Winter Family Fun at Woodloch | Califf Life Creations

Winter always feels like it drags on. The first snow of the year is exciting but by February, the cold has crept under your skin and the fun seemed to dissipate. That is a sign that a break is needed. A getaway is a perfect way to refill your cup during the long winter months and spark the fun once again. I was so excited to be invited to check out all the winter family fun at Woodloch in Pennsylvania that provided me with an escape from all the negative aspects of winter. It was a bonus that we were able to celebrate our oldest son turning 5 as well!

What is Woodloch?

Woodloch is located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania and has been voted #1 Inclusive Family Resort in the United States and I immediately saw why. The resort focuses on bringing families together. It all started as the dream of a young couple on Long Island, Harry and Mary Kiesendahl, and is still owned by the same family. When they bought their first 12 acres on Lake Teedyuskung in 1958 they could accommodate 40 guests. The resort grew in popularity and size until it grew to include over 1200 acres! The success of this resort lies in their original mission “it’s as if they are a company in our own home.” This statement shows their personalized hospitality that is why people keep coming back.

Traveling during Covid

I’d like to address the elephant in the room when it comes to travel these days: Covid19. Our trip to Woodloch was our first time traveling to a hotel since the pandemic hit. The only travel we had done before this was camping. I was nervous. We live less than 2 hours from the resort and I read up on their new, extensive cleaning procedures and reduced capacities. These made me feel more confident about this visit. Once I saw these procedures in action, I knew that I didn’t need to worry and could just relax and enjoy the winter family fun they had to offer. You can read more about the Covid19 procedures on the Woodloch website.

The Woodloch Experience

Woodloch is more than a resort in the Poconos, it is an experience designed to get families to interact and have fun together. With seemingly endless activities (most of which are included) and entertainment that changes daily, there is something for everyone in the family. They also have meal plans that make sure you have full bellies for the day’s activities. Everywhere we went, the staff was there to enhance our fun and make sure that our getaway went smoothly. We felt so welcome by them as we were always greeted with a smile, even when our screaming, overtired 2-year-old didn’t want to listen.

Check out this video of our Woodloch winter family fun on Instagram.

Birthdays at Woodloch

Our first night there was our son’s 5th birthday. At the beginning of dinner, they welcomed everyone and announced the birthdays that were being celebrated in the dining room that night. The smile on his face was so huge that the trip was already a huge hit. After our meal, they brought him a cupcake and sang happy birthday. This is going to be a year that he will remember forever thanks to the special, personalized treatment he received from Woodloch.

Want to see Woodloch through the eyes of a (newly) 5-year-old? Check out the video compilation I made of D’s photos on Instagram!

Daily Activity Sheet

Every day, there is a new activity sheet that outlines all the family fun that is happening at the resort. This is what we would use to plan our day. They break down the day’s entertainment by time so you can choose something for the morning, afternoon, and evening. Some of the options included magic shows, scavenger hunts, and on our last day, a petting zoo with pony rides! You pre-register for some activities, which could be done on their app, and ensured that we were not waiting in any lines. We could also preview our meal options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the app as well.

Winter Family Fun

Our visit was packed with winter family fun and we barely scratched the surface of what they had to offer. Everything was planned by our newly 5-year-old son. Since it was his birthday, we would list off what activities we could do and he picked what we did. In one day, he tried ice skating for the first time (on their year-round synthetic rink), played in nature, drove go-karts, went snow tubing, explored an indoor forest playground, and swam and a pool/splash pad.

This represents only a small fraction of what they had to offer for winter family fun at Woodloch. I wanted to slip away and try archery but in the spirit of this special place, decided to stay together with my family. Even our walks around the property were amazing because we had this beautiful winter landscape to look at as we wandered.

Mealtimes at Woodloch

Every meal was delicious and filling. Our bellies were full which fueled all that non-stop winter family fun. The staff was wonderful each time and quickly learned the names of my children and waved as we entered the dining room. I loved the atmosphere in the dining room. Everyone was smiling and having a good time and a few staff members had fun clothes that brought smiles to our faces (one guy in a Super Mario suit told me he has over 65 different fun suits!) They just like to have fun and it’s that atmosphere, created by the staff, that is what makes Woodloch feel so special.

Our meals included:

1st Breakfast: Crumb Cake, Scandanavian Pancakes, Eggs and Bacon

2nd Breakfast: Apple Strudel, Belgian Waffles, Eggs and Bacon

Lunch: Broccoli Salad, Philly Cheesesteak, Mac and Cheese, Hot Dogs

1st Dinner: Salad, Shrimp Potstickers, Seafood Crusted Halibut

2nd Dinner: Eggplant Neopolatian, Roasted Cauliflower Soup, Grilled Cheese and Fries (ordered take out and ate in the room)

Home Base for Winter Family Fun

The room. This was home base for all our winter family fun and where we crashed at the end of the day. From the photos my son took, he seemed to really like the room (and food). We had a separate living room space so we were able to stay up after the kids went to sleep. The boys thought the walk in closet and TWO bathrooms was just the coolest thing. All of this works together to make the rooms at Woodloch feel like a home away from home instead of a cluttered hotel room. The rooms are beautiful, looking over Lake Teedyuskung, and provide the space and comfort you want in a home base for winter family fun.

The Atmosphere at Woodloch

Looking back on the weekend there, there was a special feeling to that place. Everyone was smiling. It was such a welcome relief from the weight of the world. Everywhere I looked, there were statues, artwork, and quotes that would grab my attention. People were exploring and it was so much fun to see.

While the winter family fun is off the charts and there are even more activities to do in the warmer months (it is on a lake), it is the atmosphere that sets Woodloch apart. I never felt pressured to do anything and always felt welcome. We had the freedom to explore, the ability to try almost anything, and the assistance to be successful. This is why people keep going back and why I hope to return again in the near future!