For years my family has heard about the wonders of Santa’s Wonderland in College Station. One of my best friends and I have been trying to arrange it so that we can go up there with both our families to visit but it just never worked out. This year we thought we had the timing all put together to spend a weekend in College Station to enjoy all that it has to offer as a winter wonderland but at the last minute she couldn’t make it. I decided this year was THE year that we were going and nothing could stop us. Tickets were ordered and it was time to head just a short road trip away to see for ourselves exactly how wonderful Santa’s Wonderland is.
This content is brought to you in partnership with Santa’s Wonderland. All other travel and additional expenses were mine own. All opinions, text and images expressed are 100% my own.
Our plan was to arrive early but I think everyone else in the area had the same plan. There are plenty of parking lots with shuttles which makes it very easy to get in and out, don’t let the line fool you. I also really like that there is law enforcement there to help with the traffic. Just in case you were wondering there are a limited number of handicapped parking spaces available too. I highly recommend planning your Santa’s Wonderland visit online, from purchasing your tickets to your parking spots for smooth sailing to the entrance. The opening “act” is a popular one as Santa makes his grand entrance! Then it’s a free for all as families scatter to enjoy the variety of winter activities available.
We headed straight to the Santa’s Hayride tour. On our way there there were so many beautiful displays that it was hard to stay on the trail. The funnel cake was calling to us, the hot chocolate stand singing and mom looked at the wonderland winery longingly. But we were on a mission and that was to ride the hayride. After that there is still plenty more to do.
Santa’s Hayride was breathtaking. The clippity clop of the horses as it moved slowly through the trail made it possible to really get a good look at the variety of holiday light display arrangements ranging in theme from religious to polar. You know how you watch fireworks and everyone has their own favorite type and color? That’s what Santa’s Hayride is like. Everyone’s favorite type, color and holiday theme was represented in a beautifully designed manner. Everyone in our family saw something that they just loved from the Polar Ice Caps with Polar Bears to the rainbow of lights.
After our hayride we made our way back to the movie theater. Mom enjoyed her wine from the Wonderland Winery while the girls and dad took advantage of the “make your own smores (or dogs)” fires. You purchase your ingredietns at the stand then make your way to one of the pits to warm up and smore up your marshmallows. While we were there we enjoyed the generous seating available and the HUGE movie screen playing one of our favorite holiday movies, “Elf.”
Up next is the Tallest Mountain Slide in Texas! The brand new West Pole Mountain Adventure is the tallest mountain slide in the Lone Star State! It’s a GIANT and it’s a Texas sized slide, which reaches a height of 35ft tall and stretches 90ft in length. WOW did the girls have fun going down that slide. Perfect for kids and adults, you do have to be at least 44″ and no taller than 80″ to ride. The petting zoo and pony rides are located nearby so we spent a little time with the animals. My girls are too old for riding pony’s but looked longingly and wished their were horse rides too. And we can’t miss out on the beautifully decorated West Pole Express train ride!
This is Texas after all so not only does our Santa were a cowboy hat but we have to have Santa’s mechanical bull! Each girl took a turn and my youngest set her own new record of .23 seconds! She won’t be entering any rodeos anytime soon, but she knows just what to do next time.
I don’t know about you but I’m starting to get hungry with all the yummy aroma’s in the air. I promised the girls a funnel cake but I had no idea that it was a family size funnel cake. They say everything is bigger in Texas and the funnel cake at Santa’s Wonderland is no exception. Mom got a glass of wine from the Wonderland Winery and there of course is their “world famous hot chocolate.
While we sit down and enjoy our snacks from the Frostbite Food Village we warm up by one of the campfires. But what’s a campfire without a sing along? The music begins and our entertainer gets everyone into the holiday spirit with a rousing chorus of a few of our favorite Christmas carols! Then the MAGIC really happens as the Nightly Texas Snow Show begins right outside the Trading Post. We had the BEST location!
A little shopping in the Trading Post and we are all ready to go home. What an amazing and magical evening at Santa’s Wonderland.
A few tips:
Buy tickets and parking online at Santa’s Wonderland. It really does make your visit easier.
Take advantage of the free shuttles from other parking lots.
Be sure to get the map from the friendly welcome greeters. It can help you plan your visit.
Little ones may get tired – you CAN bring Strollers.
No outside food or beverages.
You may have the same question we had. “How much for all the other activities?” Guess what! It’s one price for almost everything. Your admission does not cover picture packages (like the Snow Globe) or dining but it does cover your hayride to movie watching and a whole lot more. I like that I didn’t have to worry about buying extra tickets once we arrived.
And, look for the Super Saver tickets as well as ticket giveaways and special announcements (like for the Rockin’ New Year celebration) when you connect with Santa’s Wonderland A Christmas Experience on Facebook I Twitter I YouTube I Instagram.
Other activities include visiting with Santa in Santa’s Cottage and be Santa’s helper too. You can be Santa’s Helper by providing a new toy, gift card, or money to be distributed to those in need. For each donation of $10 value, we will give the giver a special wooden Santa’s Helper coin as well as 10% off all pictures and merchandise in Santa’s Cottage. Donations go directly to Lone Star Santas, a 501 CS organization. I love that they are looking at the community and a way to give back!
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