Wednesday, November 27, 2019

SoCal trip report day 1: Great Wolf Lodge, Garlic & Chives, Bobapop, The Vox Kitchen

We had an extra day left on our Disney hopper ticket. So I decided to take a quick trip to SoCal to hang out with some friends and visit Disneyland. On our trip last month we drove by Great Wolf Lodge. I have seen commercials and have always wanted to stay here. Prices are pretty competitive to the surrounding hotels.

We arrived at 10 am and checked in, but our room wasn't ready yet. Each child receives a free pair of Wolf Ears. We were issued our wrist bands, which is also your room key.

There's also a candy store, but instead of selling candy by weight you buy a cup and you can fill it up as much as you can fit.


Since our room wasn't ready yet, we headed out to lunch at Garlic & Chives.

Complimentary spicy garlic edamame.

Stir-fried Ong Choy with garlic.

Stir-fried green beans with garlic. This was amazing.

Baked corn cheese.

Sea Snails sauteed in garlic butter sauce.

Salmon belly rolls.

Black Tiger Prawns with garlic noodles.

Grilled Scallops with Masago Roe.

Carmelized Catfish Claypot

Crispy Rice

Kristin's Famous Roasted Garlic Crab. We had to order it since it was our first time here, but I'd skip it next time. The meat just tasted like a regular steamed crab, most of the flavor was on the outside. The market price during our visit was $62.

The food at Garlic & Chives was really good and I'd definitely go back again.

After lunch, we headed over to BobaPOP Tea Bar for some bubble tea.



Some of our friends met up with us to hang out.

Around 3 pm we headed back to our hotel to see if our room was ready. It was really busy because everyone was checking in. When I got to the reception desk there was a really long line. I really didn't want to wait in line and one of the staff saw me and asked if he could help. I explained that we had already checked in earlier in the day and I just wanted to see if our room was ready. He was very helpful and got us our room number and I didn't have to wait in the long check-in line, which was nice.


Dunkin Donuts.

We went to our room to change into swim clothes and headed to the waterpark. Admission to the waterpark is included with your stay. Downstairs there was a bunch of other activities.




The entire waterpark is indoors. So no need for sunblock and it's a nice 82 degrees. Towels are provided when you enter the waterpark.

Water slide for the big kids.

Endless river and kids' playground.

You don't have to bring your wallet or money with you. You can charge everything to your room using your wrist band. They had bars everywhere. So you didn't have to go too far to get a drink.


Strawberry Mojito and Blackberry Margarita.


Cheese curds.


They have a wave pool and a pool for toddlers & infants.


They even had one of those wave riders.

After a day of drinking at the pool headed back to the room to change and headed to the arcade for a bit until our dinner reservations.

You can purchase a wand and go around the resort interacting with some of their props.

Mini Golf.

The ticket games are pretty generous and the prizes aren't too pricey either.


They even have bowling for the little ones.

For dinner we headed to The Vox Kitchen.

Spicy shrimp and pork wontons.

Elote (off the cob): fresh corn, parmesan, spicy crema, parsley.

Watermelon lemonade and strawberry lemonade.

Saltado "Shaken Fries" with rib-eye. This was very good.

Garlic Chicken Wings.

Bacon Brussel Sprouts: Brussel sprouts, bacon, sweet pork sung, egg.

House garlic noodles with prawns.


Truffle fries with trio of sauces.

The food at Vox was really good and the food came out very quickly.

After dinner headed back to the hotel to sleep. We have a long day at Disney tomorrow.