Louise S
Our family chose to have our most recent reunion at the Woodloch Pines Resort in Hawley, Pennsylvania. It has been rated one of the best family resorts in the United States. Perhaps proof of this claim is the number of guests who first visited as children and now bring their grandchildren to this lovely rustic resort on a stunning lake.||"Woodloch" has activities for people of all ages and a variety of interests! Our family had members who preferred hanging out in the lounge areas participating with other guests playing Bingo, games of trivia, arts and crafts, etc. We also had a fair amount of family members who wanted to be more adventurous and went on the bumper cars, played archery, hiked across the massive acreage, and explored the lake. Also, there are two escape rooms (much fun!), boat rides, pools (indoor and outdoor - with a splash zone), restaurants, coffee shops, horses for little ones to ride, and much, much, much more! Each day an activity list was posted on the Woodloch app and made available as printed copies. To sign up for the Escape Room and other "pay as you go" activities -you have to either go online/ app or call their activity desk. However, most of what Woodloch offers is included in the cost of your stay.||At this resort, you will find many room options across several building complexes. The main lodge is easily accessible via shuttle. The rooms in the Mountain Laurel building were very nice with options for a suite. The standard rooms we booked had couches, refrigerators, a balcony, and a well-appointed bathroom. The suites had a living-dining room combination with a nice kitchenette. There was no bathrobe(s) in the room. However, there is a safe in each room. Our suite had a washer and dryer.||We chose the breakfast and dinner packages for our group. As you enter the dining room, you are greeted by the owners/ managers of Woodloch. Nice touch. The waitstaff was super attentive and very kind. The food ranged from yummy healthy choices to overly salted dishes. Overall, there was a decent selection on the menu, and fresh salads and breads were served at every dinner. Our family loved the pumpkin/ banana bread.||At night there is live entertainment. Comedians, magicians, and musical shows are free for visiting guests to enjoy. Most were entertaining. But, I must add a bit of a warning to this review and say that the "balloon comedian" was NOT appropriate for the preschool set. This show's entertainer chose to engage children from the audience as his "assistants". Our preschool children thought these "assistants" were in peril during the "comic act" and started to wail (as did others) when pops of fire, loud noises, and a child placed in a box occurred.||Here are a few things one should know if you have a stroller, use a wheelchair, have autism, hearing loss, a visual impairment, or are traveling with a person with developmental/ special needs.||1. Most paths are paved in Woodloch Pines. Some pathways use pebbles instead of pavement. But, if you have accessibility issues, you may wish to request an accessible room in the main lodge. The shuttle van did not appear to have a wheelchair option.||2. Our rooms were in the Mountain Laurel building and it has a large enough elevator for a wheelchair. However. doors in and out of the building do not open electronically.||3. One would need to ask for an accessible room with braille or special lights to alert a deaf person if someone was at the door or the fire alarm was ringing.||4. Strollers are not permitted in some areas, per the fire code.||5. There is an adaptable chair for people with mobility issues to enter the main indoor pool. (I am not sure about the outdoor pool, as it was closed when we were there in late October.)||6. I did not see anyone who used sign language. (My family has hard-of-hearing members and uses sign language in loud environments.)||7. There are many steps and elevated points along paths and inside buildings - one will need to proceed with caution if you are unsteady on your feet or use a wheelchair.||8. The Woodloch resort had many guests with special needs, including Autism and Developmental Disabilities. They seemed to easily accommodate these guests with activities, and transportation.||9. The resort is "loud". Sound-reducing headphones may be needed if a guest is sensitive to noise.||In closing, the Woodloch Pines resort is an excellent option for anyone who wants to get away and enjoy a variety of activities in a lovely rustic setting. The people of Woodloch Pines are dedicated to making your vacation experience top-notch. Our family loved it here and we will be back!||Thank you, Woodloch!
