Welcome

At Woodloch, we focus on entertainment and activity as catalysts for wellness for the family. The stage is set for family play and enjoying the beauty of our surroundings during any season. When one family who has been coming to Woodloch for years settles down on all the memories, the journey of happiness is clear. This is the case for Barry.

Barry has been staying at Woodloch with his family for years. He watched his grandkids grow up here. His kids enrolled him in a program called StoryWorth, a publishing house that supplies a new incisive question each week and then, at the end of the year, publishes the responses as a book of family history.

His question of the week centered around the best trips he’s taken.

Barry explains, “A number of years ago, I started a simple spreadsheet, listing every major event in my life that I could remember. I thought that my children would enjoy reading it when I was not around to talk about it. The definition of ‘major’ was pretty loose and I am sure I missed countless items in spite of the fact that I remembered 79 trips. WOW.” However, Woodloch was not listed but rather lived in a category unto itself.

“How incredibly lucky we have been. How many places, how many cruises, how many wonderful adventures? And within each, there were many sub-trips. Excursions brought me helmet diving, zip lining and much more.”

In spite of all the good memories that it stirred, and the careful analytical process that followed, it did me no good at all. The annual family Woodloch experiences topped even the most exotic or expensive trips. Woodloch wins again.”

So what is Woodloch to me? Family, family, family with a mixture of countless adventures within that construction like: Double Dare, Scary Halloween-like walks in the woods, wall climbing, archery, shooting, skeet, bumper boats, swimming, sailing, golfing, miniature golfing, playgrounds, hayrides, tubing, cake decorating, silly nighttime shows, and my fingers are getting tired.”

In the end, Barry remembers back to what matters most, “…but if I asked the family what was most important to them, as I have asked each year, it was the “Big House” itself (the family’s beloved Woodloch Springs rental) where a family member could be found at every turn, and the night-time meals brought out family favorites and a kid’s night that started with hot dogs and developed into multi-course magic. The House was what they all enjoyed most.

And if you asked either Linda (Barry’s wife) or me, it has been the best present for the two of us to ourselves, in spite of my long computerized list of the ‘other’ trips we have taken. Woodloch wins.”

A big thank you to Barry for sharing these tender memories with us. It’s reassuring to hear that, at least for the Howard family, we’re on the right track. It’s not about the destination, it’s the journey. And more importantly, it’s the company you keep along the journey.

Safe travels,