CASCADE – Why wait until Christmas when you can visit Santa at the North Pole right now?The North Pole – Home of Santa’s Workshop features a slew of rides and shows for young kids, an expanse of shopping to keep mom entertained, and multiple areas for snacking so nobody starves during their visit.Our favorite part: Although the rides are cute and the shops are full of goodies, you’ll get a great laugh from the ridiculous outfits the employees wear.Workers are decked in knee-high candy canestripped socks, which pull to just below their knee-length, drawstring knickers. Not to be outdone by the bottom half, from the waist up employees boast white shortsleeve collared shirts, bow ties and suspenders. Outfits are either red or green, befitting of the holiday spirit.Kids will love: Santa! Visit Santa’s House, climb on his jolly lap, and Santa’s helpers will take your photo with the charming gentleman. You have more options than just a photo, though; you can have your picture with Santa printed on a mug, mouse pad, Christmas ornament or postcard.Most popular ride: If rides are judged by the amount of shrill screams flooding from their direction, the Tilt-AWhirl is a crowd favorite. Employees also suggest the train and the Scrambler.Bet you didn’t know: In the early years of the North Pole – the park opened in 1956 – deer roamed the ground freely. Not quite reindeer, these English fallow deer were a big hit with visitors, as were the goats that also roamed freely.General manager and owner Tom Haggard still has older visitors recall that their favorite memories were with the animals.Best time to visit: Haggard suggests coming around opening time (9 a.m.) on a Monday if you want to miss the frenzied crowds. You can beat the afternoon heat this way, too.Be prepared: The terrain is hilly, so wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes. You may want to bring your umbrella because weather around the mountain can change unexpectedly, and rain is common in the afternoon.If you want to check the weather report before you visit, check the Web site at www.santas-colo.com and click on the Map & Info tab to select Weather Info. The page will display the current weather information for Cascade, as determined by The Weather Channel.Souvenirs: Visiting the North Pole without spare change would be a sin with eight different areas at which to shop.The goods at a few of the shops are easily determined by their themed names; the Candle Shop has candles, the Indian Gift Shop has Native American-themed products, the Girl’s Gift shop screams of pink and features girl’s toy, the Boy’s Shop & Candy Kitchen is filled with boy’s toys and fudgy delights, and the Christmas Shop is brimming with ornaments and stockings.At the Gift Shop and Post Office you can send a North Pole postcard to a friend or family member, complete with a North Pole postmark. The Gift Shop and Post Office features a collection of North Pole and Colorado touristy goods – T-shirts, toys and figurines. A similar array of items can be found in the entrance shop and the Souvenir Shop.Snacks: The North Pole doesn’t slack when it comes to eating; there are three areas to grab a bite at the North Pole and a picnic area.Each features your basic menu of amusement-park cuisine – burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, mammoth pretzels, chips and sodas – but each has unique items as well. The Ice Cream Parlor & Cafe has ice cream and milkshakes, Miss Muffet’s Snacks has Snokones and funnel cakes, and Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard has Dippin’ Dots and Slushies.

DETAILSThe North Pole Home of Santa’s WorkshopHours: Santa’s Workshop is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. until Aug. 15, when the park is open until 5 p.m. and closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays.Cost: General admission for ages 2 to 59 is $15.95, seniors ages 60 or older are admitted for $6.95, and children under 2 are admitted free.Discounts: You have multiple opportunities to get your discount on at the North Pole. Go to the North Pole’s Web site – www.santas-colo.com – and click the link near midpage that reads “Ho Ho Ho! Get a special discount coupon here!” Fill out the three fields and print off your $3 off coupon, good for up to 10 visitors.Military personnel can save by presenting a current military ID; military admission is $10.Groups also save at the North Pole. Groups of six to 19 are admitted for $13.95 per admission, while larger groups are admitted for $12.95. But Santa’s Super Saver Group Rate is the best option. This program is designed for groups such as birthday parties and church goings and allows for parties of 10 or more to be admitted for $9.95 each, but you must call in advance to use this rate.Parking: The North Pole welcomes visitors with a massive parking lot that has plenty of room for RVs and buses.Reservations: Call Santa’s Workshop in advance to use Santa’s Super Saver Group Rate or plan a birthday party or any other event.Phone: 684-9432Web site: www.santas-colo.comLocation: Santa’s Workshop is located at the foot of Pikes Peak, in Cascade.Directions: From downtown Colorado Springs take U.S. Highway 24 (Cimarron Street) west about 10 miles and turn left onto Fountain Avenue, where signs point to the North Pole and Pikes Peak Highway. At the fork, head left onto Pikes Peak Highway. Follow the signs to the North Pole (on your left).Handicapped friendly: Yes, but the North Pole is located on hilly terrain with some bumps, so it takes an active individual to push a wheelchair around. There are two steep areas where wheelchairs are not admitted.Pet-friendly: Pets are not admitted. Santa has to look out for his reindeer and wouldn’t want Fido chasing them around.

A Dromaesaurus albertensis is installed at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park last year. Photo by THE GAZETTE FILE