{"id":1365,"date":"2012-12-03T07:59:17","date_gmt":"2012-12-03T12:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/vac\/2012\/12\/03\/fifty-plus-great-places-to-see-the-holiday-lights-in-2012\/"},"modified":"2012-12-03T07:59:17","modified_gmt":"2012-12-03T12:59:17","slug":"fifty-plus-great-places-to-see-the-holiday-lights-in-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/vac\/2012\/12\/03\/fifty-plus-great-places-to-see-the-holiday-lights-in-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"Fifty-plus Great Places to See the Holiday Lights in 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/span> November 5, 2012<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/div>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.takingthekids.com\/travel<\/div>\n
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For some families, it may be cutting down their own tree; For others, their holiday tradition is oohing and aahing over the light display in a favorite city, botanic garden, zoo or theme park. You\u2019ll find memorable displays wherever you live or wherever you visit this holiday season. Some families opt to see the holiday lights in far flung destinations with the grandparents (Check out what Tauck offers these multigenerational groups with their special Bridge<\/a>s trips, for example.) See what I wrote about the holidays in Hong Kong<\/a> last year!<\/p>\n

To help make holiday lights part of your tradition, here are 55 places to light up the holidays.\u00a0 If you have a favorite not mentioned here, please leave a comment.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 ALBUQUERQUE, NM \u2013 The Rio Grande Botanic Garden<\/a> hosts New Mexico\u2019s largest walk-through holiday light show, \u201cThe River of Lights\u201d featuring giant sculptures of plants, animals and seasonal themes created by millions of lights in over 150 displays. Visit between November 24 and December 28 (closed on December 24 and 25).<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 ANNAPOLIS, MD \u2013 \u201c<\/strong>Lights on the Bay\u201d<\/strong><\/a> is a drive-through holiday light show at Sandy Point State Park along Chesapeake Bay, where there are stationery and animated displays including a glowing lighthouse,\u00a0Navy midshipmen, oysters and blue crabs. Visit between November 19 and January 2.<\/p>\n

\"Austin<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 AUSTIN, TX \u2013 Zilker Park\u2019s \u201cTrail of Lights,\u201d<\/a> a mile long stretch with seasonal scenes composed of multi-colored twinkling lights, will be on display from December 16-23.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 BOSTON, MA features the largest Christmas Tree in New England<\/a>, and the 70th<\/sup> annual lighting ceremony will take place on December 1. Take a Freedom Trail Holiday Stroll<\/a> with a costumed guide, learn how Christmas and holiday traditions evolved in Boston and end your tour with hot chocolate or tea with Boston Cream Pie at the Omni Parker House Hotel. This tour is offered at 3:30pm, Thursday to Sunday from November 17 to January 20.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0 BRANSON, MO \u2013 Silver Dollar City<\/a> celebrates \u201cOld Time Christmas\u201d with a 5-story special effects Christmas Tree and millions of lights from November 3 to December 30.<\/p>\n

\"Dyker<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0 BROOKLYN, NY twinkles with the \u201cLights of Dyker Heights<\/a>,\u201d a neighborhood (between 83d and 86th<\/sup> streets from 11th<\/sup> to 13th<\/sup> Avenue between Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst) that attracts 100,000 visitors to view amazing decorations.\u00a0Visit between 5 and 9 p.m. for the most intense lighting<\/p>\n

7.\u00a0 CHARLESTON, SC celebrates the \u201cHoliday Festival of Lights<\/a>\u201d in James Island County Park where you will drive (or take a train ride) three miles through over two million lights and hundreds of displays. Visit from November 9 to December 31.\u00a0 And also enjoy Santa\u2019s Village and Winter Wonderland which have attractions and activities including marshmallow Roasts, festival train rides, carnival rides, Santa\u2019s Sweet Shoppe and more.<\/p>\n

8.\u00a0 CHARLOTTE, NC \u2013 Charlotte Motor Speedway is excited to bring the holidays to life this winter season with the return of \u201cCarolina Christmas,\u201d<\/a> a spectacular drive-through Christmas light park and village located at the legendary superspeedway. Featuring more than 600 light displays boasting 3 million lights, the event also offers a Christmas Village with a realistic Bethlehem-themed village, a Festival of Trees, photos with Santa and areas with food and music. This year, the route of twinkling lights is extended, giving visitors extra miles of Christmas cheer! Come experience it from November 23 to December 31, excluding Christmas day.<\/p>\n

