During spring break, my family and I hopped into our car for our latest road trip adventure. Less than two hours after leaving our Manhattan home, we arrived at a wonderful oasis in the middle of Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains: Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, a dreamy, fun-filled, action-packed, indoor getaway.

Families will want to maximize their overall experience at the recently opened Kalahari. After all, it has America’s largest indoor water park! So, here are a few helpful water park tips and other ideas.

1: Stay overnight at Kalahari Resorts. Arrive early for the awesome water park

The indoor water park is truly the crown jewel of Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos. The tropical, 84-degree African-themed paradise will give you jaw-dropping glee.

The water park reminded me of something out of a fantasy world with rivers and pools of swirling, sloshing and gushing water. Visualize a room the size of a baseball stadium. A welcoming labyrinth of soaring, zigzagging water slides; a three-story safari tree house equipped with a gargantuan bucket ready to soak us to the core; a wave pool, lazy rivers, tot-play areas, water basketball pools; and more. There was something for everyone at every age to enjoy.

Even though room check-in isn’t until 4 p.m., I recommend you preregister as a hotel guest. Then arrive as early as 9:30 a.m. when the water park opens to get a full day in. Our primary goal was to play in the water, not relax in the room! We arrived at the park’s opening to spend the entire day getting soaked.

Don’t forget to pack a small day bag. Include a change of clothes and extra bathing suits so you can keep your luggage in the car.

2: Let your children plan the Kalahari activities

Before our adventure, we went onto the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions website. Here, we analyzed photos and descriptions of the attractions as well as viewed YouTube videos of their major water slides. This gave my 10-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter several ideas for our daily agenda.

They developed an action plan to go on the water rides that excited them the most first. As a parent, it’s nice to have a “just say yes” policy for a change. Letting our children dictate the schedule for a day and masterfully navigate our flow of rides — including which ones deserved a second, third or 12th time — was fun for all.

For the record, Anaconda, The Smoke That Thunders, Flowrider and Barreling Baboon were all worthy of repeats from my older son. My 4-year-old daughter spent countless hours within the Splashdown Safari confines – a massive “sprayground” filled with water slides, tunnels and interactive water toys.

Our ultimate favorite was Cheetah Race. It’s a fast-paced set of four tunnel slides that whisk you into the darkness where you can race each other as you cascade to the finish line. With relatively short lines, we must have tobogganed down on our water mats at least 20 times. It was pure, edge-of-your-seat awesomeness!

3: Go early AND stay late to beat the lines 

The best way to avoid lines at the water park is to arrive exactly when the gates open for the day. The first 90 minutes before the crowd arrives let you soak it all, so to speak, with minimal crowd hassles. Plus, you’ll be able to snag a nice table as a home base to put your belongings and towels down.

You can ride the most popular water slides several times before the queue begins to build. Hit the  Anaconda, The Smoke That Thunders and Flowrider during this time because they seemed to have the longest lines during the peak of the day.

Additionally, we learned the crowd thins out during the last hour before closing. Some families head to dinner, journey on the road home or need to put little ones to sleep. So, if you can, take full advantage during the late evening hours to hit the attractions you’ve been drooling about all day, without the long wait times.

4: More to Kalahari Resorts than the indoor water park

Beyond the nation’s largest (and coolest) water park, there’s so much to a complete Kalahari experience. During our entire weekend, we never had to leave the property.

Entertainment: The massive arcade, escape room, bowling, mini golf, fitness room and treetop adventure climbing course all offer unique attractions for your family.

Buyer beware: Las Vegas hotels have you meander through their casinos to get to your room. Kalahari has strategically placed its expansive arcade with flashing lights, bells and sirens so you have to pass through it to enter the indoor water park. My kids absolutely loved their time in the arcade. It featured a wide range of games similar to Dave & Busters and Chuck E. Cheese’s, but it was like a vacuum cleaner to your wallet.

Treats: Next, your family is faced with some interesting and sweet options. Get sucked into The Last Bite candy factory offering a mouth-watering assortment of caramel apples, chocolates — and our favorite — chocolate dipped Oreo Cookies with mini M&Ms. The family weekend provided ample opportunities to spoil my kids so we dabbled in their ice cream as well as slurping frozen pina coladas poolside in our refillable coconut cups.

Food: We enjoyed the bountiful breakfast buffet at Great Karoo Marketplace. It featured quality options even for the pickiest of eaters: a top-notch spread with an omelet station, crispy bacon, fresh croissants, pastries and more. With full bellies and feeling refreshed from a great night’s sleep in their hotel, we were ready for more non-stop adventures.

We spent our second day at Kalahari relishing in all of the wonderful water attractions that we’d come to love inside the indoor water park. We’d hoped to replicate the joy from the first day – mission accomplished.

Things to note: To be candid, we have a few minor suggestions for Kalahari worth pointing out. First, the bathrooms are far from the action. It’s very inconvenient if you’ve got a little one in tow that needs to use the potty often. We frequently paused for snack, drink and lunch breaks in the water park and would appreciate hand sanitizer dispensers around the grounds. Lastly, the wave pool was a highlight for us and was so thrilling when you heard the alarm sound that signals the waves will start up. However, my kids said that they would love to see a countdown clock on the wall to provide advanced notice for the waves.

