This post, Christmas Activities For Families You Need To Start, was originally published in 2019 and has been completely updated in July 2022.
There are so many Christmas activities for families out there, where do you start?
And what if you’re thinking about starting a new family Christmas tradition?
But again, where do you begin?
Later I will share a great post on 10 traditions you can start incorporating into your Christmas activities for your family but I want to share one outstanding activity/tradition that you will want to start now!
What would you say if I told you there was a place that will combine all the great things about a secular Christmas?
- Want to meet some elves? Check
- Want to have cookies with Mrs. Claus? Check
- Want to help make toys with the elves? Check
- How about actually traveling up to the North Pole to do it all? Check
- Want to see Santa’s workshop? Check
- Write your Christmas list and hand it to Santa personally? Check
- Want to meet Santa? Check
Then I’ve got the perfect place.
It’s called the North Pole Experience located in Flagstaff, AZ.
I know, it doesn’t seem like a likely place but hear me out!
But first, let me share with you the perfect hotel to stay at for your North Pole Experience.
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Accomodations
It’s called the Little America Hotel.
It’s also located in Flagstaff and it happens to be the check-in spot and starting point for the Experience.
The hotel is a beautiful 2 story multi-building complex.
The lobby area is an open room with a beautiful working fireplace and a gift shop off to the side.
The staff is extremely helpful and the buildings are all connected, so even on the coldest of days, you can move around indoors.
They have a wonderful pool and play area for the kids too.
The pool, I don’t think was open, considering it was winter but the play area is great and my little guy along with several other kids braved the cold to enjoy it!
With that said, a little more about the hotel.
The room was beautiful!!!!
A large bathroom and enough space for all four of us.
My son and I used the pull-out sofa and it was perfect. And no problems sleeping either 🙂
Eating
Silver Pine Restaurant & Bar is their in-house restaurant that has delicious food.
This is where we ate and it worked perfectly. It allowed us not to have to travel or even leave the building just to get dinner.
Now, I heard there is a gas station next to the hotel, within a five-minute walk, that has quick food, but we wanted to be able to sit down and enjoy a meal that was served to us rather than just getting food.
The hotel also offered a Breakfast with Santa combo deal, which we took part in.
The breakfast buffet was one of the best I’ve ever had and to be able to ‘continue’ the Experience into the morning was fun.
Santa was there at the breakfast so we got even more time with him!
Related Post: Christmas Traditions
Planning
Lots of Christmas activities for families fill up quickly.
And because the hotel is the jump-off point it can get very full quickly for the Christmas season.
I suggest planning as early as you can for your trip.
We got out tickets and room about six weeks out, but we also went during the middle of the week when they still had availability for the Experience.
So, if you’re only choice is the weekend I’d suggest you look into it now.
The Experience is segmented into time slots.
They have day times and night times, at 10-minute intervals.
And each ‘group’ was made up of about 30 to 50 people.
It really doesn’t feel like that many even though you are kept together as a group throughout all of it.
Now, on to the Experience!!
What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?
The Best Christmas Activities for Families to chose – The Experience
What can I say, well, what I will say to start things off is that I will not share everything so I don’t ruin your experience 🙂
With that being said…
It will be such a wonderful time for your little ones and yourself!
To see the excitement, awe, joy, and wonder on their faces is priceless.
And if you let yourself be a kid again, you will get to experience all those awesome emotions and feelings too!
Dress
I had read before going that lots of families wear matching pjs during their visit.
I tried and looked for matching pjs in the stores around me but I think I was unfortunately too late and the ones that were left I didn’t like lol 🙂
Plus, you know, I wasn’t sure how cold it would be, whether we’d be inside or out, etc.
Just so you know, depending on when you go it could be very cold but the time outside is pretty minimal so this year we will definitely be looking for matching pjs early!!!
The only time outside, during your Experience, is really only when walking to your transportation in the beginning and possibly waiting for your transportation when you’re done.
(We never had to wait so the time outside was barely a minute or two each time.)
So, if you can do matching pjs go for it! Otherwise, anything comfortable, holiday-ish or not will work.
Side note: We also saw quite a few families again wearing their matching pjs to the breakfast buffet so that was cool:))
Shoes
There will actually be four times during the Experience when you’ll get to sit so you won’t specifically need good walking shoes and since, like I mentioned, you’re hardly outside, a comfortable close-toed shoe should work perfectly.
Outerwear
We wore layers and scarves so in case it stayed cold we would be good but if it got too hot we could take off layers.
Belongings
You are responsible to keep track of all your belongings during the Experience so try not to bring too much and/or make sure you have a tote bag of some sort to carry any extra items.
For example, those layers you might end up taking off.
Restrooms
They have hidden restrooms throughout the Experience so don’t hesitate to ask one of the elves and they will help lead you to the nearest one.
Now, we had to do this once and we did miss a bit of the Experience but we survived.
The whole thing, minus the time it takes to get there and back, is about an hour and there are bathrooms close to the check-in area at the hotel so take advantage of those if you don’t want to miss anything.
How It Works
You will get checked in at Little America Hotel.
They have a souvenir area there where, either before or after your Experience, you can grab something to remember your trip.
P.S. They have some light-up accessories that we saw lots of kids/families wearing during their Experience so it might be worth stopping in before your time slot.
When it’s your time you’ll board your transportation and head to the North Pole!!!
It takes about 15 minutes to get there.
You will be greeted and then you will proceed through the different sections and areas of Santa’s Workshop.
Including getting the chance to help make some toys, having some delicious treats with Mrs. Claus, and finally meeting the big guy himself.
So, the total time for the whole Experience will take about 1.5 hours.
And don’t forget, there’s a special treat at the end for every kid that they will be able to love forever!!!