Cascadia Kids : Family travel in the Pacific Northwest and BC

December 2, 2022

18 Tips for Riding Amtrak Trains with Kids

Amtrak rails between Seattle and Portland

But as with so many other escapades, much of your family’s Amtrak success will come down to preparation. Here are tips on taking the train with kids. I’ll soon offer some information on the family sleeper cars, and best train trips through Washington, Oregon and BC.

Train Price Tips for Amtrak with Kids

1. Save money. Can kids ride free on Amtrak? Well, you can save by taking advantage of Amtrak’s 50% off discount for children’s coach fares. But no, children don’t ride free. Instead, one child ages 2-12 receives a 50% discount on the lowest available adult Amtrak rail fair. But they must be accompanied by an adult.

So, if two adults you travel with three kids, you’ll get two fares at 50%, and pay full freight for the last one. Book 14 days in advance to get a lower adult fare.

Note! These fares aren’t possible on weekday Acela trains (Northeast corridor), or charges associated with sleeper cars, Business Class or First Class. Sometimes, also not available on Thruway buses.

2. Baby benefits. As with planes, one child under age 2 can ride free with each adult. If you’re riding with three babies, first of all, my condolences. But also, the third baby only qualifies for the 50% discount. You might drive.

Those with small children can board earlier than other passengers, giving you time to stow strollers. And parents traveling with toddlers and babies (under age 2) can carry on any stroller or diaper bag without the items counting against your carry-on allowance.

3. Can children travel alone on Amtrak? Kids 12 and under can’t solo by train, and have to be with someone 18+. Children 13, 14 and 15 years old can travel as unaccompanied minors, but you have to call into the phone line (1-800-USA-RAIL or 1-800-872-7245) to make a reservation. Children 16 or 17 can travel unaccompanied. Read about unaccompanied minors on the Amtrak website.

Family Train Seating Tips for Amtrak

4. Snag your seats. Ideally, families can grab some family-style seating, which is four seats facing each other, around a table. If you don’t snag one of these seats, visit the lounge car, which has 10 tables and seating for 30. It’s best to try to grab a seat ASAP, because it’s first-come, first-serve.

5. Go coach with kids. Standard coach seats are reclining, with a fairly substantial seat-back tray, power outlets, reading lights. Think: very comfortable airline seat. Business class provides bigger seats, more legroom, and fewer passengers per car. You’ll also get free wifi (maybe), newspapers, and a coupon for money off any bistro menu item. You’ll board and get off the train first. But business seating doesn’t qualify for the children’s 50% off fares.

In my opinion, the best seats along the I-5 corridor are on the Amtrak train’s western-facing side (which depends on where you’re going north or south), for views of water, bridges, sunsets and sea life.

6. Sleep suite. If you can afford a splurge or want an unusual vacation, take a family suite sleeper car. Meals are included, along with beverages (juice, water, coffee).

On-Board Amtrak Family Activity Tips

7. Walk around. The biggest advantage of train travel is not being buckled into a set for hours. So yeah, go on strolls. You’ll have a mini-James-Bond moment when moving through jostling, adjacent train cars. The train can really bump and sway though, so it’s sort of like gaining your train-legs. Toddlers will need help.

Pack a picnic basket. The Amtrak food is … not dependable. We’ve had great meals and really bad ones. Bring hard cheese, crackers, sausage, chocolate, oranges and other easily transportable foods. Much like you’d do on a plane.

8. Prepare for delays. There are many reasons for train delays that have to do with right-of-way and a poorly funded national passenger rail system, but none of them are the fault of your conductor or attendants, so please be kind to them. Prepare for delays while waiting for your train or en route, anywhere between a few minutes to a few hours. Oh yes, hours. But with enough podcasts/movies/snacks, anything is bearable.

9. You’ll probably have nearby charging plugs. You probably won’t have wifi. Make sure you have a fully stocked electronic device, because despite whatever your particular train says, WiFi tends to be unusable, whether spotty or slow.

10. What is there to do on the train? It depends on which train you’re taking. The Amtrak Cascades is a high(er) speed Acela train that was primarily targeted at business commuters, and is more bare-bones. The slower Superliner is for leisure travelers, and is my favorite for traveling with kids. It leaves once a day from Seattle for destinations such as Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. On the Coast Starlight, the Sightseer Cafe has snacks, treats and hot dogs and the like.

Tip: Buy your kid or teen a new book, or visit the library before departing

Look for Amtrak Trails & Rails volunteers on your trip and learn about our national parks, by reviewing the complete national Trails & Rails calendar.

