Finding Santa in the North Pole

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” But, where does he live? Ask anyone – young and old: “Where does Santa live?” The answer may be Alaska, New York, or Colorado and they would all be correct. I have been to several “North Poles” but not the geographic North Pole.  I’ll leave that to more intrepid explorers.

Alaska is where the spirit of Christmas lives all year long. The streets of North Pole, Alaska have Christmassy names but the main attraction is Santa’s House with the 42-foot Santa outside waiting to greet people and his reindeer are nearby. As one might expect Santa’s House has all sorts of Christmas paraphernalia. If you go to their website you can have Santa send a “personal” letter to someone.

New York State has its own North Pole nestled in the Adirondacks

near Lake Placid. It is one of America’s oldest theme parks. The North Pole is open all summer and also weekends in November and December. There are rides, shows, shops and an icy “North Pole” you can touch, but the highlight is meeting Santa and telling him your secret wishes. Visitors can feed Santa’s reindeer. This is a favorite with grandparents who visited when they were youngsters.  It is a step back into a quieter time.

Colorado has its own North Pole theme park in Cascade near Colorado Springs. Children will enjoy the more than a dozen rides including a miniature train, magic shows, feeding the goats and, of course, meeting Santa.  The quaint village in the park has plenty of shops. The park is open during the summer and on designated weekends between September and Christmas.

There is also one in Canada. Bracebridge, Ontario has a Santa village located halfway between the equator and the magnetic North Pole. They say it is where Santa spends his summer which is when the village is open.  I guess from September to December Santa and his elves are too busy making toys so the park is closed except for a few days around Christmas day.  As one might expect there are rides and other attractions.

You can take the train to the North Pole on the Polar Express.  I loved my trip with my grandchildren.  We left from Williams Depot in Arizona for a journey through the dark and quiet wilderness and made a special stop at the “North Pole” where we saw Santa and he came aboard the train to greet everyone.  We believed in Santa so we got a special bell in keeping with the story line in the book. The experience is based on “The Polar Express,” the classic children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg.  New York State has seven locations where people can depart on the Polar Express including Utica. The train ride is so popular that tickets sell out fast.  

Santa can be spotted in many places when he is not at the North

Pole including Santa Claus, Indiana where they have a 22-foot tall Santa statue “Dedicated to the children of the world.” And, Santa loves a parade especially when he can be seen riding on a float waving to his adorning fans.  I think Santa’s favorite parade is Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City.   Santa and his elves have to work hard most of the year so they have time to make appearance in parades, stores, and other places. 

Things to do in Juneau, Alaska

Juneau is a great little city for the day or a couple days. A few years ago John and I spend several days exploring the city. Here are some of the things we discovered.
1. Your first stop should be at the top. Take an exhilarating ride to the 1800-foot level of Mount Roberts to experience one of the most expansive and beautiful views offered in all Alaska. Have a meal with a view, walk the trail, visit the Nature Center. Don’t miss the Chilkat Theater for an introduction to the Tlingit culture through the award winning film “Seeing Daylight.”
2. Rent a car, it is cheaper than a cab or taking a tour plus you have the freedom to do as you please. You can do it all as there are only 41 miles of roads! Drive along the coast to the Shrine of St. Theresa where you can enjoy the silence of the old stone chapel, wildflowers in the woods, views of the Lynn Canal, plus see lots of birds.
3. See the salmon run at the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery. Salmon are propagated at the hatchery and released season after season. After a journey to parts unknown the salmon return mystically to the hatchery where they splash and jump up over steel gates returning to their birthplace to breed and die. Great place to buy fish.
4. Learn about Alaska at the State Museum. It is home to more than 23,000 artifacts, works of fine art and natural history and features both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The museum is located within walking distance of the cruise ship terminal.
5. Ice is nice! Get up close and personal with the Mendenhall Glacier. Go trekking. Northstar Trekking offers three levels of glacier trekking designed for those who only want to step on a glacier to those looking for an over-the-edge experience. Each of the treks includes approximately 30 minutes of sightseeing by helicopter before landing on the glacier.
6. What’s brewing? Learn about the history of brewing in Alaska and the 100-year old recipe that inspired their Alaskan Amber. View the brewing, fermentation and bottling systems. The best part is the free sampling!
7. Go for the gold. Hop the ferry and take the Golden Circle tour, from Juneau to Skagway where you can ride the White Pass & Yukon tourist train along the gold route through the mountains, pass glaciers, gorges, and waterfalls.
8. Have a whale of a time. Seeing huge whales in their native habitat counts as one of life's great experiences. Each summer humpbacks migrate to Alaska from their winter home in the warm waters off Hawaii. Many companies offer tours at various rates.
9. For three times the fun experience a float plane ride to the remote Taku Lodge, view several glaciers, enjoy a traditional salmon bake and still have time for a walk on the wild side in the Alaskan wilderness.
10. Behind the swingin’ doors of the Red Dog Saloon the fun never stops. The sawdust on the floors, the flag-drapped ceiling, and Earp’s gun are just some of the things that add to the ambiance of this watering hole. Ask the band to play “Mule Train,” turn your chair around and ride your “mule-chair” around the saloon.
For more things to do in Juneau, check Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau, http://www.traveljuneau.com/, or call (888) 581-2201.