If you fancy a quick chat with Santa before Christmas, just to be sure he’s fully aware of your festive wish list, here’s how to reach some of his most popular hang outs.
North Pole
Take a classic day trip to Santa’s snowbound ‘North Pole post office’, where the elves sort the Christmas post before the main man sets out in his sleigh to deliver it (it’s actually in Finland.) Trips depart from 11 British airports until December 23.
St Nicholas in New York
Santa gets busy in the Big Apple over Christmas. Kids can see him in his grotto at Macy’s (151 W 34th St) from 9am to 9pm, every day until Christmas Eve. He’s also over at Bloomingdale’s (1000 3rd Ave) from noon to 6pm until December 23; while at the World Financial Centre in Battery Park City, Santa’s Winter Garden is open for visitors all day on December 16. Also, don’t miss the ice rink at the Rockefeller Centre (00 1 212 332 7654; www.rockefellercenter.com).
Arctic action
Search for Santa on a snowmobile on an adventurous three-day trip to Saariselka, 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle. After riding on reindeer sleighs and husky sleds, you travel by snowmobile through the Finnish forests to a log cabin where Santa is waiting.
Santa olympics in Sweden
In Swedish Lapland you can watch Santas compete at chimney climbing and present wrapping in the Santa Winter Games. After watching that, why not visit the Icehotel near Kiruna, for an evening toasting sausages around the fire with yet another Santa. You could also try your hand at ice fishing, igloo building and meeting the native Sami people.
Huskies in Lapland
In the beautiful rolling hills of Harriniva, in Finnish Lapland, you can stay close to the Muonionjoki river, the home of the largest group of huskies in Lapland. Here you can enjoy a breathtaking sled ride, before encountering Father Christmas in the woods. You can also try to make tree decorations and gingerbread, go snow shoeing or tobogganing and try your hand at reindeer driving lessons.
