Resort Guest Activities

Children will enjoy the experience of our hand-led guided rides and friendly interaction with adorable and gentle ponies from a local farm. For the safety of the animals, please note that children up to 100 lbs can be accommodated for rides.

Join us at the archery range to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow or to show off your skills and perhaps partake in some friendly competition at hitting the bullseye. Instruction and equipment are included. Ages 10 and over. Parental supervision is required. Included with your stay at either Resort hotel.

As one of the premier wine cellars in North America, this architectural marvel encompasses nine interconnected chambers which house one of the world’s best wine collections. Tour the Wine Spectator Grand award-winning Wine Cellar Wednesdays - Sundays beginning at 3:00pm. The tour will last 30-45 minutes. Please meet at the Crystal Tavern hostess stand in the lobby of the Crystal Springs Clubhouse. Available to guests of both hotels.

Suitable for first time and seasoned clay target shooters. Using a modified shotgun, participants fire an infrared beam at reflective clays. Real, deactivated guns are used with realistic sound effects that instruct the shooter when they have hit the target. This activity is hosted at Minerals Hotel.

Experience the thrill of rock climbing with a state-of-the-art climbing wall designed for both beginners and more advanced climbers. Featuring innovative catch-and-hold technology, guests can challenge themselves in a safe and exhilarating environment. Hosted at Minerals Hotel.

BINGO! Join us for a night filled with laughter, excitement and the opportunity to win fun prizes as we play bingo under the glow of black lights! Hosted at Minerals Hotel.

Create a shimmering beaded snowflake to compliment the season in this complimentary session!

Join us for a fun program with our local animal educator partners. Professional guides will share fun facts about the visiting animals which include everything from exotic animals to invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

Warm up around the fire and make some memories with a good old fashioned marshmallow roast. Great fun for adults and kids alike.

Come try this modern sport, which involves throwing an axe at a wooden target, and attempting to hit as close to the bullseye as possible. Get your competitor hat on in this safe and fun environment. Session includes a trained guide who will show guests the responsible way to participate.

All the fun of traditional archery, with a modern twist! Hoverball Archery is an innovative target game where balls hover in mid-air, challenging players to hit moving targets with soft, foam-tipped arrows.

Featuring a family friendly movie - complimentary only to Grand Cascades Lodge guests.

Join us for a friendly competition to see if you have what it takes to become our Minerals basketball 3-point champion!

Grand Cascades Lodge is excited to welcome the New Jersey Sled Dog Club + North Jersey Siberian Husky Club on February 20th, as they share their knowledge about the dogs, equipment, sleds and strategy. Enjoy the chance to get up close and personal with real Husky sled dogs!

Try this winter sport by the Glice Rink at the Crystal Springs Clubhouse. Two teams of players slide curling stones down a sheet of specially prepared synthetic "glice" attempting to get their stones closest to the target's center.

Try this winter sport by the Glice Rink at the Crystal Springs Clubhouse. Two teams of players slide curling stones down a sheet of specially prepared synthetic "glice" attempting to get their stones closest to the target's center.

Glice is a Swiss engineered eco-friendly synthetic material that can be skated on, even when it is above freeing. Come glide around the rink and then warm up by the fire with a hot cocoa or festive adult beverage from the Jacques Torres Hot Cocoa Hut. Hosted at Grand Cascades Lodge. Skate time and skate rentals are included for guests of both hotels.

Recreate a LEGO model using teamwork and communication! One person views the original, one gives instructions, and one builds without seeing it. Designed for families of three, with extra builders welcome.

Kids can choose their design, color it in, then write their very own season's greetings. All that's needed is a bit of creativity to make a one-of-a-kind card for family and friends!

Dream up your own face painting design to have our artist recreate on you!

Clay introduces kids to a wide variety of cognitive and manual skills, making one of the most important (and most fun!) mediums for kids to work with. Join us as we create 3-D figures of animals with step-by-step instruction in this complimentary class. Reservations required. Hosted at Minerals Hotel.

Guests of both of the Resort's hotels can enjoy nearby hiking trails including the legendary Appalachian Trail or the Resort's picturesque on-property Wild Turkey Nature Trail adjacent to Grand Cascades Lodge. The Wild Turkey trail is approximately three miles long with some challenging uphill sections. Appropriate footwear is recommended. Visit the Concierge at Grand Cascades Lodge or the Adventure Center Desk at Minerals Hotel for recommended local trails based on season and weather.

