the best santa in dallas

do you ever have one of those days where everything goes off without a hitch?  they are rare, but today was one of them for our little family.  i am always afraid days like this tempt fate a little...but i am choosing to savor every minute of this fine day.  visiting santa was just one of the reasons it was awesome. here's why.

top five reasons to go visit santa at neiman-marcus in downtown dallas:

1) he is so very nice.

2) there was no line!  say what????  in the past chris and i take ben on a weekday during his lunch break.  usually we are the third or fourth family in line.  our friends went last saturday and only waited 30 minutes.  we went today after lunch and walked directly to his lap.  for those that have ever taken children to visit santa know that this is a very. huge. deal.

 3) neimans has fancy window displays like they are in the middle of manhattan or something.  apparently, they haven't gotten the memo that they, well, aren't.  the displays are always beautiful and you don't have to crane your neck over a bajillion people to enjoy them.

 4) there is an interactive tunnel-thingy that the kids can climb through (for free, mind you).  it winds above and through the windows, so your child ends up becoming part of the display itself.  clever.

  5) it's downtown, which brings with it a certain type of energy.  lights are strung from building to building, and this year giant ornaments hang from the strands.  it's beautiful.

 i know it's a little late in the season for this post, as most of you have already toted your children to northpark or bass pro to see santa.  but next year, give this a try.  i promise you will enjoy it just as much as your kids.