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Deeper Connections While On Vacation | Woodloch Resort

Woodloch’s Blog

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Deeper Connections While on Vacation

Traveling with the whole family can be stressful. Children have different temperments, and they are interested in different things at different ages. It’s basically rocket science trying to perfect a family trip.

So, let’s all accept that we are not all rocket scientists and realize that being perfect isn’t all it’s cut out to be. Sometimes bumps and hiccups are what makes a trip memorable and also what leads to the best laughs. Below are some quick tips to make your next trip the best one yet!

SCHEDULE PLENTY OF FREE TIME

When traveling with your family, realize that pretty much everything will take longer than planned. Keeping your schedule loose and leaving time for adjustment will make the occasional lost toy, meltdown, or hungry fury a bit less stressful.

At the moment, it may seem like a good idea to schedule a non-stop fun-filled day, but realistically this isn’t easily accomplished with kids of any age.
Instead plan a few specific things per day, but leave free time for naps and other things that may pop up. You also may discover other activities that your family loves that you never even considered!

EXPLAIN THE TRIP

Introduce your kids to the trip ahead of time. This will make them excited and also let them know what to expect. Oftentimes when kids feel uncomfortable they are not happy; many unknown factors can take away from the trip’s enjoyment. Imagine a kid going to breakfast at Disney with all the characters without ever seeing pictures of life-sized Goofy? They may get freaked out, but if you introduce them to it prior, they may go right up to Goofy and give him a hug.

This is also a good time to go over your expectations with your children about their behavior on the trip. Inevitably there will be meltdowns from sheer exhaustion, and not everyone will be able to get what they want at all times. Having this discussion with your kids will at least let them know the consequences for unruly behavior.

ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES

When traveling with kids we cannot emphasize this enough: things will go wrong. Lost phones, detours, missed busses, unexpected hiccups are unavoidable, and the sooner we all accept this, the better your vacation will be. There is beauty in imperfection, and usually a good story comes out of it. Keep in mind that traveling with your family is an adventure, and the memories are irreplaceable.

TRAVEL WITH ENTERTAINMENT

Keeping your kids entertained while traveling is crucial for your sanity. Long, grueling plane or car rides can be less than pleasant with bored kids. Bring books, toys, and electronic devices to keep them happy and entertained while trying to get from here to there. Don’t overdo it on the entertainment you chose to bring, but a few small items really can make everyone’s lives much easier.

Fun tip: Disposable cameras are a great gift to give children that are old enough. They can document the trip through their viewpoint and when you get home, it will bring them joy to develop the film and reminisce about the trip.

MAKE A LIST OF WHAT TO PACK

It may seem like a hassle to make a list of what to pack prior to your trip, but it is a lifesaver. This way you can visually see everything you need and prevent yourself from overpacking or forgetting key items. For some reason, it always seems to happen that we pack things we never even touch and forget the most important stuff.

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Large Family Reunion Rentals | An Autumn Getaway | Woodloch Resort

Woodloch’s Blog

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An Autumn Get Together | Woodloch’s Large Family Reunion Rentals

As we approach yet another new decade, more and more groups are beginning to plan family reunions during the cooler seasons such as autumn and winter. It has become abundantly clear that summer is no longer the only season for a good, old-fashioned, family get together, especially if you’re aiming to gather in the breathtaking Pocono Mountains. Sifting through potential family reunion venues can be a dizzying, strenuous process. There are so many things to consider, including cost, location, activities, and entertainment. 

Luckily for you, Woodloch Resort’s well-priced large family reunion rentals are less than two hours from New York City. We were recently named the number one family resort in the country by USA Today, thanks in large part to our seemingly endless all-inclusive activities, events, and adventures. Woodloch also has world-class meeting facilities, spectacular catering services, and talented, detailed reunion planners.

Event Space and Group Coordination

Yes, Woodloch Springs is home to several large family reunion rentals near our championship golf course, but you won’t (and shouldn’t) be constricted to your overnight accommodation. We have an entire staff of dedicated specialists that help coordinate fully-customizable family reunions. While Woodloch Resort offers over 30 homegrown activities 365 days a year, we fully understand if your group prefers to stick together in a private setting. We have a wide variety of event spaces located throughout our 135-acre campus—these spaces are often utilized for structured team-building activities. Guests can either cook up a feast for the whole gang or let our talented culinary team treat them like royalty.

Homegrown, Group-Friendly Activities

Large Family Reunion Rentals

No two family reunions are the same. As we mentioned earlier, guests can choose between over 30 homegrown activities on any given day, including staff-led games, contests, and challenges. We’ve grouped together ten of our most popular group activities to provide you with a “taste” of what a long-overdue family reunion could look like here in the Poconos.

