This past weekend we were fortunate to visit one of our favorite family travel destinations on the East Coast: Great Wolf Lodge, Williamsburg, Virginia.
It was amazing.
Just like last time we went.
The staff was great. The room accommodations were amazing (we had a loft, with 3 TVs!). The waterslides were fan-freakin-tastic.
But there is more to the entire experience than that.
Sure, I can show a ton of Dudes-having-fun-in-the-water shots with you today. Because, believe me, there are tons…
But, our trip to Williamsburg encompasses more than just a couple of trips down some seriously scary slides.
As the boys are growing older we are trying to add some flavor to our family vacations; taking in more of the sites, learning more about our surroundings. You know, to school these Dudes on how awesome we are for giving them such cool experiences.
Or make them fall asleep so we can enjoy things better.
With that in mind we decided to take a drive through the Jamestown area to check out the beautiful scenery…
For the record, the trees down there are old. Like colonial. And, I’m not just saying that because it was Jamestown which was like the first colony or whatever.
Okay, I am. But, still. The trees are OLD.
We also checked out some of the local eats. We had sorta-famous BBQ at Pierce’s…
And some burger-pizza-fries-beer food at a popular bar/grill near the College of William & Mary, Green Leafe…
I loved their 100% true sign…
The Dudes LOVED seeing the William and Mary football field…
And it sparked a ton of questions about college (are there girls? do you get to stay up late? do you have to go to school everyday? do college people drink beers and stuff?) which pretty much eliminated any guilt NOT! I was feeling about taking them outta school.
It was a fabulous weekend away!
And, when we got back, Maya was mildly happy to see us and super big…
Have a fun family trip planned this summer? Tell us all about it!
And, be sure to share your photos from the week here and then head over to check out Angie’s Wordful post too!
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Sounds like you guys had a great time! We won’t be going anywhere this summer, but that’s more than alright with me. I’m ready for some relaxation and sleeping in. If only these kids would let me…
Would be great if sleeping in were actually involved. Sadly, we have swimming. Everyday. For the rest of my life. Or until the end of summer at least.
How fun! The hubby and I haven’t taken the kiddos to Great Wolf Lodge yet. It’s on the to do list. We might have to bump it higher on the list….
It’s totally worth it. The boys have not had more fun on any vacation, ever. Even our week at the beach wasn’t as lauded as their GWL trips. It is sorta costly but midweek trips are often cheaper!
Looks fun! We’re heading there this weekend! And then we’re off to Chincoteague a few weeks later!
Elaine
Long time no see! Followed you over from FB
Kendall is in Hawaii with a friend’s family, and Kyle and I have a trip planned to San Francisco and Oceanside, CA. I can’t wait. Looks like you had a great time on your trip. That hotel looks awesome! And what a cute puppy! 
WOW! What a fun time you all had. The only “trip” that we’ll be making is moving this summer. In fact in 2 weeks we’ll be moving so that is our summer trip. We do however have season passes to a local water park so we’ll be spending a lot of time over there.
Good luck on your move! Although I have to say that is one of my top 5 least favorite things to do. Ever.
This looks like a great trip. Lots of fun. We haven’t been to Williamsburg yet but it’s on the list. Where we went was up in the mountains about an hour away from Charlottsville, VA.
Your daughter is adorable. Even if she licks her own butt.
She also eats her own poo. doesn’t detract for her adorableness at all!
We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in WA. So fun!!
Yeah! I’d like to visit the PA one as well. It’s probably even closer to us actually.
I can’t wait to do weekend trips like that. But we need our kids to be less whiny in the car first…oh wait, that might NEVER happen
No, they’ll grow out of it. Right into the never stop talking stage. Or the argue over everything stage. Or the worst singing ever stage. They all have their drawbacks:)
LOVE that sign!! Hahaha!!
I know right. And they weren’t lying!
Your pictures are just so gorgeous! I totally want to visit there now but really any Great Wolf Lodge vacation would do for me!
I’m thinking GWL anywhere is pretty great!
Fun sights!
We have a trip planned to Bryce Canyon next week and I can’t wait!
Bryce Canyon eh?! Sounds beautiful. We still have our camping trip coming up too. Gag.
Great blog! Great trip it looks like! No routine vacation here BUT my teenager and I are going to Guatemala for a week in July to visit a child our family has sponsored for around 10 years!! No other traveling since hubs is still job hunting (Guatemala was too far down commitment road by the time the job loss thing happened – and I wouldn’t have it any other way – it just has to happen!)
Looks like a great time. The closest Great Wolf Lodge is in Oregon or Washington. Sigh, we are in Southern California.
