Visit Santa At The North Pole In Colorado Springs

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!

Van Briggle Pottery

The Van Briggle Pottery studio is right next to the Ghost Town Museum, located at 600 South 21st Street. From I-25, take Exit 141 and head west on Highway 24 for 1.5 miles and turn left on 21st street and then take an immediate right.

This is the oldest continually working pottery studio in the United States. It was established in 1899 by Artus and Anne Van Briggle. Artus was a fine painter and potter. He developed a type of art nouveau in clay and his pots and pieces became world-famous and sought after very quickly. They still are today.

We got to go in for free and take a tour. Potters work right out in the open so you can watch them shaping clay into beautiful pieces. They fire and also glaze the pieces as you watch. The kilns are in the back and bake pieces all day long.

Of course, there are many beautiful and expensive pieces for you to buy. I wanted to buy a lot of them. If you enjoy pottery, make sure that you stop in to pick up a few gorgeous pieces for your home.  You will have a hard time making a decision.

The Mason Jar

The Mason Jar is my favorite because I think both of their locations have the best-tasting food for the price and a pleasant family atmosphere.

When we first moved to Colorado Springs to attend Bible College, our new friends at church and school advised us to try The Mason Jar, so we did. We were glad we did and were frequent flyers.

They have two locations, one in Old Town at the corner of 30th Street and Colorado Avenue and the other, which we went to the most because it was closer to where we lived, is at 5905 Corporate Center Drive.

Even if you have a big party, you don't need to worry about reservations. They are big and will try to accommodate you quickly and cheerfully. If you have little ones, they are happy to help you get them comfortable, too. This was a big plus for us since we had two babies and a toddler when we got there.

Now for the most important part--the food. Delicious! Every item that we tried was superb. My personal favorite dish is the boneless pork chop plate and my second favorite is the lemon shrimp. My husband, who is a Texas native, loves the chicken-fried steak and said it was like his mother used to make when he was a boy.

They serve several chicken dishes, a few beef dishes, one pork dish, and several seafood dishes. I have tried them all and they are wonderful. They have burgers and sandwiches as well. The desserts are fabulous, especially the chocolate walnut brownie.

My children loved to eat there. The family dinners we ate there were affordable on our small budget.

More of the best Colorado Springs restaurants will be added soon for you to try.

Seven Falls Colorado Springs

Seven Falls in Colorado Springs is gorgeous during the day and even more spectacular at night.

Seven different waterfalls cascade down the rock wall for 181 feet. At night, the falls are lit up and the water against the mountains is breathtaking.

There is a one mile drive through a narrow canyon. At its narrowest point, it is 42 feet across. The falls are best viewed from a platform called Eagle Nest. An elevator will take you up to the platform.

You will oooh and aaah at the natural beauty during the day. At night, the light adds to the beauty of the water and the mountains.

Take your camera and get as many shots as you can of the water against the mountain. Up at the top is an incredible view of the city.

To get there, take I-25 to Exit 141 and travel west on U.S. 24. Turn south on 21st Street. After about three miles, turn west on Cheyenne Blvd. and turn left again on S. Cheyenne Canyon Road.

Admission during the day is $9 for adults and $5.50 for children from the ages of 6 to 15. Nighttime admission is $10.50 for adults and $6.50 for children. It is free for children 5 and under. Hours vary.

Royal Gorge Bridge

The Royal Gorge Bridge is a one of a kind bridge that is 1053 feet high. There is also a park with 21 rides on it for family fun!

Walking or driving across this very high bridge is nothing short of awesome! The view is spectacular. If you are afraid of heights, you probably won't enjoy it, but it is really cool. This is the highest suspension bridge in the entire world and is one quarter of a mile long.

The bridge was built back in 1929! It is 1260 feet long, 18 feet wide, and it was designed to support over two million pounds. Wow! It cost $350,000 to build back in 1929, the year that the Great Depression began, just to give you some perspective. In today's money that is around $20 million.

Interestingly, the walkway on the bridge is a popular wedding venue. The bride, groom, and minister go on the walkway while the guests watch the wedding from a platform. If you are thinking of a destination wedding, this could be the way to go.
Get additional information on creating the perfect Christian wedding.

There are some great rides in the park for the whole family to enjoy. There are several shows for your enjoyment and a petting zoo that the kids will love.

In addition to the bridge and the park, the world's longest single-span Aerial Tram and the steepest Incline Railway on the planet are also here and are included in the cost of admission.

