Courtney Santin (centre) is backed by sister Sydney Santin (left) and buddy Cassandra Preece. -- Photos by Tracy McLaughlin

You will have a howling good time if you go to the new Great Wolf Lodge resort at Niagara Falls -- but please, bring the cubs along.

Of course, any frazzled business executive would enjoy a stay at this first-class family resort, with its cozy conference rooms, wireless access and elegant Elements of Aveda salon and spa that pampers guests in candlelit rooms with massage tables and even a couples massage room.

But little guests would love this rustic, woodsy, Canadian themed resort, where a talking moose tries to make friends with them as they enter the grand lobby and a talking tree wishes with all its heart that it could run and jump and play.

"It's a kids kind of place," says general manager Keith Simmonds during the official opening April 13, where owner and business tycoon Jim Pattison cheerfully shook hands with Bob Masterson, president of Ripley's Niagara Water Park Resort in the Lodge's waterpark. Moments later, they were mischievously doused with giant pails of water to the delight of a clapping audience.

Ah yes, the water park -- now that's something worth howling about. The multi-million-dollar 90-foot tall indoor waterpark, called Bear Track Landing, is Canada's largest indoor water park.

Walk through an imaginary puddle and hear the splish-splash-sploosh through the doorway of Bear Track Landing and step into a water world of wonder with 13 colourful, giant water slides surrounded by wave pools, water forts and water play areas where kids can get lost for hours under the watchful eyes of lifeguards.

"I haven't seen my kids since breakfast," quipped a relaxed Dan Santin as he stretched out on a lounger reading the newspaper by the wave pool in flip-flops like a tourist on a sunny beach.

"But there are lifeguards everywhere so I don't have to worry."

The local resident and his family were guests at the resort for opening day because his children are members of the Great Wolves soccer team, which is supported by the Lodge.

"Niagara Falls has its breathtaking falls and it has its Casino -- but we needed something for the kids and this place is amazing -- they didn't go half way -- they went the whole nine yards here."

"This is so cool," sputtered his daughters, Courtney and Sydney, moments after being shot out of a giant roller-coaster ride called the Niagara Rapids that takes guest uphill to an awesome 16-metre drop.

"I liked the Vortex the best," said Courtney. "It's scary going through the dark."

The giant yellow and green winding Canada Vortex takes brave water-riders through a black hole then shoots them out into a giant-sized bowl where they twirl round and round, closer and closer to an ominous looking hole in the centre, then sucks them down and shoots them through a 12-metre plunge to the end.

There are also body-speed slides for the very daring, and three kiddy slides that gently drop little riders off into a serene splash pool. Parents can relax in a soothing hot tub outdoors without a care in the world that their children are having the thrill of their lives.

Craig Kuhnlein, 11, from New Jersey, makes his way along the obstacle course.

After a full day at the water park, or maybe a stop at the Northern Lights Arcade across the hall, children look forward to getting into their jammies and heading to the grand lobby for story-time around the fireplace before heading back to their bunks.

The 406 suites feature kid-themed rooms with bunks inside a mini logged cabin fort off the main suite, where young guests can crawl in for a good sleep -- until the waterpark reopens at 8:30 a.m.

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MORE INFORMATION

General Manager Keith Simmonds welcomes guests in the lobby.

The spectacular log-sided resort is AT 3950 Victoria Ave., in Niagara Falls. See greatwolf.com or call 1-800-605-WOLF (9653).

Three thrill-seekers land with delight at the bottom of the behemoth Wooly Mammoth raft ride at Great Wolf Lodge Niagara.