SANTA'S WORKSHOP & LAKE PLACID IN DECEMBER!

The many time we traveled to Lake Placid, it has always been in the summer or fall but never in December. So we decided to take our kids to the North Pole and we adults would also enjoy one of our favorite towns in the Adirondacks. It was nice and all to travel without any weather hazards however it would have been a prettier experience had there been a little bit more snow.

Once we got into town, we had lunch at our favorite sandwich place called Blue Mountain Deli or 46 Sandwiches. It's traditional that we have our favorite choice, Saddleback Mountain fish sandwich. And the awesome things about this place are that food always tastes fresh, they have great choices of bread, there is an endless choice of sandwiches, great crepes for dessert, and most of all it's a nice cozy place on Main St.

To jump ahead to the next day, the crowd was a lot smaller  and the owner walked around asking the customers how their food was, I had overheard that he was from Syracuse, so it was an easy conversation starter. We learned that there is a Deli coming to the Fayetteville area sometime late next year, which was exciting news. And possibly another location because they had franchise opportunities.

Saddleback Mountain

Gray Peak

After a great lunch we walked around town because it always fun to check out the stores. And over the years we have our favorites and must-shop stores like GAP Outlet, House of Jerky, Critters, and several chocolate stores.

Best Jerky--exotic meats

One of the favorite spots is the little park along Mirror Lake. This is also the spot where our kids found snow, which they tried picking up and throwing it into the lake. Its a beautiful spot with mountains to the north and west. 

As were heading back to the car later that afternoon we saw this rainbow in the sky! 

We have always wanted to stay at the Marriott Courtyard but it has been booked every time. So after checking in we had a couple of hours to kill before heading up to Wilmington. We watched the Polar Express on TV with the kids. 

From our hotel to was 22 minute drive to Santa's Workshop. We wanted to see the Village of Lights, which takes place only on Saturday and Sunday from 4:30 to 8 pm. We got there a few minutes earlier to find a short line of people at the main entrance. After purchasing tickets, we headed back outside. Its an outside event, with the occasional stop at the different buildings in the village. 

The first stop was the Reindeer Stable. I was surprised to find that it was open because the website had indicated that they no longer had Caribou onsite. Nevertheless, the kids loved to feed them hay, and pet them. 

He was the kids favorite

As we made our way further into the village there were carolers standing around an open fire, singing Christmas songs. We stopped by the cafe to get some hot chocolate. Downside there was no ice to cool it down so we used the old fashioned technique of pouring from cup to cup. 

So the next stop was Santa's House. Thus far our kids have grown up knowing that there is no Santa and that presents come from Mom and Dad and other family members. Once inside the house, Alexis, our 6 year old, started to develop a new theory. She now thinks Santa is real because she saw him. She also said that the only way that he wouldn't be real if he didn't bring her what she told him, a Christmas book. So we have to make a decision...never thinking we would be in a little dilemma like this. 

Adrian refused to sit on his lap like many kids before us. It was hilarious to see the show that they all put on. Santa even tried playing Peek-A-Boo with him and he still refused. 

 Next stop was the candy store and gift shop. The kids got candy and we had the joy of wiping their sticky hands, coats, and faces during the ordeal. 

  

It was a very pretty location, well decorated with lights, and it was set up to represent Santa's Village. 

Another stop was the workshop. It had a slide and a place for the kids to decorate things and coloring pages. At the end of the tour we visited the Carousel. It was new experience, being wiped around in 30 degree temperature but they liked it. 

 Overall we had a great time. We ended up staying there for just a little over 2 hrs. It was plenty of time for the kids and us. On our way to the hotel we stopped by and picked up some pizza for dinner. We spent the evening hanging out in the room and watching Christmas movies. The kids eventually fell asleep to one of them. They slept together in the same bed for the first time and it worked out really well.