{"id":15700,"date":"2018-10-16T10:00:12","date_gmt":"2018-10-16T10:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwtravelocitycom.trunk.sb.karmalab.net\/inspire\/?p=15700"},"modified":"2018-10-16T20:07:42","modified_gmt":"2018-10-16T20:07:42","slug":"the-only-place-to-meet-the-real-santa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/the-only-place-to-meet-the-real-santa\/","title":{"rendered":"The Only Place to Meet the REAL Santa"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having spent the last five Christmases abroad, family travel expert Erin of Explore with Erin knows her Christmas bucket-list destinations. From snowy Romania to churches in Bethlehem, Finland<\/a> tops the cake. <\/em><\/p>\n

The queue of excited families wrapped around a giant, shiny wrapped presents and oversized candy canes like a snake hoarding sweets. The kids didn\u2019t seem to mind since the warmth of the building was matched only by the warmth of the season. Christmas music filled the air, children squealed in excitement, and the queue inched steadily forward.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t long before we stood before the giant wooden door. Nervous, shaking, sweaty palms. An elf whispered excitedly in the kids\u2019 ears.<\/p>\n

The time had finally arrived.<\/p>\n

The door swung open, and as we stepped through we were blinded by spotlights. A few magical blinks revealed behind the lights the fattest, jolliest Santa we\u2019ve ever seen. As a welcoming gesture, he extended plump, smooth hands. Cheeky, twinkling eyes, set behind white hair that for all intents and purposes was both real and snowy, met ours. His jolly laugh filled us with cheer as the kids ran to greet him. Of the 20 languages Santa spoke fluently, he instinctively communicated the right one directly to my children. And that\u2019s when they knew.<\/p>\n

He was the real<\/em> Santa.<\/p>\n

\"Rovaniemi

Credit: @ExploreWithErin<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Far north of Helsinki, Finland is a magical place. Sure, it’s dark most of the day and cold all winter, but the Arctic ambiance only adds to the magic and wonder of Santa\u2019s homeland, Lapland.<\/p>\n

Celebrating Christmas is easy in Rovaniemi<\/strong><\/a> with our three favorite activities.<\/p>\n

All Things Santa<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As our experience proved, Santa is<\/em> real, and his office resides just outside of Rovaniemi, a city just along the Arctic Circle, at Santa Claus Village<\/strong><\/a>. There is no cost to enter Santa Claus Village, a large open park area with a variety of attractions, each set at its own price. Options include a reindeer ride, a kid-friendly snowmobile drive, snow tubing, a large outdoor playground (free), and so much more.<\/p>\n

\"Rovaniemi

Credit: @ExploreWithErin<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s well known that Santa\u2019s home is much further north and pretty much inaccessible to us regular humans. So Santa established his office here in Rovaniemi. Alongside his office (where you can meet and greet Santa) is his official post office, where you can gape at the numerous pigeonholes, each dedicated to a particular country where any child\u2019s Santa-intended mail gets deposited. Take your time to fill in your own letter to Santa, or send a Christmas card to friends and family anywhere around the world.<\/p>\n

\"Rovaniemi

Credit: @ExploreWithErin<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

If you are still pining for more Santa, then head to Santa\u2019s Park<\/strong>, where you cross the Arctic Circle underground via a brightly colored tunnel. This indoor attraction also has its own Santa Claus to meet, plus an elf school, a gingerbread-making workshop, and an Angry Birds-themed playground. After a day out in the cold exploring Santa Claus Village<\/a>, it\u2019s nice to be inside for a little while.<\/p>\n

\"Rovaniemi

Credit: @ExploreWithErin<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

How Many Reindeer Can You Spot?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With over 200,000 reindeer calling Lapland home, your chances of spotting one are pretty good. Better yet, visit one of the reindeer farms for your Christmas sleigh ride<\/strong><\/a> through the magical Finnish forest.<\/p>\n

You might even like to feed a sweet, pure white reindeer . . . or if eating reindeer is more your style, check out the restaurant Nili<\/strong> for some of the best reindeer dishes in town.<\/p>\n

\"Rovaniemi

Credit: @ExploreWithErin<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Spend an Evening With the Elves<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Joulukka\u2019s<\/strong> Traditions of Christmas <\/strong>is the perfect way to spend Christmas\u2014an evening you will never forget. You are whisked away deep into the Finnish forest to learn how to become one of Santa\u2019s elves. An elf team will reveal the trade secrets of being the perfect Santa helper, including peeking through windows, cooking special treats, decorating gingerbread cookies, and crafting Christmas decorations. Then afterwards, head outside to search for the perfect Christmas tree and decorate it with tinsel and baubles.<\/p>\n

The elves never break character. They are enchanting, magical, and everything Christmas should be.<\/p>\n

\"Rovaniemi<\/a>

Credit: @ExploreWithErin<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

If you want a bucket-list Christmas destination, Rovaniemi is it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The North Pole isn’t so far away after all … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":15701,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[161],"tags":[301,327,258,328,329],"class_list":["post-15700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family","tag-christmas","tag-family","tag-finland","tag-lapland","tag-santa"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Only Place to Meet the REAL Santa | Travelocity<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It's always beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Finland's Rovaniemi! 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