9.\u00a0 CHATANOOGA, TN \u2013 Rock City Garden\u2019s \u201cEnchanted Garden of Lights\u201d celebrates its 17th<\/sup> year with more than 30 holiday scenes and over a million lights. Visit from November 18 to December 31 (closed Christmas eve).\u00a0 Enjoy hot cocoa, gingerbread cookie decorating, face painting and costume dress up with Sugar Plum Fairy Makeovers and nightly entertainment.<\/p>\n

10.\u00a0 CHICAGO, IL boasts \u201cThe Magnificent Mile Lights Festival<\/a>\u201d with a Mickey and Minnie Mouse Parade on November 17 and more than one million lights along Michigan Avenue. The Museum of Science and Industry<\/a> illuminates \u201cChristmas Around the World\u201d and \u201cHolidays of Light\u201d with more than 50 trees and displays to reflect worldwide holiday traditions from November 15 to January 6. \u201cChristkindlmarket<\/a>,\u201d a German-American Holiday Market is celebrating its 16th<\/sup> year in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago from November 21 to December 24.<\/p>\n

11.\u00a0 CLEVELAND, OH \u2013 Head to Nela Park<\/a>, home of GE\u2019s Lighting Division in East Cleveland to see thousands of lights illuminate buildings along Noble Road. Visit between early December and New Years Day the annual holiday tradition, adored by celebrators since 1925.<\/p>\n

12.\u00a0 COEUR d\u2019ALENE, IDAHO \u2014 The Coeur d\u201dAlene Resort<\/a> launches the\u00a0 largest water holiday show in America Friday, Nov 23 with\u00a0 more than 1.5 million\u00a0 lights, 250 displays and\u00a0 a 160-foot tall living Christmas tree\u00a0 decorated with 40,000 LED lights and lighted tours on the lake to Santa\u2019s Workshop where Santa and his elves are waiting.<\/p>\n

13.\u00a0 COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, Jamestown and Yorktown in Virginia offer the chance to time travel back at the \u00a0Historic Triangle<\/a> to see how the holidays were celebrated<\/a> at Revolutionary Times and before\u00a0 while at nearby Busch Gardens, Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration<\/a> you can enjoy special holiday entertainment, more than five million twinkling lights and the park\u2019s \u00a0signature peppermint fudge hot chocolate..\u00a0 Come to Colonial Williamsburg Dec.2 to usher in the season with the Grand Luminations<\/a> celebration with other special holiday programs (have you ever seen a holiday shadow puppet show?) scheduled throughout December. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At \u00a0Jamestown Settlement<\/a> holiday film and guided tours \u2013 with periodic appearances by the \u201cLord of Misrule\u201d \u2013 compare and contrast English Christmas customs of the period with how the season may have been observed in the difficult early years of the Jamestown colony. At the Yorktown Victory Center<\/a>, visitors hear accounts of Christmas and winter in Revolutionary War encampments and glimpse holiday preparations on a 1780s farm.<\/p>\n

14.\u00a0 COLORADO SPRINGS \u2014 At America\u2019s only mountain zoo<\/a>, take in the nearly one million sparkling lights illuminating the crisp winter night, warm up at one of the fires throughout the Zoo, then stop in and see Santa.\u00a0 More than 260,000 Strands of Lights decorate the historic Broadmoor<\/a> nearby\u2014the biggest display in the city where the Annual White Lights Cermemony kicks off the season Nov. 24with music and more. \u00a0Ride the\u00a0 Santa Express Train<\/a> as kids in their pj\u2019s sip cocoa and listen to stories read by Elves on their way to the North Pole, decorated like a\u00a0 a true Christmas town, bedecked with holiday lights and decor for its most famous resident \u2013 Santa Claus.<\/p>\n