They are open 365 days a year, even on holidays. Admission for children from ages four through eleven is $19. Ages 12 and up pay $24. Children under four are free. The bridge opens daily at 7am and is open until dusk.

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park is located in Canon City at 4218 County Road 3A. Their phone numbers are 719-275-7507 or 1-888-333-5597.

To get to Canon City from Colorado Springs, take Highway 115 south to Highway 50 and head west. Then turn left on County Road 3A until you come to the gorge.

Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center

Do you love dinosaurs? I do. If so, you will love Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center located in Woodland Park.


Woodland Park is a small town about 18 miles northwest of Colorado Springs. The center is loaded with cool dinosaurs. I could spend hours there each time I visit.

Your young children will love the Children's Learning Center. Guess what they get to touch and feel? Give up? Dinosaur number two...yes, dinosaur pooh! Can you believe that? The kids (and probably most of the parents) will think this is the coolest thing, and it is!

The Children's Learning Center also has a dinosaur dig site to keep children interested. This is a hands-on place for kids so you do not have to constantly tell the kids not to touch. They will learn and practice their digging skills. Maybe one of your children is a future paleontologist.

The dinosaur exhibits are so neat and, yes, there is a T-Rex. They have a good collection of not-so-common dinosaurs so you will learn a lot of new dinosaur names when you visit.

There is a theater with 20 seats that shows various types of dinosaur, geology, and paleontology videos throughout the day. You will learn all sorts of fun and interesting facts and see how the dinosaurs looked and moved when they roamed our Earth.

There is a large gift shop with all sorts of cool dinosaur items for you to buy. They have some of the best souvenirs.



The Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center is located at 201 S. Fairview St. in Woodlawn Park, Colorado. It is easy to get to from Colorado Springs. If you are on I-25, take exit 141, which is Cimarron Street. At the ramp light, turn onto West Cimarron Street which is also known as Route 24 West. Stay on this street for 18 miles. The Dinosaur Center will be on your left at the third traffic light which is South Fairview Street.

Admission prices for all that you get to see and do are very reasonable. Adults pay $11.50, senior citizens who are 65 or older pay $10.50. Children from ages 5 through 12 pay $7.50 and children 4 and under get in free.

The Center is open 7 days a week, year round from 9am to 6pm Monday through Saturday and from 10am to 5pm on Sundays. They are closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

North Pole Colorado, Santa's Workshop

We discovered a Christmas paradise at the base of Pikes Peak--the North Pole Colorado, Santa's workshop.

This is a wonderful place to visit if you love Christmas, especially if you have young children. But even if you don't have kids and you love Christmas, this is the place for you.

There are animals, rides, shows, Christmas ornament and candy shops, wonderful decorations, Christmas music, Santa's workshop toys, and Santa himself! I cannot tell you how much fun we had here with our children. They loved it and so did I!

Pictured below are Andrew, Matthew, and Tiffany with Santa at the North Pole. They had a blast visiting Santa just a few days before Christmas that year.

Your children can sit down and have a talk with Santa. This Santa has a real beard and acts like he cares about your child. He is not a mall Santa, but a man who will talk to your child and actually listen to what the child wants for Christmas. It is a great experience. You can snap photos or you can have Santa's  Elf take a photo for you that you will have to pay for. This is a great keepsake of a very special visit.

North Pole Colorado is on 26 acres of pure magic. Because it is on the base of Pikes Peak, it can be chilly. Sometimes, rain just comes up all of a sudden. It is a good idea to have a jacket in the car for everyone so if it does rain while you are there, you can run out and get it and continue your visit without being cold and wet. (Been there, done that the first time we visited!)

They have some places to eat burgers, fries, mostly fast food fare, but it is stuff kids enjoy. There is also an ice cream parlor.

The 60 foot Ferris wheel is a lot of fun and so are the other rides. Your kids can ride a replica of a space shuttle, swinging back and forth. Your whole family will have fun touring the park in the train. The animals will delight your children. How often have you seen a real reindeer up close and personal? 

Pictured above, my son, Andrew, assisting the magician at the North Pole magic show. The kids loved it.

The magic shows are very good. There is also musical entertainment.

When we were there, we bought Christmas ornaments for our tree that we still put on the tree each year from Santa's workshop.

Admission is $16 a person for everyone, ages 2 through 59. Children under the age of two get in free. Seniors who are 60 or more get in for $5.95, a real bargain.

North Pole Colorado is open on Christmas Eve, weather permitting. It is closed from Christmas Day until the middle of May when it reopens.

In the photo below, my husband, David and my oldest son, Andrew are by the icy North Pole in the middle of Santa's village.