Santa's Village

Is it really Monday? So soon? I spent the weekend reliving my childhood way up in the mountains of New Hampshire...at Santa's Village.

The drive up was beautiful. It was pretty overcast but as we got into the mountains the clouds cleared up and we were able to see all of the lush green landscape (which Kristi especially appreciated since there's much less green in New Mexico, where she's from).

I've gone to Santa's Village every summer since I was a baby (aside from missing a couple years during college). Going to the village is a great excuse to celebrate Christmas in the summer, and even though its aimed at kids, I still  have a blast when I go. My great aunt and uncle started the village back in the 1950s, and its still run by my family today. When my dad was young he spent summers up in New Hampshire with his aunts and uncles and cousins, and he wanted us to have the same experience, so its a very special place to me!

We planned months ahead to find a weekend that all three of us "kids" could go with our dad. Pat and Jim's girlfriend Kristi came, it was both of their first times there. We spent a lot of time visiting with family, including my great aunt Cecil, who started the village. She is 92 and sharp as a tack. She was joking and making wisecracks all weekend, it was so much fun to see her!

The village has changed a lot since I was little - every year they add at least one ride. My favorites have always been the antique cars, bumper cars, log flume, and the roller coaster. We spent half of Saturday at the village, walking around, going on rides, eating our favorite foods, and acting like kids!

Nick's Pizza Emporium has the best pizza!

The Reindeer Shoe Store and Blacksmith Shop makes "reindeer" shoe rings for you.

At the Sugar N Spice Bakeshop you can decorate your own gingerbread cookies.

Mine was a hula girl wearing a grass skirt (I am seriously lacking any artistic skills):

 

Jim and Kristi going down the giant nutcracker slide:

There's real reindeer to visit and feed!

I love being up in the Lancaster, NH area. Life seems less complicated up there. People are nicer, things move a little slower, and the white mountains surround you. They even have flower pots in place of parking meters in "downtown" Lancaster!

It seems like the weekend went by in a blink but I'm so glad that we went. It was wonderful to see some great aunts, an uncle, and cousins that we don't get to see nearly enough. And wonderful to be back at Santa's Village!

Do you have any places that you went in your childhood that still hold a special place in your heart?