As we journeyed back home to New York City, my children had glowing smiles across their tired faces. They said that Kalahari was even better than Disney, and rated it a 10 out of 10.

This was our maiden voyage to a Kalahari Resorts & Conventions property, and can’t wait to make plans for a return visit this summer to frolic in their outdoor water park.

**Disclosure: The folks at Kalahari Resorts provided complimentary hotel accommodations for our family for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions included in this article are our own and have not been swayed by the free stay.

With summer upon us, we escaped New York City for a family vacation as good as going to Disney — only closer and far more affordable. We packed, loaded the car and less than three hours later arrived at the “Sweetest Place on Earth” — Hershey, Pa.

This was our third family vacation to the Hershey theme park and each time it keeps getting better. Here’s a few helpful Hersheypark tips to find your inner child and elevate your overall experience:

Hersheypark tip No. 1: Don’t do everything in one day

A family vacation shouldn’t be squeezing in every ride and attraction before you go home. It should be a balance of entertainment, laughter and family bonding. And a Hershey vacation is best enjoyed in two or three days.

We made plans to stay overnight at The Hotel Hershey, located less than a mile from Hersheypark. The Hotel Hershey was the perfect place to recharge our batteries before another action packed day at the theme park. The accommodations were luxurious and service level was beyond all expectations.

It’s easy to unwind and feel immersed in vacation mode when you:

• receive Hershey chocolate bars when you check in.
• frolic around a massive, outdoor pool complex that had a zero grade entry which was perfect for my toddler.
• sip a frozen drink while watching one kid snake through a water slide while the other jumps for joy on the splash pads.
• roast s’mores at a fire pit in the evening.
• enjoy a ridiculous breakfast buffet spread at The Circular Restaurant to fuel up for the day,
• watch your little ones enjoy a host of engaging activities throughout the day like making tie-dye shirts, playing mini-golf, and an arcade.
• experience top-notch service where they pack up your car for you upon check out so we could make a smooth journey home!

Sweet tip No. 2: Take advantage of combined amusement, water parks

Hersheypark tip No. 3: Dabble in treats … lots of treats

There are sweets, treats and chocolatey goodness at every turn — so everything in moderation, people! Over the course of a few days, we devoured a variety of goodies like chocolate chip pancakes topped with a dollop of chocolate butter, Hershey Kisses provided each night at turn down, cookie sandwiches filled with ice cream, milk chocolate covered s’mores, and our hands-down favorite, Chocolate Chip Cookie S’mores. So definitely tickle those taste buds, but watch it! Have only a little here and little there so you can enjoy them all!

Also, hop aboard the Hershey’s Chocolate Tour at Hershey’s Chocolate World. This fascinating and free immersive ride is a feast for the eyes. It provides a brief history lesson in an engaging and sweet-smelling way for the kids. Of course, they give you a free Hershey Chocolate product sample at the end of the tour. This tied us over for about two minutes until we dove into a mouth-watering ice cream sundae at the gift shop.

Sweet tip No. 4: Find your inner child

A Hershey vacation should be just as entertaining, enjoyable and rewarding for parents as it is for the kids. Free your inner child and go on a few rides that you swore to your children you wouldn’t ever do.

My 8-year old son is now tall enough to ride most everything. His understanding is that since he’s tall enough, he HAS to go on every ride despite any fear factor. He pleaded for us to accompany him on Skyrush — tallest and fastest roller coaster at Hersheypark. Even though we declined during our conversations, we caved in when we were standing at the front entrance to the attraction. We have to cast our own fears aside and do it for the kids, right?

I’m so glad my son persuaded me. With terror in my eyes and a knot in my gut, riding Skyrush was the most invigorating experience of our trip and to think I almost didn’t take the risk.

The most anticipated ride for our adventure was the new Hershey Triple Drop Tower. You have three choices based on height and thrill factor — Hershey’s Tower, Reese’s Tower and Hershey’s Kisses Tower. Our family recommends all three! However, start with the smaller Hershey’s Kisses Tower. It’s spectacular and a great foundation to build anticipation to the “wow factor” of the 189-foot-high rocket thrust climax of the Hershey’s Tower.

Don’t forget, hugging the Hershey Candy Bar characters stationed around the theme park and hotel is also allowed for adults like me that want to relive their childhood.

Hersheypark tip No. 5: Let your kids help plan the fun

Before our weekend adventure, we went on the Hersheypark website. This let us analyze the park map as well as viewing photos, descriptions and some videos of the rides. It sparked my children’s excitement and interests as well as providing my 8-year old son with tools and ideas for plotting out our trip agenda.

Once we arrived at the park, we measured up against the different Hershey candy brands to see what rides my growing 55-inch son would have access to. He graduated to Twizzlers (54 – 60 inches). This meant we would be able to go on most of the rides and attractions together. Our two-year old daughter was a Hershey Miniature (0 – 36 inches) which meant that most of her day would be enjoyed on the carousel, Ferris wheel, in the water at The Boardwalk, and a host of other entertaining kiddie rides.

Next, we picked up our color coded map as we entered the amusement park and were off to the races. As a parent, I’m often guilty of being too controlling and telling my children what they should and shouldn’t do. It felt good to shift the power over to my 8-year old and let him call the shots (as long as he factored in his little sister’s enjoyment, too). It felt good to be in a position of saying “yes” to most everything and left little room for conflict.

