b'makes a special visit nightly, for story time at 6 pm and again at 7 pm in her comfortable living room. After story time, kids of all ages can take a photo with Mrs. Claus. Several of the park\'s critters will stay up late to enjoy the cooler nights and will even get the chance to open their Christmas presents early! Bearizona\'s program animals are eager to participate in the season\'s festivities as well, and will be out for all to meet from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm in the beautifully themed gift shop. Guests can purchase delicious Christmas goodies and warm themselves up with seasonal beverages at the Canyonlands restaurant or stay warm by the outdoor fire pit. They can even purchase s\'mores to roast and toast while they enjoy the show. Please note: admission to this event is a separate charge from regular park admission. Guests should plan to dress extra warm as many of the activities occur outdoors. 1500 East Route 66, 928-635-2289. Bearizona.comNorth Pole Experience enchanted North Pole destination, Santa\'s GrandA walking path for adults offers anThe North Pole Experience is a 1 hour Workshop. Once you knock on Santa\'s Grandeagles eye-view of what these majesticand 35 minutes adventure inside Santas Workshop doors, you\'ll experience a holiday familybirds see in flight. Children are asked toMagical Workshop. Voted Arizonas adventure unlike any other. The first stop is Santa\'sdrop their letters to Santa in a mailbox which will Best Holiday Experience for Children famous Toy Hall of Fame. Next, it\'s all handsbe delivered to the North Pole. Festive lights will be in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 on deck as you help Santa\'s Elves build toys forabundant along with holiday treats to enjoy while by Arizona Foothills magazine, the entirechildren around the world! perusing the decorated depot grounds. Luminarias experience is a magical hands-on interactivewill light the Southwestern-style depot roofline and adventure with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and all his elves. Then it\'s on to Santa\'s Factory and Mrs. Claus\' Bakeryicicle lighting will adorn the depots wrap-around for her signature hot cocoa and treats. Once you\'veporch and pergola. The spirit of Christmas will The journey begins by boarding one of Santa\'shad your fill of holiday sweets, it\'s off to Elf Universitybe aglow and visible from afar, beckoning all to Magic Trolleys at the Little America Hotel. Yourto earn your special elf diploma. From there, you\'llexperience this dream.Trolley Elf will whisk your family away andvisit the busy North Pole mail room, where you can transport you through the Magic Portal to thewrite a personal letter to Santa, then tour his top- Verde Canyon Railroads train cars and open-secret sleigh hangar and see his newest sleigh. air viewing cars are festively ornamented and illuminated. A live bald eagle and a beautiful Every family that visits Santa\'s Grand WorkshopChristmas princess will greet the children as they will get one-on-one time with St. Nick himself,board the train for an hour round-trip into the receive complimentary digital photos, and eachdark of night, through a magical tunnel to the child will receive a 2023 Commemorative NPXNorth Pole and back. Along the route, silhouettes teddy bear.of resident canyon critters will be featured in 2515 E Butler, Flagstaff.three-dimensional brilliance, lighting the journey NorthPoleExperience.com to Santas special depot at the North Pole. At the Magical magical North Pole passengers will see 16 amusing and creatively-decorated buildings featuring Santas Christmas Journey Workshop, Mrs. Claus Bakeshop, the "Naughty Kids\' Coal Mine", the Reindeer Barn, Elf School Let your imagination take flight to the North Poleand the Ugly Sweater Factory among others. Mrs. during Verde Canyon Railroads all originalClaus and acrobatic elves will wave good-bye to Magical Christmas Journey. Starting NovemberSanta Claus as he boards the train for the return 24th, and running select nights through Decembertrip to Clarkdale. The man in the big red suit will 24th, guests will enjoy a birds eye view of a magicalinteract with all the children and gift them with a holiday village and an illuminated adventure via alittle memento. At 1-hour in length, Verde Canyon decorated train during very special nighttime runs. Railroad\'s Magical Christmas Journey is an abbreviated trip from the trains standard 4-hour The magical journey begins at the Verde Canyonexcursion, making it a perfect Christmas trip for Railroad depot in Clarkdale. Prior to boarding,even the tiniest tot. families will be able to tour a miniature village300 N. Broadway, Clarkdale. featuring 10 tiny houses on a town square with aVerdeCanyonRR.com flight path for children wearing provided wings.ArizonaRealCountry.com November 2023 25'