Come play the fastest growing sport in America. Pickleball is a cross between tennis & ping-pong, and is ideal for any age and athletic ability. Matches can be played by singles or doubles. Three courts are available for use by Minerals Sports Club members and hotel guests.

Put your teamwork to the test as your family races to complete a jigsaw puzzle together. Work side-by-side, divide and conquer, and see how quickly you can bring the picture to life. Fun for all ages and all skill levels!

Kids will decorate wooden ornaments using birdseed and edible glue to create nature-inspired designs. Once finished, they can take their ornament home and place it outside to help feed the birds. A fun, hands-on craft that blends creativity with a little care for nature.

Get creative and bend, twist, and shape colorful chenille stems into your very own flowers! Kids will use their imagination and fine motor skills to design blooms that are as unique as they are. A fun, hands-on craft to take home and enjoy.

Kids are invited to get creative by crafting their very own Valentine greeting cards, allowing them to express their wishes in a one-of-a-kind way. Cards and supplies are provided for all participants. Move over Hallmark!

Prepare to be amazing by Mentalist John Graham, a master of mind-reading, influence and psychological illusion. Through his interactive performance, John leaves the audience wondering what is real. This show is smart, funny and endlessly surprising!

Enjoy a guided walk with our resort naturalist while practicing sensory awareness such as scent, sight, sound, breath, to quiet the mind and deepen connection with the inner self and the natural world. The walk culminates in a 10-minute guided meditation with a focus on connecting with the earth.

It's time to get your competitor hats on for some family friendly competition! Join us for a traditional game of Bingo, filled with laughter! Hosted at Grand Cascades Lodge

Gather with friends at Frosty’s Courtyard—an outdoor holiday escape with twinkling photo spots, lighthearted games, and a North Pole Mail Stop . Top it all off with festive cocktails and cozy drinks from Frosty’s Cantina, open weekends only.

Bungee Floating is a motion based resistance training class. It uses a combination of fitness training and a full body cardio workout that is high intensity all while you float weightlessly. All levels are welcome, ages 16+.

Join us for our annual Easter Egg Hunt - open to hotel guests and guests dining at our Easter Brunch buffet.

Put on your croquet whites or come as you are to the lawn in front of the Crystal Springs Clubhouse for some friendly lawn game competition. Croquet is a lawn game that is originated in England that is played with wooden balls and mallets where individuals or teams compete by hitting the balls through a series of hoops or wickets planted in the ground. On most dates in season, the lawn and croquet equipment croquet equipment is available for guests of both hotels to play on a first come first serve basis.

Minerals Hotel guests are invited to pick one of our favorite summer lawn games and enjoy it for the day!

Join our very own Farmer Keith to learn everything you wondered about bunnies! Meet his furry friends as Farmer Keith shares fun facts, daily tasks and learn what its like to raise these animals.

Discover the wonders of the universe with Franklin Astronomy Club founder Zach Lichtmann. View amazing celestial targets with a high-powered telescope while hunting for orbiting satellites soaring overhead. An informed, casual discussion allows time for astronomy questions to be explored. Hosted at Grand Cascades Lodge.

Calling all cannon ballers and belly floppers! It's time to make waves at our Big Splash Contest - do you have what it takes to make the most epic splash of the day?

Unleash your creativity as we combine photography and light in this mesmerizing activity! Our Resort photographer will use long exposure techniques, as guests 'draw' images with sparklers in the air, creating stunning visual effects.

Stocked for fun to accommodate "catch + release", the sparkling freshwater quarry and dramatic 80 ft limestone cliff make for an inviting setting.

They're back! Guests of all ages love to watch the local goats have fun in friendly competition. May your favorite goat win.

Step onto the green after dark for a one-of-a-kind Glow-in-the-Dark putting experience under the stars.

Join JC from Bees, Birds and Bears Apiary, as he shares fascinating facts about how a bee colony develops, how honey is made and why bees play such a vital role in the food chain.

Join our Resort Gardeners for a tour of the incredible Chef's Garden.

Harness the power of the sun to create your own stunning resin jewelry! In this hands-on craft session, you’ll design and craft a unique pendant using elements from nature, shimmering inclusions, and crystal-clear UV resin. Then, watch your creations cure to a glossy finish under the magic of sunlight.

Relax under the stars with a family friendly movie at Minerals!