Lastly, download the new-ish Hersheypark mobile app. It makes navigating the park and your life a lot easier. The free app contains a wealth of useful information including:

• an online park map.
• complete list and description of rides.
• start times of shows.
• the ultimate weapon — Ride Wait Times

My son became obsessed with using the app during our visit to monitor wait times that fell under 15 minutes for our favorite attractions like Comet, Tidal Force, Laff Trakk and new Hershey’s Triple Drop Tower.

Disclosure: The kind and generous folks at Hershey Entertainment Resorts provided complimentary park passes and hotel accommodations for our family. Even though I’m still dreaming about the chocolate cookie s’mores from our visit, each Hersheypark tip as well as the thoughts and opinions included in this story are my own and have not been influenced from the brand.

Several indoor water parks and resorts have popped up with a few hours of NYC in recent years (see the list at the end) and they can be extremely fun. However, a good time can be ruined by lack of planning. Here are a few tips to keep the good times flowing (like a lazy river) at your water park adventure.

Use early check-in

Many places allow guests to check into the resort several hours before their room is ready so you can use the facilities for longer. Each resort has different policies, but three to four hours of bonus time at the beginning of your trip is a great stress relief after a long car ride. Also look into the policy for water park usage on your check-out day. During a recent trip, we checked out of our room at 11 a.m. but had access to the water park and all the attractions at the resort until 10 p.m. that night.

Leave the water park for food

Like an airport, many an indoor water park resort will kill you with its exorbitant pricing and limited options on dining. Basically, they hope people will be too lazy to leave  to search out cheaper alternatives. But with the free parking available at most of these facilities, it is very convenient to dry off, jump in your car and bring back any number of choices of food. While you may have to eat in your room, since outside food and drinks are usually not allowed inside the park, it helps break up the day and give parents a few minutes of rest time when they are not ankle deep in water.

Arcades are not cheap

It is a fact that arcades are expensive and your kids can blow through a huge chunk of change (usually loaded on a card) in the pursuit of prize tickets. They will see someone who just won a jackpot holding an obscenely large pile of tickets and want in on the action. Put some money into your trip budget for playing in the arcade and stick to it. And remember that that off-brand Slinky and finger skateboard was well worth the $30 your kid used to “win” them.

Don’t change swimsuits

Even if you are staying for a few days, I recommend keeping your whole party in the same swimsuits. It makes it easier to keep track of your kids, especially for those of us who aren’t wearing our glasses into the water. If you get separated it’s better to describe your kid as a 6-year-old boy with sandy hair wearing a white, yellow and orange bathing suit rather than he is a 6-year-old boy with wet hair. Most resorts have laundry facilities but if they don’t, a quick rinse in the shower and hanging to dry will make them good as new.

Know if you must bring towels 

If the resort doesn’t have water park only towels, bring your towels from home. You will not want to use your room towels for drying off. Because all of a sudden you have no towels to dry off with after showering.

Pace yourself at a water park

With all-day access you don’t need to be in the water all-day long: 10 a.m. till 10 p.m. is an awful long time and eventually everyone will get bored. Take a break for a few hours, go find some local sites. Hang out in your room and take a nap. On our last trip, we went for three hours. Broke for lunch. Went back for another two hours or so. Dinner. And finally I took one of the kids for another two hours until they closed up, while my other one hung out in our room and watched Nickelodeon.

Indoor water parks in the NYC area:

• Aquatopia at Camelback Resort — Tannersville, Penn.
• CoCo Key Water Resort — Mount Laurel, N.J.
• Great Wolf Lodge — Scotrun, Penn. — Read our review!
• H20ooohh! Split Rock Indoor Family Waterpark — Lake Harmony, Penn.
• Kalahari Resorts — Pocono Manor, Penn. — Read our review!
• The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark — Monticello, N.Y.
• Rocking Horse Ranch — Highland, N.Y.
• Sahara Sam’s Oasis Indoor & Outdoor Water Park — West Berlin, N.J.

A version of this first appeared on Great Moments in Bad Parenting.

DISCLOSURE: Thanks to Mount Snow for providing us with ski passes, equipment rentals, and accommodations for this skiing and travel review. The opinions expressed here are honest and solely the author’s.

Our family welcomed a beautiful daughter to the world 10 months ago. Consequently, fatherhood became more complicated juggling a 7-year-old son and a newborn girl. I was thrust back into the trenches — a life of diapers, bottle feeding, sleep deprivation, stroller walks, and precious moments with a nugget napping in my arms. What was surprising was how this drastic lifestyle change would affect our older son. It’s difficult being the big sibling when so much attention focuses on the baby.

As winter enveloped our lives, I wanted to break out and have some inner-child fun. I was seeking a way to give my son some well-deserved personal attention. We hatched a plan to take a father/son trip for an adventurous weekend getaway. We brainstormed several destinations — a warm beach, indoor waterpark, amusement park, and skiing. We figured a ski trip to one of the most popular ski resorts on the East Coast — Mount Snow in West Dover, Vermont — would hit our sweet spot.

Here are a few reasons we determined Mount Snow was a perfect family skiing destination.

