Last month we went to Great Wolf Lodge in Bloomington, Minn. It was our first time, and we loved it!

Indoor water parks are something we look forward to every spring with my family when we are completely over the cold winter weather. As the kids have aged, we’ve gone to bigger and better water parks. GWL was great for the ages of the kids in our group this year (5-13). If you have little kids, they will love GWL, but they would probably be just as happy at a less expensive indoor water park. It is a bigger area and I will admit I was a little anxious not being able to see Finch at all times because I did not feel comfortable with him being in the wave pool.

We only stayed one night, but thankfully you can go early to swim on your day of arrival (before your hotel rooms are ready) and swim the following day even after you check out, to get the most out of your stay.

Side note: GWL has bunk beds, which are genius for kids … but they are shorter than a twin bed so they don’t fit tall teenagers :)

In addition to the water park, there was lots of other things to do, including an arcade, ropes course, Build-A-Bear, mini bowling, climbing wall, rock mining, magic wands, and story time and dance parties in lobby. We did a couple of the “extras” but mostly just enjoyed the water park. There are also a few restaurants, gift shop, Dunkin’ Donuts and Ben & Jerry’s so you don’t ever have to leave! But if you want to, IKEA and the Mall of America are right across the street, too!

Finch kept on his wristband for weeks afterward and told everyone he met about how much fun he had!