Logistical Tips for Traveling with Kids on Amtrak

11. Arrive early but not too early. This isn’t the airport. You don’t have to arrive two hours early and go through intensive screening; it’s often enough to get there 30-40 minutes in advance. This advantage is wonderful, along with the fact that most rail stations are beautiful, with two-story high ceilings. An exception: when you’re boarding in Canada to return to the U.S., arrive at least an hour in advance, as it takes a while to go through U.S. customs before boarding the train.

12. Take advantage of the free train carry ons with kids. You can bring two carry-on suitcases for free. I’d suggest making everything fit in the carry-ons and not checking luggage.

13. Check your train’s status on the iPhone or Android Amtrak app. It may not always be up to date, but you’ll get an idea. You can also sign up for text alerts, but I’ve found those to be remarkably inaccurate.

14. Be prepared for diaper changes on the go. The bathroom in each train car may have a changing area, but it also may not or you may not reach it in time. Check once you board the train, in advance. Look for the accessible restrooms, which are more likely to have changing areas. If you can’t locate one easily, ask your coach attendant for help.

15. Stay allergy aware. Amtrak can’t promise a allergen-free trip (including nuts). So bring epinephrine if there’s a life-endangering allergy in the family.

16. Car-free trip Options. Can you turn your Amtrak trip into a car-free vacation? That depends. In larger cities such as Portland, Vancouver, Seattle and Los Angeles, you should be able to hail a quick taxi or Lyft or catch a bus or lightrail to your hotel, after exiting the station. Because of the station’s location, you could make a (very long) day trip to Portland, Oregon, or Seattle or Vancouver, British Columbia. Other stations, such as the one in Olympia, Washington—the station is very, very far from downtown. Make sure you’ve done research in advance.

17. When taking the train between Vancouver, BC and Seattle (or anywhere Amtrak goes), make extremely sure you didn’t book on a bus. It’s a bus, not a train, which sends most of the cool benefits of train travel right out the trapped-in-your-seat-the-whole-time window. I’ve spend enough time on Greyhound buses to know they’re not for me unless I’m strapped for cash.

Packing List for Amtrak Train Travel with Kids

1. Books
2. Snack kits with goldfish, cheese sticks, other kid-friendly foods
3. Legos and other small-building toys (if you have a sleeper car, otherwise not recommended)
4. Craft kits and supplies but preferably without a lot of small parts unless you’re in your own car.
5. Activity books
6. Card games
7. Wet wipes for easy cleanup, or washcloths
8. Stuffed animals and dolls
9. Crayons, pencils, art supplies
10. Wildlife-spotting books and ID guides. We saw deer, cows, llamas, falcons, dogs and seals, and a lot of cool birds I couldn’t identify.
11. Fully charged tablets/phones with a queue of movies, TV shows and games and earphones, so other passengers don’t have to listen in.

Do you have any travel tips?

December 2, 2022

8 Amusement Parks in the Northwest and BC

We don’t have any mega-big-deal-amusement parks (read: Disney) here in Washington, Oregon or BC. No huge surprise, as we also lack the year-round pleasant weather. But we do have several options within easy driving distance of major cities, including water parks and kid-friendly amusement rides. The parks are all fairly inexpensive, at least when compared to airfare for four, lodging and ticket prices at mega-big-deal-amusement parks. It’s low-key fun, an easy getaway in pleasant weather. Note: Updated in December 2022. There used to be 9 amusement parks, but Dinotown has gone extinct, alas.

Amusement Parks in Oregon

1. Oaks Amusement Park. Portland, Oregon. One of the Pacific Northwest’s oldest operating amusement parks, Oaks Park pops with options: a year-round roller skating rink, big kid thrill rides, gentle toddler rides. I love this quaint amusement park, and grew up going here as a kid. Free admission, pay per ride. It’s well-shaded and nestled along the banks of a river, so you can take over-excited kids for a chill-out walk before hopping back into the car. A 15-minute drive from downtown Portland in the quaint Sellwood District.

2. Enchanted Forest Theme Park. Salem, Oregon. If you find yourself driving along Oregon’s I-5 this summer, check out this campy, cheesy and amusing park. Stand in a giant’s mouth, get mildly spooked in the Haunted House, take a stroll through Storybook Lane, Western Town or English Village. It’s the sort of amusement park you’d enjoy if you like old-school Paul Bunyan statues, Roadside America and other oddities still hanging around the Northwest like old moss. I’d; I’m not sure you would. But you should.

Bonus: Not quite a “theme park” but the Oregon Vortex (and House of Mystery) in Gold Hill, Oregon, likely inspired the popular DisneyXD animated kids’ show Gravity Falls.