1. Great for children who have never skied

Truth be told, my son was 99 percent more excited about the chance of riding one of the 20 ski lifts up the mountain at Mount Snow than he was about learning to ski. He was salivating at the prospect of hopping aboard a chair-lift — honing in on Mount Snow’s sleek BlueBird Express that whisks you up to the summit in 7 minutes — and riding it up and down for the entire day. I tried to explain to him you’re only allowed to ride it one way — up. To the top of a slope. Then, you must ski down for another opportunity to ride the chair lift. This was instant motivation for my son to learn how to ski.

We enrolled my son in Mount Snow’s ski school on our first day. Yeah, I’d love it if he learned how to plow, make turns, and was shredding all over the mountain, but ultimately I wanted him to leave the lesson wanting to ski again. My son’s instructors were extremely patient, cared deeply about safety, and made the learning fun.

I wasn’t surprised when my son shared the highlights of his “Mountain Camp” (the snow camp program for 7-year-olds) experience: riding the “magic carpet” (a conveyor belt that takes you to the top of the bunny hill), using the rope tow, and slurping hot chocolate during the snack break. More importantly, he had a beaming smile and was eager to take another lesson. I couldn’t believe how much he progressed after only two days of ski school.

2. Also great for parents who haven’t skied in a while

Skiing is one of the most invigorating activities I’ve ever experienced in my life. However, it’s been years since I’ve last clicked on a pair of boots and skis. I’m older now, feeling mortal, and was definitely nervous at the prospect of getting back on skis.

Fortunately, Mount Snow has a welcoming ski school program for adults as well. I was comfortable being grouped with three other participants who were in a similar situation — they used to ski, but haven’t been on skis in several years. For the next two hours, my anxiety melted away as I practiced with an instructor who focused on my strengths and provided valuable guidance to improve my skills. To be completely transparent, I fell frequently and getting back up on my skis after a fall was embarrassingly challenging. I persevered.

I credit the humor, process, and coaching craft of my instructor, Andy Donofrio, who had all of us within the group gliding confidently across the slopes at Discovery Center in no time. Bottom line: after two days of skiing at Mount Snow, I learned to fall back in love with a sport that I’d completely forgotten about.

3. Mount Snow: An easy road trip from the NYC area

In planning our weekend ski adventure, I wanted a destination close enough to drive in a few hours, had top-notch skiing, and offered a wealth of amenities forwhen we weren’t skiing. Mount Snow is ideal because it’s in the Southern part of Vermont so with a pit stop at the gas station and a snack at the rest stop, we were at our destination in under 4.5 hours. There were several other enticing ski resorts we explored in Vermont, but we chose the resort closest to New York City.

Parents don’t want to hear children in the backseat asking, “Are we there yet?” I’m happy to report the scenic drive consists of easy highways to navigate and the help of a DVD player made for an easy round-trip drive. The other bonus of using your car for a family road trip is you can stuff your vehicle to capacity, and not have to worry about airline weight limits. Let’s face it — children require lots of stuff, so bring their favorite pillow, stuffed animal, and infinite snack options.

4. Numerous activity options … even if you DON’T ski

If this weren’t billed as a “ski weekend,” a compelling argument could be made that the recreational activities for families happening off of the slopes are the top reason to visit Mount Snow.

It was snowing and the mercury was at 25 degrees Fahrenheit when we arrived at Mount Snow’s Grand Summit Resort Hotel on Friday night. With an itch to explore the enchanting property, stretch our legs, and seek adventure, we did what any family would do — we jumped into the Grand Summit’s outdoor pool. Yes, you read that correctly. The ultra-warm, outdoor pool is open year-round and frolicking is encouraged. With a view of the slopes and the snowflakes falling around us, we had our first snowball fight in the pool!

One of our weekend goals was to break from our usual routines. So we decided to hit the hotel’s arcade at 7 a.m. before breakfast. After a few games of pinball and Ms. Pac-Man, we ignored the advice from two bitter children (see cute sign in the photo) who deemed the Claw Machine was impossible to win, and were victorious. Disclosure: we spent $6 before being elated when Red the “Angry Bird” fell into our laps.

My son’s weekend highlight was going head-to-head against me in extreme snow tubing, and winning. The spectacular tubing course, located at the base of Mount Snow (and just outside the Grand Summit Hotel) is an eight-lane run. It provides an awesome opportunity to race against your entire family at the same time. Then, after the thrill-seeking, scream-induced, lightning-fast ride to the bottom of the hill, you’re met by a wonderful surprise — a conveyor belt that takes you and your heavy tube back up to the top so you can do it time and time again.

Activities off the beaten path? Imagine an evening sleigh ride through the snowy forest pulled by a pair of one-ton Belgian draft horses. On Saturday night, we ventured to nearby Adams Family Farm for this one-of-a-kind, magical treat. Our sleigh was guided by valiant captain, Kip Adams, to a log cabin in the woods to enjoy some hot chocolate. Cuddling up under blankets with my son, and staring up at a breathtaking, starlit galaxy was a special moment for me. We’re eager to try dog sledding at Husky Works Mushing Company on a future visit during the winter.

There’s no shortage of high-quality food options around the base of Mount Snow. There’s something truly gratifying about skiing right up to the front door of a restaurant.  Our favorite lunch spot was 1900′ Burger.  An Angus beef burger topped with smoked, applewood bacon paired with a thick milkshake was just the ticket after a two-hour ski lesson.

