Say Cheese! 13 Photo-Worthy Santas Worth the Wait

Whatever your tradition is---there are plenty of options (and plenty of St. Nicks) to choose from this year. Here are 13 Seattle-area standouts.

By Erin Cranston November 1, 2012

We parents make the holidays so difficult sometimes, whether it’s dressing the kiddos up in scratchy Christmas outfits, making them wait in long lines for hours, or insisting they sit on some bearded dude’s lap just so we can get our treasured Santa photo. Do they really remember that we go to the same Santa every year? Probably not, but it sure makes for a seriously awesome Christmas tradition. To help minimize the Santa photo stress, we’ve rounded up the best places to seek out your St. Nick nirvana. Choosing the least meltdown-inducing matching Christmas sweaters for your mini-mes? That one’s up to you.

Interplanetary Santa: The Space Needle

Blast off to Santa Planet this holiday season and visit the Number One Elf at the top of the Space Needle. He’ll be landing his WorkShip on the O Deck starting November 29, just in time to hear your little Earthlings’ wish lists and let them check out his awesome (and shiny) Santa spacesuit. After they share their little hearts’ desires and his elves snap a photo, head over to Cookie (Space) Station to decorate a complimentary holiday cookie. This Santa sounds out of this world! Psst...We recommend buying tickets ahead of time to avoid the lines. Digital download of your Santa photo is free; trip to the top of the Needle starts at $12 .

Dates: November 29-December 24 (weekends only)

400 Broad St.
Seattle, Wa 98109
206-905-2100

Let us know where you take the kiddos for Santa photos every year in a comment below!

–Erin Cranston & Allison Ellis

Photos credits: Fred Jala via Flickr, Katie Christiansen, Space Needle Facebook page, santaphotos.com, Erin Cranston, Heidi Larsen, Danielle Dolbec, Janine Vazquez, Christmas Creek Farm website and Arin Winsor, Wing Luke Museum Facebook page