The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark

The park was loud, with slides, fountains, and music all going at once, but they had activities for every age and it made for a fun family day. Seating was plentiful, and the air felt comfortable, neither stuffy nor too cold. You could rent a cabana for more privacy or a sensory break. Staff were friendly and attentive, and the lifeguards carefully scanned the pools. Managers and supervisors were visible too. We didn't stay onsite, so I can't comment on the rooms. We had to move our day passes because of snow and ice, and they were very accommodating about rescheduling.

The lazy river was probably the best I've ever been on, and the slides were so much fun. There were activities for kids and families every day, plus movies on a huge lobby screen. Our suite had a balcony for fresh air, big bedroom TVs, and comfy beds. Breakfast and coffee were decent. The service was good wherever I went, and staff were friendly and helpful throughout. They answered my questions by text for months before the trip, and check-in was easy. I added room upgrades, and the cookies and cupcakes were amazing. Room service was quick with anything we needed, including extra towels, K cups, cups, and trash bags. Weekdays meant shorter lines for rides and other things, but a few restaurants were closed Thursday and Friday, which was frustrating. The casino next door had lots of great food and was a five minute drive away. One disappointment: the sweatpants I bought had a seam rip in the crotch before the night was over. We enjoyed our stay, and I'd recommend it, especially for families. We've been to Great Wolf before, and I honestly liked this more.

The rooms were decent, the beds comfortable, and the arcade was fun, though the prizes felt low quality for the price. The kids enjoyed bowling too. The dance party was tiny, just us, and the movie played in the noisy main lobby, sometimes hard to hear, with ads during it. Elevators were slow from room 733. It's a smaller, less crowded version of Kalahari or Great Wolf Lodge, but there's less to do. Four big slides were running when we visited, plus areas for toddlers and tweens, floating lily pad ropes, basketball, and an indoor outdoor hot tub. When staff took lunch "safety breaks," the lazy river and tween area closed, leaving huge lines at the four slides. They should staff better instead of closing attractions when offerings are already limited. The chlorine was overwhelming and irritated several people in our group, even though we haven't had that problem at the competitors mentioned above. This wasn't for my family, though other families seemed to enjoy the less overwhelming scale.

Kids can have a lot of fun here, with the indoor water park and arcade, and the rooms are standard with no complaints from me. Bring food or plan to drive 10 or 15 minutes into town. Eating at the restaurant inside isn't worth it. Otherwise, well worth the trip.