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Right Down Santa Claus Lane
Every day is Christmas in North Pole, Alaska.
Imagine
a town where they never take the Christmas decorations down. Where
candy canes and garlands are an everyday occurrence, even in
mid-summer. Where a giant fiberglass Santa towers over the scenery, and
where St. Nick himself can sometimes be found breakfasting in the local
McDonalds.
Now imagine you can visit that town -- it's just outside Fairbanks.
There's more. The town has a post office, and you can send a letter to it. (The zip code is 99705.) Every Christmas,
thousands of letters arrive at the post office addressed to Santa.
People from town volunteer to answer each and every child’s
letter. At least that's the official story.
Do you believe in Santa Claus? |
The Bear Facts, Please
North
Pole, Alaska is a town of about 2,000 residents on the outskirts of
Fairbanks. The town is notable for its year-round Christmas theme. You
can visit Santa Claus in summer, and the holiday season is a 365
day-a-year occurrence. Streets are named after Santa and his reindeer,
and large candy canes festoon local businesses. Every year during the
holiday season, thousands of letters are addressed to Santa Claus in
North Pole, Alaska. Local volunteers make sure each of these letters is
answered.
Main attractions in
North Pole include a giant Santa Claus statue, an equally large candy
cane, and Christmas themed summer and winter activities.
North
Pole is also a good jumping off point for adventures in the Chena
Recreation Area, south of Fairbanks along the Richardson Highway. There
are public recreation sites and a swimming beach that draws crowds from
Fairbanks on the hot days of summer. Bike paths, picnic opportunities,
and lake and river recreation are never too far away during the hot,
sunny summer days.
The town of
North Pole received its name and association with the Christmas season
in the 1940s and 50s. A real estate company first gave the town the
name North Pole in an attempt to lure a toy manufacturer to the area,
with the toys being "Made In The North Pole." Though a toy manufacturer
never came, the theme, and town spirit, has stayed ever since.
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Santa
Celebrity
Santa spends his summers at North Pole, Alaska, just outside of Fairbanks.
He finds it a welcome break from the Arctic. Especially since he gets a chance to sleep in every so often.
When
Santa's not resting up, he's usually available to talk with visitors
who drop by -- or even pose for photos. As it turns out, he causes
quite a commotion every time he steps out into the parking lot.
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Where is NORTH POLE, and how many people live there?
12 miles from Fairbanks,
Alaska
Pop: 1,659
So close to Fairbanks, yet so far away! You’ll see the same holiday theme all over town. Even the mayor’s
office is decorated with yuletide splendor, year-round. |
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