Amusement Parks in Washington

3. Wild Waves: Theme & Water Park. Federal Way, Washington. In the summer, corkscrew-style slides deliver hordes of screaming kids. It’s not all wild, as the gentle wave pool welcomes younger children. Post-swim, visit the the Enchanted Park and drive bumper cars, ride the ferris wheel or discover your scream on a kiddie coaster. Big problem though: the food here is about what you’d expect, and you can’t bring in your own. Plan for a car picnic.

4. Great Wolf Lodge. Grand Mound, Washington. Located halfway between Portland and Seattle, this indoor waterpark offers raging river slides, family-friendly rooms (with bunk beds), a kids’ spa, and a magical wand that kids can use to play an interactive game throughout the building. A night’s stay allows you to come and go from the water as you please, but you can also now purchase a full or half-day pass. It’s sort of like an all-inclusive, right here in the Pacific Northwest.

5. Riverfront Park. Spokane, Washington. In Spokane, the 100-acre Riverfront Park offers: a SkyRide past waterfalls, vintage carousel, sculptural art and fountains kids can play in, a playground based on prehistoric floods, an accessible and inclusive playground, a skate ribbon, a garbage-eating metallic goat, a ginormous red wagon, and an IMAX theatre. Riverfront has undergone massive updates in the past few years and definitely worth a day. Whew. I’m tired from just listing the options. Worth a weekend’s exploration.

6. Slidewaters. Lake Chelan, Washington. It’s almost always dependably sunny and hot on Washington’s Eastside so there will never be an excuse for skipping the eight slides. At Slidewaters, the new Purple Haze ride slips you through 420 feet of disorienting darkness. As a parent, you’ll probably prefer the hot tub and cool pool. Wear sunscreen, because the sun’s rays are a bit sneaky—I still have weird skin from my Chelan burns in 8th grade.

Amusement Parks in British Columbia

7. Playland at the PNE. Vancouver, BC. Like a county fair in the big city, all summer long. This amusement park is about a 15-20 minute drive from downtown Vancouver, and worth the cost with elementary-age kids or middle schoolers. But even my son (then 2) found plenty of just-ride rides among the selection of over 20 options. Cool big-kid rides: The wooden roller coaster and the “Hellevator.” Bring sunscreen or go during evening hours (like we did); buy the pass for hours of fun. Summer only.

8. Cultus Lake Adventure Park. Cultus Lake, BC. One of the newest parks on our list, opened in 2014 (most of the other amusement parks on our list are many-decades old). In British Columbia’s Fraser Valley, about 80 km (50 miles) east of Vancouver, the weather dries out, much like Oregon and Washington’s “dry sides.” So as early as spring, this amusement park opens for visitors. It’s small, with just one roller coaster, but plenty of family-friendly rides for kids of all ages along with minigolf and a nearby water park.

Did I miss an awesome waterpark, theme park or fabulous fun center? Let me know.

December 1, 2022

All Aboard! Take the Amtrak Train from Seattle to Leavenworth

First, the bad news: There’s only one Amtrak train per day from Seattle to Leavenworth (and vice versa). The Empire Builder train leaves downtown Seattle (SEA) at 4:55 and arrives at 8:17. On the return, the Amtrak leaves Leavenworth Icicle Station (LWA) at 7:23 a.m. and arrives in Seattle at 11:29 a.m.,and takes about 4 hours. The train’s schedule makes it impossible to go on a day trip. Visiting really requires two full overnights, particularly if you stay at a place like Sleeping Lady Resort or even if you stay downtown.

Also, the train is plagued by performance; only 48% of passengers on the Empire Builder train arrived on time in June 2022, according to an Amtrak report. Ouch.

Now, the good news: The scenic three-hour, 20-minute ride between Seattle and Leavenworth on the Amtrak offers enchanting scenery and incredible views for much of the year. Seat children next to the window to look for wildlife among the fir-layered mountainsides and rambling rivers. You’ll also whiz through the second-longest tunnel in the U.S., the Cascade Tunnel, while traversing 4000-foot peaks. You won’t deal with closed mountain passes or the twisting highways. So just sit back and relax in the giant seats.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons.

Pros and Cons of Train from Seattle to Leavenworth

Pros of the Seattle to Leavenworth train:

No-hassle travel, year-round
Beautiful scenery in summer
Pedestrian-friendly Leavenworth is great destination
Fun experience

Cons of the Seattle to Leavenworth train:

Serious train delays can occur and require advance planning
Timing isn’t good for a day trip
Requires taxi or other ground transportation from Icicle Station to Leavenworth or any other locale
Can be expensive after adding up all fares

13 Tips for Taking the Amtrak Train to Leavenworth

Book your ticket through Amtrak.com. Note that kids ages 2-12 go half-price, which makes for a sweet (and less-expensive ride). Adult tickets range from $20-$55+ each way, depending upon traffic volume, and whether you want refundable or non-refundable tickets. Also, check the Amtrak site’s Smart Deals area for discounts. If you want a more memorable or private experience, you can splurge for a Superliner bedroom, family suite, or roomette. It’s a pretty serious splurge though, starting at about $223.