15.\u00a0 CRUISE AWAY \u2014 You won\u2019t skip holiday festivities if you are onboard ship in sunny climes this holiday season.\u00a0 Garland, wreaths, twinkling lights and glitter transform Disney Cruise Line<\/a> ships into a winter wonderland during the holidays with King Triton\u2019s Tree Lighting in the atrium lobby with a three-deck-tall tree, with holiday storytellers sharing tales of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa as well as family holiday crafts (want to help decorate a stocking. Celebrity Cruises<\/a> has fanciful gingerbread houses,\u00a0 Santa himself give the kids gifts\u2014even to the teens on board, carolers and a special \u201cTree Trimmers Buffet\u201d on Christmas eve while Holland America Line<\/a> has holiday-themed culinary demonstrations, sing-alongs and\u00a0 of course, plenty of holiday decorations throughout.\u00a0Carnival<\/a> ships not only are decorated with Christmas trees, wreaths and mistletoe, but kids help put on a special holiday show, while everyone can join in the caroling on deck.<\/p>\n

16.\u00a0 DESTIN, FL For the month of December, enjoy a festive light show in the Events Plaza at Sandestin Golf\u00a0 and Beach Resort<\/a> set to holiday music every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday leading up to Christmas at 6 & 7 p.m. You can also arrange for Santa to come to your room or condo to read the kids a holiday story.<\/p>\n

17.\u00a0 FRISCO, TX \u2013 More than 175,000 lights sparkle and shine as visitors walk or drive through \u201cChristmas in the Square<\/a>.\u201d from November 23 to January 6, with the exception Christmas Day. This is the largest holiday lights and music show in North Texas, and includes hot air balloons, a trackless train, visits with Santa, snow machine creating a winter wonderland and a Christmas marketplace. Visit from November 25 through the first weekend in January.<\/p>\n

18.\u00a0 GALVESTON ISLAND, TX \u2013 The largest holiday lighting festival on the Gulf Coast, \u201cFestival of Lights at Moody Gardens<\/a>\u201d features a mile-long trail of more than 100 lighted holiday scenes, shows, visits from Santa and a \u201cSnow Zone\u201d for kids from November 12 to January 1.\u00a0Visitors enjoy nightly entertainment, watch a variety of holiday-themed films in three separate theaters, the area\u2019s only outdoor skating rink and new this year, snow tubing!<\/p>\n

19.\u00a0 GATLINBURG, TN is where the 22nd<\/sup> annual \u201cWinter Magic\u201d<\/a> light displays will feature animals indigenous to Great Smoky Mountains National Park while the city\u2019s guided trolley tour lights entertain visitors of all ages. Visit from November 7 to February 28.<\/p>\n

20.\u00a0 GREENSBORO, NC \u2013 Head to the Sunset Hill neighborhood<\/a> to see hundreds of Lighted Christmas Balls, made by the community, that float through the trees. Those touring are invited to bring non-perishable food items to donate \u2013 last year over 4,000 lbs. of food was collected.<\/p>\n

21. HALLANDALE, FL\u2019s Village at Gulfstream Park will present \u201cSymphony in Lights<\/a>,\u201d a spectacular dancing light display choreographed to the holiday music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The event features more than 250,000 lights affixed to buildings and three trees that are choreographed to strobe, twinkle, fade, sparkle and burst by renowned light artist Carson Williams. It also requires 2,000 watts of sound, 47,000 feet of cable and 2 tons of holiday d\u00e9cor! Shows are on the hour, every hour from 6 \u2013 11 p.m. from November 19 through December 31.<\/p>\n

22.\u00a0 HERSHEY, PA lights up with two million twinkling lights. The centerpiece is Hersheypark\u2019s<\/a> \u201cChristmas Candylane\u201d through which the park is transformed with rides, Hershey characters, Santa and reindeer. \u00a0Hershey\u2019s \u201cSweet Lights\u201d<\/a> is a 2.3 mile drive-thru spectacle with nearly 600 animated, illuminated displays. Visit from November 16 to December 30.<\/p>\n

23.\u00a0 INDIANAPOLIS, IN celebrates the 50th<\/sup> anniversary of the \u201cCircle of Lights\u201d <\/a> by illuminating the embellish the Indiana Soldiers and Sailors Monument with 26 gigantic toy soldiers and sailors, 26 giant peppermint sticks and nearly 5,000 lights. Enjoy the beauty of thousands of lights setting the trees ago. The opening ceremony is November 25, and it runs through early January. Many Indianapolis attractions are offering free admission<\/a> on one of the 12 days leading to Christmas. Experience an 1830s Christmas at Conner Prairie<\/a> just out of Indianapolis where you can\u00a0 view all the amazing gingerbread entries from their famous Gingerbread House Competition. \u00a0The day after Thanksgiving, the annual Jolly Days Winter Wonderland exhibit <\/a>will open at the Children\u2019s Museum of Indianapolis, the largest in the country, where among other things, the kids can clib and\u00a0 slide on the Snow Castle.<\/p>\n