The focus of the weekend was bonding with my son. It was truly special to have a date night with my sidekick after a tiring day of winter activities.  We dined together by flowers and candlelight at Harriman’s Farm to Table restaurant in the Grand Summit Resort. The service and food were superb!  I’m still dreaming about the Fusilli alla Vodka topped with sliced ribeye steak.

5. Breath in that fresh mountain air

Our family spends ample time enjoying Central Park in New York City. However, there’s no comparison to that feeling on the mountain when you’re surrounded by snow, trees and natural beauty. Escaping the monotony of our daily lives and surrounding ourselves with breathtaking scenery at Mount Snow was truly special.

So many lasting memories were made during our weekend getaway at Mount Snow. Fortunately, our family no longer needs an excuse to visit. What was remarkable about Mount Snow was that all of the staff from renting equipment, dining, ski instructors, and hotel information made you feel welcome and part of one big family. My son and I are hooked and we’ll be back. In fact, we’re already plotting our next trip which will likely occur over the summer so we can kick the tires during Mount Snow’s Summer Family Camp. Plus, in the warmer months, we’re told that you can ride the Bluebird Express Lift up and down the mountain to our heart’s content.

Have you been or are you headed on a ski trip with your family this winter? Please let us know in the comments where you’re headed.

Photos: Courtesy of the Somerfeld family

Before my wife returned to work after a wonderful and lengthy maternity leave, our family decided to venture out to Hershey, Pennsylvania for one last hurrah — an action-packed, summer vacation getaway. This was our second voyage to the Hershey theme park in as many years and we enjoyed it even better this time. Families want to maximize their overall experience at the “Sweetest Place on Earth” so here are a few helpful tips to get you there …

Hersheypark tips No. 1. Let your children plan theme park activities

Before our adventure, we went onto the Hersheypark website to download a copy of the latest park map and viewed several YouTube videos of their major roller coasters.  This gave my 6-year-old son several ideas for plotting out our daily agenda. He whipped out his magic marker and developed an action plan to go on all of the rides that excited him the most.  Since our daughter is only three months old, he didn’t have to negotiate with his baby sister for approval.  However, he was excited to take his sister on her first-ever amusement park rides, the Kissing Tower and Ferris Wheel!

Once we arrived at the park entrance, we measured up against the different Hershey candy brands (Jolly Ranchers, Twizzlers, Hershey Bar, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Hershey’s Kiss, and Hershey Minis) to solidify what rides my little 50-incher would have access to.  He was a Hershey’s Bar (48 – 54 inches). This meant we would be able to go on most of the rides and attractions together. Our daughter was a Hershey Miniature which meant most of her day would be enjoyed napping in the stroller or baby carrier.

As we entered the amusement park, we went directly to the ride height measuring station. They will issue your child a bracelet with their candy bar on it so there’s no confusion and don’t have to be measured for any ride the rest of the day. My son masterfully navigated our flow of rides for the entire day including which ones deserved a second or third time. For the record, Comet, SuperdooperLooper, Kissing Tower, Laff Trakk, and the unbelievable Tidal Force were all worthy of at least repeats from us. Based on the balmy weather, we spent the majority of our time at the “Boardwalk” which is the official water park in Hershey. We spent hours within the East Coast Water Works confines – a massive sprayground filled with water slides, tunnels, and interactive water toys.

Hersheypark tips No. 2. Download the free Hersheypark Mobile App on your Smartphone

We live in a world surrounded by technology, so arm yourself with the new Hersheypark mobile app during your visit to make navigating the park and your life a little easier.  The free App is a wealth of useful information including an online park map, complete list and description of rides, start times of shows, and the secret weapon — Ride Wait Times. We were obsessed with using the App during our visit to keep a watchful eye on wait times that fell under 15 minutes for our favorite attractions like Comet, Tidal Force, and Laff Trakk.

Hersheypark tips No. 3. Stay the night at a resort on property

After an exhilarating day of thrills, I knew we wouldn’t have the energy to drive three hours back home to New York City. Consequently, we made plans to stay overnight at The Hotel Hershey located less than a mile from Hersheypark. The Hotel Hershey was just as much a highlight of our vacation experience as Hersheypark! The accommodations were spacious, luxurious, and comfortable. It enabled our newly expanded family of four to recharge for our next day at the theme park.  Plus, there must have been something special in the air in Hershey, Penn., because our 3-month-old daughter had “sweet dreams” and slept through the night.

It’s easy to unwind and feel like you’re on vacation when you: receive Hershey Kisses on your pillow at turn-down before bed, splash around in an oversized, outdoor pool complex (the indoor pool looked inviting too) that was open late, have top-notch service so you can sip a frozen cocktail while watching one kid snake through a water slide in the pool while the other naps under a shady umbrella, roast s’mores at a family-friendly fire pit in the evening, enjoy an awesome breakfast buffet at The Circular Restaurant to fuel up for the day, and watch your little ones enjoy a host of engaging activities throughout the day like making tie-dye shirts, playing mini-golf, and bingo where the prizes are Hershey Bars and Kit-Kats!