2. The Amtrak train departs from three Seattle-area stations en route to Leavenworth. These stations are Seattle King Street, Edmonds and Everett. Those living in North Seattle may want to board in Edmonds, while Snohomish County residents may want to board in Everett—you’ll save yourself a few dollars, too. South Seattle families can board at at King Street. Important note: Make sure you don’t book your destination as “Leavenworth 76 Gas Station.” That’s a bus. You don’t want a bus. Unless you do.

3. Parking is limited at King Street, Edmonds and Everett stations. Bring cash for any olden-days pay lots (though most take credit cards), and arrive at least a half-hour in advance to scope out your parking choices. Better yet, ask a friend to drop you off at the station or take a Lyft.

4. Weather and freight train backups can delay Amtrak trains. Our train from Edmonds to Leavenworth was delayed by an hour and 15 minutes; our return train from Leavenworth to Edmonds was delayed by three hours and 30 minutes. Sign up for alerts through Amtrak.com, and check the site for real-time schedule changes. If you’ll be arriving late at night (10:30 p.m. for us), you might think about how to set the kids (or yourself) up to sleep for an hour or two.

On the Train from Seattle to Leavenworth

5. Meals are served aboard the train. But for lunch and dinner, these may only be available for those with reservations. Sign up as soon as you board the train headed toward Leavenworth, but realize that some seatings may sell out, and you may not make reservations when booking your ticket. Bring extra food if you think you might be hungry.

6. Our dinner was an unpleasant combination of mediocre and expensive. Seemingly microwaved vegetable mix and rice, although the meat was okay. Maybe it was an off night (although I’ve had the same experience on other routes). The children’s menu was fine, although mostly made up of cheese and white bread. Bring your own meal, pack a hearty snack (by the time you get into town, everything will probably be closed) or ask your waitress what she would recommend.

Snacks are also served in the Cafe car but those prices aren’t much better. You may also be seated with strangers in the dining car, if you’re a party of three. Here’s a link to a sample Empire Builder menu. The service was very good and homey, though. I’m pretty sure my waitress even called me “hon.”

7. On-board entertainment is limited. But there are 120-volt plugs next to two-seat configurations. Bring a laptop, card games, books and quiet activity books. Particularly in winter, when it’s dark in the Northwest by about 4:30 p.m.

8. Amtrak passenger seats offer generous proportions. You’ll find reclining seat backs, extendable trays, footrests and seat pockets. So don’t worry about leg room. Think about three times the size of an airplane seat setup. Seat reservations aren’t available, but the conductor, whenever possible, will try to keep groups together.

Leavenworth to Seattle

10. The Leavenworth Amtrak station (‘Icicle Station”) is located only about a mile outside town. It’s along a quiet road, but you must walk up a steep hill without a wide shoulder. I would not attempt to walk this route with kids, but instead take Leavenworth Shuttle and Taxi, which charges about $5 per passenger.

11. Book your pickup in advance, and drop-off at the Leavenworth station. Our driver was courteous, prompt, and gave us frequent updates on the train delay. The driver does not have a carseat available for babies or younger children, so if that’s important to you, bring one with you.

12. The Leavenworth Amtrak train leaves early. Ask your hotel if they’re willing to pack a to-go or sack breakfast for you. Our hotel, the Bavarian Inn, was happy to do so. Request this upon check-in or when making a reservation. The rain shelters are heated, so you’ll be warm while waiting. Heat lamps even warm outdoor waits, in Leavenworth. Spend a few moments at the stations to look at historic documents and knickknacks.

13. Amtrak rail employees seem both stressed and patient. Employees appear to be doing the best they can, despite demanding, upset passengers — some of whom stuffed paper towels into the toilets on our train, rendering the toilets inoperable. That wasn’t cool.

+1 More Tip: No changing tables are available on the train, so bring extra changing pads for baby. There are toilet receptacles for diapers in the bathroom, but you might want to double-bag any disastrous works.

February 5, 2020

Seattle Cat Cafes and Vancouver Cat Cafes

I first visited a cat cafe in Tokyo, and was so happy when cat cafes started popping up in the Pacific Northwest. I mean, what’s better for adults or children than making small talk with a cat while drinking a cappuccino? Okay, maybe cappuccinos + kids don’t mix. Hot chocolate or ice cream is a better idea.