24.\u00a0 KANSAS CITY, MO \u2013 The \u201cSeason of Lights<\/a>\u201d at Country Club Plaza is an 82-year tradition with 80 miles of lights decorating 15 blocks of the city featuring 150 shops and restaurants. The Mayor\u2019s Christmas Tree at Hallmark\u2019s Crown Center, meanwhile, is 100 feet \u2013 taller than those on display at the White House and Rockefeller Center. The lighting ceremony will take place on November 22, Thanksgiving night.<\/p>\n

25.\u00a0 LOS ANGELES \u2013 Look for fake snow and holiday scenes as everywhere as neighborhoods go all out to celebrate. One of the best places to go is: Candy Cane Lane (<\/a>Dec. 8 \u2013 31): Woodland Hills\u2019 Candy Cane Lane where the eight-square-block neighborhood near Lubao Avenue and Oxnard Street where the all-out decorating has been a Valley tradition for 60 years.<\/p>\n

26.\u00a0 MARSHALL, TX welcomes families to the 26th<\/sup> annual \u201cWonderland of Lights.\u201d<\/a> Featuring more than a million lights in hundreds of displays in the historic town square, the festival also features outdoor ice skating, carriage rides pulled by Clydesdale horses, a polar challenge obstacle course, Santa\u2019s Workshop and Mrs. Claus\u2019 Kitchen and the chance to take a family portrait inside a \u201clife-size\u201d 16 foot giant snow globe! Enjoy these and other family-oriented activities from November 21 through December 31.<\/p>\n

27.\u00a0 MILWAUKEE, WI \u2013 The \u201cHoliday Lights Festival\u201d<\/a> includes \u00a0some 500,000 lights, animated sculptures and Movavian Stars along Wisconsin Avenue. Visit November 15 to December 31. During December, check out \u201cCandy Cane Lane,\u201d a stretch of four blocks just north of Oklahoma Avenue in West Allis, one of Milwaukee\u2019s neighborhoods.\u00a0Each year, three downtown Milwaukee parks are set aglow by animated scenes, dancing luminaries and thousands of lights illuminating the trees. Visit Cathedral Square Park, Pere Marquette Park and Zeidler Union Square.<\/p>\n

28.\u00a0 McADENVILLE, NC \u2013 Visit the town of McAdenville,<\/a> where virtually every home is decorated, is famous throughout the state for its holiday lights between November 30 to December 26. The miraculous lights will glow nightly, Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 9:30 and on weekends from 5:30 to 11 p.m.<\/p>\n

29. \u00a0MYSTIC, CT \u2013 \u201cChristmas by the Sea\u201d at Mystic Seaport<\/a> is where you can stroll through the decorated 19th<\/sup> century village, sing sea chanteys, and hear stories of holidays told aboard historic vessels. You can also print a Christmas Card or souvenir toy and build a creation at a Gingerbread Workshop. Visit from November 23 to December 31.<\/p>\n

30.\u00a0 NEW ORLEANS, LA – \u201cCelebration in the Oaks\u201d<\/a> takes place in City Park and has a walking tour with millions of lights throughout the Botanical Garden, Storyland, a children\u2019s theme park and Carousel Gardens, an amusement ride area. \u00a0Alive with holiday excitement, visitors enjoy a variety of nightly musical entertainment November 23, 24, 25 and nightly from December 2 to January 1, including Christmas night (closed Christmas Eve and New Years Eve).<\/p>\n

31.\u00a0 NEW YORK, NY has not only the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree<\/a> (Lighting Ceremony is on November 28) but, at 32 feet tall, the world\u2019s largest menorah at Grand Army Plaza (5th<\/sup> Avenue and 59th<\/sup> Street) and the New York Botanical Garden\u2019s \u201cHoliday Train Show\u201d<\/a> with miniatures of NYC landmarks made entirely out of plants, and more from November 17 to January 13<\/p>\n