Hersheypark tips No. 4. Maximize your time with ‘SweetStart’ and night before admission

Aside from the lovely amenities at The Hotel Hershey, there were several perks that we took advantage of because we stayed at one of the Hershey Entertainment Resorts.  One benefit was the frequent (and FREE) air-conditioned shuttle bus that brought us back and forth from The Hotel Hershey to Hersheypark which meant that we didn’t have to pay for parking ($12) or park our car a half-mile from the park entrance.  The shuttle bus dropped us right near the front gate and had plenty of storage for our baggage and folded stroller.

Another incredible bonus offered exclusively to Hershey Entertainment Resort guests is the “Sweet Start” option. We were able to enter Hersheypark minus the crowds, one hour earlier than the general public. This enabled our family to go on repeated roller coaster rides that usually have lengthy wait times. Additionally, you may arrive with your family at Hersheypark 3 1/2 hours before closing the night BEFORE your scheduled visit to get a jump start on enjoying all of the rides and attractions.

The newest ride at Hersheypark this summer is Laff Trakk. It’s a unique, whimsy, spinning indoor, glow-in-the-dark rollercoaster that transports you inside a 21st Century fun-house. With average wait times hovering between 45 – 90 minutes, Laff Trakk is the most popular ride in the entire park. Even though it’s located on the opposite end of the park entrance, make Laff Trakk your FIRST stop when the gates of Hersheypark open in the morning. You’ll walk right onto the ride!

One final note about Laff Trakk. My wife and I wanted to go on Laff Trakk with our six-year-old, but we were saddled with our small baby and unable to wait in line with the bulky stroller.  Fortunately, families traveling with a small baby can take advantage of the “Kiddie Swap Program.” One parent may ride with the older child while the other stays with the baby. After the initial ride, the parents may “swap” places so the other parent has the opportunity to enjoy the ride as well without the hassle of waiting in line.

Hersheypark tips No. 5. Feel like Willy Wonka in Hershey Chocolate World 

Beyond the amusement park, there’s so much more to a complete Hershey experience.  The Hershey (Botanical) Gardens, The Hershey Story Museum on Chocolate Avenue, and Hershey’s Chocolate World all offer unique attractions for your family.  Even better, all of them have free admission if you stay at an official resort of Hersheypark.

Our family escaped the heat of Hersheypark one afternoon and were captivated by all of the chocolate goodness happening in Hershey’s Chocolate World.  Hershey’s Chocolate World is the official visitor’s center of The Hershey Company and is conveniently located next to the entry gate of Hersheypark. Definitely hop on the free Chocolate Tour ride as you follow the journey of how cocoa beans are transformed into delicious chocolate.

Next, you’re family is faced with some interesting and tasty options: get sucked into the Hershey Chocolate World retail labyrinth offering every type of Hershey candy in all shapes and sizes, make your own sundae, cupcake, or cookie with toppings galore in the Dessert Creation Studio, create your own Hershey’s Chocolate Bar, indulge in a Chocolate Tasting Experience, or immerse yourself in a chocolate mystery at the 4D Theater.  We dabbled in a few of the chocolaty experiences (all of them have associated fees), but fell in love with the Create Your Own Candy Bar.  All of these popular experiences have timed entry so plan ahead and check in at the front desk in the morning to purchase tickets before they sell out.

For a few minutes, our family felt like Charlie Bucket finding the coveted “golden ticket” in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Visualize gaining VIP access behind the curtain of Hershey’s Chocolate Factory. That’s how we felt as were mesmerized by the Create Your Own Candy Bar attraction.  You push a few buttons in a high-tech computer lab and decide the items to include in your perfect chocolate bar – pretzels, crispy rice, sprinkles?  Then, you put on a pair of scrubs and get a front-row seat to the unbelievable smells as your chocolate bar goes down an assembly line and is created before your eyes. Next, you tap a few more buttons in the computer lab and presto – you’ve designed the packaging with your name on it (see photo below). Of course, the best part is devouring the scrumptious chocolate bar!

We’re still reflecting on our incredible Hershey experience and plan to make visiting Hershey, Pennsylvania an annual family tradition. The Hotel Hershey and Hersheypark have us hooked!

**Disclosure: The kind and generous folks at Hershey Entertainment Resorts provided complimentary park passes and hotel accommodations for our family so we could come up with these Hersheypark tips. 

Our family loves living in New York City. There’s the convenience of having a pharmacy, pizza shop, deli, and coffee shop on every block. There’s an endless supply of cultural activities, food options, and parent-friendly amenities at your fingertips.

Sometimes, though, it’s refreshing to break away from big city life. With a pregnant wife and baby No. 2 expected this spring, the spontaneity in our lives will be restricted for a while. So, when our family was invited along for a weekend getaway to review Woodloch Pines Resort, an all-inclusive retreat, we literally jumped at the opportunity.

Last weekend, our family road-tripped to the Poconos for a unique, action-packed winter adventure and lasting memories were made. Laughs were overflowing. Fears were overcome. Quality family time was at the center of everything.

Let me share five unforgettable memories our family made at Woodloch Pines Resort. By documenting my experience, I’m hopeful it will serve as a gentle reminder for the next time our family is weighing our options and considering getting out of Dodge for a perfect weekend destination.

5 Things You’ll Love at Woodlock Pines Resort: A Review

1. Leisurely family mealtime

A friend recently said, “The family that eats and talks together, thrives together.”

