The Salem Witch Trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. The trials resulted in the execution of 20 people, 14 of whom were women, and the imprisonment of many others. The trials began when a group of young girls in Salem Village claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of bewitching them. These girls, known as the "afflicted girls," started to exhibit strange behavior, including fits, screaming, and contorting their bodies. Their accusations sparked a hysteria that quickly spread throughout the community. The trials were conducted by a special court known as the Court of Oyer and Terminer, which was established to hear the witchcraft cases.
We Did Great Wolf Lodge
I try to be completely honest in every post, but I am going to be extra honest in this one. We had been talking about going to Great Wolf Lodge for a few years. It was always my husband, Peter, who brought it up. I always said something to the effect of, “Hey that’s neat, but here are 8,000 other things we could do instead.”
While I love theme parks and outdoor water parks, the thought of a giant water park where we would spend much of the time at indoor attractions didn’t thrill me. Imagining the echoes of screaming children in a dimly lit environment and much worse, I closed off my mind to the idea of visiting the Wolf time and time again. Yes, I pre-judged a book by its cover without actually seeing the cover.
Finally this past spring, Peter determined that this year we were going. I was about to have my first Great Wolf Lodge experience. Around this same time, I heard of a few work groups that had gone there and loved it during the off-season for company retreats. When I finally went to the website to make reservations, I was intrigued. I was game to try this Wolf thing.
Peter, Isabelle, and I chose the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas just outside of the Dallas area. Tulsans typically flock to this location or the one in Kansas City. I was surprised at the size of the facility upon arrival. Isabelle stared in amazement as we walked into the huge lobby. From there you can see into the indoor water park. There were a few employees dancing on a stage and very happy kids. The adults looked pretty content as well. Some of them were wearing wolf ear headbands.
Isabelle with one of the Great Wolf mascots
Though we enjoyed the outdoor pool during our stay, the indoor area was a perfect way to beat the Texas heat. Inside, guests can enjoy slides of all sizes, a wave pool, lazy river, a massive playground contraption, and much more. Great Wolf Lodge has an accessible swimming pool as well as an adults-only hot tub in this area.
My first impression of the indoor water park was shock at its size. Not only is it large, it has something for every age. I had fun watching children gain confidence in their water skills because the appropriate level of challenge was available to them, and lifeguards are everywhere. In many locations, the water is just ankle or knee deep, but water features keep older children engaged in those same spaces. Isabelle certainly gained more confidence in her abilities while there and even went on her first major water slide.
When guests are not swimming, they can visit an arcade, gemstone mining area, Build-A-Bear Workshop, family game den, ropes course, and multiple eateries on site, including an all-you-can-eat buffet and a Starbucks. There is an immersive game called MagiQuest, which kids can play even after the pools close. Of course, there are gift shops!
You want to know what I really loved though? Great Wolf Lodge has strict rules about quiet hours from 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. It was silent. That was awesome and unexpected. The beds were comfortable, and Isabelle loved our “Kid Kamp” room. In this arrangement, she got a separate bunk area within our space. It was a win-win.
A Kid Kamp suite
Notice at the start of this post I mentioned this was my first time at Great Wolf Lodge. That is because we’ve already decided that we will come back again next year. The facility was clean, the staff extremely helpful, the lifeguards vigilant, and the whole experience exceeded my expectations. Should I have purchased the wolf ears headband?
Now with my stepson back home and school imminently starting for both kids, we are settling back into routines and will be seeking out adventures in and around the great city of Tulsa. I love the whimsy of summer, but there’s something wonderful about the predictable schedule of the academic year as well. I’m glad our summer ended with Great Wolf Lodge.
A view from our hotel room
Good-to-know:
- We stayed 1 night and felt that was plenty of time to do everything we wanted to do!
- Guests do get admission to the water park all day on the day they check in and the day they check out.
- Guests pay extra for late check-out. However, we chose this option due to the rush of people trying to leave at the standard time. I recommend it!
- Guests can request early check-in, but it is not guaranteed.
- Great Wolf Lodge is a place where families and groups go to have fun and bond. It is not an educational facility, though children can certainly learn through water play and obstacle challenges.
Visiting Great Wolf Lodge with Toddlers and Preschoolers
Going to Great Wolf Lodge with toddlers and preschoolers is a blast for the entire family!
This all-inclusive family water park provides an easy, carefree choice for a family vacation.
There's SO much to do here with little kids, and the property is set up for families to have fun safely.
Even though it's a family destination, there's not a lot online about what to do at Great Wolf Lodge with a toddler or preschooler.
Given that a trip to a water park with a little kid can be MUCH different than going to one with a middle or high schooler, I decided that we need to share our experiences.
Here are my 4-year-old's top picks from our visit to the Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte, North Carolina!
This post contains affiliates. If you purchase through the links, I will receive a commission at no charge to you.
I worked with Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte in order to produce this post. As always, all opinions are my own.