A few things to know before you go to a cat cafe (with or without kids):

Cats are cats. They may interact with you or they may just ignore you. Frantic, needy behavior tends to spook kitties. Remember: Cats needs to sleep up to 18 hours a day, much like a newborn.
Like all of their purrrsuasion (shhh! I get ONE PUN), these cats will like you more if you have treats. Some cat cafes provide treats for an extra price, or it may be included.
Most cat cafes have minimum ages for visitors. It might be best to take toddlers elsewhere.
Cat cafes primarily exist to find cats a “forever home.” While pricing may sometimes feel like light extortion ($30 for an hour of cats ignoring you and the kids?), money funds the space, pays wages, and provides cat care to kitties with out homes. If you’re on a budget, sign up for a cat cafe’s e-mail list, where you can often find good deals, such as $5 off or student pricing.
Don’t bring anyone who has impulse-control issues or otherwise can’t follow what can be fairly comprehensive rules. For example, not picking up cats. That goes for you too, adults.
Some cat cafes allow you to bring your coffee into the room with the cats, while other don’t, or only allow some items (such as drinks, but not cookies).
Wash your hands, and your kids’ hands both before and after visiting with cats. Some cats are immune-compromised and could easily get sick from tourist (or local) germs.
Cat cafes are busiest on weekends, like most destinations. Make a reservation in advance, if possible, if you want to visit on a weekend.

Vancouver-Area Cat Cafes

Catoro Cafe.

This cafe’s charming “cat forest” is where adults and kids can interact with kitties in a large, forest-themed room filled with yep…you guessed itâ€”cat trees. The process of removing your shoes and sanitizing your hands is most similar to the Japanese experience. Bring socks.

Where: East Broadway, in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

Cafe options: This cat cafe offers fun, sugary beverages like pearl-cloud tea, bubble tea, Vietnamese coffee, and milk tea, along with mochi muffins.

Age restrictions. No children ages 4 and under. An adult must accompany children between the ages of 5 and 10.

Cost: Weekday admissions are in segments of 30 minutes for $8, and $2.50 for every additional 15 minutes. On weekends, you get 15 minutes for $5.75, 30 minutes for $85, 50 minutes for $11.50. For $17, you get 65 minutes and a drink.

Website: https://catorocafe.com/

Catfe.

This Vancouver cat lounge was one of Canada’s first cat cafes, and was opened thanks to crowfunding success. Here, you and the kids can mingle with adoptable kitties while drinking an “ameowicano” or “hot chococat” ($3.95).

Location: Downtown kid-friendly Vancouver, near Gastown in Tinseltown Mall.

Cafe options: Handcrafted coffee drinks, adorable cat-themed treats and Hello Kitty cookies, vegetarian food such as quiches, scones and vegan cheesecakes. Gluten-free and vegan food is available.

Advance booking necessary? Not required, but a good idea.

Age Requirements: Ages 5 and up.

Cost: $10/person for one hour

Website: https://catorocafe.com/

Neko Cat Cafe Bellingham.

Yes, this cat cafe isn’t technically in Vancouver, but it’s an easy day trip for both Vancouver and Seattle families. This cafe will open in winter of 2020, and promises to be as great as its sister site in Seattle.

Location: Bellingham, Washington.

Serves: Coffee, wine, beer and all the cat-themed treats you could imagine. See the Seattle description below.

Advance booking necessary? Probably wise on the weekends.

Age Requirements: No requirements, but every two children under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Cost: $11/hour

Website: https://nekoseattle.com/neko-bellingham

Seattle-Area Cat Cafes

Kitty Corner.

This Seattle-area cat cafe is a little different from others, but has some cool extras such as a kid-friendly Meowvie Night (watch movies with cats!), Kitty Kraft (make crafts with cats!), birthday parties (celebrate your birthday with cats!), and more. Cats here come from kill shelters in California. Another advantage of Kitty Corner: no minimum age restrictions, and kids age two and under are free.

Location: Edmonds, Washington, about a 30-45 minute drive from downtown Seattle, depending on traffic.

Serves: Some packaged snacks, soda pop and water is available, but not a full cafe.

Advance booking necessary? No.

Age requirements: All ages are allowed, as long as they can follow the cafe’s rules. That goes for you too, adults.

Cost: Kids 2 and under are free; Kids 15 and under are $4, 16+ and adults are $8; Adults 55+ are $6. Perfect for a grandma-kid outing.

Website: https://www.kittykornerrescue.org/

Seattle Meowtropolitan.

