The Santa cruise

HE might be known for his sleigh and his trusty reindeer Rudolph, but Santa Claus will be travelling all over the York region in the coming weeks by boat, train and even plane.

Youngsters won't want to miss a chance to meet Father Christmas and pass on that top-secret information: what they want for Christmas.

So here's our guide to some of the more fun and unusual places to find Santa this month. My, what a busy bee that Santa is...

Boat

Enjoy an hour's boat trip on the Ouse, sailing from the Ship Inn at Acaster Malbis, and be entertained by a special children's quiz before finding Santa at his grotto. Each child will receive a present and there will be coffee or mulled wine and mince pies for the grown-ups; a drink and biscuit for children. Organised by Waterline Cruises, with selective sailings on weekends from December 10. Tickets are £6.50 per person and must be pre-booked by telephoning 01904 702056.

Take a Santa Cruise with YorkBoat. Santa's helpers will entertain the kids while parents enjoy a glass or wine, tea or coffee and Christmas cake. Each child will receive a present from Father Christmas in his on-board grotto. Sailings are on selective dates from December 8-22, tickets cost £8, and must be pre-booked by telephoning 01904 628324.

Train

Join Santa in his grotto for a magical ride across the moorland aboard the North Yorkshire Moors Railway... and come away with a gift as well as memories to treasure. Trains depart from Pickering and Grosmont on Saturdays and Sundays from today to December 18. For ticket and timetable information, telephone: 01751 472508.

Santa will be arriving by train at Yorkshire Museum of Farming and the Derwent Valley Light Railway, Murton Park, York, this weekend, the following two weekends (December 10-11 and 17-18) and on Thursday December 22 and Friday December 23. Children will meet Santa on the train and receive a gift, while adults will get a mince pie and a glass of sherry. Visitors can also take a tour of Santa's workshop and house - just watch out for the cheeky elves. There is also a caf and gift shop on site. Admission is between 10am-3pm and tickets cost £5.50 for children, £4.50 for adults. No need to pre-book. For more information, telephone 01904 489966.

Plane

Is it a bird, is it a plane... or is it Santa's flying grotto? See for yourself at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington, where Santa's airline grotto will be landing on December 10-11, 17-18 and 23-24 at 11am. To book a place, telephone 01904 608595. Tickets cost £5 for children, £4 for adults and include entry to the museum. Gates open at 10am.

Sleigh

Santa's sleigh will be whisking its way to the Farmer's Cart Woodland Grotto at Towthorpe from December 10-11 and 15-23 from 11am-4pm. While Rudolph takes a rest, a tractor will pull the sleigh through the wood to Santa's grotto, with good children invited aboard for a ride. Minced pies and mulled wine will be available and the shop will be selling everything you need to survive the festive season from hampers and gifts to trees and turkeys. Tickets cost £3 for children, £2.50 for adults and include a gift for kids. For more information, telephone 01904 499183.

See Rocking Rudolph at Dean's Garden Centre, Sunday December 11 from 11am-3pm, when he will be flashing his red nose and escorting Santa in his sleigh. Throw pennies into Santa's bucket for good luck and to support local charities. For more details, ring 01904 400141.

Grottos

You can also visit Santa at his grotto at the following sites:

Fenwick department store, Coppergate, York: Open daily from 11am-4pm. Visit Santa in the downstairs toy department and receive a gift. No charge, but donations to charity welcome.

Rock Church, Priory Street, off Micklegate, York: Children will go down a white tunnel, past a large polar bear, penguins and sea lions to get to Father Christmas, who will be sitting in a sleigh with two life-sized reindeer in a winter wonderland scene. Open from 10am-4pm today, next Saturday and December 17, as well as on December 19, 20 and 21. Admission will be £4.50 per child which includes a gift.

Castle Howard: Santa will be in the Stable Courtyard every weekend in December from 10am-5pm and children visiting his grotto will receive a gift. Admission is £3.50. Adults will be able to visit the farm shop, gift shop, caf and plant centre and the gardens will be open too. For more details, telephone 01653 648444.

Wetherells department store, The Crescent, Selby: Catch Santa in his grotto today or on Saturdays from 10am-4pm in the run up to Christmas. Admission is £3.50.

Wyevale Garden Centre, Boroughbridge Road, Upper Poppleton: Father Christmas will be there on Saturdays from 9am-6pm and on Sundays from 11am-5pm in December. Admission: £4.50.

Updated: 16:24 Friday, December 02, 2005