Our Annual Family Trip to Woodloch Pines Resort

My family and I recently returned home from an extended fun-filled weekend at the all-inclusive Woodloch Pines Resort in Hawley, Pennsylvania.  It’s an annual tradition we started last year after realizing what a unique place it is for the whole family.

 

From the moment you arrive at Woodloch something magical happens.  Daily life is left behind and spending quality time and reconnecting is what really matters.  The wonderful thing about Woodloch is that families do not even realize the impact this getaway has on them until they return home to their normal routines and start to look back and remember the special moments their family created together.  I spoke with several families while at the resort, many of which were repeat guests at Woodloch, speaking volumes about how special this place is.

 

Woodloch Pines Resort is a family-owned and operated resort nestled among 1,200-acres of woodlands surrounding Lake Teedyuskung within the majestic Pocono Mountain lake region of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Getting to Woodloch is just a short two-hour drive from the Connecticut and New York border at I-84.

 

With three children ranging in ages of 14, 10 and 5 one might say that finding something to appeal to each of them would be difficult, but at Woodloch it isn’t.  The Resort offers an abundance of daily planned activities for families with children of all ages, run by a dedicated social staff.  Each morning at breakfast waiting at your table is a printed itinerary and schedule of things to do throughout the day and evening, both inside and outside.  All of the activities are within walking distance of each other, which makes it easier to meet-up with your family if they decide to participate in separate activities.

I found that I used last year as a benchmark, especially with my youngest who was then four, to compare his growth and ability to participate in things independently.  This year he was able and very willing to Snow Tube by himself and seemed to prefer that over everything else offered at the Resort.  He was also able to ride the Bumper Cars by himself, just reaching the minimum height requirement.  He competed in games with other children and also felt quite comfortable talking with the Woodloch owners and staff, especially “Carol”, our wonderful dining room server, who was there at every meal.

This year we also found ourselves exploring the Resort a little more and participated in other fun activities, including a lovely ride in a horse drawn sled across the frozen Lake.  My 14 year daughter and I participated in the resort’s “Gingerbread Wars” in which we competed against other teams in creating something representing the 1980s, which happened to be the weekend theme at the Resort.  We chose the video game Pacman as our creation with just 30 minutes to build it.  Although we didn’t win, we sure had fun working together!  My family also enjoyed the Broadway Style evening performances, archery (my 10 year old really like this), Extreme Snow Tubing and many other activities during our weekend stay.  The Resort also offers snowmobiling, ice skating, hockey, game rooms, indoor gym with basketball and other organized sports oriented activities, an indoor pool and an indoor forest playground to crawl and climb through.  The list goes on and on.  Also, at most outdoor activities there is a crackling fire pit to provide a quick warming up before moving onto the next activity.  For a glimpse of a day at Woodloch click here for a sample of an activity schedule.

 

 The Main Lodge at Woodloch has inviting rustic and warm décor with cozy couches and chairs.  You will often find families lingering and enjoying each other’s company here.  The Dining Room, also part of the Main Lodge, has three large fireplaces glowing throughout the day and evening, adding that extra charm to Woodloch.

 

During our stay, the dining room was filled with well over 600 adults and children just as excited to be there as my family was.  Families are seated at the same table at each meal and have the same wait staff during their stay.  The food was excellent with a variety of choices to appeal to most everyone.  We especially enjoyed the fresh baked breakfast cakes, as well as the cookies, desserts and unique breads served at lunch and dinner, any of which you can order and have prepared for you to take home the last morning of your stay.  For a sample menu of Woodloch’s Winter Weekend meal plan click here.

 

My family stayed in the Edgewater Springbrook Suite at the Resort.  Our spacious accommodations were just as inviting and fresh with plenty of room for a family of five to spread out – including two full bathrooms, a huge walk-in closet, large sitting area with two couches (one a pull-out bed) and flat screen TV, separate bedroom with its own flat screen TV, and a balcony overlooking the beautiful woodland grounds and mountain lake.

 

It’s interesting to note that most rooms at Woodloch accommodate a party of up to six.  Other room choices include the Classic Standard Timberline/Gateway motel-style units, the Deluxe Lakeview Greenbriar/Mountain Laurel hotel-style units or the 2-bedroom Mountain Laurel Country Suites.  There are also guest homes available for larger parties.

 

 

 

 

 

The evenings at Woodloch are just as wonderful and packed with great things to see and do.  Each night offers fun things for your family to share in.  While you are there, be sure to participate in Woodloch’s Traditional Horseracing Games, it’s a tremendous draw for the whole family.  Twice a week, the Resort offers an over the top evening which begins in the main dining room, where guests are greeted by costumed staff members playing the role of real and fictional characters.  As dinner winds down, these characters parade through the dining room and offer the opportunity for picture taking.  The celebration continues after dinner where guests move into the Nightclub Theater and are treated to Woodloch’s famous Theme Show, a Broadway-style theatrical production of dancing and singing.  Families can also participate in playing jackpot bingo, see a comedy show, a magician, or participate in a dance party, watch a current Hollywood movie and much more.

 

Woodloch also offers a beautiful and relaxing spa facilities located just a short drive around the Lake.  The Lodge at Woodloch is an all-inclusive spa resort featuring its own unique accommodations, dining, as well as customized spa treatment options for adults.  If you plan on visiting the spa sometime during your stay at Woodloch Pines, the resort recommends making your appointments within 14 days of your arrival.  Babysitting services are available at the Resort for an additional cost.  Woodloch also offers many packaged stays, including a “Girlfriend Getaway” package for a fun getaway with your friends.

 

 

The resorts at Woodloch are open year round.  The summer months at Woodloch offer other enjoyable activities for your family including the Eagle-Eye Zip Line, waterskiing, kayaking, boating, lakeside activities, miniature golf, a climbing wall, nature trails, just to name a few.

 

For golf enthusiasts, there is the Woodloch Springs Golf Course.  The Country Club at Woodloch Springs is nationally recognized by Golf Magazine as “one of the finest courses in America” and rated “4.5 Stars” by Golf Digest’s Best Places to Play.  The golf course at Woodloch Springs is a family friendly course, dedicated to growing the game of golf.  They provide a state-of-the-art teaching facility for lessons tailored to your individual needs.  John Pillar, Director of Golf at Woodloch Springs, and Secretary of the Philadelphia Section PGA, is recognized as one of America’s Top 50 Kids Teachers by US Kids Golf.  He leads the Family Tee Program which helps to ensure that future golfers have the opportunity to enjoy the integrity, honesty and camaraderie inherent in the sport.  There are “Stay and Play” golf packages also available.

 

As you can imagine, my family is already looking forward to our next trip to Woodloch Pines Resort.  Until next year…

 

Woodloch Pines Resort

731 Welcome Lake Rd

Hawley, PA 18428

1-800-966-3562

www.woodloch.com