How fun!! Gorgeous pics! Sounds like a great place to visit.
Happy WW!
How fun!
I can NOT believe how big the adorable dumb dog is getting!!
How fun! You were only an hour and a half from me. How cool is that. We haven’t been to the great wolf lodge yet but I would like to go when the boys get a little older.
We’re hittin’ the beach again and then going to see family in TX. I kinda can’t wait. Glad you all had a good trip!!
Looks like you had a wonderful time. I’ve heard great things about Great Wolf Lodge. I’d love to visit someday.
Looked like a lot of fun! Great pix as always!
Next time I want to vacay with you!
You guys had a great time. I love seeing families enjoying time together and gosh how much I wanted to homeschool!!
Great photo shots!
Looks like a great time! Love the sunset shot!!
Maya is officially bigger than Bisco now. She’s growing like a weed!
Your vacation sounds great. Do you actually ever go to Williamsburg the living history museum?
I am so glad that our kids don’t grow as fast as dogs do!
Glad you had a super time at Williamsburg.
It looks like a lovely trip! My two weeks “vacation” this year falls in the two weeks before my due date. It looks like my goal is going to be NOT to do ANYTHING!!!
How fun! It looks like a great trip!
I hear so many good things about Great Wolf Lodge, I’ll have to check it out. love the pics from Jamestown. Maya is going to be a HUGE dog! My summer plans consist of making a trip to NYC (hopefully) for my granny’s 90th bday
Sounds like a great trip. That is just down the road from us but we haven’t made it there yet.
They asked all the important questions about school: Beers and girls. LOL
I love these photos. The water park almost looks like a miniature model…
What a fun family trip! We are fans of Great Wolf Lodge as well. That bbq place looks fantastic. Love me some bbq.
Looks like you all had a great time. And that whole college thing – lie about the whole beer thing
They’ll figure it out when the timing is right.
Tell ‘em if they get into Wm&Mary (even on a football scholarship), you’ll buy the beers.
Ours will be an interview trip this summer. yay.
Looks like an awesome trip – I love the vintage processing.
We are on our family trip this week. I don’t think we are gaving as much fun as y’all. At least not me because I’m working.
But I think David and the kids are having a great time.
It looks like you guys had a lot of fun. I have a Great Wolf Lodge within 1o minutes of my house and have yet to go. I know it could be like a mini vacation, but being so close to home I kind of don’t think of that. Maybe I should.
Sounds like a great time! I can’t wait for vacation!! WAAAHHH!
My baby brother is performing at the Shakespeare Festival that is in that area. Not sure where the actual theater is, but I know he is staying at William and Mary and he LOVES it!
We have a Great Wolf Lodge 1.5 hours north of here… BUT… it’s seriously like the only thing there. 1.5 hours south of Seattle.
What an amazing weekend. My kids LOVE Great Wolf Lodge. Their grandparents took them to the local one last summer (when I was on bedrest) and they are going again this summer. I think it might become a tradition of theirs. Those tree pictures were gorgeous. I also got a giggle out of the chalkboard sign from the restaurant! Too funny.
PS only 9 days left for my Smile Project on my blog to make a difference in the lives of some wonderful children. For each comment on any of my blog posts (posted from May 15-June24), I will donate $1 to Operation Smile and Smile Train in honor of Will’s cleft palate repair on June 24th. Feel free to spread the word as EVERY comment counts on giving some very deserving kids the gift of a SMILE! http://www.scoopofreality.com
I love Willamsburg. Great Wolf Lodge is always a good time!
That sounds like an amazing trip. My kids always ask to go to Great Wolf Lodge every time they see their commercial….maybe one of these days
i remember visiting williamsburg with my parents when i was a kid (no great wolf lodge then, of course!) and it being sooo, sooo hot. you’re smart to go early, even if they missed school for it.
You realize you travel right past my house, right? And you didn’t even say “hi”?!?
That looks like some great fun. Maybe your pics will help me convince my hubs to let us go.
Looks as though you had a great time! We’ve been wanting to plan a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge in Pennsylvania. Based on your pics, we definitely should!!
I wish more places had such straight-forward signs.
Maya is getting so big! And that picture of the tree is AMAZING!!! Glad you had fun
What a fun trip! And I’ve said it before, but Maya is so darn cute, I can’t stand it!
My husband is doing a bike ride thro there right now with my brother and two friends – and I think that is the BBQ spot they ate in last night!
Small World!
Were you there for the waterslide-athon? We went last weekend too, to the one here in MI. Have to get my pictures posted yet though!
we have a great wolf lodge here too, I’ve never been but oh so want to!!!
Looks like you guys had a blast!!
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