Thanks to Great Wolf Lodge Perryville, MD, for hosting our stay and experience.
My boys adore Great Wolf Lodge—the waterpark and resort with a woodsy lodge theme—and when we heard that the newest and largest resort opened in Perryville, Maryland, we were excited to check it out. We’re fans of the Pocono Great Wolf Lodge resort, and the Maryland location is supersized indoor waterpark fun thanks to the bigger space with the largest twister slide in the state, which made it even more intriguing to my boys. Since it’s just two hours from our doorstep in New Jersey, it was a no-brainer to make a reservation and experience it ourselves. We (somehow) found a weekend without any commitments, booked our stay, and headed off to explore. (featured photo credit: NJ MOM)
A smooth and fast check-in
When we arrived at the lodge, it had the familiar chalet style like the other Great Wolf locations we’ve visited but with a sleeker, modern look and design. Because we took advantage of mobile check-in, our water park wristbands (which also doubled as our room key) and arrival package were waiting for us in the lobby, making the process seamless and quick. Just past the reception area is the Grand Lobby, which hosts a roster of fun, family-friendly activities we knew we’d be dropping into throughout our stay. We had the option of morning family yoga, dance parties, character visits, and viewings of the immersive story “The Legend of Luna” (the lobby magically transforms using projection technology and special effects). Beyond the lobby, my kids spotted the extensive gift shop stocked with lots of treats, made a beeline to get a pair of complimentary wolf ears, and eyed the make-your-own candy bar and exclusive build-a-bear characters. After the mini pit stop, we went to our room to change into our suits.
Family-friendly suites will keep you and your family comfortable during your stay. Photo Credit: Great Wolf Lodge
Getting comfy
With 700 family-friendly suites in various styles and themes, we found plenty of room in our standard suite, including two queen beds and a full-size sofa sleeper. We were thrilled with how clean and modern the room looked and how spacious it was, even when the couch was pulled into a bed. The room is stocked with a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and a set of tables and chairs so we could eat in the room comfortably. While the resort also offers multiple-bedroom suites that can sleep up to 13 people for large families or groups, the standard suite felt comfortable and large enough for our family of five.
Get ready to get wet at Great Wolf Lodge. Photo Credit: Great Wolf Lodge
Water, water, everywhere
After getting settled, we made our way to the waterpark, bypassing through the extensive family entertainment center known as the Great Wolf Adventure Park. There were a few restaurants—we were happy to see we could caffeinate at a Dunkin’ Donuts, and the kids were all about the ice cream shop—and attractions we wanted to do during our stay. Entering the waterpark was impressive, with an inviting wave pool in front of us (kept at a warm 84 degrees year-round) and lots of comfortable seating. We checked out five towels and claimed chairs just in front of the wave pool, putting us in the park’s center. To the right of the wave pool is a four-story water fort treehouse with slides and toys. Within that area, there are thrilling slides that my kids were eagerly anticipating, especially the racing slides where you can record your speed as you descend. But the biggest deal was the Forest Flume, the longest twister slide in MD. The 275-foot body slide accelerates riders through open flumes into back-to-back turns, 360 loops, and high-banking loops—and after a run, my crew agreed it was well worth the hype.
Slide into lots of fun indoors and outdoors at Great Wolf Lodge. Photo Credit: Great Wolf Lodge
Fun inside and out
Beyond the slides and wave pool, there’s a winding lazy river, a water play area for the littles, another set of thrill slides (including two family raft slides), an adventure area with basketball, an in-pool rock climbing wall, and obstacle courses. During spring and summer, there’s an outdoor space featuring a massive walk-in pool, a large hot tub, and a beautifully manicured grassy area with cornhole games. We ventured outdoors and were thankful to soak up the sun on the lounge chairs surrounding the pool and recharge in the hot tub. Overall, we found plenty of seating in the waterpark, but you can book a cabana if you want more privacy. They offer families and groups the opportunity to rest and recharge with server services and comfortable amenities.
There is no shortage of tasty treats at Great Wolf Lodge. Photo Credit: Great Wolf Lodge
Hungry as a wolf
By the end of the day, we had worked up quite an appetite by going up and down 22 different slides multiple times. We returned to the room to change, then went to The Barnwood, Great Wolf’s a la carte restaurant featuring local wineries within a comfortably warm and elegant setting. We were happy with the options (plenty of healthy dishes) on the adult and children’s menus. We immediately decided on roasted Brussels sprouts, fresh burrata, and homemade Maryland crab soup as appetizers. All of our food was delicious, and the service was friendly and helpful. We were all happy to relax with a sit-down meal, but there are plenty of fast-casual options, including Hungry As a Wolf for pizza and pasta and the permanently parked, kitschy food truck Timbers for a quick, casual lunch or dinner.
There are kid-friendly games and activities throughout Great Wolf Lodge. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
Play all day (and night)
After dinner, we headed to the Adventure Park. Our kids wanted to do everything, so we decided a Wolf Pass—a bundle and save pass for the top attractions and treats—would be our best bet. With a Wolf Pass, we got to play at the arcade, conquer the multi-level ropes course, compete with each other in bowling and at the miniature golf course, make it through the mirror maze, and play MagiQuest, an interactive game with wands. The pass also includes a scoop of ice cream from the charming ice cream shop, Woods End Creamery, a cup of pick-your-own candy, and discounts at the Build-a-Bear experience. My kids were thrilled to experience everything in this part of the resort, and we thought it was a great deal for all that was included.
A Great Wolf Lodge vacation is a hole-in-one with the kiddos. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
What to know before you go
When you stay at Great Wolf Lodge, water park passes are included for each guest, and you will have park access through the day of departure. The rate also includes parking and access to all events. Mobile check-in is available to guests who have guaranteed their reservation with a credit card and have a deposit on file. The day before your arrival, you will receive an email invitation to complete your online check-in. This will make the check-in process super smooth on the day of your arrival.
Cabanas with private seating, a 20″ flat-screen TV with satellite access, and other amenities are available daily. The Great Wolf Lodge mobile app offers contactless food ordering so you can plan ahead and have your food ready for pick-up exactly when you want it (order food from the comfort of your bed and avoid lines? Yes, please). And don’t forget to bring your MagiQuest wand back each visit to play again—my kids always look forward to bringing theirs to every location we visit.
Great Wolf Lodge
1240 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway
Perryville, MD 21903
Visit Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville, MD, on their website, Instagram, and Facebook.
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