After a really long summer and a hard first month back to school, we just needed to take a step back. It can often feel like we go go go and never stop the hustle, especially living in New York City. There is just this mentality of pushing forward, even for our little ones. We were all feeling a little tapped out last month, so we decided to run away from the day to day, and head to the mountains for a literal breath of fresh air at Woodloch Pines Resort.
We jumped in a Zipcar right after school, and battled the Friday afternoon traffic to get out of town. A few kid friendly podcasts, a Greatest Showman singalong and a quick Dunkin stop, we got to Woodloch just as the sun went down. The staff were incredible and got us settled into our room with a few water bottles, extra blankets and a bedtime snack for my oldest! (So sweet!)
I want to share about why we chose Woodloch as the hotel we would stay at to welcome in the autumn. It is so much more than just a hotel!
Amenities
I don’t even know where to begin with how incredible Woodloch Resort is for families. From young kids to teens, there is honestly more to do on this property than an amusement park!
- Daily Scheduled Activities – Every day, the resort hosts a ton of fun activities that are themed and just for that day. We got to participate in a bowling competition that was just for younger kids, bingo with prizes, a boardwalk carnival, and name that tune. There was no way we could have made it to every activity, but it was so nice to be able to have so many options to choose from!
- On site Amenities – I honestly couldn’t even list all of the fun that you can do at Woodloch. Go karts for all ages, bumper cars, an ice rink, paddle boats, miniature gold, arcades, arts and crafts, and an amazing indoor playground!
- Swimming – It was super chilly when we were there, and despite the lake and outdoor pool being open, we stuck to the indoor pool. It was heated to the perfect temp, had an incredible splash pad, super fun water slide and a hot tub that this mama got to hang out in while the boys played pool basket ball!
- So much more – There are a few different branches of Woodloch Pines, including a spa down the road and a golf course right across the way. And you never need to get in your car once you arrive. They have shuttle busses that run every 10 to 15 minutes and take you to any of the above locations. A lot is walkable, but by the end of the day, little feet are tired, and it was so nice to hitch a ride now and then!
Food
I’m completely in love with how Woodloch does food. When you book, you can select a meal plan for your stay. Which means that you aren’t pulling out your wallet multiple times a day or needing to add that into your budget during your stay. Meals are served either in the dining hall or outside, cookout style (my personal favorite!). You are sat at the same table each meal and have the same server throughout your stay. My oldest was so excited to greet our lovely server each morning! The coffee cake that is served with breakfast is honestly out of this world and the coffee is strong and freshly brewed!
For dinner, there is a theme each night, with live entertainment, much like on a cruise! It really made things special and fun to feel like you were going to an event instead of just a meal! The food was delicious with plenty of options for both grown ups and kids alike.
Location
As I mentioned, the drive from NYC is really easy. Even with Friday afternoon traffic, we made it to the resort in under three hours. We made it home in only two and a half on our way back! The lake is absolutely stunning and the quiet you feel in comparison to the constant noises of Manhattan was so needed.
Would we go back again? IN A HEARTBEAT.
While chatting with many of the other guests, we found that most were repeat visitors! One family we shared a gorgeous boat ride with was on their 10th year visiting, with cousins, aunts, and grandparents all together. How cool is that? The staff make this incredible place something extra special, and we plan to go back in the summer to take full advantage of the gorgeous lake!
Don’t think that this place is only a warm weather vacation. During the holidays they do a ton of festive activities, like gingerbread wars, caroling, wagon rides and an entire festival of lights! I am sure it would be stunning in the snow! You can check out all that Woodloch has to offer and the happenings going on at the resort here.
Watch the full video of our stay! Nothing like a good old fashioned S’more!