(TGA) - Our family (6 adults+1 yr & 3 yr old kids) will be in Kansas City the week before Christmas and we're looking for a good family hotel in the vicinity. We were thinking of staying at the Great Wolf Lodge for a couple of nights to have fun at the waterpark but then staying somewhere a little less expensive the other nights. Any suggestions - we'd like to have an indoor pool & free continental breakfast if possible? Also - fun things to do around the holiday season???
Any thoughts on the following:
Comfort Suites at the Speedway
Embassy Suites - Plaza
Hallmark Inn - Lawrence, KS
Thanks so much
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I haven't stayed at any of those hotels, put the Plaza is lovely that time of year.
There are several fun things to do near Great Wolf, but the kids may be just a little young. Still the Legends should be beautiful and have fun things going on. Also, take I70 west to Bonner Springs and visit Moon Marble Company: http://www.kansastravel.org/moonmarble.htm
There are a few unique places you should take them, during in the evening:
Christmas Card Lane in Olathe. The subdivision to the west of Ridgeview and Frontier (north of 151st Street) has a couple of hundred homes that decorate extravagantly, most with a large Christmas Card greeting from that family. Cars turn off their headlights and creep through. You may hear Carolers or be greeted by Santa.
Penguin house, also in Olathe. A single home at Mur-Len Road and Indian Creek Parkway. Every inch of the yard is decorated, more than 150 penguins. You can park and walk through the yard to see it all.
But the most memorable is probably Babick's animated display at his home on Falmouth Street in Prairie Village, just south of 75th Street. thelope.com/2006/12/animated-christmas.html I revisit it every year.
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The Great Wolf Lodge is a fun time. A few pointers that they may/may not tell you when you check in............although check in isn't until like 4 (I think) you can use the water park that whole day (they have lockers) and checkout is like 11am, but again...you can use the park until it closes that night.
Other choices in the Village West area are Hampton Inn & Holiday Inn Express. The Comfort Suites I don' know much about, but do believe it's located East of 435 and North of Parallel (closer to the dog track, I think).
The Legends is sure to have lots of great things going on during the holiday season, but everyone should venture down to the Plaza lights. There's also lots of great shops there as well as lots of photo ops!
Have a great trip in Kansas City!
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What ages are most ot the guests at Great Wolf Lodge and enjoying the water park? Would young adult children enjoy it or is it more for young kids?
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I have preteens and they really enjoy it. There's waterslides, a raft ride, a hot tub (an adult only as well as one for families), a pool games, etc. There's also a separate 'kids' section. It's really an all around great family place. I've seen young kids, families, high schoolers, etc there as well as an older couple (I would never hit a slide at 85...but each to their own!)
If going during the summer, there's an outdoor pool and mini golf. Plus, there's tons to do in that area if you need to 'take a water break'.
Save some money and bring your own cooler to keep in your room for snacks/beverages......you'll be OH SO THANKFUL you did....some stuff there is pricey.
Cheers!
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Kstravelmom, thank you for your reply! We greatly appreciate all the useful information about the lodge. Also, the tip about bringing a cooler to keep munchies in for snacks. After swimming, our kids enjoy eating some fruit.
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We've stayed at Holiday Inn Express at Village West a few months ago. Good breakfast and nice, small pool area. Also, if you don't want the free breakfast there's an Ihop right there or a McD's on the north side of The Legend's.
Also, take the kids to Cabela's. I LOVE that place!
Have fun!
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We spent last weekend at the Great Wolf Lodge. This was our 3rd visit.
Older kids will enjoy it more. They can 'run' in the waterpark - you'll run across them often. On Saturday night from 8:30-10:30 they had storytime & a dance for everyone. Songs like Cotton Eyed Joe, Chicken Dance, Hokey Pokey.....
Magiquest is great, but again for older kids. You purchase a magic wand (with a computer chip) for $15 and the game is $10. Bring your wand back next time & only reactivate the game. It is activated for your entire stay. Wander around & do 'quests' with your wand.
The mini golf course is fun.
Camp Critter has booths to eat inside tents. Your magiquest wand also activates lights, etc at Camp Critter.
Inside the waterpark is a special kids section. You can probably hold the 3 year old on the raft slides, not sure about the 1 yr old.
The legends is a nice shopping center outdoors. Fun restaurants all around.
The Hampton Inn is really close to the Great Wolf and also in the log motiff.
We had room 239 this time - terrible. Bad AC and view of dumpsters. The other 2 visits we had beautiful views of the outdoor pool.
The arcade has good selections and open until 11:00.
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