Advice and Tips for Storyland and Santa's Village

Stay at Nordic Village - all different size condos for rent. It's really nice w/heated pool, row boats, and tons of different activities and play areas for the kids.

There's a relatively new childrens museum in North Conway in a strip mall just past the Main Village area on 16(white strip mall on the left if headed towards Glen) My 3 loved it-separate area for infants and lots of fun for the "older" set(I would say 7 or 8 would be the age limit on this). It's small but full of fun stuff if you have a rainy day and want to be inside. The railroad museum was closed when we were last up but looking forward to taking the kids there- the gift shop is full of models and not very kid friendly just a warning.

Our daughter has enjoyed the short trips on the Conway Scenic Railroad.
I don't have any specific restaurants to recommend, but will say we've never had a problem at any.
Have fun,
J.

This will be a very busy weekend at both Santa's Village and Storyland, but it has been our experience that Santa's Village is a little less crowded and easier with little ones. Do Santa's Village first, and spread your visit to Storyland over two days by coming in after 3PM the first day. They used to let you do this, check your tickets, as it makes the experience more enjoyable with little ones. Have fun!

If you arrive at Storyland first thing when it opens (get there a bit early to wait in line) you pretty much have the run of the park for the first hour or so. We were able to head to the Bamboo Shoots (flume) for several repeat rides with no problems. It's a great time to get on the more popular rides. I would also recommend The Red Fox restaurant as someone else did. It's a great restaurant. Good luck with the two kids and have fun!

Hi K.,
We've done that trip several times! What fun! Check out Pirate's Cove mini golf, the 2 year old might like it! Attatash is fun, but I'm not sure if it's good for little ones. Polar Caves and the Lost River are great hikes, if you're into that! Hopefully you chose a motel/hotel w/a pool that you can relax at between parks etc. 4 days is plenty to do both parks and surrounding area.
Have fun!
E. K. :-)

I have four children and a full day at Storyland is alot, but if you enter the park on the first day after 3pm you can stay until close and then return the next day for free. So you can do two shorter days rather than one long one!

Also I don't know what your lodging situation is but I have a two bed, two bath condo for rent about 5 minutes from Storyland! It has a full kitchen, living and dining as well as an inground pool on the property (walking distance from our unit). We charge $95 a night, which is less than you would pay for a small hotel room. We do give discount for stays longer than a week! Please respond to my email if you are interested, I still have lots of dates available.

I would save some time for "down times" to relax a bit more as well. My kids were 18m & 10 and totally loved the covered bridges that we stopped at that were on our way as well as the waterfall areas. Even if its not actual falls they loved being able to play in the water that ran down the rocks. Remember its a little vacation and you need relaxing times too.
Make sure you have sun block, I always seem to forget that!
Not sure what your kids liked but we loved the train resturaunt and a place closer to town "North of the Border" or something-great mexican resturaunt. Surpisingly the kids loved it too. Someone else had mentioned the Red Fox-we enjoyed eating there as well. The place we stayed was just passed that but I don't remember the name. It had tennis courts, pool and hot tub and had a little river/stream ehind it that the kids liked. I've been 1 other time without kids and we stayed at the Dana Place Inn and enoyed that. They have suites for families but we didn't see them.
Enjoy, I can't wait until we get to visit again.

We take this trip every year. Mine are now 8,5 and 2 1/2 and have been going for the last 6 years. I bring my own stroller, even though both parks have free strollers. If you child falls asleep in their stroller it will be uncomfortable and they weill be sitting up as the strollers are wood and metal. I think they are great for the non napper who needs to be contained.

Plan to arrive at Storyland at 3 pm the 1st day. This gives you a chance to get your bearings and they will give you a pass to use any other day of the season. The 2nd day we drive the extra hour to Santa's village. Here they sell refillable cups that are refillable free for soda, slush or another fountain beverage.
The 3rd day we go to Storyland when they open and spend the day.

Be forewarned that when you exit Santa's Village, it is through the gift shop. This is the only way out.

Both places allow you to bring in your own cooler with your lunch and beverages, baby bottles, snacks etc. They also have free parking.

