Woodloch Pines: The all-inclusive family resort to strengthen the bond with your kids

If you’re looking for ways to bond and make memories with your family throughout the year, visit Woodloch in the Poconos — voted best all-inclusive family resort.

We recently took a family road trip to the Poconos with our three boys. It was a 4-hour drive from where we are in NY to PA, but we were excited to make the trip after being stuck at home with COVID a few weeks prior during a long winter break.

The boys were eager to get outside, play games, and possibly go snow tubing for the first time — I was just excited to spend quality time as a family in a new setting. Over the past few years, being stuck at home and delaying new adventures was the unfortunate norm. So I’ve been on a journey to try and do a little more each season.

When I heard about Woodloch Pines Resort, I was extra excited. Not only is it an all-inclusive resort, with accommodations, meals, and an array of activities for all ages — toddlers to grandparents— its mission is to bring family and friends together through great meals, fun games, and wholesome entertainment — exactly what our family needed to connect.

The resort is set in the Poconos Mountains with pristine lake views. We stayed in the Springbrook building — in a room that accommodates up to 6 guests with two beds and a sofa couch. It was a short walk from the main lobby and dining facilities, and the building is adjacent to the pool complex.

I couldn’t wait to start making new memories with my kids because family vacations or weekend trips weren’t something we ever did in my childhood — so now, my inner child was grateful for these experiences.

We arrived late afternoon Friday and were given a list of activities. Downloading the Woodloch app was also strongly encouraged to access maps, meal options, and more activities (although most included activities don’t require sign-ups).

Family Activities at Woodloch

During our stay the resort offered a variety of 30 fun-filled activities to choose from, conveniently arranged throughout the day with morning, afternoon, and evening options for all ages.

Some of the individual contests and games varied each day, with new scavenger hunts, contests, and crafts for the little ones but also regularly scheduled activities like go-carts, skating, archery range, bumper cars, bocce courts, mini golf, playgrounds, swimming and more.

After the long drive, we couldn’t wait to get started.

The boys went straight for the go-carts, starting with the “junior go-carts” for younger kids and then moving up to the “viper go-carts” as they met the minimum height requirements. It quickly became a favorite. I was surprised by how much of a thrill it was making those sharp turns around the track; the ride lasted a good amount of time. So much fun racing with each other and letting go!

Afterward, we took some time to slow down explore the pristine grounds, and unwind in our rooms before dinner.

One thing I appreciated about the resort was that the fun didn’t stop after dinner. That evening we played some good-old family games and trivia in a version of Family Feud with other guests. The hosts provided each team with whiteboards and dry-erase markers so all families could play at the same time.

Although we didn’t win, we played well and had a great time working as a team. While we called it a night around 10 pm, night owls could stay around for the ongoing fun including a silent disco party!

The next day’s lineup included bumper cars, swimming, and a Broadway-style family show, but first, we decided to grab skates and make our way onto the rink together — a new adventure for the kids and me! The rink was synthetic so we struggled to keep our balance with lots of laughs getting up and down trying a new activity as a family.

In between meals, they couldn’t get enough of the outdoor adventure playground — I was pleasantly surprised by how much time they spent using their imaginations, weaving through webs, tunnels, and rope bridges. It’s set up like an obstacle course that allows them to get creative in play!

Before dinner, we decided to warm up and head to the indoor pool complex — connected to our building.

I was impressed by the super clean pool water and areas to splash around in. While Dad and our oldest worked up a sweat in the sauna, the rest of us ventured over to the splash zone and water slide area which was a blast! I’m not a big water slide person, but I gladly joined in when my youngest asked me to go on after him. It’s funny how the kids are so adventurous and help adults feel like kids again!

After some time in the hot tub for the adults, we followed the kids over to the water play area for younger kids. The area is meant for toddlers, but because it cleared out during this time, they went over and loved it.

Although the rainy weather and lack of snow meant no Winter Olympics or snow tubing, we still had a blast. Plus, we were super appreciative to have access to the shuttle when the downpour started!

Sunday morning we were set to head home early, but not before visiting the adorable bunny, calf and lamb at the Petting Zoo and getting some pony rides!

Food and Meal Options at Woodloch Resorts

One of the highlights of our trip that I absolutely can’t stop raving about was the food. Not just the fact that all the yummy meals breakfast, lunch, and dinner were provided, but that every single family member could equally partake and have something safe to eat. We are an allergy family — two of our boys are on a gluten-free diet, which isn’t always so easy to accommodate. They’ve had some unfortunate contamination, getting sick eating out. It was such a delight watching their faces light up being able to choose from a variety of food they enjoy eating — the kid’s gluten-free dinner menu included favorites like burgers, pizza, pasta, nuggets, fries, and a variety of desserts. But their absolute favorite was breakfast — pancakes, waffles, and more that they typically miss out on! The resort can accommodate special diets and handles the food with great care. It’s something that I hope more resorts will take into consideration.

Meals don’t require a reservation, but you must enter the main dining room within the hours listed to grab your seat — when we arrived each family had a designated table to use during their stay which was great to know we always had a spot.

A few of my personal favorites (as a non-allergy eater) are Scandinavian pancakes, Belgium waffles, acai fruit bowls, bacon, eggs, potatoes, shrimp tempura, salmon, and the most amazing turkey and cheese sandwich on a croissant — all delicious!

Visit Woodloch Year Round

Although it wasn’t without hiccups getting there with our three competitive boys, the experience was well worth it. As my firstborn put it, “This was worth the 4-hour car ride, Mom!”

If you’re looking for an all-inclusive place to visit with your whole family — immediate or extended, make sure to add Woodloch to your list. Although we visited at the end of winter, they are open all year long and offer even more fun and outdoor activities during the summer months. It is an ideal place to unwind, play, and connect with loved ones.

It’s no wonder Woodloch is a family favorite, voted #1 all-inclusive family resort in the Poconos by USA Today, and recently in the running by Newsweek.