Stomp, stomp, clap, clap, HOWL!!!” As my three kids and I checked into Southern California’s exciting new indoor water park resort, Great Wolf Lodge, we could hear this chant echoing in the Grand Lobby as kids acted out a nightly story-time activity. But, my two boys were too fixated on the colorful slides, wave pool, and giant water bucket to notice the other children’s wolf intonation. As each guest checks in, they are given grey wolf ears to wear and the promise of a memorable experience at this one-of-a-kind place. Their mission: to create family traditions, one family memory at a time.

   The family Mecca of Southern California is a perfect place for Great Wolf to build its 13th and biggest lodge in their pack. Executives didn’t want to take away from other attractions in the area, but rather complement them. They have a partnership with Disney, and a free shuttle takes Lodge guests to and from the amusement park daily.

   “We are excited to officially open our doors and provide the Great Wolf Lodge experience to families in Southern California,” says Ruben A. Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer, Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. “Southern California is one of the top destinations for family fun in the country, and we are thrilled to bring our unique experience to the area.”

   After checking into our KidCabin Suite, we couldn’t decide what to do first. A myriad of activities were ours for the choosing – all under one roof. In addition to the massive indoor water park, the Lodge offers entertainment: from interactive MagiQuest games and manicures and pedicures at Scoops Kid Spa, to an arcade, bowling, and glow-in-the-dark miniature golf. And, believe me, my kids couldn’t wait to do it all.

   We started with the biggest attraction—the water park!  The indoor water park, which has 4,000 feet of water slides, is exclusive for Lodge guests and offers fun for guests of all ages. The bigger slides have awesome drops and thrills to match their names like Totem Towers, Mountain Edge Raceway, and its signature Howlin’ Tornado, a six-story funnel slide.

   My older son spent most of his time on the Big Foot Pass obstacle course, where he tried to balance on floating logs and lily pads and hold onto hanging nets to get across the pool. My younger son tried his little heart out to stand up on a surfboard on the surf simulator, Wolf Rider Wipeout, but never quite got the hang of it. Together with the whole family, you can float along the Crooked Creek lazy river or catch a swell in the Slap Tail Pond, where waves reach up to three feet in height as they roll through every five minutes. The park uses 565,000 gallons of water of which they recapture 90 to 95 percent, using a state-of-the-art water filtration system that is built to re-circulate 100 percent of the time.

   As part of the grand opening preview party, Great Wolf Lodge invited local media to experience its culinary expertise with executive chef Chris Hammond. Aside from their wild mushroom risotto being fabulous, I was impressed with how much thought and consideration they put into their menu choices at their seven onsite dining restaurants. All of the ingredients for the lunch and most products used at Grizzly Jack’s Bar and Grill are sourced locally within 30 miles of the resort. Great Wolf Lodge restaurants offer many options for guests with allergies such as gluten or tree nut; because according to Hammond, one in four Lodge guests have allergies. “It’s all about inclusion,” Hammond says. “We will help with any dietary request.”

   During our three-day, two-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge, we played and explored from sun-up to sundown, and we still didn’t do it all. In fact, my youngest son only finished one chapter in the live-action adventure game MagiQuest, where he used his wand to find crystals around the Lodge. He’s excited because his customized wand will remember him; the next time we come, he can start where he ended to complete the other two quests in the game. We played miniature golf at the Howl at the Moon Glow Golf, battled laser configurations at Laser Frenzy in the Northern Lights Arcade, and experienced a motion thrill ride where we shot aliens in the Howly Wood XD Theater.

   Each of my three wolf pups even got to stuff and dress their own souvenir animal at the Great Wolf Kids Store. Once my youngest had his new buddy, Wiley, he set out on another adventure as part of Clubhouse Crew. This interactive scavenger hunt is really geared to younger children, but he still had a blast and finished it in no time.

   We had so much fun that my kids have all asked when we can go back. To celebrate the opening of Great Wolf Lodge Southern California, guests can save 20% off two or more nights when you book by April 8th. Additional information and reservation bookings can be found and made online at www.greatwolf.com/southern-california or by calling 888-960-9653. Great Wolf Lodge is located at 12681 Harbor Boulevard in Garden Grove.