The Spread:

Find the best rate at the: Great Wolf Lodge, Traverse City here.

Traverse City's Great Wolf Lodge, like its seven other sister properties in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions (plus one over the border in Niagara, Canada), marries family-friendly rooms to an indoor, mega water park. Probably one of the things you liked best when traveling with your parents was afternoon splashtime in the motel's pool, however humble. With the Great Wolf formula, the roadside hotel has turned into a northwoods log lodge and the pool's moved indoors ("weatherproofing the family vacation") and morphed into a monster-sized water playground. Most properties, including Traverse City, have a spa for parents.

Why Families Love It:
Instead of drop-the-kids-off children's programs, the Great Wolf lodges emphasize family-focused aqua action. At the 281-room Traverse City property, open since March 2003, Bear Track Landing beckons with a 40,000-square-foot water complex with five pools and plenty of water action. Splash down eight slides, especially the two Alberta Falls tubes that twist you over 300 feet before dumping you in a plunge pool. The Cub Paw Pool for little kids has zero-depth entry. Float on Crooked Creek’s lazy river, and climb on Fort MacKenzie, a four-level concoction with sprays and more than 60 guest-activated water effects. Get in line when the big bucket dumps 1,000 gallons of the wet stuff over the entire fort.

Out of the water, do crafts with your kids at Cub Club, when it's not being used as a birthday party room. Three of the seven types of accommodations include adult sleeping areas, plus themed kid corners. The KidKamp suite has a tent-like space for kids, the Wolf Den creates a rock-patterned nook, and the KidCabin suite offers a log cabin for three kids. Rooms with two to three queen beds and a living area aim at multi-generational families. Get out of the water long enough to dine at the woodsy-themed Camp Critter Bar & Grill or the Loose Moose Cottage.

Special Events & Activities:
Gather the kids round the Grand Clock Tower in the ersatz log cabin lobby at 8 p.m.—pajamas preferred—for story time and an appearance by mascot Wiley the Wolf.