32. \u00a0NIAGARA FALLS, NY \u2013 where the Canadian side has a drive-through \u201c<\/span>Festival of Lights <\/a>\u201d with over 3 million tree and ground lights featuring 125 animated displays, making it Canada\u2019s largest illumination festival. Visit from November 3 to January 31. \u00a0The Great Wolf Lodge<\/a> in Niagara Falls, Ontario \u00a0puts up over 25,000 lights and like its sister resorts, hosts a huge Snowland celebration complete with indoor\u00a0 snow and a life-size gingerbread house.<\/p>\n

33.\u00a0 OCEAN CITY, MD \u2013 \u201cWinterfest of Lights<\/a>\u201d in Northside Park with a mile-long path of illuminated displays, Santa, caroling and more. Hop on the Winterfest Express to take a train ride through scenes of your child\u2019s favorite fairy tales (and the Twelve Days of Christmas!) The Winterfest Village is another must see, located inside a heated pavilion decorated to holiday perfection. Visit from November 15 to January 1.<\/p>\n

34.\u00a0 OCEANSIDE, CA \u2013 Oceanside Harbor is one of the best spots to view the \u201cParade of Lights<\/a><\/span>\u201d \u2013 decorated fishing boats, sail boats, yachts, kayaks and dingys, all lit up for a spectacular procession on December 8th<\/sup>. \u00a0Holiday shopping just got easier. Visit the Holiday Sunset Market every Thursday evening in December from 5-9pm where you\u2019ll find amazing gifts, and enjoy carolers, pony rides, face painters, and more.<\/p>\n

35.\u00a0 ORLANDO, FL \u2013 Orlando<\/a> has it all \u2013 glittering trees, fireworks and more from Disney World<\/a> at \u201cMickey\u2019s Very Merry Christmas Party\u201d(on select nights between November 9 and December 21); Epcot\u2019s<\/a> \u201cHolidays Around the World\u201d with celebrity narrators and a candlelight processional (from November 23 to December 30); to Sea World\u2019<\/a>s \u201dChristmas Celebration\u201d (from November 17 to December 31), and Macy\u2019s Holiday Parade and \u201cGrinchmas\u201d at Universal Studios<\/a> (from December 1 to January 1.) See what my family said<\/a> about experiencing Ice!<\/a> At the Gaylord Palms in Orlando where like at other Gaylord properties elsewhere,\u00a0 your family can explore 10 different holiday scenes created entirely of two-million pounds of ice, including ice slides that stand more than 2 stories tall.<\/p>\n

36. PALM DESERT, CA where Living Desert<\/a>, a 450 acre museum, zoo and botanical garden presents the \u201cWildLights Festival\u201d featuring over 750,000 of lights that turn the desert into an after dark wonderland. Come for games, rides and other activities, and a train ride through the display. Enjoy \u201cHolidays Around the World,\u201d featuring new light displays, international food, Camel and Carousel Rides, wildlife shows and more holiday fun. \u00a0Presented on select evenings between November 21 and December 31.<\/p>\n

37.\u00a0 PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC where Brook Green Gardens<\/a>\u201cNights of a Thousand Candles\u201d features 5,500 candles illuminating garden paths, festive holiday lights, handbell ringers and carolers on December 7-8, 14-15 and 20-22.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

38.\u00a0 PHILADELPHIA, PA All December-long Franklin Square<\/a> will be lit with thousands of festive holiday lights! Beginning December 1st with the Holiday Lighting Ceremony through New Year\u2019s Eve, the park will be aglow, setting the perfect mood for the season. Philadelphia<\/a> will be all aglow this holiday season\u2014from the classic Holiday Light Show, Dickens Christmas Village and daily organ concerts at Macy\u2019s in Center City; A Longwood Gardens Christmas, complete with half a million glowing lights; the Independence Seaport Museum\u2019s third annual Parade of Lights; and two New Year\u2019s Eve fireworks displays\u2013one at 6:00 p.m. and one at midnight\u2013along the Delaware River Waterfront. And that\u2019s\u2019 just the beginning.<\/p>\n

39.\u00a0 PIGEON FORGE, TN puts up more than five million holiday lights in gigantic displays during \u201cWinterfest\u201d<\/a> which you can enjoy guide from the comfort of your heated Pigeon Forge Trolley and tour guide from November 6 to February 28. Additionally, the Dollywood theme park adds another four million lights to illuminate the park and special entertainment during its Smoky Mountain Christmas<\/a> including Dollywood Christmas on Ice from November 10 to December 30.<\/p>\n