  1. Fall Olympics
  2. Scavenger hunt
  3. Bakery wars
  4. Woodloch Feud
  5. Broadway-style theme show
  6. Cooking class
  7. Forest bathing
  8. Indoor splash zone
  9. Cocktail reception
  10. Golf outing

Large Family Reunion Rentals

Large Family Reunion Rentals

In order to become one of the top-rated family reunion resorts in the U.S., you must provide your guests with a diverse array of overnight accommodations. Yes, our 135-acre campus has dozens of hotel-style guest rooms and suites, but don’t forget about Lake Estates, Southwoods, Tallwoods Vacation Rentals, and Woodloch Springs. All of these three-to-six bedroom family reunion vacation rentals can house a large portion of your group under one roof. These spacious modern rentals feature full kitchens, living rooms, awe-inspiring views, comfortable beds, and easy access to a plethora of homegrown activities.

To inquire about a potential Poconos family reunion, please call us today at 800-453-8263 (option #2), or fill out this form.

Header photo courtesy of Danni P Photography!

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The Woodloch EDGE- Insider Tips on How to Win BIG!

Woodloch’s Blog

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The Woodloch EDGE- Insider Tips on How to Win BIG!

The great American football coach George Allen once said, “Winning is the science of being totally prepared.” Though every once in a while we’re brushed with a stroke of good luck, more often than not, champions are crowned through hard work, persistence and mental preparation. (I feel inclined to make a joke about the Cleveland Browns… but that city has been through enough.) 

I’ve had the pleasure of working in activities with guests for the past 20 years and I feel like I’ve gotten to know many of them on a personal level. And while we all know that the real joy in competing in Woodloch events is simply forgetting life’s troubles and enjoying some smiles with your family and best friends, we all know that winning sometimes just feels really GOOD. 

So be glad that you took the time to read this article. Whether you’re a “Woodloch veteran” or new to the game, we thought we’d give you guys just a little heads-up on ways to get an “edge” on your competition this summer. While I can’t ensure that this will get a medal on your neck, I can promise you that it will be worth your time to heed our advice! 

SCAVENGER HUNT

This one always takes the “newbies” by surprise. Forget any conventional hunts that you may have done in the past- there’s nothing quite like Woodloch’s Traditional Scavenger Hunt. Every year, we make it a point to make our hunts bigger, more challenging and ultimately better by adding new puzzles and mixing things up.

At its core, though, the same principles will always give teams a competitive advantage. Research our social staff’s website, WoodlochEdge.com, thoroughly just before you leave for your stay. There are several puzzles and games that offer list items as a reward, but we also give quite a few FREEBIES. Boom! 

Additionally, it can’t hurt to look at our Photo Gallery for additional clues. After all, you might just end up needing to dress up as a certain character! 

family reunions poconos

BIG TEAM ATHLETIC EVENTS

You know. The stuff that ONLY happens at Woodloch!

Whether you are competing in our new Them Games or our famous Summer Olympics, one thing remains constant: you are going to need to hustle. You don’t necessarily need the biggest and fastest team, but there needs to be some heart and motivation as your driving force! Those are the factors that make the biggest difference between being THE BEST instead of one of the rest.

Speaking of size, it’s actually a strategic advantage to have some smaller teammates in many of our games!  Nimble, agile and more compact friends on your team come in handy during many of the events in Family Double Dare and Pool Games! Small… but mighty!

Before heading out in that hot summer sun, be ready. Eat a good meal for energy before gametime (we feed you guys plenty here) and don’t be afraid to stretch out a bit beforehand. 

There’s a better than good chance that many of us haven’t ran in a while… and you’ll know this because you haven’t ran in a while. 

TRIVIA & MORE

So… maybe athletics aren’t your forte- which I understand completely. I was, and still am, the kid that would get hit in the face with a basketball every week in phys ed. Some of the more scholarly individuals find our greatest joys in flexing our intelligence for the gold. Woodloch offers an abundance of great trivia contests to showcase our smarts. As the old saying goes… “10 heads are better than one.“

“Name That Tune” and “Woodloch Goes to the Movies,” how I love thee! As much of a pop culture aficionado that I may be, I simply cannot tackle this all alone. To win big in these very competitive events, you have to properly recruit. Can’t tell Taylor Swift from Katy Perry? Recruit some young blood to help you out. Know that Grandma is a huge film noir fan? She’s going to come in handy. Some of the most successful teams we’ve seen here were the most eclectic groups of individuals you could think of! 

Our Dessert Wars are a true fan favorite! And there a lot of elements to a successful team. Someone needs to be artsy, neat and clean for a stellar presentation. RECRUIT THEM. You need someone with a vivid imagination (young kids are CLUTCH here). RECRUIT THEM. You need someone who is wise with a budget and can make good decision in a bind. RECRUIT THEM. All of these factors collectively make the best Dessert Wars teams! 

O CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN…

Last but not least, I will say that teams that earn medals always have a good leader. All of these games require a Team Captain. That captain is a coach, cheerleader and judge all at once, and good leadership brings in medals. Your captain must be an adult and somewhat responsible (which should, in theory, limit it to just about one person on your team. Easy decision)

THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED

Of course, you can follow all of this advice and simply be beaten. Hey, it happens- we have a lot of guests craving that same Woodloch gold that you are. A long time ago, someone once told me that they never “lose”- either you win big or learn something. Take that knowledge back, grow from the experience and keep trying. 

Because if one thing’s for sure, quitters never win and winners NEVER quit!

Good luck to everyone out there this summer- may the odds be ever in your favor.