One of the first cat cafes in Seattle with a large cat-visiting room and enormous picture windows looking outside. However, it’s also one of the most strict, restricting kids until they’re 8 years old.

Where: Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood.

Cafe options: Barista-made espresso drinks and fresh brewed teas, along with cat-themed cookies and savory treats.

Advance booking necessary: You can sign up for a spot online, or try your chance at a walk-in.

Age requirements: Ages 8 and up only. Family Day offers 50 minute visit for $12 per person, child or adult. There must be one adult ticket purchased for every two, and the adult must stay with children.

Cost: $13 for 50 minutes, 40 minutes in the cat lounge.

Website: https://seattlemeowtropolitan.com/

Neko: A Cat Cafe.

This sunny, bright cat cafe is small, but friendly, and limits entry so the space never feels overly crowded. As well, all ages are admitted. Ensure your child is ready for the rules here, as the cats all have feline leukemia, and there can be some fragile kitties in here.

Where: Located in Seattle’s cool Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Cafe Options: Photogenic/Instagram-worthy Pusheen and Totoro treats, along with coffee and alcoholic drinks such as beer and wine. A quick note: They do not accept cash, so don’t forget your plastic.

Advance booking necessary: Yes, definitely. Or you’ll be waiting.

Age requirements: Children of all ages are admitted, but those under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. No more than two children per adult are permitted entry.

Cost: $12/person for 55 minutes, and all reservations start on the hour.

Website: https://nekoseattle.com/

Neko Cat Cafe in Seattle, a kid-friendly cat cafe

Catffeinated.

One of the newest cat-cafes on the block, this cafe aims for the small-scale experience, limiting visitors to just 10 at a time. The cat room is surrounded by glass, so cafe visitors can watch kitties having fun.

Where: In Tacoma.

Cafe Options: Espresso drinks and tea, juice, along with sandwiches, cake pops and cookies. You can’t bring food and drink into the cat area.

Advance booking necessary: Yes.

Age requirements: Children must be over 8 years old, although special “Kids Days” permit a wider range of ages and have fun extras like face painting.

Cost: $10/person

Website: https://catffeinated.net/

February 4, 2020

18 Tips for Visiting Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington is undoubtedly one of the most well-known Washington Water Parks. Whether you’re going for a birthday party, with one of the new day passes, or for a warm, light-filled spring break from always-rainy skies, Great Wolf Lodge is definitely a family favorite.

But before heading to any big-ticket, big-adventure resort with kids, itâ€™s always best to ask an expert for tips. So I asked three British Columbia and Washington State moms who are repeat guests of Great Wolf Lodge for their best tips, and added a few more tips from my own research.

Of course, these are just opinions and suggestions. You may have your own spin on a Great Wolf Lodge stay with kids.

New Post: Great Wolf Lodge Day Passes: Are They a Good Deal?

Great Wolf Lodge: Basic Tips

Tip 1. Save money on your room

If you think about it, you’re mostly going to Great Wolf Lodge for the water and family-friendly environment, not the room. So this is an area to save, unless you plan to spend a lot of downtime in the suite.

The themed suite rooms (Wolf Den, KidKamp and Kid Cabin) at Grand Mound Great Wolf Lodge are cute and fun, â€œbut we have found that you are not in your room long enough to make them worth the cost, if you can fit in a smaller room,â€ says frequent Great Wolf Lodge visitor and Kelso mom Melissa Parcel.

If you’re going with another family, have a very large family, or are thinking about a birthday party at Great Wolf Lodge, consider one of the premium rooms, where you can squeeze more people into a suiteâ€”with water-park wrist bands for everyone, up to the room’s maximum capacity.

As well, although I’ve stayed primarily in smaller rooms in the past, last year I got to experience the much larger Majestic Bear Suite while staying at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound with three kids. It was pretty amazing to have the mental and physical space.

A perfectly fine room at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound — A suite room at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound with fold-out couch bed

Check Great Wolf Lodge’s website with special deals and coupon codes when booking, or sign up for sales alerts by providing your e-mail and cell number.

Remember that the resort fee ($29.99) and taxes do add a hefty amount to the final price. You can also check for Great Wolf Lodge Groupon deals.

You can also now request late-check out at 2:00, for $54.99, which ends up being about $18/hour. Is it worth it? Hard to say.

Find more tips for saving money at Great Wolf Lodge at the site Thrifty NW Mom.

Tip 2. Sleep soundlyâ€”even at a crazy-busy water park.

For a quieter room, request a room away from the stairwells and on the opposite side of the I-5 freeway. Ask when making the reservation and upon check in.

Although there’s a rule about “quiet time” in the evenings, guests do say that unaccompanied children playing MagiQuest down the hallways can be an earful. Pack earplugs.