40.\u00a0 PINE MOUNTAIN, GA southwest of Atlanta is where, for the 20th<\/sup> season, Callaway Gardens Resort<\/a> will present 8 million lights<\/a> stretching more than five miles from November 16 to December 30.\u00a0Be surrounded by giant glowing soldiers as you pass through the March of the Toy Soldiers, numbers of winter snowflakes in Snowflake Valley and watch dazzling lights as travel through the colorful Christmas Tree Lane.<\/p>\n

41.\u00a0 PORTSMOUTH, NH hosts \u201cVintage Christmas\u201d<\/a> with sparking lights and a festival of strolls and shows on select nights in December. \u00a0Visit Strawbery Banke Museum<\/a>, a living history museum celebrating holiday traditions from around the world and join a Candlelight Stroll (December 1-2, 8-9 and 15-16), where you can experience the sights, sounds and smell of a traditional New England Christmas.\u00a0 Head into New Hampshire\u2019s Mountains Nov 24 to Waterville Valley<\/a> and see Santa arrive by dogsled\u2014bringing gifts for all the kids\u2014followed by the tree lighting and fireworks or travel with santa on the \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Santa Claus Express \u2013<\/a> North Conway, NH through the Mt. Washington Valley.<\/p>\n

\"Tacky<\/p>\n

42.\u00a0 RICHMOND, VA- \u201cTacky Light Tour<\/a>\u201d is a local tradition where people dive, or even rent buses or limos to take the tour.<\/p>\n

43.\u00a0 RIVERSIDE, CA is home to the 20th\u00a0annual \u201cFestival of Lights\u201d at the historic Mission Inn Hotel and Spa<\/a>. Free and open to the public, it features 3.6 million lights, more than 400 animated figures, horse-drawn carriage rides, Santa and reindeer sightings plus entertainment. The event runs from November 23 through January 5.<\/p>\n

44.\u00a0 SAN ANTONIO, TX where 1.8 million lights sparkle along the San Antonio River Walk<\/a> from November 23 to January 1. The Ford Holiday River and Lighting Ceremony will take place on the debut day at 7 p.m. and will feature illuminated floats with celebrities, bands and costumed participants. The whole family will enjoy this beautiful area and unique holiday experience.<\/p>\n

45.\u00a0 SAN DIEGO, CA boasts \u201cGarden of Lights\u201d in San Diego\u2019s Botanic Garden<\/a> with over 100,000 lights illuminating all of the displays (from December 8-23 and 26-30) and the \u201cHoliday of Lights<\/a>\u201d at the Del Mar Fairgrounds north of San Diego with more than 400 family-oriented light displays (from November 24 to January 1).\u00a0 Legoland<\/a> also touts an annual \u201cHoliday Block Party\u201d with a 30-foot tall Christmas tree constructed of 245,000 green Legos displaying Lego ornaments.<\/p>\n

46.\u00a0 SAN FRANCISCO touts 49 square miles<\/a> of holiday cheer, whether you want to eat, see a holiday performance or holiday lights. Towering lighted trees are found outdoors from the waterfront (PIER 39\u2032s<\/a> Tree Lighting Celebration\u00a0 includes Disney Pals on Nov 18); to Nob Hill\u00a0 to Union Square to the Castro.\u00a0 All four towers of the Embarcadero Center are outlined with lights for six weeks, while the palm trees at Union Square are wrapped in lights and the historic Path of Gold streetlights on Market St. bear lighted snowflakes.\u00a0 \u00a0The historic cable cars even wear festive decorations and motorized cable car tours are available to take in all the sights of the season.<\/p>\n

47.\u00a0 SEATTLE Toyland Village on the Waterfront<\/a> from Nov 26-Jan 2 Seattle\u2019s Waterfront Park serves as host to the Toyland Village Lighted Holiday Displays with more than 50 larger-than-life toy-themed holiday displays.\u00a0 The holidaysinseattle.com<\/a> site will be live on November 1. It will include a full listing of events, attractions and travel tips.Bring the entire family to Westlake Park in downtown Seattle for a ride on the annual holiday carousel while the 74-acre Seattle Center campus is covered in twinkling lights while you ice skate, listen to music and see a train roll through the turn-of-the-century miniature village decorated with lights and snow (Nov. 24 to Dec. 31). Woodland Park Zoo launches its first ever winter lights festival this 2012 holiday season featuring wild animals and wild places recreated in approximately 375,000 of sparkling LED lights inspired by nature while the 63rd<\/sup> Annual Argosy Christmas Ship festival sends parade of brightly-lit boats sails to over 45 different waterfront communities with a holiday choir on board.<\/p>\n

