#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Visit: CoCo Key Water Resort, Hotel ML, Talia’s Restaurant {New Jersey}

October 15, 2012 · Narrative

Weekend - hotel
Back in July, as Nick’s birthday was fast approaching, I asked him what he’d like to do in terms of a party. He decided that he wanted to take one friend away for a trip to a indoor water park resort, instead of having a party. At the time, he was thinking about Great Wolf Lodge, where we had been with Mystic and his kids back in October (super late review coming one of these days!), but then I heard about CoCo Key in Mount Laurel, which was a little farther from us (and in the opposite direction), but the same general concept.

And so a plan was born.

It doesn’t make sense to me to go to an indoor water park during the summer, so we planned to do it when the weather started getting a little cooler (and an escape to an 80 degree indoor resort was more in order). Between sports schedules and various other interferences, it finally landed on the calendar mid-October.

Like Great Wolf, there is a hotel in the same building as the resort, as well as a restaurant, making it very convenient. After our last soccer games on Saturday morning, we packed up the car, picked up Nick’s friend and Mystic’s daughter, Taylor, and headed off.

I ended up getting a great package deal that included the hotel room, four passes to their water park, four passes to the nearby Philadelphia Zoo (separate review coming soon), and $20 worth of credit for the hotel’s arcade. We checked in, and made our way to the room, ready to unload our stuff and get bathing suits on right away.

Weekend - broken door

As soon as we walked in, I noticed the handle and lock hanging off the sliding door that led outside. In a first floor room. Me. Four kids. First floor room with a broken slider. No bueno. I called the front desk and the phone rang and rang and rang. I gave up and schlepped all the way back to the lobby (there is a lot of walking to be had at this hotel), and explained the problem. They promised to send an engineer down to look at it and would move us if it couldn’t be fixed.

We waited 20 minutes and decided to head off to the water park in the meantime. By the time we returned over two hours later, they still hadn’t come, I voiced my opinions, and we eventually got moved. Much better.

The kids and I watch Hotel Impossible, and it might have spoiled us. Or maybe we just like dust-free hotels. The bathroom had a $10 coffeemaker (at best) with a serious layer of dust on it. The dresser’s finish was wearing thin. The tv in the first room didn’t work. The rooms are a stark dichotomy to the image the hotel seems to be trying to project. They have bell hops, ready to help you with your bags, but the rooms look seriously tired. But the beds and bedding were bright white and clean (except for that all-important top blanket that we always remove right away; ick), and it was a decent place to stay. For what we needed, it was fine.

The water park is very similar to the Great Wolf set-up. But slightly not. They have many different areas, offering something for every age group, and every adventure level. There was a small pool with two slides that Madeline loved, getting a face full of water every time she slid down. A lazy river and a huge slide that, while still enclosed, actually goes outside of the building. And tons of slides, climbing areas, rafts, and other spots guaranteed to get you absolutely soaking wet.

Weekend - nearly full view

Similar to Great Wolf, there are lifeguards aplenty. Pacing. Watching. Whistle-blowing. They are conscientious and observant and don’t miss a thing. Which is awesome. While I wouldn’t trust them to watch my kids on their own, I felt good having extra eyes on them. Mostly because I’m extra cautious when it comes to kids and water, especially my littlest daredevil who has zero fear in the water.

Weekend - side view

They have towels for you to dry off, but their location is not readily apparent; we had to go asking for them. You need a wrist band to enter the water park area, but there is no one checking that you have one, as people were just wandering in and out. Two things that I think need attention.

At CoCo Key, you can get a day pass to just go and visit for a day of warm, tropical fun. At Great Wolf, you can only go if you are a guest in the hotel. For a Saturday afternoon, I was expecting it to be jam-packed; although there were a lot of people, there were enough activities to go around and the kids didn’t have to wait for anything (although the biggest slide had a teensy little wait and was most popular).

Weekend - first look

Right outside the water park, there is an arcade. I always groan a bit when I see them, because it’s such a draw for the kids, and such a money suck for the parents. The only reason we went in is because my room package included $20 credit in the arcade, so the kids played one game each, and then one of those claw games that guaranteed a winner every time. Which netted them each a large plastic bouncy ball. A guaranteed winner is my kind of game, and super pocket-friendly. Because while it’s fun, there’s nothing worse than mindlessly entering quarter after quarter after quarter to win a cheap furry toy that we could have bought much cheaper anywhere else.

