The 31 best hikes in Leelanau County (2024)

Spent 2 nights here in a loft suite with a family of 5. Midweek right after Christmas knocked us back $1,000 for the room. Room was nice and spacious, plenty of room for us to spread out. The water park was pretty nice but soaring eagle and splash village on frankenmuth were much better. We fully expected everything to be expensive but we were left feeling like there wasn’t much value. Paid $60 for 2 hot dog meals and nachos and Everything was pretty gross. A couple of other annoyances: they have “premium parking” that you have to pay for if you want to be by the door. Problem with that is nobody is using it so the entire parking lot is full with all these open spots…classic money grab. Also, the elevator design is inadequate. There’s only 2 elevators that are not only used for people checking in and checking out but then also all the pool traffic. Caused backlogs everyday. I didn’t find the staff overly friendly either…bartender in the pool area was very unpleasant (and ironically was wearing a Karen name tag)Overall it was mostly enjoyable but I think soaring eagle and splash village provide better water parks for less money.

It's definitely a fun place to take the family. Video game room, small blowing area (pins and balls are smaller than normal) putt putt, build a bear and of course the main water park. The water park is decent sized and things for all ages to do. It would be cool if they had water roller coaster or a tall slide where the floor drops out. Our son had a great time and I'm sure we will go back. The room that we had was nice and the room our friends had was super nice with kid bunk beds set up like a log cabin.

First time here for one night & two half days. Impressive but the website seemed to make it more grand than it wasThey have a lot to offer that I have never seen before. Never been to a resort so I have nothing to base it off of except there is always room for improvement. Great staff. The older gentleman always in the lobby in the morning is a great man, I hope the resort appreciates that gentleman. Lots of activities offered but vague descriptions or location instructions.Did not care for the front desk saying the only help for details on their resort was an app that was not as descriptive as it should be.We all enjoyed our stay. Not sure if we would do it again. Highly impressed with the amount of lifeguards for the mass amount of children, way more kids than adults watching them. Noticed kids lost their parents & staff seem to handle it well.Hope you enjoy the pictures. I would recommend this as a water park resort.

The property was very well taken care of generally. It was not very crowded at all which made it probably doubly satisfying when we went during peak season. The promotional rate for the loft room was very reasonable allowing for the expensive amenities and food options to also be within reach with extra kids in tow. We had a view overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay in the distance so morning coffee on the balcony was enjoyable. The classic lodge theme is most fitting here. Great entertainment and food adjacent and not far otherwise. This is one of my favorite stays in recent memory for sure.

Water park is great and very clean, temperature was perfect and we ended up spending most of our time here. We really liked the hotel room and my daughter enjoyed the wolf den. I am giving 4 stars because I feel like the wolf pass and restaurants are money traps. They say you get all these different things with it and save so much money but when you go to redeem your item, there are always upgrades so be prepared to spend much more than just what the wolf pass is…also food and drinks were way over priced and below average. We had 3 breakfast sandwiches and 3 drinks from their Dunkin’ donuts and it was so old and bad that I could only take a couple bites. It cost $30! Then my husband got a pizza and 3 drinks from their pizza place and that was $30 for a below average pizza. My husband said they never set off his buzzer so he waited for like 30 min and noticed people that had ordered after him were getting their food. When he went up to ask, he was ignored then saw that his pizza was just sitting in the heater. They never notified him that the food was ready. So not very good service in that department. I would recommend eating at other nearby restaurants. Otherwise we enjoyed our room, the water park and the kids dance party and yoga. The other stuff was just ways to get your money. So be aware and stick to the water park.

When a customer has an emergency while staying in your resort, and needs you to help them out you do what it takes. Especially when they have already paid to be here, and you’re at 20% capacity. Clearly you don’t care about our experience or safety, and after reading these reviews it’s clear the last couple of months the standard we were promised and expecting has really fallen here. What kind of facility tries to double charge a family in an emergency who are 1) in town for a funeral and trying to soften the blow to their kids during that 2)following safety guidelines that align with keeping children healthy and safe 3)now have a member facing illness away from home and not feeling well at all. I’d give you zero stars if I could. The only person working that front area worth their check is Valerie and I appreciate her help and info at check in.

