The North Pole Experience – Home of Santa’s Workshop

Vegas Blog Fun in Flagstaff, Arizona

Without a doubt, one of the best family mini-vacations we’ve ever had was just last weekend in Flagstaff, Arizona. Less than 250 miles from Vegas, this woodsy small town is everything I needed after the insane week I had – sincere nature, festive environment and a happy family. Vegas blog readers, this is for you!

We were invited by the welcoming people of the North Pole Experience  to experience Santa’s workshop. Children all over the world have come to visit the 8500-square-foot workshop, which includes Santa’s Toy Hall of Fame, Santa’s Toy Building Workshop, a large toy factory where all the real magic happens, Santa’s Bakery, Elf University, Santa’s Office, “Area 47” — Santa’s secret sleigh hanger — and of course, one-on-one family time with Santa! It was magical and perfect, and so close to Vegas!

After taking a trolley, escorted by our 400 year old Elf, Piper, and singing Christmas carols all the while, we traveled through the “portal” (down the freeway a bit from the hotel) and arrived at Santa’s workshop. Piper had to bang on the door a bit, when it was opened, the flurry of excitement began…

The first stop was the Toy Station, where the kids helped to make toys for other little boys and girls. The elves were very helpful and kind. The amount of excitement in the air makes my heart happy, even now just looking at the pictures.

And Alina? She was beside herself. Literally, beyond excited – almost paralyzed with happiness. The magic of Christmas really came alive for our girl last weekend!

The next stop was the gift wrapping center, and oh man, was it beautiful! No detail was left undone when they designed this space. As the kids entered, their eyes lit up with the glory of presents everywhere. Who am I kidding, even the adults were in awe…

This is when the kids got their first peak at Santa, who invited them into his bakery for some sugar cookies and “snowman soup”.

It was at this point that Alina finally came out of her shell. She sat at the head of the table, and when the elves asked the kids how they get ready for Christmas, Alina raised her hand right up and said “I go to bed like a big girl and sleep all through the night”! Haha! She skipped right over the tree or traditions part!

Alina is 1 month shy of 4 years old and had.a.blast. She is the perfect age to attend the North Pole Experience. Sebastian, at 20 months old, had a great time, but it was a bit overwhelming for him. He is not nearly as sensitive to strangers like Alina was at his age, but the energy was an organized frantic one, and probably a bit much for him. Thankfully, Daddy D was there to tend to Sebastian’s pace while I kept an eye on our fast moving preschooler. (Poor Daddy D, after just having knee surgery a couple weeks ago, was very sore the next day).

If you have kids at very different developmental stages, I would suggest having as many adults to help guide or watch them. I would have been a nervous wreck taking both kids by myself, which is what I was originally going to do. So grateful to have a supportive teammate in my man.

After cookies and snowman soup (hot chocolate with marshmallows!), Alina attended her first college class at Elf University. E-U! E-U!

She learned basics like respect, being nice and how not to be naughty…

My favorite room was probably the mail room.. holy smokes, it was beautiful. The kids were helped to write out their letters to Santa so that they could hand it to him. It was already dark when we went (we took the 5:15pm trolley), and I had to use my flash, but I’m happy to have documented some of the sweetness these two experienced together.

As a photography side note, if an external flash is on your Christmas wish list, consider getting it before your trip to The North Pole Experience. And get a diffuser. Man, I totally wish I had one of those.

We had such a blast at The North Pole Experience in Flagstaff. Because we stayed at the hosting hotel, Little America, we were invited to breakfast with Santa the following day. Check back for a post on that experience very soon because, ohhh, it was a little bit of amazing!

If you are in Vegas (or for any of my SoCal girls that want to come with us next year!), you have to take your kids to this experience. I love that we went right after Thanksgiving, ushering in the Christmas season with a festive road trip. Alina is still talking about all that he saw and did.

And Flagstaff? I had no idea Vegas had such a lush wonderland of forest and beauty right in our backyard. I am counting the weekend until we can go back!

Check out this magical video of The North Pole Experience to learn more…