After the kids had their fill of the water park, we headed back to our room to change and get ready for dinner. Because I didn’t know the area too well, we opted for the in-house restaurant, Talia’s. Although our waitress was friendly, I wouldn’t make that mistake again. Venturing out the next day, we noticed a Chicago Pizzeria Uno, a Bob Evans (where we ate breakfast the next morning), a diner, an iHop and a few other places that, in my opinion, would have been heaps better.

Before going in to the restaurant, I asked the front desk if the restaurant and the menu was kid-friendly. “Oh yes, it definitely is,” was the answer.

Not so much.

When we walked in at 6:30 pm, we were the only people in the restaurant. I scanned the menu quickly … filet mignon, shrimp, calamari … amongst a few burgers and sandwiches. Fancier food than we were looking for. I asked if they had a kids’ menu, and the waitress rattled off the usual suspects … grilled cheese, cheeseburger, chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese.

Madeline opted for steamed broccoli. Man, I love that kid.

The boys went with grilled cheese and a cheeseburger. Taylor, a steak, and an omelet for me. If you follow me on Instagram, you likely saw this picture. For $13. I wasn’t asked what side I wanted, and if I knew it came with a side or that I had a choice, french fries wouldn’t have been it.

Our food came out 40 (40!) minutes later, and staggered. First, two dishes. And then two more. And then the last one. Over the space of ten minutes.

I opted for skipping the in-house restaurant (and their $14 breakfast buffet) the next morning. Bob Evans across the street was just fine, thankyouverymuch.

I wouldn’t hesitate to bring the kids back to CoCo Key again. It’s a fun little spot for a quick getaway, and particularly perfect during the colder months when you need a little tropical temperature respite. Now that we’ve been to its adjoining hotel and restaurant, and better know the lay of the land, I would skip staying in this hotel. I would either make it a day trip (there are lockers available at the water park section) or stay in one of the other hotels I noticed in the area (there was a Fairfield Marriott property just one block away). While the package deal from the hotel (and the convenience factor) won out this time, I’ll just be a little more creative next time.

The bottom line? The kids had a blast, and Nick got exactly what he wanted for his birthday “party,” and that’s enough for me.

PS – Two more quick notes … at Hotel ML, they will charge an extra $100 security deposit upon check-in that releases a few days after you check out, and at Great Wolf, you have to pre-pay your entire reservation before you go.

PPS – Double post today! Grab your chance for a Subway gift card right here.

Tomorrow? A new recipe!

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: Bob Evans, CoCo Key, Fairfield Marriott, Great Wolf Lodge, Hotel Impossible, Hotel ML, indoor water park, Mount Laurel, Philadelphia Zoo, Talia's restaurant, water resort

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    October 16, 2012 at 6:39 am

    This hotel sounds AWFUL! I would have been irate if I were you. But at least the water park was fun!
    Joanne recently posted..Recipe: {Vegetarian} Bacon and Butternut Pasta with Caramelized Onions and Kale

    Reply
    • Cate O'Malley says

      October 16, 2012 at 8:39 am

      I wouldn’t go so far as to say awful … just ok.
      Cate O’Malley recently posted..Visit: Coco Key Water Resort, Hotel ML, Talia’s Restaurant {New Jersey}

      Reply
  2. paula says

    October 16, 2012 at 8:45 am

    Is there a wave pool? That’s my Nick’s favorite.

    We love GW but it’s expensive even with discounts. Last Christmas when the family asked me what to get the boys I luckily received an e-mail about GW gift certificates that day so for once I had the perfect answer to that question. We lucked out and got to take advantage of the lowest rates I’ve ever seen this summer. It was an offering for locals only but they sent the email to everyone and I didn’t notice we were out of range until I booked. I canceled but complained and they gave me the rate.

    There’s a new waterpark coming to the Poconos. It’s in the very early stages. It’s this company:

    http://www.kalahariresorts.com/wi/parks/

    I can’t wait. It looks like it might give GW enough competition to bring prices down.
    paula recently posted..This blog is not dead. It’s just in a coma.

    Reply
  3. Sarah Caron says

    October 16, 2012 at 10:59 pm

    Tired hotels make me antsy. I’ve heard great things about the CocoKey Water Resorts though (we have one near here too).
    Sarah Caron recently posted..Quickie Molten Chocolate Cake For One

    Reply
  4. Neel Armstrong says

    December 21, 2016 at 8:35 pm

    How was the water? Water temperature? Considering October was it warm enough to spend almost the whole day in the water?

    Reply
    • Cate says

      December 30, 2016 at 11:30 am

      It’s indoors, water was fine.

      Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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