We went on a family vacation a few weeks ago and it was very successful! We went to a family-friendly, all-inclusive resort in the Poconos called
Woodloch Pines. It is very Dirty Dancing meets sleepaway camp. It should have been a three-hour drive, but took four hours. We met friends from Connecticut there, so it was a perfect place to meet. Many people we met there were also either traveling with friends or with extended family. Many guests were repeat customers; it is a third-generation-owned resort and the owner greets the guests at several of the meals.When you go, you sign up for a package, so ours was Peter Cottontail Weekend (Friday dinner through Sunday lunch, although we added on through Monday lunch for a nominal fee). All meals were at the same table, at a set time, with generally the same waiter/waitress, very cruise-like. We had a fabulous table for the eight of us (four adults, four kids) with a beautiful view of the lake (and sometimes deer). The food was excellent, surprisingly. Every meal had a choice of three entrees and they brought the side dishes to the table family-style. They always had ample choices for the kids. The food was healthy and abundant. Characters entertained the children at the entrance of the meals and Saturday's dinner was more formal and themed. Sunday's lunch was buffet, but the rest of the meals were not. The activities were great. For our young kids, we enjoyed the splash pool (indoors) which was 83 degrees and had little slides and fountains to play in. We also participated in arts & crafts, bumper boats, a petting zoo (special for that weekend), a large foam "indoor forest" to climb, mini-golf, and driving large motorized vehicles. It wasn't quite lake weather and was no longer winter activities weather. We had plenty to do, though. For older children, they have scavenger hunts, family feud, more complicated crafts, and tons more. It isn't the kind of place where you drop your kid off and do things without them -- it is very family-oriented and you spend all of your time together (which we liked). You can get a sitter in the evenings if you want. I attended the show with my friend one night while the dads watched the kids and it was a nice "night out" -- a competent musical revue. We stayed in a suite (two rooms and two bathrooms) in a more renovated part of the property. It was great for our purposes. Jeremy's bed had bed rails and Caleb had a full-size crib. We even had a wet bar as a bottle-washing station. The staff all over was very friendly and helpful. We took shuttle buses around sometimes which the kids loved (and the older children appeased our kids by joining in with the "Wheels on the Bus" often!) We were very happy with our experience and definitely plan to return!
We went on a family vacation a few weeks ago and it was very successful! We went to a family-friendly, all-inclusive resort in the Poconos called Woodloch Pines. It is very Dirty Dancing meets sleepaway camp. It should have been a three-hour drive, but took four hours. We met friends from Connecticut there, so it was a perfect place to meet. Many people we met there were also either traveling with friends or with extended family. Many guests were repeat customers; it is a third-generation-owned resort and the owner greets the guests at several of the meals.When you go, you sign up for a package, so ours was Peter Cottontail Weekend (Friday dinner through Sunday lunch, although we added on through Monday lunch for a nominal fee). All meals were at the same table, at a set time, with generally the same waiter/waitress, very cruise-like. We had a fabulous table for the eight of us (four adults, four kids) with a beautiful view of the lake (and sometimes deer). The food was excellent, surprisingly. Every meal had a choice of three entrees and they brought the side dishes to the table family-style. They always had ample choices for the kids. The food was healthy and abundant. Characters entertained the children at the entrance of the meals and Saturday's dinner was more formal and themed. Sunday's lunch was buffet, but the rest of the meals were not. The activities were great. For our young kids, we enjoyed the splash pool (indoors) which was 83 degrees and had little slides and fountains to play in. We also participated in arts & crafts, bumper boats, a petting zoo (special for that weekend), a large foam "indoor forest" to climb, mini-golf, and driving large motorized vehicles. It wasn't quite lake weather and was no longer winter activities weather. We had plenty to do, though. For older children, they have scavenger hunts, family feud, more complicated crafts, and tons more. It isn't the kind of place where you drop your kid off and do things without them -- it is very family-oriented and you spend all of your time together (which we liked). You can get a sitter in the evenings if you want. I attended the show with my friend one night while the dads watched the kids and it was a nice "night out" -- a competent musical revue. We stayed in a suite (two rooms and two bathrooms) in a more renovated part of the property. It was great for our purposes. Jeremy's bed had bed rails and Caleb had a full-size crib. We even had a wet bar as a bottle-washing station. The staff all over was very friendly and helpful. We took shuttle buses around sometimes which the kids loved (and the older children appeased our kids by joining in with the "Wheels on the Bus" often!) We were very happy with our experience and definitely plan to return!
