming paid off. The kids put on their wolf ears and ate lunch (packed peanut butter sandwiches) in the hotel. Then we got into our swim suits and headed off to the pool. The water park was awesome-8 slides including 4 larger tube slides, 2 normal non-tube slides, and 2 kiddie slides for the younger kiddos. There was a wave pool and a really fun water playground. There was also a few hot tubs. I was worried about it being super crowded due to spring break but the crowds were actually manageable because the water park was so large and spacious. There was a really fun water slide called the River Run where all 4 of us could go down the water slide together in a raft. Olivia was able to go on the majority of the slides as she was over 42". The only one she could not go on was one that she had to be 48" and was the Cyclin' Tornado. The first day we swam for several hours.
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| Olivia drinking some gatorade and having some Doritos before swimmin |
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| The kids have their Great Wolf Lodge ears on and are ready to go! |
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| The wave pool was an immediate hit! |
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| Great introduction to Great Wolf Lodge! |
Then we got out and got our Magi Quest wands and toppers. Olivia picked a blue wand and a blue unicorn and Brandon picked a red wand and a red dragon topper. The kids began their Magi Quest game that day and we wandered around the hotel completing the first quest. Then we went to dinner at the bar and grill (supposedly their nicer restaurant). Sean and I shared an appetizer Calamari and a BBQ mixed meat dish and it was not good at all! More disappointing was the price! Brandon and Olivia's kid meals were pretty good at least but we swore never to go back again. After dinner the kids got ice cream and then they walked around the hotel some more doing their Magi Quest and then headed back to our room for bed. It was fun watching the Bubble Dance party and dancing in the lobby.
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| Dinner the first night at the lodge-the Moscow Mules were the only good thing with dinner |
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| Opening up treasure chests! |
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| Both kids loved the Magi Quest |
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| Reading the next clues on the quest |
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| The tree that contained the clues |
The next day we got up and did some Magi Quest. Then we went to breakfast at the buffet at 9:00 AM. We thought the pool did not open up until 10:00 AM (as that was listed on the website) but were disappointed to learn they opened up an hour earlier at 9:00 AM. We had a yummy buffet breakfast with fresh omelets and fruit. The kids loved the donuts and jello and they even had ice cream (the kids did not have that). We filled up and then headed to the swimming pool where we swam for several hours. We came back to the room and rested for a few hours and did the arcade games and Sean and Brandon did more Magi Quest. We then headed back to the pool for the evening (the crowds have started to thin out) and swam for a few more hours. We had pizza by the pool for dinner and that was fun. After we were done at the pool the kids and I went out and did mini golfing and the mining expedition. Both were fun. We participated in the bubbling dancing and then came back to the room. Olivia was pooped and went to bed. Sean and Brandon went out and did more Magi Questing.
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| Swimming in the fun pool area where there were basketball hoops |
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| Brandon taking Olivia on a ride |
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| Fun playground with a large bucket that drops |
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| Waiting for the waterslide |
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| Going down the waterslide |
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| So much fun! |
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| We got into the festivities and wore the wolf ears! |
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| Whirling Tornado! |
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| They both said it was a lot of fun! |
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| Mini golf! |
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| Liv kicked everyone's butt in mini golf and got 3 holes with only 2 shots! |
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| Glow in the dark fun! |
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| Selfie taken during mini golf |
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| Mining maze |
Our last day at Great Wolf Lodge we woke up and got our room packed up as best we could. Sean and Brandon did some Magi Questing and then we headed to the pool right at 9:00 AM when it opened. It was awesome right when it opened as there were no lines. We ran up the water slide lines and did 4 family river runs in 30 minutes (which normally have super long lines). Brandon and I did the crazy Cyclin' Tornado run which had a 20 foot drop and then did a cyclone drop down. Then we had a blast in the wave pool for 30 minutes before heading back to the hotel room and having some bagels for breakfast and checking out.
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| No lines and it was dead! |
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| Waiting for the bucket to drop! |
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| Water slide overview |
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| Liv loved all of the slides |
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| The kiddos loved the wave pool |
After we checked out we headed to the Howlers Peak which was a fun outdoor aerial park. Sean and I decided we wanted to do it too and so our whole family did it. At first I was a bit freaked out to do the course but then I got used to it and it was so fun. They had all sorts of obstacles and we were of course harnessed in. They had 3 levels of courses. I was able to do the majority of them. The zip lining was really fun too. Olivia was a little ninja and was all over the course and had no fear! Brandon did well even though he obviously had a fear of heights like me! We did the outdoor park for almost 2 hours and then went back to the lodge for Sean and Brandon to do more Magi Quest. They were able to finish all of the Magi Quest with Brandon's wand! Then we headed to Dairy Queen for lunch on our way to Skamania lodge.
