Really started to feel like Christmas at the start of December when we took a trip to the North Pole! We drove out to Arizona, was so weird to be going east...we stayed at the Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon which was nice and cozy and all decorated for Christmas
The Polar express was pretty booked so dates were slim pickings. We had tickets to go on a Sunday night, so we decided to start off the weekend with a visit to the Grand Canyon
it was beautiful up there...hopefully when the kids get bigger we can go for a hike farther in :)
getting a closer look
back to the hotel for some indoor swimming...was nice we had the pool all to ourselves
met up with Caron who told us about Bearizona, which was so cool, my favorite part of the trip
drive thru zoo, they give you a little box radio that tells you about the animals as you pass
some would come really close
kids were scared, freaking out at first, asking why we would take them there, but toward the end they calmed down and were fine :)
my jacob moment...hee!
big bear
at the end where the bears are they tell you to keep your windows rolled up, pretty crazy...bear crossing...if they go past a certain point near the gate they get zapped
the second half is walking through to see the smaller animals...we made it just in time for the bird and owl show, they flew right over our heads...Jaylin went on stage as a volunteer
then for the moment we were all waiting for...Polar Express to the North Pole!
cookie toast
hot chocolate served...
getting comfy as they read the story
The North Pole...
Santa aboard the train passing out bells
then this girl asking for a picture...looked like a real Santa who didn't know what a phone was :) On the ride back we sang Christmas carols...It was cute, fun, but I did have higher expectations, was thinking it would be more of a full on show, lights dark, someone telling the story loudly over the mic, like we were part of the book :) was a good experience though, I heard other places may do differently, so we may have to go on more!
When we asked the kids what the best part was, Jayme's said the Grand Canyon, Jaylin the Polar Express and Jayson said watching the bears trying to get out of the zoo...so I guess going to all three was a success!