With my wife commuting to work in Connecticut every day, and weekends filled with sports, birthday parties, and dads group meetups, we don’t get to sit down together as a family unit for a meal as often as we’d like. Fortunately, the camp-like culture at Woodloch Pines Resort places importance on family mealtimes which is why most of the contests and activities are temporarily shut down during meals. It was such a pleasurable experience during the weekend to press the stop button on everything and sit at the table with my family. It provided us a welcome forum to relax, unwind and have engaging conversations about our day’s experiences.

To aid in the overall family dining experience at Woodloch — you never have to wait to be seated at a table (a bonus for cranky and hungry children). Add to that mesmerizing views of the lake out of the bay windows, excellent food that did not feel like it was prepared for mass consumption and top-notch service. It felt like the servers had a just “say yes” policy: Dessert with lunch? Yes. Hot chocolate in a to-go cup? Yes.

2. Barreling down a slope in snow tubes

My son and I love to immerse ourselves in thrill-seeking experiences. We love rollercoasters, waterslides and sledding. Even though we’ve never been snow tubing before, we knew this extreme activity was right in our wheelhouse. We couldn’t wait to be thrust down down a hundred-yard hill at a 30-degree angle with the mountain air rushing against our faces.

With wind-burned, rosy cheeks, and the whisper of fear overcome, we were both hooked after our first time barreling down the slope. (Fortunately, I was armed with copious amounts of Vaseline Intensive Care to keep my skin moisturized and prevent cracking in the frigid outdoor environs.) That “loving every minute of it” smirk on my son’s face as his tube came to a screeching halt was what made these moments so special for me.

3. Family fun galore at Woodloch Pines

Aside from escaping over to the award-winning spa to get a manicure/pedicure, the highlight of the trip for my wife was the family-friendly magic show on Saturday night. Attending the magic show was our way to decompress after an activity-filled day and it hit all the right notes. Captivating kids and parents alike, the magician performed a series of seven or eight tricks that had the entire audience in absolute wonder. There was one trick where he emptied a can of soda and dented the can. Before our very eyes, the dents slowly disappeared and the can was completely full once again. No way!

Additionally, it was a pleasant surprise to have character appearances greeting you and your little ones at every meal: Super Mario, Abby Cadabby, Elmo, Elvis, Simba, and even Austin Powers.

And let’s not forget the fun we had earlier in the day with Go-Karts, bumper cars, pony rides, indoor pool, and climbing structure in the Woodloch Forest!

4. Ice skating on a frozen lake

Ice skating at an outdoor rink like Bryant Park or Rockefeller Center is a must-do winter activity in New York City that we’ve enjoyed. Skating on a frozen lake was an awesome first for us! Consequently, ice skating on an uneven lake with bumps and cracks (no Zambonis out here in the wild) or rails to clutch was much more challenging than we anticipated. However, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience as well as the surreal feeling of standing on top of a giant lake. Next time, we want to try ice fishing!

5. Roasting on an open fire

Even though most rooms at Woodloch Pines Resort were occupied, the property, meals, and activities never felt crowded. There were lots of nooks and other spaces to inhabit for some quiet time to reflect, enjoy the moment, or read a book. Our family found an unoccupied outdoor fire pit where we could hang out, roast marshmallows, and make s’mores together. Getting sticky from our afternoon treat, chuckling about how different our surroundings were compared to home in the city, and relishing in the sweet family moment, it was the perfect activity to end our spectacular weekend.

My son said that Woodloch Pines Resort was even better than Six Flags Great Adventure. I know it may not seem like much of a compliment, but to my son, Great Adventure is his favorite place on earth. So, it’s safe to say we can’t wait to go back!

Disclosure Note: NYC Dads Group received complimentary lodging/meals to experience the Woodloch Pines Resort and review it. Trip sponsored by The Moms and Vaseline Intensive Care. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this post have not been influenced by our sponsor and are 100% my own. 

My wife and I celebrated our tenth anniversary two weeks ago.  We made all of the necessary arrangements for a win-win scenario – my mother-in law taking over as caregiver, spending quality time, and entertaining our son for “Grammy-Camp” while my wife and I skipped town for a kid-free jaunt to Seattle.  The carrot that we dangled in front of our son was the promise of an entertaining, adventurous family weekend to Hersheypark upon our return.  Maybe it was the guilt of leaving our son back home while we lived it up on the West Coast.  Either way, it was our goal to loosen the parenting reigns and spoil our son rotten for a weekend.  Mission accomplished!

Of course, there’s lots of ways to spoil your children at the “sweetest place on earth,” but here’s five successful ways that worked for us in spoiling our child at Hersheypark.  I’m confident these tips would work at any amusement park.

Hersheypark tip No. 1: Let your children plan the agenda

Before our weekend adventure, we went onto the Hersheypark website to download a copy of the park map as well as viewing photos and descriptions of the rides.  This gave my son several ideas for plotting out our first days’ agenda.  He got his magic markers out and developed an action plan to go on all of the rides that looked most exciting.

Then, once we arrived at the park entrance, we measured up against the different Hershey candy brands (Jolly Ranchers, Twizzlers, Hershey Bar, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, and Hershey’s kiss) to identify what rides my little 48-incher would have access to.  He was an emerging Hershey’s Bar (48′ – 54′).  Phew, this meant that we would be able to go on most of the rides and attractions together.