Thought it would be "great wolf " to treat Grandsons to an early Christmas gift and celebrate Thanksgiving with them there.In my travels I have had much nicer rooms with full kitchens for less $.The buffet ($204 for 4)should have been included in the $1000 price of the room for the two nights. I understand and concede that the water park was included, which they loved.I set the bar too high for the Thanksgiving buffet. Sad, and disheartening the buffet was less than palatable considering the quality, selection and the amount of salt content. Although the table where the"chefs" carved the prime rib and turkey to your request, was tasty.Of all the other "buffets" I've been to in several states, I've had more diverse selections and greater quality again for less $. Checked this off my bucket list.

First visit to Great Wolf Lodge we had a pleasant stay. The room was nice and big, however we didn't know that everything was either charged to the room or you had to use a credit card. You can't even use the penny roller without a credit card ( a bit crazy to me chargey card 50 cents for a rolled penny. The water park was nice and big. I like the adults only hot tub even though there were some young adults in the hot tub.My kids would like to go back again.

Rooms: alright, but the pull out bed was the most cheap and uncomfortable bed ever. I would expect a better quality bed for the price of the room.Service: the hotel people where cool. The store attendees were cool. The Dunkin employees left a lot to be desired. Not friendly, not engaging, and not hospitable at all.Location: I mean, we live in Michigan, so it was a great location.Overall: a good experience for my 6 year old grandson. He enjoyed every activity. The food everywhere was over priced so we hit up the Meijer and grabbed some food to get us through. I also recommend the Big Box pizza from pizza Hut. Under $30 and it fed our group of 6 with left overs.

We had our first visit in February and it was wonderful. The rooms were adorable, the service from all staff we interacted with was very pleasant, and travers city was a beautiful city to visit! The water park was large with lots to do, our children keep asking to go back! The arcade, build a bear, sweet shop, and other restaurants and gifts shops were awesome as well. Our children loved the character meet and greets and little extras like the dance party and mining for gold! We will definitely be back!

Wonderful facility. Clean and welcoming. Plenty to keep kids and adults busy with many free activities outside of the actual water park. Frank, a gentleman who works the lobby and greets you with wolf ears, sets the tone for a wonderful staff who aims to please. Great times with friends. Great accommodations. Great food and fun. We will be back!

We had a great weekend with our kids. I really appreciate the rage of things to eat and do on site. The water park was definitely the highlight of our trip. Our bunk room was nice to have the kids close by, but still have a little privacy. My only complaint is that our bed was super soft. We both woke up with sore backs. But that really is the only thing I could complain about. It was a wonderful trip, and we would definitely consider going back.

We have been to this Great Wolf Lodge a few times, and every time we have enjoyed our stay. The kids have a blast, and our four day definitely seemed to go by too quickly. If you plan on going, I recommend getting the Wolf Pass. It is the best deal for all the things you get on it, plus the kids really enjoy getting things crossed off as the use them.

Honestly, the service wasn't great. The pizza is mediocre and overpriced, and we got into our room super late with a bunch of things not functioning properly in it. However, the overall experience that our kids had is what made me give it the 4 stars. It's a whimsical magical place that has plenty of things to do with the resort and the water park was amazing. We really loved the magic quest too. Our kids can't stop talking about their experiences there.

This place is AMAZING! A fantastic family getaway, especially for kids!The staff is so friendly, I felt like I was on a cruise. I think it’s impossible to have anything other than a GREAT TIME!The water park is top notch, and our nieces and nephews ranging from 2-13 years old LOVED it! There are so many other family/kid activities, it feels like Disney World 🤩The hotel room was more than we expected. All in all I would highly recommend visiting for a family vacation.

We had a blast at Great Wolf Lodge. It was a bit crowded, but still a great time. The pools were clean and warm. The beds were soft and comfortable. Staff were all super friendly. The only thing that could be better would be more of a variety of poolside food. But what they have is delicious and easy for kids to munch on. We are already planning a return visit!

We recently stayed here and had the best experience. I have a 4 year old autistic son who is a master escape artist and is teaching his 2 year old brother all.his tricks. They both were easily escaping our room and we were super stressed out and worried something would happen to our sons while we were sleeping. My husband went to the front desk and explained the situation and they were so friendly and understanding. They immediately sent maintenence to our room and installed safety bars on the balcony doors and put a higher up lock on our main door. It helped so much to keep our boys safe and lessened the worry and stress on us. The hotel was very clean and on top of any issues. The life guards are trained very well and definitely do their jobs. I have 1 suggestion for them to help improve their already excellent standards it would be to already have safety locks in the rooms that help keep children safe. Thanks great wolf lodge for the amazing hospitality and for the family memories! We will be back.

