Ever hear of Christmas in July? Well, every year you can celebrate the jolliest of holidays all summer long instead of just one month! North of Toronto, Ontario there is a special place nestled in the trees that Santa and his elves call home for the warm summer months. Santa’s Village is a unique 60-acre attraction found at a bend in the Muskoka River, in Bracebridge, Ontario. The citizens of this beautiful town wanted to create a summer home for Santa so that all of the good little boys and girls across the world didn’t have to wait until winter for a special visit. 🙂
Santa’s Village is a place the whole family can have fun – together! Not only will you find some sweet rides like the ferris wheel, swan paddle boats, Jumpin’ Star Mini-Dropper and Santa’s Roller Coaster Sleigh ride, but you will also find Santa’s Summer Sleigh Jet Boat to cruise the Muskoka River on! If you prefer solid ground the family can also tour the village by miniature train! My kiddos love the train ride. ♥ The fun doesn’t end there though, oh no. There are ATV peddle bikes, the Red Baron biplane ride, live amphitheater shows and my son’s favourite place, Elves Island Play Village. This beautiful park has so much for your little adventurer. My kids couldn’t get enough of the Elf Sky Challenge – Kids Aerial Adventure. It is a specialized training ground that is 10 feet off of the ground. Kids are hooked up to safety gear and allowed to follow the course on their own (kiddos under 44″ tall must be accompanied by an adult.) Guides will help the children suit up and will “thread” you onto the life safety cable found overhead.
The Elf Sky Challenge is a great way to spend time on Elves Island and trust me, your kids will love it! My William must have gone on it at least ten times and the only reason he agreed to leave was to try the zip line! Just near the entrance to Elves Island you can sometimes find a tree top high zip line that will take your kids out over the lake. I have to admit that I was nervous to watch the kids climb the tree to the deck high above, but the guides were extremely competent in suiting them up and showing the children what to do. This was a huge highlight for all of my charges that day. 🙂
If you have older kids you should definitely check out Sportsland while visiting Santa’s Village. Inside you will find things like a bungee trampoline, laser tag, batting cages, a climbing wall, mini golf and the awesome go cart track! Sportsland is free to enter; you just pay as you play! I appreciated that feature because I am the photo taker and watcher of the group, not a rider. 🙂
While my youngest had the time of his life on Elves Island, the older kids loved the offerings the Muskoka Zip Lines and Aerial Park had. With three adrenaline pumping activities to choose from you can spend a few minutes to a few hours ramping up your heart rate! You can choose the Zip Line Canopy Tour, which has you and your party starting off at 45 feet above the ground, zipping through a 7 line course! The views are spectacular!
The other options include the Jump Tower and Aerial Adventure Course. The tower speaks for itself, but the Aerial course provides you with 34 games over 2 heights to challenge your inner ninja! Level 1 offers a great introduction to the course with a fun selection of bridges, obstacles and zip lines to get you warmed up! You can finish your experience after the first level or head up to the next! Level 2 offers more challenges for the adventure seeker with rope bridges, cargo nets, obstacle elements and of course, zip lines! When you’re finished exit the course with a Step of Faith!
The Aerial course really challenged my tweens, both physically and mentally. While they were worn out after this adventure, they were so proud of themselves and I was too! The course is not for the faint of heart, but is a great way to see what you’re made of. 🙂
Don’t worry about a place to stay while you visit Santa (you can do that too during your trip to Santa’s Village and you might even meet Mrs. Claus!) Across the street is Santa’s Whispering Pines Campground and trailer park, located right beside the Muskoka River. Camping at it’s finest, but you also have the option to rent out a cabin if you choose! A visit to Santa’s Village in Bracebridge is really a great way to spend some holiday time this summer. 🙂
The Giveaway:
Celebrate Christmas in July at Santa’s Village! One lucky reader will win a One Day Family Pass to Santa’s Village, which can be used on your day of choice up until the end of the 2016 season!! How great is that?! This fabulous giveaway is open to both Canadian (excluding Quebec) and US residents who have reached the age of majority. Please read our giveaway rules before you enter. This giveaway ends on July 16th, 2016 at 11:59pm. To enter just check out the Rafflecopter below. Remember, the more entries you complete the better your chance to win! Good luck!
What ride or attraction would you like to try out first when you get to Santa’s Village? Check them all out here!
FT&PD
Suz
**Visit our giveaway page for more awesome opportunities to win!!
I remember going to Santa’s Village as a kid. Great memories! I think my kids would love “Santa’s Sleigh” (jet boat) and the miniature train. The splash pad is sure to be a hit too!
Santa is a super nice guy too! My kids had a chance encounter with him on the May long weekend in Fenelon Falls. The look on my 4-year old’s face when she saw Santa was priceless! She didn’t understand why he wasn’t wearing his Santa Suit though!
We have gone before, this time we would camp there. My kids would like the Elf Sky Challenge if we were to return to visit.
I think my girl would love the Swan Paddle Boats and the Merry-Go-Round, so we’d have to hit those up first!
Santa’s Roller Coaster first – it’s right near the entrance after all. 😉
I know my daughter would love to try the zipline and my son desperately wants to do the swan paddle boats! Thank you so much for the chance to make my son’s summer wish come true as it’s a bit pricey and this would be an incredible win!
And, just because I’m a food allergy mama too, I was wondering if you found anything allergy-friendly there or did you bring your own food?
Katrina, we did eat there, at the end of the day. My son, who is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts, was able to have a hot-dog and fries. The kitchen was completely safe and we made sure to talk to the manager before ordering. We did bring some snacks in with us though, as we always take our own safe stuff, as I am sure you do. The parking lot is not far from the entrance at all, so if you pack a picnic lunch it is a short walk back to your car. I guess it depends on the allergies, so I would check the website if you have other allergies to contend with. Have fun if you go!
Good to know! So many of the concession stand-type earrings establishments don’t have adequate allergy understanding so I’m thrilled to hear that you had a safe and positive experience! Our allergies are a bit more so we do find it very hard (dairy, soy, nuts and eggs)… Soy is by far the hardest to avoid while eating out but I’ll have to check it out! Thanks! (And sorry that I didn’t see your reply before)
Too many to decide. We have never been, I would live to win. We have missed out on so much. They are 17 and 19 ?????
Santa’s Roller Coaster for sure
I think my daughter would love to go on Santa’s Roller Coaster!
My grandson would love to go on Santa’s Roller Coaster first.
Santa’s Roller coaster first and then the Elf’s sky challenge. What fun!
The activities are kind of scary.
I would love to take my daughter on the miniature train at Santa’s Village this summer 🙂
We have never been, but I would love to introduce my son to Santa and ride the roller coaster.
Santas Summer Sleigh is a good speed for me lol.. the kids would probably love the santas roller coaster
My sons would love Santa’s roller coaster.
We’ve never been to Santa’s Village and it’s oh so close and only 10 minutes from my grandpa’s house. I know all of us would love Santa’s Summer Sleigh!
My kids want to go on the zipline
We would love to try the Swan Paddle Boats
the zip line for sure 🙂
The aerial park
WE love Christmas and I have never been to Santas Village I love the Splash Pad it looks neat
Zip lining for sure would be number 1
Definitely try out the new elf sky challenge
Swan Paddle Boats sounds nice.
The train is about my speed .
My son would LOVE LOVE to try the Elf Sky Challenge – Kids Aerial Adventure on Elves Island!