On Friday, Jason returned home following three weeks of travel for work, and the kids could not have been more excited. I was excited to finally have my partner back and the kids were so excited to tell him everything that has happened while he was away. Our family time is cherished, so I had a super special adventure planned this past weekend for all of us to spend as a family, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.
Saturday morning, we left the city and headed to Woodloch Pines, in the Poconos. The kids packed their bags the night before, and we were all set for our weekend getaway. It was only two hours from the city, which seemed to go very quickly, because everyone was happy that our five pack was together again. Woodloch really holds a special place in all of our hearts, as it caters so much to creating family memories. The bigs remember the good times from last year’s trip, and they couldn’t wait to go back.
The minute we arrived at the tucked away picturesque Pocono Mountain resort, we started to explore. Coming from the concrete jungle, it was so delightful to be surrounded by acres and acres of untouched snow, rather than the black slush we are accustomed to an hour after a storm in Manhattan. The variety of activities offered by Woodloch to their guests daily are so expansive that it is almost impossible to complete all of them in one short weekend.
Tubing was first on the agenda for all of us. We quickly jumped into our snowsuits, and headed to slopes. Woodloch offers two different levels snow tube runs; one small hill perfect for young families is located behind the main lodge, and another “Extreme Tubing” run for big kids (and of course adults!), is located further down the property. The girls were both too young to ride alone, so Jason and I took each of them on a couple of runs. During each ride down, the amount of giggles coming from our tube were prodigious. Gemma absolutely loved sliding down the slopes, and she wasn’t the least bit troubled by the 24 degree temperature. Siella has become a tad precious when it comes to the cold, so following a few runs, she opted for the children’s room, which is packed with endless arts and crafts. With the girls flexing their creative muscles, Jason and Ryder took the opportunity to hit the Extreme run.
After our outdoor fix, we headed over to the bumper cars and arcade room. With video games, air hockey, and different cars that the big and little ones can enjoy, the kids played right up until it was time for dinner. Speaking of dinner- that’s another treat! One of our favorite features at Woodloch are the different characters lined up outside the dining room, ready to greet the kids before sitting down. It’s so much fun watching the kids hugging and talking to the favorite TV and movie heroes. And, I cannot say enough about the waitstaff at Woodloch. They are always so warm and welcoming, acting as if they are inviting someone into their home. Following dinner and dessert, the night was capped off with a magic show in the main lodge. The kids went to bed super late, but with a jam packed day of fun under our belts, it was totally worth it.
We woke up the next morning, enjoyed a big breakfast and decided what we were going to do next. Since it was Super Bowl Sunday, we didn’t want to get on the road too late, so the indoor spray ground, a maze of indoor pools and activities, was just enough for their tired little bodies. After our dip, we packed the car and hit the road. Just 20 minutes into the ride, all three kids were fast asleep for the entire drive back leaving Jason and I plenty of uninterrupted time to chat.
As much as we enjoy winter and the snow, the extreme temps definitely take a toll on our skin. The kids sometimes experience bad cases of eczema, so it is a must that I protect their delicate skin. Something that I’ve found super helpful is by applying a protective barrier of moisturizer on their skin before they head outside. Already a huge fan of Vaseline Jelly for both the kids and myself, I also started using Vaseline Intensive Care lotions that actually go beyond basic moisturizers to heal dry skin as well as protect. The Vaseline Brand has been around for over 140 years, and it is something that I trust and use for my family especially, during the cold winter months.
2 thoughts on “To Woodloch, With Love”
I’ve never been to the Poconos and it looks like so much fun, though I have to admit that Abby Cadabby scared me (just doesn’t look normal) 😉
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