Tip 3. Book Great Wolf Lodge meals and activities in advance to save money and hassle.

If you’re really sure you want the on-site breakfast buffet at The Loose Moose Cottage (Yes, that’s the real name, 2.5 stars on Yelp), you can add a “Wolf Wakeup” breakfast package for $57.36 for four people (age doesn’t matter), whereas in person, a buffet meal may cost up to $20/adult. The total is lower whenÂ purchased in advance and includes drinks. If you buy buffet on-site, itâ€™ll cost more, and does not include drinks.

Tip: Children 3 and under eat in The Loose Moose for free, when another meal is purchased.

If you’d like to pay one price for all activities, add a Pup Pass, Wolf Pass or Paw Pass package to your stay. The Paw Pass is $59.99, and includes a lot MagiQuest or ShadowQuest wand and game, 20 points to use at the arcade, a 12-ounce candy cup (THIS IS A LOT OF CANDY BRING TOOTHBRUSHES), a scoop of ice cream, a round of glow golf, and a bag of gems from the Oliver’s Mining Company experience.

Dance party at Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound

Tip 4. BYOB: Bring Your Own Breakfast

Or you could forgo resort breakfast altogether, as there’s a fridge and microwave in all Great Wolf Lodge Grand Mound rooms.

Korene Torney brought her own breakfast and snacks (cereal, yoghurt, fruit and vegetables) for the mini-fridge. Melissa Parcel brought along cereal and doughnuts for breakfast and sandwich making items for the next day’s lunch.

Donâ€™t forget to bring camping-style dining equipment (i.e. paper or tin plates, cups, bowls) for your in-room service.

Korene Torneyâ€™s family also went to two Oregon-born restaurant chains in nearby Centralia: McMenamins Olympic Club and Burgerville (two thumbs up for both of those destinations from Lora!).

Tip 5. Go for a midweek Great Wolf Lodge resort stay.

To avoid crazy lines at these Washington water slides and to take advantage of great deals, head to GWL during the midweek, suggests Korene Torney, a Victoria, British Columbia mom to two girls.

But first ask if the hotelâ€™s hosting a convention during your stay, she says. Conventions can stretch the hotelâ€™s capacity.

Tip 6. Display your cell smarts.

When you check in, youâ€™ll get an information packet that offers a cell phone number to register on your phone. â€œI did this, and coupons were texted to me, â€œ says Kirkland, Wash., mom Shannon Maher Longcore, a mom to three kids and frequent Great Wolf Lodge guest. â€œIt saved us some money in their restaurants.â€

Tip 7. Bring these items to Great Wolf Lodge.

Some items are very, very spendy to replace on-site, should you forget them at home. Pack swim goggles, earplugs, flip-flops, Aqua Socks (if your bare feet don’t like all that pebbly concrete) and a swimsuit cover-up. A plastic or reusable bag for wet swimsuits is also recommended.

Swimsuit cover-ups are particularly necessary, Torney says: â€œYou want one because otherwise you’re forced to wear clothes over your suit to get between room and pool.â€ Men should bring t-shirts or a robe.

Pajamas or warm bedtime clothing are good to bring for storytime.

You can also reserve a pack ‘n’ play for babies, but they’re first-come, first-served.

However, you donâ€™t need to pack a towelâ€”towels are provided for free by Great Wolf Lodge. Life jackets also come in several sizes, notes Longcore, so thereâ€™s no need to bring one from home.

If you forget something and don’t mind going out, there’s an outlet mall nearby where you can resupply.

Tip 8. Avoid financing your GWL stay

The lodge, in partnership with Affirm, now offer loans for GWL stays. The rates, however, are quite high, and can run up to 30% APR, higher than many credit cards. As well, the estimated payment amounts don’t include taxes and other fees.

Great Wolf Lodge Activity Tips

Tip 9. Dive into a two-day Grand Mound resort stay

Your pass into the GWL starts at 1 p.m. (you can access your hotel room after 4 p.m.), as long as you stop by the front desk to pick up your waterpark wrist bands.

On the second day, check-out time is 11 a.m., and you can stay until closing (8 or 9 p.m.).

There are changing rooms and lockers for use before check-in and after check-out, but the lockers are fairly expensive.

â€œWe just put our suitcases in the car, and had a small day pack with our necessities in it. That worked out great,â€ says Longcore.

Tip 10. MagiQuest Pros and Cons

A complete MagiQuest or ShadowQuest game will come to more than $30 total. That’s around $16-$22 for the wand, and about $15 per â€œgame.â€

If it’s your first visit, Melissa Parcel says you may want to wait to purchase the wands: â€œOn our first trip, we caved and bought one for our son, but we spent all of our time in the water park and didn’t get any use out of the wand.â€

Older kids seem to love the wand game, however, and repeat visitors seem to love playing MagiQuest.

