The Official Blog Of Discover Upstate NY.com

Take The Kids to North Pole and Visit Santa’s Workshop

posted by Admin User at 2018-12-12 20:24:00

Return to READ THE LATEST BLOGS FROM UPSTATE NY

If you have young kids—or if you’re just young at heart—December is the perfect time of year to take a trip to North Pole, New York (a real place!) and visit Santa’s Workshop. While he and the elves are busy getting ready for Christmas, they can always spare some time to meet with kids and spread some holiday cheer, and it’s almost as fun for the adults to see the awe and joy on the kids’ faces as it is for the kids to meet Santa, his elves, and even his reindeer in person.

The small village of North Pole is located in the Adirondacks, just a few miles away from Wilmington and practically in the backyard of the skiing and snowboarding available at Whiteface Mountain. Its crown jewel, Santa’s Workshop, is just what it sounds like—a theme park created to look just like Santa’s home, with everything Christmas themed: rides, attractions, shops, shows, characters, décor, and more. Built to cater to kids, the park is scaled to their size, including the rides, which range from the Candy Cane Express train to the Santa’s Sleigh mini coaster, the Christmas Carousel, a Ferris wheel and more.

The village within the park includes Santa’s house and the reindeer barn, along with a few shops, some hands-on arts and crafts for kids at Santa’s Toy Maker, and personalized Santa hats at Santa’s Hat Maker. A big draw is the real US Post Office, with a North Pole address, where you can drop off letters to Santa or send postcards and Christmas cards; kids can even receive a letter back from Santa, sent from this address. There are even live reindeer, an actual north pole where visitors pose for pictures, and, of course, the chance for each child to meet with Santa himself, along with his helpers, for last-minute Christmas wishes.

Though the park is open year-round, winter is the most popular time to visit, and in December Santa’s Workshop plays hosts to plenty of Christmas-themed events. Yuletide Family Weekends, which take place until Dec. 23, include two days at the park, plus the chance for kids to create their own ornaments and decorate the tree, enjoy Christmas carols, storytelling and magic shows, and receive a special visit from Santa himself. This time of year, the Village of Lights is also in full swing, and the park is transformed into a twinkling wonderland complete with activities like caroling, roasting marshmallows over a fire, feeding reindeer and more. In 2018, the Village of Lights experience is open Dec. 2, 9, 16, and 20-23 from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

Santa’s Workshop is actually the oldest operating theme park in America, and it’s been well-preserved in the same spirit it was created in when it opened its doors in the 1940s. As a result, the park has a simple, nostalgic feel, harkening back to the era during which it was built, a relief from the hustle and bustle of today’s fast-paced, technologically-charged world.

It’s a perfect place to bring kids, but it’s got a spot in the hearts of many adults as well. For many families, it’s a multi-generational tradition; many grandparents who visit with their grandchildren now remember their first trip at the park with their own grandparents. But for those who have never visited before, now is a great time to start a new tradition, no matter what time of year.

PHOTO CREDITS
Santa photo credit Santa's Workshop Facebook
Reindeer photo credit Jo Amelia Finlay Bever
Village of Lights photo credit Santa's Workshop Facebook
Santa's House photo credit Santa's Workshop Facebook

posted at: 2018-12-12 20:24:00, last updated: 2018-12-16 20:55:36

You must be logged in to comment.

LOGIN CREATE AN ACCOUNT

▲