City: Boulder, CO

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (719) 684-9432

Description: If you thought the North Pole was a few thousand miles away, here are new directions. This outpost, just 10 miles west of Colorado Springs, is open in the summer from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Weather permitting, it’s open in the fall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Wednesdays and Thursdays. Generally, it stays open through Christmas Eve. This sweet little amusement park has 24 safe rides for little kids, a full-size Ferris wheel (the 7,500-foot altitude makes it the highest wheel in the world), and a colorful cottage in which Santa Claus waits in his rocking chair. Kids can have their picture taken with a truly plump Santa, whose curly white beard is real. In summer, he often wears knickers with suspenders and a colorful shirt, or red trousers and boots with a colorful shirt. When it gets cold, Santa dons his red jacket. The cost for admission is $16.95 for ages 2 through 59; children younger than age 2 and seniors older than age 60 enter for free.