“The earth has grown old with its burden of care, but at Christmas it always is young, the heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair, and its soul full of music breaks the air, when the song of angels is sung.” ~ Phillips Brooks
Santa’s Village
Last weekend, I made the trek with my brother and his kiddos to Santa’s Village which is an amusement and water park, which if you haven’t guessed by the name, is Christmas themed. While the water park and all of the water rides close by October, (though an exact date varies based on air temperature) the park is open on weekends and special holidays, until New Year’s Eve where they have a big celebration before closing for a few months.
As a kid, I use to go there with my siblings and cousins. It was much smaller, with no water park, and it was summer. My parents would let us loose in the gated park, and we would ride the log flume, (a water ride) terrorize each other on the bumper cars, run away from my brother and male cousins (who really have no mercy) who would ride the Skyway Sleigh to scope everything out, (and throw pinecones at us) and race my sister on the red hot racers. It was always so much fun, annoying male relatives aside, and I have fond memories looking back.
I lost my senses was excited to finally experience it during the winter when they truly do bring the North Pole to life. It was even more exciting to do it with my nephews and nieces and see it through their jubilant eyes.
Way To Cold Elsa
Apparently Elsa couldn’t stand to share the attention with Santa, because when we got to Santa’s Village it was a good twenty degrees colder and spitting snow. Thankfully we brought snow pants for the kiddos, though the adults weren’t so lucky. We bundled up in all the layers and proceeded to make our trek through the amusement park.
Despite the cold it was bustling, with many people wanting to get in on the Christmas cheer. Santa does not allow any Grinches in his village, though crying kids are another story.
Their are a lot of things I could rave about, but honestly it is the simple things, and I just appreciated the heaters (though they didn’t help much!) and the warming tents they had sprinkled around the park. We had brought hand and foot warmers, though honestly I don’t think my brother or I thought we would have to use them. They were a life-saver. My hands are sensitive to the cold, and without them I don’t know if I would have lasted, and I know the kiddos wouldn’t have.
Exploring the Village
While the park is extensive, the winding walk ways are lined with trees, and with the snowy topped mountains in the background, you feel like you are in the woods with rides scattered through out. There are two theaters, and a small hamlet that houses Santa’s cottage, his reindeer, a church, a candy shop, a toy store and even a bookstore. It is quaint and rustic, making you feel like you truly are in the North Pole. All the names on the buildings play homage to Christmas movies including some of the Rankin Bass specials.
I stood by the heaters, in-between taking pictures, and sitting on a Rudolph swing for a little bit, as I watched the kiddos ride the antique cars, the Himalaya, play on the playground, because of course when you go the amusement park the playground is the best part. The bumper cars are the boys favorite so they rode them a gazillion times. We also saw Santa from a distance, but he had a lot of little groupies around him.
We went to the theatre and donned super stylish 3D glasses for a mini movie. Afterwards we went and grabbed at bite at the Burger Meister where I deviated from my usual hand warmer drink of choice and got a hot chocolate, that was actually quite delicious.
Ending The Night With Lights
During the winter the park is open later, and the trees and buildings are blazing with Christmas lights that twinkle against the night sky. There is a light show at the front of the park complete with the flashing bulbs and music.
We didn’t think we would stay until closing, but we were having so much fun, despite the chilly temps, that we did. We took a train ride, which was stunning with the snow and all the lights, and then finished the day watching the light show.
I admit I wasn’t sure how an amusement park in the winter was going to be. I am a huge wimp in the cold. Plus, I wasn’t sure how fun it would be, being bundled up riding the rides, but the layers weren’t an issue and I had an absolute blast. It was such a fun, festive, and unique way to celebrate the season, and I am so happy I finally got to experience Santa’s Village during the winter time, cold and all.
Have you ever been to Santa’s Village? Or a Christmas Amusement Park? Do you like Amusement Parks?
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I have wanted to visit this in winter and was sorry I wasn’t up for the trip. I am glad you all had a great time and it certainly looked very festive🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
How incredibly fun!! The decorations are so gorgeous, it looks like a little village instead of an amusement park. Glad you were able to brave through the cold & have such a good time, all the way to ’til the end. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the cheer!