Great Wolf Resorts is a Midwestern company known for building indoor waterparks within driving distance of major metropolitain areas.  Typically, the locale offers a variety of recreation and shopping options, but not so much as to detract from the resort's on-site activities and restaurants. This formula was replicated in 2005, with great success, in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Within a few hours' drive of New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Boston is an easy, weather-proof vacation that's toddler- to teen-friendly.

The Poconos lodge is a cookie-cutter version of other Great Wolf resorts -- but what a wonderful cookie. Urban families will be delighted with the Canadian North Woods decor: elk antler chandeliers, Native American totems, and life-size replicas of timber wolves.  On the sloped log roof shading the reception area, near a pile of fishing gear, is a skunk that has slipped its trap. By the front door, where a complimentary shuttle van waits to take teens to a nearby outlet mall, a black bear greets arrivals. 

While it could never be mistaken for New York Chic, the resort is so sincerely playful that even black-clad toddlers and their au pairs will have fun while world-weary mom and dad relax. 

However, Great Wolf Poconos is not about supervised childcare, as most things kids do are with their parents.  MagiQuest, a interactive video game in which "magic" wands charged with smart chips are used to activate light fixtures, treasure chests and other resort furniture to gain points, is especially popular. Once the kids check out the dragon lair on the 4th floor, they can see what challenges they'll face if they plunk down their money for this run-around video game, and mom and dad can see how far they'll have to walk.

Another signature Great Wolf activity is the Pajama Storytime, in which toddlers and adults gather at night to hear Native American tales recounted by a local storyteller – accompanied by furry mascots Wiley Wolf or Biko Bear. Storytime takes place at the lobby’s enormous cuckoo clock, and though it doesn’t "cuckoo," the stately animatronic trees, smiling animals and a young boy do sing together.  These themes and stories change seasonally.

Downstairs, there's a Cub Club activity room monitored by staff counselors. Ages 13 and under are asked to participate with a guardian, hopefully working together on the range of available make-and-take projects, or sampling the board games. Another option is a large video arcade dispensing tickets redeemable for gifts (a huge kid-pleaser.)  Girls especially can enjoy a manicure at the ice cream-themed Scoops Spa. The small Aveda concept spa and fitness room are off-limits to children, so parents use the "Trading Spouses" technique to enjoy them.

Of course, the draw is the 90-foot-tall, climate-controlled, 78,000-square-foot playground with one million gallons of 84°F water pumping through. There are hoses, waterguns and a huge dump bucket, lots of big slides, and a water rollercoaster where rafts are hauled on a seemingly liquid conveyor belt. There’s a large wave pool for swimmers, a lazy river for single or double float potatoes, a four-foot-deep pool where gymnasts can balance between an overhead rope structure and sculpted lily pads (not as easy as it looks!), a raucous pool for teen basketball players, and dry benches for spectators.

Certified lifeguards and attendants are positioned at every attraction regardless of the number of hotel guests; all staff undergo background checks and have EMT training available.  Don't worry -- young guests get extra attention. Toddlers have a 12" zero entry pool with a tiny slide, little sprays of water and rope railings. (Discreet signs remind parents to use swim diapers and they're sold on property, but enforcement and accident monitoring is left to the pool attendants.)  Families are encouraged to play together and all waterpark-goers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult; complimentary lifejackets are mandatory for those under 48" using the wavepool.

The "all-suite" Poconos Great Wolf Lodge has several ingenious room designs comprised of partitions; most of the 400 rooms have a separate themed sleeping area for kids with bunks and its own TV/VCR/video game setup. The Kids Cabin suite sleeps 7 family members:  3 inside the “log cabin” walls in a bunk and lower single, and just outside, a queen bed for the grown ups, while the Majestic Bear Suite sleeps 8 (with the privacy of a separate bedroom). Other variations are the family of 4 style Wolf Den and KidKamp. The spacious Loft Fireplace suites sleep 8 and are popular with teens because there’s a queen bed and half-bath in an upstairs loft and two queens and a sofabed downstairs. Each room includes a balcony or patio and is well furnished, with a fireplace, work desk, two TVs, coffeemaker and minibar; note only a few larger suites have private bedrooms.  Food options range from reasonably priced snackbars inside the waterpark, to a varied buffet that ranges from sushi to pizza, to a café selling wraps, fudge, and Starbucks. Although there aren't many nearby dining options, and it's pretty expensive, Great Wolf Poconos does provide pretty good fare.

Here is a list of Scotrun, PA hotels based on user reviews from across the web at www.uptake.com.

Great Wolf Lodge Poconos, 1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun, Pennsylvania 18355 www.greatwolflodge.com;  866/478-9653 $$ - $$$$   C   A  B   B  Extra Credit::Lifeguards are on top of things. Comments: Teens can get restless from the focus on little ones, so teen clubs may come soon.