To say we live busy lives is an understatement. Two full-time working parents plus two kids with multiple sports and activities leads us to a schedule that never lets up and usually has us in opposite directions. Then, you add in the holiday craziness of decorating, shopping, and family get-togethers, and December to us felt overwhelming. We needed time to reconnect as a family. So, I told the kids to grab their snow pants and boots, and swimsuits and flip-flops, and pack their bags! Camelback Resort in the Pocono Mountains was calling our name and it was a vacation that we will never forget!
Read on to get some ideas for planning your next family getaway -- and don't miss our article about Camelback's Adventure of a Lifetime giveaway!
Hitting the Slopes
We spent our first day at Camelback playing in the snow, and the amazing staff at Camelback made it so easy for us since we are new to snow sports. From the staff directing us where to go, to Adrian in rentals fitting my daughter's boots, and the patience of Patrick during their snowboarding lesson, everyone was incredibly helpful and friendly.
Our family was split down the middle when it came to snowboarding. My daughter took to it right away, so she and my husband had their own Daddy-Daughter afternoon practicing their skills on the beginner slope. Inside the warmth of the ski lodge, my son and I watched some NFL football and enjoyed lunch in the restaurant, then went out to the observation area and caught the end of the Daddy-Daughter snowboarding. Having time where we could each focus one-on-one with the kids was the perfect way to start our getaway!
Tips For Beginners
If you're thinking about taking up skiing or snowboarding with your family, check out the First Timer Program, and if you have an elementary student, the 4th and 5th Grade Snowpass Program. Both of these programs are run by the PA Ski Areas Association and are available at a variety of Pennsylvania ski resorts. They include free or discounted rentals, lift tickets, and other great opportunities for families to discover a new hobby together!
Tubing Under the Lights
After our adventures on the slopes, we checked into our fantastic room at Camelback Lodge and then changed back into our snow gear for an evening of Galactic Snow Tubing - brand new this season at the nation's largest snowtubing park! This was my FAVORITE part of our trip :) LED lights and music added an extra element of excitement to our first tubing adventure. With half of their 42 snow tubing lanes open for the night, we tried every type of combination imaginable - single tubes, double tubes, chaining tubes together... the options were endless and something all four of us could enjoy together! And I loved that you could hop on the magic carpet lift and ride up to the top of the slope to do it all again! You can see the fun for yourself by checking out their live webcam and our recap video of our snow day fun below.
Time to Splash
A trip to Camelback Resort wouldn't be complete without a visit to Aquatopia, their amazing indoor waterpark. Thirteen different water slides, a wave pool, lazy river, kids' play areas, and adult swim-up bars are what you'll find waiting for you in this natural-light, 84-degree-water paradise. While the kids did the most splashing, the hands-down favorite for our family was the Venus Slydetrap, a family-raft waterslide that leaves you screaming AND laughing. The first time we rode this, I ended up going down backward (never fails!) and had no idea of the exhilarating drop that was waiting for us. I screamed, the kids laughed, and everyone raced up the steps to do it again!
When my husband and I were ready for a break, we sat down and relaxed while the kids hit more of the slides. I loved that most of the waterslides were concentrated in one area of the waterpark so that no matter which of the slides they wanted to explore (because kids don't always agree!), we could safely keep an eye on them.
The final waterpark adventure was conquering the FlowRider, which allows you to mimic surfing either laying down with a boogey board or standing up with a flow board. You can catch some of their highlights in our video below.
Know Before You Go
Your visit to Aquatopia is included with your resort stay. You can use the waterpark the day you arrive (even before your room is ready) and the day you leave (even after you check out). There are showers and changing rooms, along with lockers and a room at the front desk where you can stow luggage.
All the suites include a mini fridge and microwave, so you can pack extra snacks or water bottles for your room. This is great if you have babies or special dietary needs.
Camelback Lodge offers a variety of daily activities for kids, so check the schedule you receive from the front desk. There is also a large family entertainment center with an arcade, ropes course, and other fun.
Disclosure: My family was a guest of Camelback Resort and SkiPA and received some complimentary services to facilitate this review. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
About Camelback
In 1963, Camelback Mountain Resort opened in the Pocono Mountains with 14 trails and three lifts serving 41,656 skiers. Today Camelback serves nearly 1,000,000 outdoor enthusiasts and visitors annually with 34 named trails, 16 lifts, 100% snowmaking, the largest snowtubing park in the U.S.A. and the newly launched, after-dark Galactic Snowtubing, Camelback Mountain Adventures (featuring the only mountain coaster in Pa, and North America’s longest twin 4,000 ft. Zip-Flyers) and Camelbeach Waterpark (the largest waterpark in Pa.). Newly opened is the 453-suite Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark featuring the largest indoor waterpark in the Northeast, adult spas, and their multiple ski-in/ski-out restaurants. Imagine skiing and surfing in the same day! Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark is located at the base of Camelback Mountain in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. The 453-suite lodge is coupled with the largest indoor family entertainment center and indoor waterpark in the Northeast. With Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark complementing the existing seasonal outdoor waterpark, skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, ziplining, treetops obstacle course, alpine mountain coaster and more, Camelback Resort offers more year-round excitement in one location than any other mountain resort in the country.
About Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (SkiPA)
The Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (PSAA), consisting of member ski areas statewide, is a non-profit association that was developed to promote and serve the Pennsylvania Ski Industry. PSAA works to encourage participation and enjoyment of skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and cross-country skiing in Pennsylvania.
