There’s nothing more exciting to children than a vacation and especially so if the destination happens to be the home of Father Christmas. A trip to Lapland is the perfect festive treat for the entire family and there’s a lot more to do and see than Santa’s workshop.
Lapland attracts thousands of families every year who come to experience this snow-covered wonderland set deep within the Arctic Circle.
Santa’s Home
Imagine taking a reindeer or husky-driven sleigh ride across a snowy landscape under the magical Northern Lights in order to visit Santa’s home. Well, that’s exactly what awaits on Lapland holidays in Finland. Santa’s Lapland will no doubt be the highlight of the trip for children, featuring the Elf Workshop and Santa’s Post Office from which you can send postcards and presents.
Chase the Northern Lights
If you want to watch your children’s faces light up then take them on an Aurora Borealis trip through any of Finland’s stunning national parks. The Arctic Circle is one of the best places to view this spellbinding light show and if they do appear it will provide the family with an unforgettable experience. Guided tours through parks such as the northern Lemmenjoki National Park will allow you to view some spectacular Finnish scenery and you can take boat trips on the River Lemmenjoki. However, if you are visiting Lapland during the winter you do have more of a chance of seeing the lights if you head away from the towns and cities to naturally lit areas.
Winter sports activities
A Lapland holiday guarantees snow, making it one of the best destinations in Europe for sports such as skiing, snowboarding and ice-skating. Finland is home to some first class ski-resorts offering a wealth of slopes for skiers of all skill levels. Levi is probably the most well-known but visitors can also choose from Ruka, Yllas and Pyha, which is a superb resort for beginners. Tobogganing and snowmobile rides are also available for children who haven’t yet learned to ski.
There’s much more to this fascinating Scandinavian region than just Santa Claus although this will no doubt be all the kids will talk about. Take your time to explore the region and make sure to indulge in a few fun winter sports if you get the chance.
Image by Chris Morgan, used under the Creative Commons license.
Sound like a fun and exciting place to visit, with so much to do. I would love to see the Northern lights.
What a magical place to visit and see the sights where Santa lives. I really like the sound of seeing the Aurora Borealis and taking a reindeer ride. This would be a trip of a lifetime to visit Lapland during the Holidays.
Sounds like an exciting trip but if there is snow and cold I would only do it in the summer. Sometimes we have enough snow here that its like Santas playground 🙂
I have always wanted to see the northern lights – I could imagine it being so romantic and fun. I’d sooo love to see Lapland!!! What a great vacation for you and your family!!!