Getaways & Day Trips Guide › Getaways: Kid-Friendly Outings

Santa’s Village

Bracebridge
705-645-2512

Located in Bracebridge, Santa’s Village celebrated 50 surreal years as a winter-in-the-summer wonderland in 2005. Popular attractions include the Candy Cane Express train ride, a Christmas Ball Ferris Wheel and live reindeer. Situated on the 45th parallel, precisely halfway between the North Pole and the equator (or so the shtick goes), the village was dreamed up by Bracebridge residents back in the 1950s. Curiously, people can’t seem to get enough of Santa’s Summer Sleigh River Boat cruise, which subjects passengers to piped-in carols in the middle of July; or Mrs. Claus’s bakeshop, where you can pick up gingerbread cookies and fudge. There’s an adjoining Sportsland theme park, where kids can play minigolf or try their hand at Babe Rudolph’s Batting Challenge. There’s camping on-site, or accommodations at nearby Taboo Resort Golf & Spa (705-687-2233, 1-800-461-0236) and Boat House B&B (705-687-0103).

Accommodations:: Taboo Resort Golf & Spa, Boat House B&B
Driving Time:: three hours.
When:: June 21 to first week of Sept.
How Much:: adults $25, children two to four and seniors $20, under two free; on-site camping, two nights $159 (family of four), includes two days’ park admission.