Property
Adirondack style lobby with giant fireplace and cushy chairs welcomes visitors, but kids will quickly get sidetracked by the glass wall view to the right of the indoor waterpark.  Northwoods theme carries into room decor with tree-branch-chairs and snowshoes on the walls. If the massive hot tub or an hour in the lazy river doesn’t relax you enough, check out the full service spa while kids enjoy an art activity or two at the Kids Club.

Location
Fun location near beautiful Lake George allows for touristy strolling along salt water taffy and t-shirt shops (kid heaven) or tuck into the hotel and ignore the outside world. Fall is a great time to catch the colors without the crowds of summerstayers.

Sleeps
Parents will love the all-suite action.  Microwave, fridge, and separate sitting area to chill in after the kiddos conk out after a waterlogged day. Multiple options available, depending on how many you’ve got along for the ride.

Highlights
Tiny tot waterplay is great here, even the littlest ones can try out their first waterslide or enjoy toe tickling mini sprinklers from the comfort of a babyswing. Bring a handful of nickels and educate older kids on the classics with on-site Johnny Rocket’s counter/boothside juke boxes. Hit the right song and you can enjoy watching the waitstaff sweat to the oldies over a most excellent rootbeer float and plate of cheese fries. Nightly group pajama time is impressively run by character handler Rob who helps a variety of fuzzy friends lead kids in movement songs and three storybooks (great taste in books, Rob!). Nonstop character meet-and-greet and play opps throughout the day beat waiting that hour plus in the sweltering heat of a theme park for a seconds-long-photo-snap. If giant felty heads freak out your kids in a good way — give them the ultimate one-on-one when a character pops by the room with milk and cookies at bedtime (an unbelievably cheap $10 fee).

Good to Know
Sign up early at the front desk for “milk and cookies” character experience. Also check the schedule for other cool, relatively inexpensive options — like S’mores with Scooby at the fireplace in the lobby ($8 a person). One big ol’ warning here for parents, the hotel is owned by and across the road from Six Flags Great Escape Park…so prepare kids for slight disappointment…or yourselves for six hours in Wiggle-land. They won’t be bummed for long when they see all the kid-friendly activities and fun happening at the hotel.

Contact
www.sixflagsgreatescapelodge.com/

Written by Sascha Zuger

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