If you leave near Great Wolf Lodge, you can visit at anytime just to play the MagiQuest game and run around the resort, which Melissa Parcel has done twice.

â€œIt’s a pretty inexpensive day trip if you live a short distance away,â€ she says.

If you want to re-engage the wand, youâ€™ll pay again, with each new visit. You can also use the wands at other properties (provided you pay the “re-up” fee).

Tip 11. Learn how to entertain teens at Great Wolf Lodge.

Teens will probably enjoy Great Wolf Lodge’s wave pool best, but they’ll probably also enjoy the arcade and newer Howlers Peak Ropes Course (not open in winter) for the day, at $19.99. The putt-putt golf is fine, but very small.

Teen activity at Great Wolf Lodge: Howlers Peak Ropes Course

The best way to bring a teen to Great Wolf Lodge is by allowing them to bring a friend and eat a lot of candy, IMO.

Tip 12. Host grandma or friends while staying at the resort.

Purchase additional water park wristbands (for $41.20 each) for people visiting you at the water park, even if theyâ€™re not staying overnight.

Tip 13. Freeze Great Wolf Lodge-related tantrums and meltdowns.

â€œI think limiting pool play to three hours at a time works well,â€ Korene Torney says. After three hours, Torneyâ€™s family lets the kids eat and relax in the room.

It can also help to construct a schedule. Torneyâ€™s family wakes, eats in the room (with Starbucks from the lobby, delivered by her husband), goes on the morning â€œHowl Walkâ€ at 9 a.m. (which includes a free craft), then pool time from 10-1.

They rest, and eat in the room or drive to Burgerville for lunch. Then itâ€™s back into the pool around 5-7 p.m.; out in time for evening stories.

Tip 14. Water, water everywhereâ€¦but bring a drop to drink.

â€œThe pool room is very warm, so just remember to drink some fresh water while there,â€ says Longcore.

Longcore saw some episodes of possible kid-dehydration, despite all that chlorinated water around, some children forget to sip their drinking water. A Hydroflask keeps water nice and cold.

Tip 15. Carefully select GWL activities while on site.

There are many activities on-site, and at times, Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound feels like Vegas for kids. There’s glow-in-the-dark putt-putt golf, an arcade with prizes, a ropes course, Build-a-Bear workshop, Moonstone mine…it’s a lot.

I would limit kids to one activity while there, or you could end up spending hundreds of dollars and endure endless whining. Tell the kids they’ll get to pick one activity to do on the second day. Visit each location when you first arrive, and let the children carefully consider and weigh their options.

Or do as Korene Torney does, by giving kids an allowance of $15-20 each. “With $15, the kids can enjoy a craft, buy snacks or candy, a cheap souvenir, or pool the money together for one wand.”

As is usually the case with an allowance, this provided the perfect opportunity to teach them about the value of money while eliminating the perpetual â€˜I wants,â€™â€ Torney says. â€œIt worked great for us this year. They both bought ridiculous souvenirs, but enjoyed every minute of it.â€

Tip: Bring your own hands-on activities, Torney says, and avoid spending too much on all the extras that cost extra (stuffed animals, putt-putt golf, and so on). You can pick up an inexpensive craft kit at Marshall’s or another discount store.Â

Tip 16. Keep an ear and eye out for GWL freebies.

At times, there may be special free servings of cupcakes or cookies, free yoga classes, free crafts, evening dance parties, or other options you’d like to try out. Check the daily activity board, and read up on activity options in advance. Kids under age 3 eat for free in the Loose Moose, too.

Oh, and a set of wolf ears are included with your resort fee.

Tip 17. Snag your Great Wolf Lodge poolside spot.

â€œFriends of ours get down to the water area early and camp out at a table,â€ Longcore says. â€œIf your kids are much older, and don’t need parents hovering, a table would be great.â€

You can find more answers on the Great Wolf Ask-A-Mom site (but these answers seem to be pre-vetted by a corporate PR firm).

Tip 18. Try some grown-up Great Wolf Lodge fun

The best part about taking older kids to GWL is that adults enjoy a cocktail or beer in the Lodge Wood Fired Grill while the kids watch a movie in the room or play MagiQuest. Or so I’ve heard. Your howlage may vary, depending on your kid’s maturity levels and ability to not go running into traffic. Leave lone wolves at your own risk.

Do you have great tips (or a promo or coupon code!) for families headed to the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington State? Leave your tips in the comments.