Much like a bear in the winter, I prefer to hibernate more than anything. Can you blame me, as brutal temperatures, and dry skin comes to mind, I’d sooner stay in my pajamas.
However once the kids were old enough to protest, we knew it was time to engage in all kinds of outdoor activities, and to my surprise I enjoy them! Of course one of our favorite winter adventures is visiting Woodloch Pines with The Moms and friends.
As the sun rose Saturday morning, the hubby and I were already sipping on our coffee, and planning our departure to Woodloch. It was hard getting the kids off to sleep the night before as excitement filled the air, and snow pants, and bathing suits filled their duffle bags. Since I received the invitation from the Moms we have talked about all the activities we planned to do this go around, as we couldn’t do it all, during last years trip.
Rather then wake the kids, Louis packed the car with more luggage then necessary, and I prepped breakfast. Before long the smell of bacon and pancakes had both JD, and Gia beside me with big smiles and anticipation of leaving for our weekend adventure.
Within an hour and a half we were upon our favorite winter getaway. Woodloch is nestled in a pristine mountain lake setting, and provides a four-season, fun-filled, lakeside escape for your entire family with endless indoor and outdoor activities and entertainment for kids of all ages.
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Our weekend began with a group luncheon where we fueled our bodies, for all the activities we were about to partake in. From their we all jumped into our snowsuits, and I layered the kids and ourselves with Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion to protect theirs as well as our own delicate skin. Vaseline jelly is something I use daily on all of our hands, feet and face, during the cold days of winter to heal our dry skin.
However it wasn’t until my trip to Woodloch that I would use Vaseline Intensive Care lotion as protection to moisturize our skin before being greeted by the cold winds while on the slopes. I am glad to now know not only does Vaseline Intensive Care lotion aid us in healing dry skin but it also protects us from getting it.
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After lunch I hit the family snow tube slope with Gia, while the boys ventured down the road at the other end of the resort, and enjoyed the extreme snow tube slope with JD’s buddies and their dads, (DadaRocks, and Stroller in the City).
After three runs down the hill, squeels of delight, laughter and begging for more I may have fibbed and said each parent can only go down three times! With daddy no where in sight, I somehow managed to coerce Gia to come in for a hot chocolate, and we found the crafting room which is open all day long, and is brimming with art supplies. This was perfect because Gia loves to draw, color, cut and paste, but also I needed a breather and realized I need to hit the GYM ASAP, because this mom is out of shape! All to quickly it became the reset area for other exhausted mamas as well.
When the boys came back to find us, they were shouting with excitement of the Extreme Tubing run, the winding slope, the speed, and most of all the archery they experienced for the first time. With an hour or so to spare we took the time to retreat to our rooms, prayed Gia would nap and we could shower and change for dinner.
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As we gathered for dinner we met up once again with our friends in the main dining room and made some new friends as well, in the form of Austin Powers, Minions, and Captian America to name a few as they were waiting outside the dining room to greet each of us.
With choices such as family bingo, a entertaining music show or a magician we opted for the latter. JD never one to pass up a magic show, we ventured through the property and found our way to the Room. With trickery that turned a bird into a rabbit, disappearing soda, and magic ropes, the magician had both the kids and parents in awe. Eventually we wondered into the North Lodge and played a round of bingo before calling it a night.
After a five course breakfast, with energy to burn we ran to The Woodloch Forest. The indoor playground is designed for children ages 2 to 11, and offers three floors of fun. We sat back and chatted as we watched JD and Gia race through the Forest, and race down the slides before heading to the indoor bumper cars. As we were leaving the bumper cars, Gia caught a glimpse of the petting zoo. Quickly, JD decided on a pony ride, as Gia ran to pet the bunnies.
When the shuttle arrived we were set to take a spin on the go karts. The track is set up outside and can accommodate doubles or singles. With their engines revving, the boys set off on their first go kart experience. Followed by a few more rounds of snow tubing, and then as snow began to fall from above we knew it was time we check out and head on home.
Thank you to The Moms and Vaseline for hosting my family at Woodloch Pines Resort.
Sounds like your family had a full weekend of activities!
I also have an issue with dry skin in the winter. Vasaline products are the only ones that seem to help. Looks like everyone had a wonderful time at the resort!
Looks like a great time of fun filled activities
So funny–my best friend from college would go up to Woodloch every summer with her family and family friends (still does, actually!). She LOVES it and is constantly talking about how fun it is. Seems like there is so much to do there all year long!
How fun! It looks like you and your family had such a great time while you were there. It made me miss sledding which is something I loved doing where we last lived. Time to schedule a trip down there to do it again!
I’ve never heard of Woodloch Pines before, but it definitely looks like your family was able to do a ton of cool activities on a great family outing! Also great that you packed Vaseline lotion- in the cold and wind, any exposed skin can definitely feel the effects quickly! Between the snow tubing, go karts, and other activities this looks like a great place.
Oh my goodness that looks like such a fun trip!!! I love going places that has something for everyone. Love that you can race go karts in the snow and looks like everyone in your family had a great
Wow this looks like lots of great fun! For adults and kids! I love the rabbits, my kids would have went nuts! So many great and fun activities. I love Vaseline for my terrible skin it’s been such a great help! Canada winters are awful, so I’m grateful vaseline helps!
That winter wonderland looks absolutely amazing! I’d rather head to the mountains for a vacation then the beach any day, so I approve of your choice haha! Thanks for the fun pictures!
I love that it’s in a mountain lake setting. Oh what a place to go. I bet this was amazing for everyone, and I know my family would love such a place to visit. Thank you for sharing your post/opinions and your fabulous pictures too!
That looked like so much fun. We went to a blogger family weekend and we ended up having a blast with all the families. We ended up back there in the fall. Love family weekends like that.
Aww, it looks like everyone had such a great weekend. I am loving the snowy scenes, I have never seen snow like that in my life. The open fire looks so cosy too, the perfect setting for a family evening. I never even knew there were such things as blogger family weekends, these need to be introduced to Irish bloggers 🙂
It looks like you had some seriously good fun. I have a small family and we are not very close so we don’t do things like that but I do admire the fact that you do. We were all raised so differently and bump heads it just wouldn’t work. I love all the smiles in these photos! It really looks like you all just had a blast!!!
A weekend spent with the family is really great. I love spending with my family in the province.
It is made more special with the activities that you do together and make your bond stronger.
I bet the kids had a lot fun doing all those activities!