Updated 7/2022 | Written 6/2017
- Water-Based Toddler and Preschooler Activities at Great Wolf Lodge
- Preschooler Activities Elsewhere in Great Wolf Lodge
- Toddler and Preschooler Approved Dining Options
- Final Thoughts on Great Wolf Lodge with Young Children
The trials were conducted by a special court known as the Court of Oyer and Terminer, which was established to hear the witchcraft cases. The court employed a controversial practice known as spectral evidence, which allowed the use of visions and dreams as evidence against the accused. This led to a number of innocent people being falsely accused and convicted.
Water Based Toddler and Preschooler Activities at Great Wolf Lodge
Little ones won't be able to take full advantage of the water park offerings including those giant slides, but there's still plenty to occupy those in the 2-5 year old crowd.
Grab one of the free lifejackets from the stands set up around the perimeter of the park, and head in!
Fort McKinley and Totem Towers
In front of Fort McKinley and Totem Towers
This standalone play tower is where we spent a good chunk of our time at Great Wolf Lodge.
There are stairs to climb, water guns to shoot at unsuspecting passersby, and the perfect lookout point for the rest of the park.
It’s big enough for your toddler or preschooler to feel like a “big kid,” while still being small enough for them to manage on their own.
If you need to accompany them on the play structure, it’s big enough for adults to navigate, too.
As a former lifeguard, I appreciated the number of safety features here, including the multiple lifeguards on and next to the structure.
The tiniest Cosmos Mariners catches a quick nap!
Totem Towers on Fort McKinley are the only 2 water slides that younger kids can go on, so see if your toddler or preschooler wants to try them.
The slides are tall, but they look more intimidating that they really are.
The water moves quite slowly, and there's a lifeguard at top and bottom to help your tot if there's trouble.
Little ones might also like the bucket dump here!
The bucket dump launches over 1000 gallons of water over Fort McKinley every 5 minutes. It's intense, but it's a lot of fun.
Raccoon Lagoon
The first day we were at Great Wolf Lodge gave us perfect indoor water park weather as it was unseasonably cool for May in North Carolina, and it rained on and off all day.
However, on the second day of our stay, the weather turned warm and sunny, so we tried out Raccoon Lagoon, the outdoor pool at Great Wolf Lodge.
You can reach this area by walking through the indoor water park section.
Like the rest of the property, this area is only available to lodge guests, and there is a tall safety fence around the pool.
It was tough to pull my preschooler away from this area!
She liked throwing the basketballs at the goals and getting drenched from the massive water tower when it erupted every few minutes.
I liked that the pool was only 3 feet at the deepest, so I could sit on the side with my infant while my daughter had fun with the other kids.
There are comfortable reclining chairs for parents and plenty of umbrellas for shade.
What are the names of the Great Wolf Lodge mascots?
Most of the accused were women who did not fit the mold of a typical Puritan woman. They were often older, unmarried, or had unconventional beliefs and behaviors. Many were also socially marginalized, such as slaves and Native Americans. The trials provided an outlet for the fears and anxieties of the community and served as a way to control those who deviated from the norm. The trials came to an end when the governor of Massachusetts, William Phips, disbanded the Court of Oyer and Terminer and declared that spectral evidence would no longer be admissible in court. The remaining cases were either dropped or tried under different courts with stricter evidentiary standards. The Salem Witch Trials remain a dark chapter in American history and serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of fear, hysteria, and persecution. They were a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked power and the importance of due process and the presumption of innocence. The trials have since been the subject of much study and analysis, as scholars attempt to understand the causes and implications of this tragic event..
Reviews for "The Untold Stories of the Victims: Examining the Lives Lost During the Salem Witch Trials"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Bool about Salem Witch Trials" as I find the topic fascinating. However, I was disappointed with the book. The writing style was dry and lacked emotion, making it hard to stay engaged. Additionally, the book didn't provide any new insights or fresh perspectives on the Salem Witch Trials. It seemed to simply rehash information that can easily be found in other books and online sources. Overall, I found "Bool about Salem Witch Trials" to be a letdown and wouldn't recommend it to others looking for a comprehensive and captivating account of this historical event.
2. John - 3 stars - While "Bool about Salem Witch Trials" was informative, I found it to be quite dense and challenging to follow at times. The author went into excessive detail on certain aspects, which made the overall narrative drag on. Additionally, the book lacked proper organization, jumping between different time periods and events without a clear structure. Although there were interesting anecdotes scattered throughout, they often felt disconnected from the main story. Overall, I appreciate the effort put into researching the topic, but the execution left much to be desired.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I struggled to finish "Bool about Salem Witch Trials" as it felt like a chore to read. The writing style was overly academic and difficult to comprehend, especially for someone who doesn't have a strong background in history. The book also failed to engage the reader emotionally, which made it hard to connect with the characters and events. Additionally, the excessive use of footnotes disrupted the flow of the text. Overall, I found this book to be dry and inaccessible, and I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a more engaging and approachable account of the Salem Witch Trials.