3 North Carolina hotels that are just as fun as theme parks

These three North Carolina hotels rival theme park fun with their unique and exciting features. Check them out and start planning your next vacation.

For many kids, Disney World is an ideal destination for pretty much any school vacation on the calendar. For parents, though, planning a trip to “the happiest place on Earth” can feel a little more daunting—especially when you take the overall vacation price into consideration. From airplane tickets (or gas prices), to theme park tickets, to a hotel and daily meals, the cost of attending this magical destination can add up quickly. 

The same can be said for many other, smaller parks. Having an entire family vacation at one of these places can cost thousands of dollars, which is a stretch for a lot of folks. The flip side of that struggle is the very real desire to make your kids’ dreams come true by taking them to a theme park for a few days.

Fortunately for our families, we’ve got a few North Carolina hotels that rival the type of enjoyment provided by these fine, albeit costly, establishments. Whether you’re looking for a day-long water park adventure or an evening filled with arcade games, these three hotels provide budget-friendly fun for everyone. 

1. Great Wolf Lodge Water Park – Concord

Right off the bat, the nice thing about the Great Wolf Lodge Water Park is that you don’t have to stay overnight at the hotel to enjoy this exciting spot. Although you certainly can stay if you want to take an extended vacation. Standard, themed, and premium suites are available. 

A two-night stay for a family of four at the KidKamp Suite will run you around $330, depending on the time of year and how far in advance you’re booking it. The plus side to that price tag? Water park passes and unlimited access to that water park are included in the cost of your stay. You’ll also receive unlimited resort-wide WiFi and access to a host of kid-centered activities and events. Some events included in your stay are the Hustle & Howl Dance Party, arts & crafts, and character appearances.

As if all of that wasn’t thrilling enough, the indoor water park stretches over 80,000 square feet, and the water is kept around 84 degrees for optimum comfort. Several attractions are housed in the water park, which are categorized based on a thrill scale. You can choose from mild, moderate, or high fun depending on what your kids are looking for and how old they are. All attractions, their descriptions, and their thrill levels can be found here.

Want to enjoy the water park but don’t want to stay overnight? Half-day and full-day passes are available, and promotions are offered on that same page if you’re looking for other ways to save some cash. Full day passes run around $55 per person, and half day passes are about $39 each.

For resort and birthday packages, as well as dining deals, click here.

2. Hilton Vacation Club Beachwoods – Kitty Hawk

The Hilton Vacation Club Beachwoods in Kitty Hawk offers laid-back family fun, which is perfect if you like to keep things a little more low-key. There are volleyball and tennis courts, indoor and outdoor pools, a playground, walking paths, a fishing area, and other amenities. 

Rooms range from $200 to $600 per night, depending on the size of the suite and the dates you’re planning to stay. You’ll have to pay a $30 daily resort charge in addition to the amount you’re paying per night. So, if you’re staying for three days, you’ll end up paying $90 in resort fees on top of the $200-$600 per night for your room. 

These resort charges provide you with access to barbecue equipment, WiFi access, board game and DVD rentals, paddle boat rentals, self-parking for one vehicle, corn-hole, spike ball, press reader access, and access to the tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts.

You’re also about a mile from the beach at the Hilton Vacation Club, which is helpful if you’re looking for another fun way to hang out with your family without spending a ton of extra money. You can walk to the beach and spend the day splashing around in the water, sunbathing, building sand castles, listening to the radio, reading, or playing catch. Or maybe if you’re lucky, a combination of all of these things. 

Just don’t forget the SPF!

3. Hampton Inn – Bermuda Run

If you’re working with a small budget, the Hampton Inn in Bermuda Run is a great place to have a day or two of family bonding time. We’re big supporters of making the most of what you’ve got, and that’s easy to do at this location. There’s a room with arcade games, an indoor pool that has two water slides, a patio with a fireplace, and free breakfast is included in the price of your stay.

The pool and the water slides are heated. The pool is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, but the water slides are only open from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. A room with two queen beds is around $115 per night, depending on the dates of your stay. Special rates for AAA members, military personnel, and veterans are offered by Hampton Inn, which you can read more about here.

To optimize your time here, we’d recommend hitting up the indoor pool and water slides, sharing a pizza on the outdoor patio, then playing some arcade games before heading back to the room to put on PJs and watch an animated movie together. 

Some of my best memories are of sitting side-by-side on a hotel bed with my mom watching a funny movie and sharing snacks. I’ll bet your kids will end up feeling the same way after spending a day or two with your undivided attention.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.