The Lifesize Gingerbread House at the Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls

The Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor water park and resort located in Niagara Falls Canada, is gearing up for the holiday season.  This year, they are once again building a full-sized gingerbread house – large enough for an entire family of six to dine!

The gingerbread house, which is nearly two stories tall, takes over 300 hours to complete.  Reservations are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, starting on November 24, 2011, for up to nine seatings per day.  The $20 reservation fee (meals are additional), will go to the Child Advocacy Centre Niagara.  You do not have to be a resort guest to make a reservation.

This life-sized gingerbread house is just one piece of the Great Wolf Lodge’s holiday celebration.  Here are some of the other fun things going on as part of Wiley’s Winter Wonderland at the Great Wolf Lodge:

Snowflakes will be falling in the Grand Living Room
Santa, Mrs. Claus and all of their elves will be visiting guests
“Taffy on Snow” (hot maple syrup drizzled on a bed of snow and rolled into a popsicle stick treats) will be served
Forest Magic shows

The Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls, Canada
3950 Victoria Ave
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 7M8

Photo credit: The Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls

The Entrance to the Great Wolf Lodge, Niagara Falls

Now that summer and back to school season is over, it’s time to get ready for Halloween.  The indoor water park at the Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls is the perfect way to bridge the gap between the summer and winter.  This Halloween, stay at the Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls, where you can enjoy their Howl-O-Ween Celebration, taking place from October 14th through October 31st, 2011.  It’s a wonderful way to escape the cooler weather.

Here are some of the things you can enjoy at the Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls:

• A trick-or-treating trail through a haunted forest
• A special monster mash family dance
• Pumpkin carving
• Witchy crafts
• Costume parade and contest, complete with prizes
• Spooky story time with lodge characters
• Wolf science – where your kids can concoct science experiments

The Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls offers a giant all-indoor and weatherproof water park with thirteen waterslides, three pools, two whirlpools, a large outdoor heated spa experience, a giant wavepool, and a 500,000 liter lazy river.  You’ll also find fabulous accommodations, an Elements spa, an arcade, and several family-friendly restaurants.

The Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls
3950 Victoria Ave
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 7M8
800.605.9653

Photo credit: The Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls

The indoor pool at the Marriot Courtyard in Niagara Falls

When our oldest son’s hockey coach did his research on the best place for the entire team to stay during a Niagara Falls tournament last year, he analyzed 10 hotels in the area and as a group, we decided on the Marriott Courtyard.

For the group discounted rate we managed to secure, the Marriott Courtyard was at the edge of the main streets leading into Niagara Falls excitement and the kids were in awe of their surroundings. Once done at the rinks for the day, all the families ventured into the museums and attractions at night, and all were within a few minutes walking distance.

The standard room with two queen-sized beds provides ample room for families.

As hockey parents lugging equipment, suitcases, younger siblings and all that comes with them, we were overly impressed with the fact that there was more than enough ample parking in such a busy area of town.  The rooms were enormous of a family of four, and ours came with two queen sized beds.  There was more than enough space to spread out hockey equipment between games and the list of things for families to do is long if you’re so inclined and don’t mind spending a few bucks in this tourist mecca.

The staff at the Marriott was ready for anything.  They were courteous and patient with so many kids running around (we weren’t the only tourney parents there and there were a ton of kids in the hotel).  While they didn’t staff the pool with a lifeguard, the staff that did pop in stopped any kids from horsing around in the pool, employing a hands off policy so you know, nobody drowned.  Knowing how the hockey team likes to play wrestle, I was grateful they couldn’t do it in the pool.

The Keg Steakhouse & Bar inside the hotel offered up a breakfast spread that made the boys go wild.  Everything little boys could ever want was there for the taking and the coffee was delicious.

Lastly, the entire staff all seemed to be extremely familiar with the area and were instrumental in getting us to our arenas on time.

We’re looking at Niagara Falls again this year for our hockey tournament and I sure hope we stay at the Marriott again.  It was a 5 star in terms of convenience, customer service and low stress for hockey moms and dads, which is especially good for a 3 star hotel.

Photos credit: Marriott Courtyard

Related: Clean, Affordable Hotel near Niagara Falls

The themed courtyard at the Best Western Cairn Croft in Niagara Falls

When my husband and I were looking for a weekend away during his electrical apprenticeship, money was certainly an issue.  The Man was still in school, after all.  We left the kids with his parents and on recommendation from his well-traveled father (who has worked in nearly every town in Ontario), we decided to stay at the Best Western Cairn Croft.

About a 30 minute walk to The Falls and away from all the noise and people, the Cairn Croft was a clean, inexpensive alternative to anything else we could have found at the lower end of the price point without sleeping with critters.  We checked in, change into dinner clothes and walked down to the main drag.

After spending too much money on dinner at the Spicy Olive (delicious food, but spendy), we took in the sights and a romantic ride on the Ferris Wheel.  By the time we walked all the way back to the hotel, our feet had given up on us.  The stay itself was uneventful, clean and for all intents and purposes, the hotel functioned as it should without any issues.  I would venture to say it was more of a family hotel than anything – given the pool and amenities geared toward kids.  We faced the courtyard pictured above and while people were respectful, it was still noisy with all the foot traffic through there.  The best part?  Walking to our car behind the hotel, late in the evening, and catching a bride smoking a cigarette in her wedding dress.  Klassy!

Now that The Man is a full fledged electrician though?  I expect to stay in the hub-bub next time and in a 5 star.  Value is great, but some days I’d like to pretend we have more money than brains.  If only just for a weekend of pampered bliss.

Photo credit: Best Western

Related: Luxury Lodging Near Niagara Falls