First time at any Great Wolf Lodge and it was a blast.Everyone was extremely friendly and greeted you even if just passing by in the hallway. The only exception to this was one employee working the Magic Wand store... our wrist bands never worked using it at any of the stores so we just used our room number to charge anything. This one employee refused to do so stating he can't do that even after explaining that we already went to the front desk and they said everything was fine. Luckily someone else then stepped over and charged what we picked out to our room. Mildly infuriating.The waterpark was fun albeit a bit crowded at times.Food was surprisingly good.Themed room was better than online pictures show.My boys didn't want to leave. We will be back.

My 11 year old son had a blast! I enjoyed the adult only hot tub! The water park was clean and warm. The rooms were excellent. It is a cashless facility and it’s a shock when you get your bill at the end of your stay!!

We decided to take our daughter to Great Wolf Lodge for her 6th birthday. This was our first time at GWL and even though we’ve only been here for a few hours, the experience has been EXCELLENT! Bernie was the gentleman that checked us in and he was outstanding. Very informative and just super kind. The room is wonderful and the kids are having a blast! So far, so great!

We've gone 4 times and have loved it until now. I don't think we'll be going back since they've added the ridiculous $15/day parking fee. All the prices are going up, and quality went down. The breakfast used to be amazing, and now it's just another "Holiday Inn" style that costs $15/person. I'm disappointed since this used to be our favorite place to vacation. I doubt things will get any better in the future.

It is a hotel....it is a water park....it does have restaurants...it's just not Great. Come visit Wolf Lodge and hope for fewer people.The hotel is nice, the room feel clean, a few maintenance items that could be addressed and I sure wish they would switch to king sized beds. The one overwhelmingly negative piece is there seems to be no prohibition on people smoking on their balconies. Smoking anything...on the balconies. As a non-smoker having our entire hall smell like pot was off-putting for certain.The water park gets overrun by day-pass people. We couldn't find any place to sit since the chairs were being horded. The pools were so full it was pretty much Covid soup. The lifeguards, God bless them, must be powerless to enforce basic water safety rules because the kids doing flips into the pools, people running, drinks in the pools and hot tub all scream liability.The restaurants are fair but they sure seem to think there are no other options for many mile because they charge the captive price on just about everything.I would like to add the vast majority of the staff are quite friendly and pleasant to talk with.

Had a great time. Pricing is better on certain days with special deals. People were very nice (did have an issue with a waiter). Extra activities are very fun. Water park was amazing! Loved that our wristbands could be scanned to add costs to our room bill. Definitely will go again but will speak up early if server isn't helpful. No let's wait and see. It only went drastically worse. Day girls at same place were excellent!

For kids below the age of 10, I could see that being fun, That is why I am giving it 3 stars. But for people taking their kids 10 and up it was a waste of time. The web page said a wave pool. There was none. We were so looking forward to that, the reason we reserved a room. No hot tubs for the parents, I felt they should have had 2, one in different locations. The beds were so uncomfortable, it gave us all a back ache, we could not sleep. The staff that clean the rooms were all very friendly and helpful for extra coffee. kudos to them.

We had a great time, but we were not impressed with the accommodations. It used to be so much better. I don’t know if there’s new management or what but it isn’t what it used to be. The staff was not friendly at all. And after we got our food, we waited 15 more minutes for drinks that were never presented so we ended up just walking away without them. Mini golf was fun but the course isn’t maintained so there was lots of debris to play over/around. The room was clean, but the carpet needed some repairs. Overall it was not worth the price and we will stay somewhere else the next time we are in the Traverse City area.

I would give it 5 stars but the rooms are average. The bathroom is tiny and the light/fan sounds like a jet plane. The dining table in the room is nice, lots of sleeping areas but the queens felt more like full size. The water park is fantastic. We brought a 2 year old and 14 year old and they were both entertained by it all day. There’s lots of stuff to do but be prepared to pay extra for everything. They have some nice daily activities, geared more towards younger kids that are included.

We go every year with our family and our kids look forward to it every year (ages 6-16). The rooms are always clean, pretty well kept up. Staff had been friendly 99% of the time, and eager to help resolve issues. If you prefer dining out or shopping the city while you stay there are plenty of restaurants and shops nearby.Our kids do the Magi Quest, which is like a huge scavenger hunt quest journey for the kids. The Waterpark is nice and warm and there is quite a variety of things for kids and adults to enjoy in their. Plenty of lifeguard staff as well, which is reassuring.

