The town of North Pole in Alaska is only twenty minutes from the city of Fairbanks, so it is an easy place to visit when you are in the area. In this town, you will see the streets decorated for Christmas all year long. In the middle of it, all is the Santa Claus House. This magical store was a basic trading post when it was opened back in 1952. But since that time, it has turned into a store where the magic happens every day of the year.
When to Visit the Santa Claus House
You can visit the Santa Claus House at any time of the year. While their hours are shortened during the summer months, that doesn’t mean the fun stops when the sun is shining. In fact, you can still see Santa on certain days of the week. This shouldn’t be surprising though, since it is his slower time of the year!
Things to Do at the Santa Claus House
There are so many things to do when you visit the Santa Claus House. I recommend beginning with a selfie next to the massive Santa statue while sitting in the sleigh. There are even murals on the outside of the building, and they are all perfect for those family vacation pictures. From there you can get an official letter from Santa and have it postmarked from the North Pole. I even recommend mailing postcards and other memorabilia from this post office, because they will all arrive to friends and family with the official North Pole postmark!
After a stop to see the reindeer, you can do some shopping inside the nine thousand square feet of retail space. Inside the store, you will find an abundance of holiday-themed items, Alaska-themed ornaments, and many items that are made right in Alaska by the locals. Don’t forget to grab some fudge, candy, and Christmas cookies from The Sweet Shop before you leave!
During the winter months, there is a Christmas in Ice exhibit. This ice sculpture contest is attended by ice artists from all over the world. Approximately six hundred tons of ice are carved and chiseled into works of art. You will also find an ice maze to wander through and an ice slide to go down.
You can’t go wrong with a visit to the Santa Claus House when you are vacationing in Alaska. Let’s turn your whole family into kids again for one day, as you visit with Santa and embrace the miracles of the holiday season! Call me today and let’s start planning your next Alaska family vacation.