Both places have awesome shows to see. They are both very clean parks and promote family fun! Not to mention affordable!

Last year, we went to the Weather Museum in North Conway. It is on the strip near the big park on the main drag and it's free.

There is a Wal-mart in the area for anything that you forget, but we usually pack some rain poncho's because there is usually a shower/down pour when we go. Other necessities - sunscreen, hats, and a sweatshirt or light jacket.

Restaurants - we like Merlino's. The food is good and they also do take out, as sometimes eating out with kids is not an option, just remember to ckeck the bag for utensils as most hotels don't have that available.

There is a chinese take out near the Comfort Inn with the golf course that isn't too bad. And of course McDonald's with a playplace. There is a Dunkin Donuts too. And there is a Shaws and a local supermarket for anything else.

If you have the entertainment book, you can go online and print coupons for some North Conway restaurants.

Don't waste your time at Six Gun City. This is just before Santa's Village. It is old and run down. Not designed for little kids.

Clarks Trading Post is nice if you like to see the bears, but there is nothing else around. We usually skip this attraction.

Hope this helps. I'm sure you'll have a great time!

Be sure to post your experience when you return!

Hi Karent,

My family and I just came back from Santa's Village last week. We stayed at the North Conway Grand Hotel for 2 nights and hit Santa's Village last Tuesday. We arrived at around noonish and it took us about 4 to 5 hours to make our way through the park stopping on most rides. Just be careful with the rides... There are almost no height restrictions as long as the children are with adults and we made the mistake of taking our 21 month old on the "Yule Log". What i didn't know was that there is quite a drop at the end of the ride and this really scared my daughter. She was kind of freiked out about going on any other ride after that. All other rides were ok as far as the "scariness" of them. Have fun !!

Hi, I have been several times with my young daughters and loved it. I know a couple of people have said to go left, but with your age children, I ould get there when it opens and go right. To the right is a great play area for little ones. The other great area for little ones is the farm area. Have a blast!

WE just got back last week, because of all the rain we were only able to get to Storyland, not Santa's Village. But, we did as a previous poster mentioned and got to the park after 3pm one day and stayed until it closed and then returned the following day with our return pass and spent the day. Lots of fun and I also recommend packing of snacks and lunch. We went to a really cute restaraunt right down the road called The Red Fox. They had a craft room and movie room to keep the kids busy while you waited for your food..highly recommend! http://www.redfoxpub.com/

sedn the responses over here...we are going in Aug

We just went to Storyland a few weeks ago with out 2.5 year old. I thought it was the perfect size. We were able to spend the whole day there. Parking was easy. Go early, when you get into the park go the opposite way of traffic (go to the left instead of right). I would also bring your own lunch. The lines were horrible. Cinderellas castle, walk to the castle and take the carriage ride down. You'll wait forever and there is no line going back down.
I hope this helps and have a great time.

Hi K.,

Have fun on your trip! When my girls were younger, we went to Storyland every fall. We found that if you go through the park "backwards" it's less crowded. The first few years we went, when entering the park - we along with most visitors went to the right... But, if you go to the left - there are shorter lines. And my the time you make it around to the other end of the park, there are less visitors...hence, shorter lines.

As for Santa's Village - sorry, my parents never took me there, and I have never brought my kids there...? But if it's fun, let me know. We always did other things up there like the Flume, the Basin, Clarks Trading Post, The Kangamangus (sp??)...

Enjoy your time!
J.

I live in the area! Two good restaurants are Delaney's and The Red Parka Pub! The Conway Scenic Railroad is fun. Too bad you aren't coming in mid July, because they are having Thomas the Train! If you can try to get a two day pass to Storyland! It is a big park and if your little ones get tired you can go back to enjoy the rest of the park the next day. Santa's Village is smaller so one day is fine! Bring your own drinks and snacks because the food is expensive! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and rain gear. The parks often stay open if it is just showers. Bring your own strollers that way your kids are comfy (you will probably do all the walking and there is a lot of walking)! Other attractions are the Children's Museum and Model Railroad Museum. There are a lot of quaint little shops downtown and of course the outlets! The weather looks good, so you are going to be able to have fun this weekend!