Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound, Washington – The Perfect Mini Winter Escape-BreakPointTravelMom
The winter months can feel extremely long if you live in a part of the globe that tends to be dreary or bitterly cold. Even more so if it’s not in your budget to head for a sunny destination to get a break from the weather.
We may have found the perfect solution. With 13 Great Wolf Lodge locations throughout the United States and Canada, it makes it possible to slip away for a few days and not break the bank.
We live on the West Coast of Canada which means winter months that can be very wet and gloomy, so a short trip was needed to break up the gap until Christmas. The draw, is of course, all ingredients necessary for tons of fun wrapped up in a nice little package, under one roof. Realistically, however, it also has the distinct advantage of offering a mini holiday where the weather is of no concern. If you so desire, you never have to leave the hotel.
How to Get to Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound
We came from Vancouver Island
The Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound is located in small community off of the I-5 called Centralia, Washington, which is between Seattle and Portland. The trip from Vancouver Island is quite an easy one as the Black Ball/Coho Ferry (vehicle and foot passenger) gets you from Canada to the USA in approximately 90 minutes. Once docked, we chose Hwy 101, which is a quiet and pretty route that links to the I-5, and has you arriving in about 2.5 hrs at the hotel. Not too bad! For those coming from the mainland of the US or Canada, it’s an easy drive.
Things to Do at Great Wolf Lodge, Grand Mound
The hotel itself has everything you need to just unpack your suitcase, and not leave for the extent of your trip. You can opt for a wristband which allows cash free purchases of food, shopping etc. The main attraction is the hotel’s waterpark. They have rides and entertainment for all ages. In fact, you don’t even have to leave the waterpark area but to sleep, as they offer fun and sustenance right in the hub of it all.
When you are finally able to rip the kids away from the waterpark, the hotel offers many other daily activities to distract them such as interactive games/quests that take them around the hotel, along with the following amenities for all ages:
- Arcade
- Mini Golf
- Gift Shop
- Spa
- Fitness Room
- Restaurants/Snack Bars
- Group Story Time
- Starbucks
We chose a themed suite which was a big hit. The rooms come with a cozy fireplace, microwave and fridge. In addition to splurging on a few treats, we actually opted to shop at a local grocery store for fruit, yoghurt, and ingredients to make light meals in our room. I appreciated the option, and it affords those guests with food allergies and sensitivities the choice to easily store their own items.
For our family, two nights was perfect. It even allowed us some shopping at the Centralia Factory Outlets (10 min drive from the Great Wolf Lodge) to stock up on some great deals, and Christmas gifts.
Taste Memory: I am always on the hunt for a hole in the wall, or unique coffee shop when I’m away from home. I was not disappointed. We noticed these adorable espresso shacks that seemed to pop out of no where around the communities, and along the highway. Delicious coffees and yummy treats for the road.
Espresso shacks dot the landscape near Great Wolf Lodge
Drive through coffee shacks, a java-lover’s delight
This is a great trip to do a couple of times a year as it is not a huge investment in terms of time or money. I would highly recommend, however, reserving a stay that falls mid-week as the weekends can mean line ups for the slides.
Mommy tip: Don’t forget your body lotion. The chlorine leaves everyone’s skin extremely dry!
Book the Great Wolf Lodge with one of our affiliate partners on the right hand side of this page or below, or directly with the hotel at the link above.