Sometimes a quick weekend getaway is all you need to hit refresh and enjoy a family adventure. I decided to do just that on a recent trip with my 10-year-old son, John. We headed to Hawley, Pennsylvania to the all-inclusive Woodloch Resort set right on Lake Teedyuskung. It’s about a 2.5 hour drive from New York City and an ideal family vacation spot no matter the season.
From the second you walk into the cozy lobby and see the “Welcome Home” sign proudly on display, you’ll feel at ease. The sprawling resort spans over 1000 acres and features 160 guest rooms, but what really sets this resort apart is the emphasis they place on catering to families and helping guests spend quality time together. The value they place on making you feel right at home is apparent in every detail — the owner’s son was even at dinner every night greeting guests with a grin and shaking hands, checking in on everyone’s stay.
Here you’ll find families of types from multi-gen travelers vacationing with the grandparents to young families with babies and everything in between. Many of the guests we met during our stay gushed over their longtime love for the resort. Vacationing at Woodloch is often a family tradition and many guests who used to go there when they were young continue to return now with their own little ones in tow.
As you pull in, you’ll see ranch-style homes dotting the wooded campus along the shoreline. There are actually three destinations within the resort: Woodloch Pines, the main resort with all the major amenities; Woodloch Springs, a golfing community with homes for rent; and The Lodge at Woodloch, the award-winning spa and hotel where only children 16 and over can stay. With so many options, it’s easy to find the perfect accommodations for your family. There is also a free shuttle bus to drive guests around the property from building to building, so it’s easy to explore and take advantage of the full range of amenities offered.
As if all that’s not enough, here are three more reasons families will love a weekend away at Woodloch Resort:
The Rooms Have It All
We stayed in a family suite at Woodloch Pines in the Mount Laurel building which was conveniently located next to the indoor pool. The rooms in this area are decorated in a fun county theme. Our room was spacious with two super comfy queen beds, a full bath with a tub, a fully equipped eat-in kitchen and a separate living room area. Major bonus? We also had a balcony with idyllic lake views. It doesn’t get better than that.
For those looking for even more space for the family, they also have suites and even full guest homes available.
It’s Impossible to Be Bored
You will never hear your kids utter the dreaded words “I’m bored” while staying at the Woodloch Resort. At breakfast each morning we were handed an itinerary listing all of the activities and entertainment available for the day. And these aren’t just your average resort activities either. Our first day we signed up for the Winter Olympics. We spent a laugh-filled day decked out in all our snow gear competing in a plethora of active games they created.
Other activities offered included Cupcake Wars, a pizza decorating contest, Family Feud, outdoor go-carts for adults and smaller children, indoor bumper cars, an escape room challenge and more. Plus, there’s also an indoor and outdoor pool, a sauna and a splash zone with an amazing water slide, basketball courts and a synthetic ice rink. With so much at your disposal, there’s literally no end to the family fun that’s possible. The boys favorite activity was the extreme snow tubing hill. If you’re headed there during warmer months, you can still try it out. If there isn’t any natural snow they make it!
At night after dinner we watched a Broadway-style show in their theater. We saw a show that took us on a trip through the 90s era, followed by a fabulous comedian.
During the summer months, the activities get even better with kayaking, swimming on the lake, paddle boards, fishing and water skiing.
You Won’t Ever Go Hungry
You can choose from several options when it comes to dining at the Woodloch Resort. You can buy into the all-inclusive deal and choose from two or three meals per day, or you can forgo the meal option altogether in favor of cooking in the kitchen in your room.
I personally think that part of a vacation is taking a break from cooking, so we opted for the all-inclusive food. When checking in, you are assigned a table that you always eat at for every meal with the same server. The homestyle meals were delicious and all bread and ice cream are homemade daily on the premises. The selection of food was great and my son and I eagerly scarfed it all down. A few times after dinner I thought I was going to burst. If that’s not the sign of a great vacation, I don’t know what is.
Woodloch also has some nights that are a special theme and they have characters walking around during dinner that younger kids will love interacting with.
The night before we checked out, we also had the choice to place an order for baked goods that the resort will have ready for you in the morning before you leave. If you don’t need to leave early, definitely take advantage of the hotel’s late check out time at 2pm to enjoy one last breakfast and lunch at the resort.
I left Woodloch Resort with the thought that there really isn’t anywhere else like it. The family-owned resort really did become a home away from home. From the friendly staff, to the environment that reminded me of my family’s home in the woods growing up, to the endless activities, our weekend getaway was a total home run. I am already looking at available dates to go back.
By Carey Reilly