JACKIE BRANKIN and family head north for an audience with Father
Christmas
SANTA Claus Land is a Highland holiday retreat for Father Christmas in
Aviemore. Our family day out there was a mixed bag of pleasure and pain
-- main grump being, did they have to re-create the sub-zero
temperatures of Santa's home in Greenland?
We realise the outside temperatures are not within the management's
control but they could include more heat in the indoor play areas and
refreshment zones, both of which were more than a touch on the cool
side.
Billed as offering the ''largest indoor soft play area in Europe''
only the hardiest child could stand more than 15 minutes running about
in their socks (shoes are left at the door). Santa, might I suggest
slippers? The ten-pin bowling brigade provide changes of footwear in
their halls to protect the bowling lanes. At Aviemore, swopping shoes
for slippers could lower the chances of frostbite.
That aside, the play area is bigger and better than most, with lots of
space to run, bounce, chase and roll about.
There is plenty for kids to do in Santa land so the #3 admission
charge for children is acceptable. For adults, however, there is litle
to do except smile indulgently at their offspring -- which makes another
#3-a-head for grown-ups a bitter little pill. A goodwill marketing ploy
might be one adult free with every child under 12 -- an idea of mine
they are free to take up.
Some kind of effort would be welcomed -- after all, they have a
captive audience.
The fact of the matter is that ski-ing and other outdoor trips to the
Cairngorms are often blown out (literally) by the unpredictable weather,
particularly on the slopes.
Once grounded families are faced with bored kids, the pressure is on
to take action, but must it cost an arm and a leg?
Money matters apart, a fun play area and ''death slide'' (quite safe
at just two feet off the ground -- our five-year-old loved it) are
avaiable, as is a ''dinosaur safari ride''. The ride looks scary but is
not and our daughter wanted to go on it again and again.
She also enjoyed the model cars and crazy golf but the high point of
the trip was the visit to Santa's Highland home. We visited the log
cabin and literally walked in on Father Christmas himself.
Forget all the in-store Santas you've seen with their cotton wool
beards and ill-fitting costumes, this IS Santa. His beard is real, his
eyes twinkle, he's even got exactly the right amount of wrinkles you'd
imagine he should have and I would challenge even the most cycnical
adult not to be impressed.
He sat our daughter on his knee and she thanked him for the presents
she received last year. So smitten was she, her usual eye for the main
chance failed her, and she forgot to put in an early order for this
year.
Back outside, the more adventurous among the kids can opt for a
kiddies' four-wheel drive option, available for an extra few pounds.
Lunch or a snack is available in the Gingerbread House which is
beautifully furnished and offers, stranger than fiction, Santa Meals in
a happybox. At #2.50 for a burger, chips, drink and gingerbread man --
it is good value in anyone's terms.
The pet farm could do with a few more ''cute'' additions to make it
truly memorable and the gift shop which you can visit on your way out is
a bit tatty. Perhaps the organisers could take a leaf out of the
Christmas shops in Disney World.
They manage to stock and sell Christmas tree ornaments and baubles all
year round, sometimes in temperatures of 90 degrees simply because they
make it so Chrismassy and inviting.
This rather tacky and half-hearted shop leaves much to be desired, as
does the service of the staff who were on duty during our visit. After
all it is supposed to be Santa Claus Land and a smile, no matter how
forced, would help.
Still, Santa's new found home from home is a welcome addition to
Aviemore's attractions. The town has been criticised in the past for
failing to cater for and make the most of the large number of tourists
who visit every year.
There is really no excuse for not getting it right. All it needs is a
bit more effort and concentration on what people really want -- Oh, and
those slippers please, Santa.
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