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| Aerial Park fun |
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| Me and the kiddos at the Aerial Park |
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| The whole family went up Howler's Peak |
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| Brandon climbing away |
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| Brandon was a bit scared but did great |
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| Olivia way up high doing awesome |
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| Daddy had fun on the obstacle course |
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| Olivia and Sean navigating through the course |
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| Little climber |
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| Zip lining! |
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| Olivia high roping |
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| Climbing the ladder |
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| Olivia in line to zip line |
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| There she goes! |
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| No hands for Olivia! |
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| She made it across |
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| Great Wolf Lodge fun |
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| We had so much fun at Great Wolf Lodge |
We got to Skamania Lodge by 5:00 PM. Our room was awesome and had a beautiful river side room. The room was a bit smaller than Great Wolf Lodge and with a smaller fridge but had beautiful views of the river. Sean made me a yummy drink and then we got into our swim suits and headed to the hot tub and the pool. The outdoor hot tub was super nice and we were so happy to find everything with salt in it instead of chlorine! The outdoor hot tub had a pretty view of the river and the Washington side of the gorge. We swam for a while and then got out and had a late dinner at the Skamania lodge grill. It was super good. Sean got a steak and I got jumbo prawns. The food quality was super awesome compared to Great Wolf Lodge. We were stuffed and headed back to our beds for an early bed time.
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| View from our window |
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| Outdoor hot tub was awesome |
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| Olivia enjoyed the hot tub with Daddy |
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| Swimming in the salt swimming pool |
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| Jumping in is so much fun! |
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| The kiddos loved the pool |
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| Such a yummy dinner! |
The next day we woke up to overcast weather. The rain was supposed to come around noon so we hurried to have breakfast at the lodge (we got a $30 meal credit as part of our room deal) and had a yummy breakfast at the lodge. Then we went to Horsetail falls. We were able to see the falls from the parking lot but hiked partway up. A lot of the falls area was ravaged by the recent wild fires we had in the area and it got quite steep and some of the falls trails were closed. We headed back down and then to Multnomah Falls. We were lucky and got a good parking spot and walked up to the bridge of the falls as the rest was quite steep and it was beginning to rain.
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| Dinner at the lodge |
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| Brandon silly selfie |
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| Brandon and Daddy at breakfast |
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| Horsetail falls! |
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| Horsetail falls was beautiful |
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| Brandon and his waterfall |
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| Oliiva on the hike |
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| View of our hike with horsetail falls |
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| So much vegetation devastated by wild fires |
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| Multnomah Falls |
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| Beautiful Multnomah Falls |
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| The falls were pounding! |
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| Sean and I at Multnomah Falls |
After our hikes we headed back to our room and changed into our swimming suits and went swimming and hot tubbing for several hours. Skamania Lodge had 4 hot tubs-1 outside, 1 inside near the pool, and 1 in each locker/changing room. They also had a sauna in each changing room which was super nice and a really nice shower. The kids got tired of swimming and hungry and we headed to a local brew pub in Stevenson and had some snacks of a hummus plate and some chicken wings and some beer tasting. We then headed back to the room and did some more swimming and watched the sun set. Then we ate dinner at the lounge and shared a pizza and a salad. Another good dinner and we had yummy 3 layer chocolate cake for dessert. Full we then headed back to the room to go to bed.
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| Indoor hot tub at Skamania lodge |
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| Beautiful clouds in Stevenson WA |
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| Such a misty gray day |
The next day we woke up to beautiful sunshine! I did a work out and then we headed swimming for a bit before we had to check out. Then we packed up and packed up our car and went to breakfast. We had a yummy breakfast (I had the berry waffle and it was amazing) and then went on a fun hike around Skamania lodge that was 2 miles long. We were very impressed with the grounds at Skamania lodge and admired the golf course. Maybe next time we can come and do some golfing! After our hike we headed home, it was a really fun Spring break! And the nice thing was we still had 4 more full days until the kiddos had to go back to school and I had to go back to work!
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| Beautiful sunny view from our room |
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| View from the hot tub |
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| More outdoor hot tub fun |
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| View of the lodge from breakfast |
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| Brandon and mommy selfie at breakfast |
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| Hiking around Skamania lodge |
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| Brandon and Olivia by the lake at the lodge |
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| Nice picture of the two kiddos by the lake |
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| Silly picture! |
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| Doing our hike |
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| Olivia discovered she loves playing 1 person Mario Party on the Switch |
My sister's baby Juniper was born on Monday (the first full day we were at Great Wolf Lodge). I was excited to see my new niece and got to see her the Saturday of Spring break. I headed down to see my sister's family by myself and enjoyed myself immensely holding such a newborn baby. The kiddos and I made chocolate chip cookies (Auntie Rachel's favorite) and brought down some yummy wine to share. I look forward to spending more time holding baby and hopefully helping out some. It was so nice spending some time with my sister and helping out. My parents were there as well so it was nice spending the day with them as well.
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| Whipping up cookies for Auntie Rachel |
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| Bike riding in our neighborhood-Olivia picked out her own outfit including the knee socks! |
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| Baby Juniper-such a sweet round rosy girl |
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| Holding baby Juniper |
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| Loved getting my baby snuggles in |
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| Such a sweet plump face |
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| Wine tasting with Lulu and Liv after Olivia learned how to ride her bike without training wheels |
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| Olivia, mommy and Lulu selfie at the winery! |
