A Winter Getaway with Something for Everyone
For our first big family trip of the year, we set out to Camelback Resort in Pennsylvania. It was a mix of skiing, tubing, and indoor waterpark fun all under one roof. With three kids, we wanted a trip where everyone would find something they loved, and Camelback mostly delivered. But like any family vacation, there were highs, lows, and a few lessons learned along the way.
Here’s our honest review of the experience, along with tips to make your trip smoother and maybe even a little cheaper.
Tubing: A Great Time, If You Can Get Your Promo Tickets
Tubing was one of the biggest hits for our family, but actually securing our “free” tubing tickets (which came with our resort room package) was a headache. Before we even arrived, I spent five hours on the phone trying to redeem them. Once at the resort, I wasted another hour tracking down someone who could help. Eventually, I got the tickets we needed, but it took way too much effort. They also promised to comp additional tickets, but time will tell if that actually happens.
Once we were out there, tubing itself was a lot of fun. It took about four to five minutes between each run as staff reset the brake nets and mats, which felt slower than it needed to be. There was only 1 or 2 attendants at the bottom covering maybe 15 lanes. It could go a lot faster if they had 3 or 4 attendants. They also only had one set of tubing hills open, but we never had to wait more than one ride before getting back on, so it wasn’t a deal-breaker. If they had more help resetting, things could move faster.
If you’re booking a stay-and-play package that includes tubing, triple-check your reservations ahead of time and be prepared to follow up to make sure you actually get what’s promised. Don’t wait until you arrive. They made it pretty clear that no one in the hotel can help with that.
Aquatopia: Clean, Fun, and (Mostly) Worth It
The indoor waterpark, Aquatopia, was a solid part of the trip. Every ride was open, the park was very clean, and nothing required an extra fee, not even the wave rider. It’s always nice knowing I’m not going to get nickel-and-dimed for every little thing.
The rides were well designed for kids who are at least 44 inches tall, and if they’re 48 inches, they can go on everything. The biggest downside was the limited options for really little kids. They had a couple of short slides, but that was about it. Our youngest still had a good time, but families with toddlers might find the offerings a little sparse.
The food inside the waterpark was overpriced and just okay. We paid more than $70 for a dinner made up of frozen burgers, fries, and nuggets. I’ve had worse, but my burger was so charred I was tired of it before I even finished. If you’re staying at the resort, it’s worth looking into outside food options. We had pizza from the arcade area that was actually pretty good. It was a 22-inch personal pie with unlimited toppings for a couple of bucks extra each. If we go again, I’d probably explore more delivery options like Moe’s or another nearby restaurant. After delivery fees, we could probably get better food for the same or less than what we paid at the resort. The Trails End Pub was really good though. Highly recommend. But get reservations or go early.
Skiing: A Great Place for Beginners
Camelback’s ski slopes were perfect for our family, especially with a bunch of kids for their first time. They have a lot of green trails, which is harder to find for Northeast ski resorts, so beginners and younger kids won’t feel stuck on a too-hard slope, or the same slope all day.
The mountain itself was well-groomed, and the lift lines moved quickly, which was a big plus. Since we went during New York’s winter break, which wasn’t the same as Pennsylvania’s, the crowds were minimal. We barely waited more than five or ten minutes for anything on the mountain.
A few small issues stood out. Some ski lifts had little uphill sections before getting on, which made things tough for kids without poles. The lift tickets use RFID cards that are supposed to be scanned through your pocket, but they didn’t always register, causing frustrating hold-ups in line. I personally preferred the old-school method of zip-tying a tag to your jacket and just showing it to the operator. It may have been more work for the employees, but it was definitely easier for skiers.
If you plan to return, rentals can cost about as much as buying beginner used gear, and my wife found people practically giving away their old equipment on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist. She even spotted a full set, skis, poles, helmet, and a carrying bag, for just $35. If you can find used boots at a similar price, you could get everything for the cost of a rental and then be set for future trips. Plus, Camelback has a ski-in/ski-out area if you have your own gear, meaning you can skip the rental lines and shuttle and just get straight to skiing.
The only other suggestion, get a receipt at the walk-in and walk-out food section inthe ski lodge. You give them your credit card and the amazon cameras watch everything you do. Then it just charges you when you walk out. However, my youngest picked up a cookie and begged me to get it. I said no and he put it back where he found it. Guess where I found it though, on my bill. So, now I’m waiting to hear back from support to remove the charge. It was Kelly’s idea to get the receipt. Thanks to her!
The Resort Itself: Good, But Some Annoyances
We stayed at Camelback Lodge, which made getting around easy, but there were some hiccups. The shuttle system was great with heated buses running every 10-20 minutes and took us anywhere we needed to go, whether it was the mountain or the tubing area. The drivers were all friendly and helpful, making it a smooth experience.
The activities were also pretty great. While there was donut decorating every day, and balloon twisting every day, the standout experience was the reptile guy. You could pet an alligator and he showed some pretty cool stuff. Plus, he was super informative. We also did silent disco which was fun. My only gripe about the activities is they were all in the smallish lobby with doors opening and closing. That made every activity take place in the cold. Something needs to be done about that.
The biggest issue we had was with the wristband room keys. After checking in, you have to wait for a text saying your room is ready, then get back in line to register the bands to your room. We didn’t realize this, and no one told us that, so we carried all our luggage to the room, only to be locked out and have to go all the way back to the front desk. The bands also deactivated a couple of times during our three-day stay, which got annoying fast. Plus, they made it clear at check-in that losing a band would cost $25, which seemed excessive since you take them home with you anyway.
The room itself was pretty standard, nothing to write home about. The only real complaint was the beds. They were rock-hard. I usually like a firm mattress, but this was next-level. Even my 8-year-old mentioned it when I asked him how he liked the room.
Would We Go Again?
Yes, but we’d do a few things differently. The resort is pricey, but staying on-site made life easier, so we’d likely do that again. However, there are opportunities to stay nearby at much cheaper rates if the other ‘luxuries; aren’t needed. Next time, we’d get more creative with food, maybe bringing in outside delivery instead of resort meals. We’d also buy used ski gear instead of renting since at least a few of us really enjoyed the skiing. And if possible, we’d aim for another midweek trip to avoid crowds.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly winter trip, Camelback is a solid choice. If you only want a waterpark experience, though, you might be better off at a dedicated indoor waterpark like Great Wolf Lodge or Kalahari. Aquatopia is a great choice though for a quick stop or an addition to the other winter activities But, for a mix of skiing, tubing, and water fun, this place checks all the boxes.
In the end, the best part was that each of our kids had a favorite part of the trip. One loved skiing, one loved tubing, and the other couldn’t get enough of the waterpark. That’s a win in my book.