Guaranteed to bring out your inner child and 'quack' you up! Join us at the Minerals outdoor pool for a hilariously fun race to the finish in out of our giant rubber duck floats.

Discover the powerful role of pollinators - like monarch butterflies - and how they keep our planet thriving! This fun, family friendly talk explores these amazing creatures shape our everyday lives.

Join our Activity team on the splash yard every day this summer for a wet and wild good time! Our wacky challenges are suitable for the entire family or just the kiddos - the only rule is that you need a partner to participate!

Guests can enjoy an educational tour at nearby Vernon Valley Farm, where the managing farm team utilize nature's synergies to create a fully sustainable farm. Guests will enjoy a guided tour of the farm, interact with various farm animals and harvest fresh fruit or vegetables in season. Vernon Valley Farm consists of over 270 acres, with exquisite views of our area.

Join our very own Farmer Keith to learn everything you’ve ever wondered about raising chickens! Meet some of his feathered friends as Farmer Keith shares fun facts and daily tasks for taking care of chicken!

Meet Farmer Keith's baby chicks after our Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday!

Party with us on the outdoor Activity Field at Grand Cascades Lodge. Enjoy an array of glow in the dark games, DJ, marshmallow roasting and cosmic axe throwing. Cash bar with glowing drinks, glowing cotton candy and glow bling are available for purchase.

Bring the whole crew and join us for an afternoon packed wit excitement! Enjoy lawn games, crafts and face painting, snack on sweet cotton candy, and test your skills with hoverball archery and axe throwing. Whether you're here to play, create or compete, there's something fun for everyone.

Santa knows if you've been naughty or nice, but you still need to write him all that you want for Christmas! Visit the North Pole Post at Minerals to fill out a holiday card with your gift wishes, then mail it to St Nick!

Follow the trail through a series of short videos featuring one of Santa's mischevious elves as they explore the Resort! At each stop, scan a QR code to watch a short pre-recorded video showing the elf's next destination. Follow the trail, collect clues along the way, and solve the puzzle to earn a festive prize at the end!

'Tis the season to enjoy your favorite holiday songs. You'll be entertained by the sounds of the season and can also sing along to all your favorite carols. Our group will make spirits brights with an array of popular and beloved tunes. Hosted at Grand Cascades Lodge.

A visit to our live nativity scene will awaken your holiday spirit. This holiday event features staff in costume and live animals, which bring the story of Christmas to life. Photos are allowed. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the visit. Included for guests of both hotels. Hosted at Christmas Corner by the Crystal Springs Clubhouse adjacent to Grand Cascades Lodge.

Join us at Frosty's Cantina to watch clips of your favorite holiday movies and pull up a chair to roast some marshmallows on the fire and enjoy the lights and holiday decor in Frosty's Courtyard. Hot cocoa and festive adult beverages are available but not included. Hosted for members and resort guests at Minerals Hotel.

Have you been naughty or nice? Make sure to bring your camera and holiday gift list to meet the man with the goodies in his bag. Santa will be visiting Grand Cascades Lodge Fridays and Saturdays this holiday season. Reservations are not required. First come, first served. Open to Members and guests of both hotels.

It's time for festive and fun Reindeer Games at Crystal Springs Resort! Enjoy a variety of winter and holiday themed family games including the Musical Candy Canes, Reindeer Ring Toss and many others. Hosted at Minerals Hotel.

Come out for a holiday meet and greet with Santa's baby goats. These adorable animals love to dress up for the season and play with guests of all ages. Step into their pen for some unforgettably fun photo opportunities. Children must be accompanied by an adult during the visit. This experience is accessible to guests of both hotels.

Kids will have lots of fun creating holiday ornaments. A little glue, some glitter and a few basic craft supplies are all that's needed for decorations that youngsters can easily make. These DIY ornaments make great gifts, or add a special touch to your tree.

Santa's official reindeer trainers are making a special stop at Minerals to show us how they get Santa's fleet ready for the big flight on Christmas Eve! In this playful demonstration, our friendly Resort Reingoats - goats dressed as reindeer - will stand in for Santa's famous team while the trainers share their magical methods.

The holiday Light Hunt is a fun scavenger hunt where guests search for animal lights that are hidden outdoors around the property. Hosted at Grand Cascades Lodge.

Meet local farmer Keith and his friendly furry and feathered friends when he comes to visit the resort on select dates! Learn fun facts about baby goats, ducks, chickens, bunnies, sheep, miniature horses, alpaca and other Appalachian farm favorites.