Take your children to visit Santa at the North Pole in Colorado Springs. Right at the base of Pikes Peak is one of the most exciting places for children of all ages--the North Pole! This is a magical place open from the middle of May through Christmas Eve. Your children can sit on Santa Claus's lap in a quaint cabin. You can see and touch the North Pole. Seeing reindeer, magic shows, going on fun rides, toy shopping, and Christmas decoration shopping are all part of the great day you and your kids will have at the North Pole from March through December!

My kids loved it and so did I! There are some snack places to eat with indoor and outdoor facilities, depending on the weather.

Santa Claus is not a mall Santa with a fake beard and a pillow under a cheap suit. Santa is a real man with a real beard and real clothes, not a cheap and flimsy costume. There is not a long line of children so that Santa gives your kids 30 seconds of time. Santa takes his time and actually has a real conversation with your children. He listens to them and they feel like he knows them. My kids had a blast talking with him and seeing him at his home. Santa happily poses with them so you can snap photos. His elf is nearby if you want a professional photo taken for a fee, but it is not required.

Away from Santa, you can ride a variety of rides and there is a train that goes around the park. Shows, including a great magic show, play several times throughout the day.

The first time we went was on a warm October day. Then a rain storm came up. Fortunately we had jackets in the car so we got them and order burgers and fries while the rain fell. After that, we continued our visit.

We also took the kids just a few days before Christmas one year, as you can see in the photo above. It was cold outside, but we rode all of the rides, visited all of the animals and had a blast there. That was so much fun. It was a sunny day, not bitterly cold and we just bundled up and got to see Santa just days before he took off in his sleigh. This visit to see Santa at the North Pole was our final Christmas in Colorado Springs so we wanted to make it special for the kids. (My husband was attending Bible College in Colorado Springs. He graduated the next spring and we entered the ministry, but that is for another hub!)

With the beautiful trees on Pikes Peak as a backdrop, North Pole is a picturesque place. Make sure you bring your camera and some money for souvenir Christmas decorations. We still place the decorations we bought there each year on our Christmas tree and think back to the wonderful times we had when we got to visit Santa at the North Pole in Colorado Springs!