We recently visited Great Wolf Lodge and, despite some initial reservations, ended up having a great time. At first glance, the place seemed a bit underwhelming, but the swimming area quickly won us over with its variety and fun atmosphere.One aspect that could use some attention is the locker area. The space felt cramped and insufficient for guests trying to store their belongings. It created a bit of stress during what was otherwise a relaxing experience. We hope the management considers expanding or reorganizing this area to alleviate this inconvenience for future guests.On a brighter note, the food was a delightful surprise! We particularly enjoyed the pizza and fries – far surpassing our expectations and easily rivaling the likes of Chuck E. Cheese in quality.A minor issue we noticed was the inconsistent water temperature across different pools. Some were slightly warmer than others, making adjusting a tad challenging. While not a deal-breaker, a more uniform temperature would be appreciated.Overall, Great Wolf Lodge provided a memorable and enjoyable experience for our family. We’re looking forward to our next visit and are hopeful for these minor improvements. Highly recommended for families looking for a fun getaway!

It was a very positive experience overall. It was very expensive in my opinion for the food and all the activities but it was definitely worth it.The small bowling lanes, mining bags, arcade, character experiences and special times events were all family oriented.All the kids loved the magi quest experience and the water park was excellent.

Waterpark has a towel rental program where you have to rent a towel using your room wristband. One towel per person allowed. If you don’t return the towel you owe $15 per towel automatically charged to your room. If you call the general Great Wolf Lodge hotel you get some call center in India and they will NOT transfer you someone at the front desk at the actual hotel, even if it’s about reservations. This is the process for getting a soft drink at Great Wolf Lodge hotel: You buy an empty cup with a QR Code. You then scan the QR Code to unlock the machine for 20 seconds or 16 ounces. You can't use the machine without scanning a cup first. After 16 ounces or 20 seconds, whatever comes first, the machine shuts off. If you try to scan the same cup a second time it won't work. Talk about cheap!

This great wolf lodge changed our experience compared to when we went to the one in Wisconsin dells!All the employees were very nice and always took their job seriously and showed they cared. The resort was well taken care of and was very clean!The rooms themselves need updates, they do seem very outdated! (I was in a handicapped accessible room) and the hallways and stuff do too.Parking wasn’t an issue nor does the location charge for parking like other resort locations which is nice!Food and drinks are super expensive here, for an adult drink was like $15-28$!Check in and check out where a breeze! The resort is all cashless!

Our bathroom wasn’t cleaned between stays :( we know this because had the employee opened the shower they’d have seen the writing all over it. They were willing to change our rooms but we had a load of kids with us, they were already swimming..no we’ll accept the disappointment but if someone could clean it? Purposely left a mark in our bath tub & it wasn’t cleaned :( just the writing wiped off of the wall. We managed but disgusting & everything will be cleaned once home. We had barely warm water for the very first shower in our room. This lodge needs some serious TLC & updating..for the amount we pay a night our carpet shouldn’t be ripping up, feel repulsive on bare feet, have non working electrical..anything & look its age. The entire establishment is beyond outdated. I understand the staffing shortage/issues within our Country right now but when doing the character shows or any crowd engagement you should really screen/practice with these employees. Watching the activities & the dance parties & you are missing SO much opportunity to engage! SOOO much. Because your staff is young & shy & they don’t really want to be up on stage acting like a cartoon animal but there are people that can out there! I’m not sure who runs or owns this specific establishment but they’re definitely living large because the money isn’t being poured back into the business, that’s for sure. You won’t find negative reviews from me but we are so disappointed :(

Look, I love my mother but she, well, lacks tact and is prone to confusion being conceived as anger.I don’t know if I’ve ever seen professionalism and patience like I did from Ben behind the desk at the Great Wolf Lodge today on 5/9. What should have been a routine check in, turned into a 45 minute ordeal and he handled it with class, respect, and I can’t thank him enough for that. It was humbling to watch.Facility itself is very nice. Staff is friendly, the technology is convenient. However, I do have to say the price gouging here has taken all new levels. We came 3 times a year growing up, no way families can continue that kind of loyalty particularly in this economic climate

Our family had a fabulous time. There were 7 of us. The water park was great. The food was really good. The shops very nice, clean, good selection. The staff are all kind & helpful. Lots of free family activities. But I felt like the room was not worth the money. We paid good price for room with aloft & it had broken outlet, carpet coming up, missing grout around tile, tile coming up, twice cold showers, the toilet handle broke & maintenance did come within 30 mins to fix. I feel like the room should have been nicer for that cost! I did fill out survey & they said would address issues which was kind. They offered me 50% off next visit but I feel like should have gotten 50% this visit because not worth it over $1,000! In fact I thought when signing up I got 50% off but charges don’t show that big of discount. I did contact them but didn’t hear back.

