The Runaway Santa — Anne Margaret Lewis

Once there was a jolly Santa who wanted to leave the North Pole on a worldwide vacation! He decides he wants to visit Mount Rushmore and see the stone faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. Then he'll ski the silky slopes of the Swiss Alps. And after that, he'll ride an elephant in South Africa on a safari. Santa is eager for a new adventure, but Mrs. Claus isn't so sure he's ready just yet. Before he takes off, she's going to make sure he's got his rock climbing gear. And his skis, and his hat. He must be ready!

It isn't long before Santa realizes that maybe his adventure would be more fun with a friend. Mrs. Claus is clearly an expert adventurer herself, and so the two take off together on a runaway adventure. They have a little time before Christmas, after all, and everybody needs a break sometimes!