Mom Culture Loves Santa's Village

Archive note — updated October 2026: Originally published in 2019. This family-trip story and its photos reflect that holiday season. The old dates and ticket prices have been removed; current planning resources are linked below. Activities, dining and ticket inclusions may have changed.

Where can you take your family to see all the magic that Christmas has to offer and escape to the mountains in the Southern California mountains? 

Santa's Village, that's where!

As an annual family tradition, we love attending Santa's Village! Not only is it an excellent place for the tiny humans, but mama and papa enjoy their visit to this magical land. Nothing gets us in the "Christmas Spirit" like a family day-trip to Santa's Village. When this post was written, we were looking forward to our fourth trip up.

The variety of activities was part of what made this trip special for our family. Check current ticket inclusions and extra charges before booking.  

The original seasonal lineup included outdoor ice skating, zip-lining, shows, storytelling and tree lighting. Activities and schedules may change.  

Did I mention seeing Santa too?

The original holiday offerings also included breakfast with Santa, tea with Mrs. Claus and cookie decorating.

Check SkyPark at Santa's Village's official website for current holiday experiences and booking information.

To be honest, with the age gaps between my kids and their cousins, it can be hard to keep everyone engaged and happy, but at Santa's Village, it's easy. The teens are all about the zipline, and now with the ax-throwing, I'm sure that's where we'll find them if not, they'll all be on the ice skating rink skating the day away.

The younger ones are so into the shows and the bike riding on trikes that it's hard to get them to stop, but if you mention the train ride they're sure to turn in their helmets to ride through the village so Mom and Dad can have a hot cocoa break.  We have a hard time getting them off the Discovery Playscape but, honestly, we don't mind! There's normally tons of seating to sit and enjoy your coffee or hot cocoa and fresh air while they run around and explore.  

When it comes time to eat, our favorite spot to warm up and fill up is definitely Billy's BBQ House it's DELISH! But, make sure you make a reservation for your trip because it gets packed quickly! They offer a few other spots to eat which are equally yummy from burgers to brew, they've got your jolly tummy covered.  A must-see is The Gingerbread House Bakery & Sweet Shoppe for a treat for everyone on the nice list.

This magical day trip has now become our family tradition with the cousins, taking time out of our busy schedules to all meetup and to share in the magic of Christmas together in the mountains. Since we have eight children between the three siblings, this is the perfect experience to share without breaking the bank!

I hope you check it out and enjoy the Christmas magic with your family too!

For current dates, prices and ticket details, check SkyPark's hours and admission page before planning your visit.