Like most people, my family loves an international vacation. The opportunity to get our passports stamped together is quite a thrill—especially for my 7-year-old son. Even when we stay stateside, we enjoy going to destinations that require a plane ride and warrant being away for a least 4 or 5 days.

Unfortunately, we can’t do that type of travel multiple times a year, as it isn’t always in our budget. But beyond finances, there are times when my husband and I simply cannot take a full week off from our jobs at the same time. This is just the reality of adulting as working parents. We still strive to give our little one the most memorable experiences as possible and few things replace the core memories travel can bring, especially during the summer months.

So, what’s a mama to do? Head to Great Wolf Lodge!

Our family (over)packed up our SUV and hit Interstate 95 North for a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Mashantucket, Connecticut. Along the way, after leaving the city limits, we spotted deer and what we suspect were red-tailed hawks, making it an entertaining and enlightening ride. Upon our arrival, we checked into our cozy room at the newest Great Wolf Lodge (GWL) location for 3 days and 2 nights of family fun, bonding and relaxation.

WATER, WATER AND MORE WATER
The 91,000-square-foot indoor water park offered an abundance of amusement for our entire clan. My son enjoyed crushing obstacle courses in the water (he’s competitive), chillaxing in the lazy river, racing down slides and even having a colossal bucket of water dumped on his head once or twice. Despite there being a lot of people in the indoor area at once, it always felt like our family existed in our own little bubble. In addition, and very important to note, the lifeguards on duty during our stay seemed very attentive.

ADVENTURE AWAITS
Once our son received his “magic wand”, his competitive spirit went into high gear, and he was determined not to stop until his MagiQuest was complete. It was fantastic to witness him apply his problem-solving and critical thinking skills to crush each required level. My husband and I knew next to nothing about the GWL game, that required us to explore the entire resort searching for clues and “runes”, so our youngster was left to figure out most of the treasure hunt solo. Thankfully several other resort guests shared tips with him, and he later returned the favor to others. He was extremely proud to receive his well-earned certificate.

GOOD EATS (AND DRINKS, TOO!)
I appreciated that there were multiple food options on the property beyond the standard pizza, burgers, chicken fingers and fries. That’s available along with basic sandwiches and snacks to satisfy a healthy appetite after a long day of swimming for sure. But our preferred places to chow down were the sit-down restaurants Fireside (reservations are recommended) and Timbers Table & Kitchen (a buffet-style eatery). Our favorite entrees at Fireside were the Honey Bourbon Salmon and the Creamy Shrimp Alfredo.

For those thirsty for adult beverages, GWL has you covered. The Strawberry Vodka Lemonade and the Poolside Passion Margarita were hits with those who did choose to sip during our stay. These limited-time beverages are served during the Summer Camp-In celebration at poolside bars and evening socials.

EXCITING OPTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
We opted to remain on property for the duration of our stay but if we hadn’t, there were options for cool things to do off-site, as Top Golf and Hard Rock Café are mere minutes away from the lodge.Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun Casinos are both within close proximity, too. There’s even a free shuttle from the lodge to Foxwoods/Hard Rock Café every 30 minutes until 9 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends. Even if you’re not a gambler, this is a nice perk should you need a break from the little people. For the parents who are always on the hunt for a unique teachable moment, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Museum is also nearby. It is the world’s largest Native American museum and is entirely owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

AFFORDABILITY ROCKS
With the current state of the economy, living within my family’s means is important. Knowing that we can load up our vehicle, fill up the gas tank and get away from it all for a few days without running up a huge credit card bill is a great look. Besides the water activities, MagiQuest and good eating, we went bowling, played miniature golf, attempted zip lining (well, at least Dad saw that one through) and played a few rounds of futuristic virtual reality games together and more. There were also group story times and dance parties in the lodge’s main lobby daily. I always appreciate getting substantial bang for my buck when traveling and I feel that GWL offers excellent value for families—especially those who want to dip their toes in the micro-cation trend pool. (See what I did there?)

[GWL is having an amazing $84 special today. Get the details here.]

In addition to the type of getaway my husband, son and I enjoyed, Great Wolf Lodge could be an ideal property for an excursion with extended family (your fave cousins crew would have a blast), a mommy and me trip with a group of girlfriends and their kiddos (dad buddies could totally pull this off, too), or even a multigenerational vacation with the grandparents. This trip reminded me that sometimes all we need is a collective change of scenery to give us the recharge we’ve been looking for and to reconnect the relationships that matter most!

Author: Bridgette Bartlett Royall

Read the original article on Essence.