We picked up our color coded map as we entered the massive amusement park and were off to the races. As a parent, I often feel like a dictator delegating tasks to my son and telling him what he should and shouldn’t do.  It felt good to shift the power over to my six-year old and let him call the shots on which rides he wanted to go on.  In fact, he navigated our flow of rides for the entire day including which ones deserved a second or third time. For the record, Comet, Coal Cracker, Sunoco Speedway, Kissing Tower, Intercoastal Waterway (lazy river) and the unbelievable Tidal Force were all worthy of at least three-peats from us.

On the second day, we spent the majority of our time at the “Boardwalk” which is the water park within Hershey.  This is a valuable feature as opposed to some other theme parks like Six Flags Great Adventure or Legoland that have their amusement park and water park in separate locations.  Again, our son planned out our day’s activities including nearly 90 minutes within the Water-Works confines- an unbelievable sprayground filled with water slides, tunnels, and interactive water toys.  It felt good to be in a position of saying “yes” to everything and left little room for conflict.

Hersheypark tip No. 2: Stay at a resort on property

After an action-packed day of adventure, I knew we wouldn’t have the energy to drive three hours back home to New York City. Consequently, we made plans to stay overnight at the family-friendly Hershey Lodge that’s located about three miles from Hersheypark.  At Hershey Lodge: every family member received Hershey Bars at check-in, oversized indoor and outdoor pools that were open late, a fire pit to roast s’mores in the evening, an awesome breakfast buffet in the morning, and soap and shampoo that had me smelling like chocolate all day long!  The accommodations were luxurious and comfortable that enabled our family to recharge for our second day at the park.

There were a few other perks that we took advantage of because we stayed at one of the Hershey Entertainment Resorts.  There was a frequent (and FREE) shuttle bus that brought us back and forth from the Hershey Lodge to HersheyPark which meant that we didn’t have to pay for parking ($12) or park our car a half-mile from the park entrance.  The shuttle bus dropped us right near the front gate. Additionally, we were able to enter Hersheypark one hour earlier than the general public on our second day. This paid out huge dividends as we repeated rollercoaster rides that had lengthy lines the previous day.

Hersheypark tip No. 3: Forget the bedtime routine

Normally, I’m a stickler for schedules and keep a rigid bedtime routine of bath, books, and bed with lights out by 8pm.  It felt good to loosen the reigns as we stayed in the theme park until 8pm before heading into nearby Hershey’s Chocolate World – their version of Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory!  You could easily spend a whole day in this place, but we only stayed a few hours.  We loved getting swooped away on the Great American Chocolate Tour ride which gives you the “101” on how chocolate is made.  This was loads of fun and even included a sweet treat at the end of the ride.  We didn’t get to sleep until 11pm that night, but we were all in great spirits flying high from the day’s memories…and all of the sugar.

Hersheypark tip No. 4: Overdose on sweets, duh!

Observing my son unwrap his Hershey bar and devour it as fast as Charlie (and the Chocolate Factory) searching for the golden ticket during check-in at Hershey Lodge, put a smile on our faces as we knew that we had arrived at a special place for sweets, treats, and all things chocolate.

Over the course of the next two days, we inhaled a steady flow of goodies like the ice-cream Sundae we made in Hershey’s Chocolate World, cotton candy, a variety of chocolate treats, chocolate butter on our pancakes, and our hands-down favorite, Chocolate Chip Cookie S’mores.

Hersheypark tip No. 5: Just say YES to even the scary rides

Over the past year, my son and I have visited several amusement parks.  We’re pretty adventurous and enjoy trying new experiences.  However, one thing was always clear – my son and I were both scared of rollercoasters that loop upside down. Until. Hersheypark.

On our first day, the two of us were mesmerized by the SooperDooperLooper – a swift and thrilling rollercoaster that looped upside down.  I dismissed the ride and told my son that he wasn’t tall enough. A LIE because I was nervous for both of us and didn’t wait to wait in line for something we might back out of. On day #2, we arrived at the theme park before the crowds and were drawn to the looping coaster once again – it had a mysterious magnetism that we couldn’t avoid. My son inspected the candy color codes on the sign and discovered that he WAS tall enough for this attraction.  Next, my son and I made a pact that we’d swallow our fear together, sit in the middle of the coaster (we deemed this to be the safest spot), and give it the old college try.

Not only did we scream our heads off, love every moment, and repeat the roller coaster several times … but, we also rode in the first car.  Then, we sat in the front car of the electrifying Comet Roller Coaster as well.  My son said, “this is one of the greatest days of my life.”

Boom!

That was one of those real dad moments that will be etched in memory for years to come.

Overall, our family loved the Hershey experience and we’re already planning to visit again next summer. Get ready for us, Hotel Hershey!  Our adventure has made quite an impression on my son as well. He’s been documenting the trip in his writer’s journal at school and continuously whips out the park map of rides to study it in our home.

**Disclosure: The kind and generous folks at Hershey Entertainment Resorts provided complimentary park passes and hotel accommodations for our family.  Even though I still feel hyped up on sugar from our visit, the thoughts and experiences included in this article are my own and have not been influenced from the brand.