Arrived to check-in today for our stay at 4pm check-in, we were told “check-in BEGINS at 4pm and there is no guarantee when our room needs to be ready.”. Was expecting to be able to bring our things to our room and change into swim clothes, now we are waiting in the parking lot for our room to become available. Reading their check-in policy makes it seem like you can use water park early but can’t check in until 4pm. In reality, they have no obligation to give you a room you paid for until who knows when.

I want to make sure to recognize Tara as the outstanding manager she is. My daughter suffers from depression and a kid had told her to kill herself. So naturally I went to find the parents to inform them about their kids actions. Surprise, surprise parents were worse than the children looking like they were tweaking. Completely dismissive over it acting like it was the same as calling a kid fat or name-calling. The management stepped in making that family stay in their room for the night. And then going above and beyond by walking my daughter around so she would feel safe and talking to her about how she used to self harm as well. That made this entire trip so fantastic, people who really care and are not just at a job.

Amazing staff and workers they were all kind and helpful unlike other hotels. Very nice people. The only bad thing is there were ants in the room and most the stuff there was pricey but sill a very good place to go and have fun with family!

Great family get away! Such a fun experience for the kids (and adults)! So much to do for all ages, water park is great. Clean and fun. Arcade and Build a Bear were big hits. Only downside was checking in, had to wait almost 2/3hrs past our original check in time. It was worth it though. :)

Unfortunately, overpriced given what they have eliminated. There is no more furniture in the lobby; what was once a cozy gathering place is now a naked open space. The breakfast in the restaurant used to be homemade and very tasty, but this time it was reconstituted scrambled eggs and rubbery pancakes made en masse. Long gone is the fudge that used to be in your room when you arrived. The children's play area is also gone. Weights in the fitness room are also now gone. Pricing for food is very very expensive. The worst thing is the soft drink dispenser/QR code scanner in the water park. It doesn't fill your cup and don't you dare try to get one more drop of soda than what it meters out. And, NO REFILLS. A very bad business move. Are you really losing that much money by letting guests fill their cups without being controlled by a computer?

good waterpark to visit Monday through Thursday. Affordable for families of 4 or less with kids up to low teens. Coffee can’t be ordered from the room though there is a sign encouraging you to in the room. “Not available at this location”. You can’t order flavored coffee without a ton of sugar dumped in because orders are by kiosk only and there is no option. Rooms above the standard size are spacious and worth it on sale. The rooms appear clean, but we did have a dirty towel hanging in our bathroom. Our ac didn’t work till midnight so we had a rough first night. Staff are very friendly and responded to our complaint about the AC but were unable to fix it and apologized and left. It turned on an hour later miraculously. Next night, Friday night, it became a zoo and loud banging and what sounded like kids running and jumping went on above our room from about 10pm till midnight. Texted staff and the noise went away within 20 mins which was nice. Paw pass arcade credit is worth about 2 games which you can spend in less than 4 minutes. Magiquest is fun for the kids. Kids under 12 will struggle on their own with getting everything to work and navigating all the quests. Add ons for magiquest to help your kids if they struggle is $15 each. I have 3 kids, so it is hard to justify. Food is good for what it is but you will be tempted to leave the park to get food or bring food to the park if you have a family size of 5+. Traverse city traffic is getting worse so be prepared for that- the location itself is laid out well and easy to navigate when you get off the main road. The life guards, staff at the desk and the maintenance guy tried hard and kept a good attitude despite the challenges. Hope this helps improve the experience and help other travelers.

The Waterpark is great for kids. Adults have the option of their own hot tub, which is adults only.The rooms are nice, but the walls and floors are so thin that all you hear is people running and stomping and talking. Even with the quiet hours, you could constantly hear stomping and running until late at night. It might be difficult for light sleepers or babies trying to sleep. It was for our family. All in all, it's a great place to take the family, but don't expect to be able to rest if you stay there.