48.\u00a0 SEDONA, AZ is celebrating the 22nd anniversary of its \u201cRed Rock Fantasy<\/a>\u201d light show with over two dozen displays and a million lights from November 15 to January 5.\u00a0The event benefits local charities and families each year and has a number of enticing activities for young people, including scavenger hunts within the displays and an illuminate undersea adventure.<\/p>\n

49.\u00a0 SPRINGFIELD, MA hosts the 16th<\/sup> annual presentation of \u201cBright Nights,<\/a>\u201d New England\u2019s premier holiday lighting exhibit. This 3-mile long driving route through historic Forest Park is filled with exhibits and displays such as Seuss Land (Dr. Seuss was from Springfield), North Pole Village and Jurassic World created with holiday lights. The event will run from November 21 through January 1.<\/p>\n

50.\u00a0 STANWOOD, WA is hosting \u201cThe Lights of Christmas<\/a>,\u201d held annually at Warm Beach Camp. The grandest holiday event in the Pacific Northwest, it offers displays of more than one dazzling million lights, a life-size nativity scene, five entertainment stages (music ranges from Victorian caroling to country and bluegrass), pony rides, Polar Express train rides, Santa Claus, Bruce the Talking Spruce, Joyland Toy Shop, a petting farm, holiday gifts and crafts, plus affordable food and snacks for the family. The festival will run on November 29 and December 2, 6-9, 13-16, 18-23 and 26-29.<\/p>\n

51.\u00a0 ST. PAUL, MN \u2013 IBEW presents \u201cHoliday Lights in the Park<\/a>\u201d with more than 50 huge holiday light sculptures and animated displays in Phalen Park from November 20 to January 1.\u00a0A fun and affordable holiday event for families, the event also serves a great cause, as proceeds will be donated to local non-profit organizations.<\/p>\n

52.\u00a0 SYRACUSE, NY where \u201cLights on the Lake<\/a>\u201d is celebrating 23 years of two-mile long drive through one of the largest and colorful light shows in the Northeast. The light extravaganza features several themed scenes including Land of Oz, Fantasy Forest and a Fairytale Grand Finale that are sure to be favorites for your family. Visit between November 15 and January 6 (except on New Years Eve.)<\/p>\n

53.\u00a0 THOMASVILLE, GA is celebrating the 25th<\/sup> anniversary of its \u201cVictorian Christmas\u201d<\/a> with 22,500 twinkling lights, Victorian Museum, Victorian Craft Village, horse-drawn carriages, performances, Winter Wonderland for children, carolers singing holiday favorites and more. The festival, which will bring snow to southwest Georgia, will be held on December 13 and 14. Additionally, from November 25 through December 31, Flower Foods\u2019 presents its annual \u201cChristmas in Lights\u201d on the company\u2019s grounds. Features include a Victorian village, an animated train and thousands of lights and holiday music.<\/p>\n

54.\u00a0 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA is one of six Virginia cities featuring \u201c100 Miles of Lights<\/a>\u201d with displays from its capital city to the ocean, including Richmond, Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach, from November 24 to January 1. \u201cMcDonalds\u2019s Holiday Lights at the Beach<\/a>\u201d along Virginia Beach\u2019s Ocean Front Boardwalk include a 40-foot tall tree on the beach and for over 30 blocks, people can drive or walk to see the nautical themed \u201cFanta-Sea\u201d of Lights from November 16 to January 1.<\/p>\n

\"National<\/p>\n

55.\u00a0 WASHINGTON, DC is where you can see the 90th<\/sup> Annual National Christmas Tree<\/a> lighting ceremony on December 6, feauturing recording artists OneRepublic, Ellie Goulding, Big Time Rush, Kernit the Frog and more!\u00a0 The National Menorah<\/a> celebrates the First Night\u2019s lighting \u201cZoolights\u201d at the National Zoo <\/a>is where the fun begins with thousands of eco-friendly lights, activities, musical performances, rides on Thomas the Train, and ice-skating weekends November 23-25 and 30 to December 1-2, 7-9, 14-23 and 27-30 (except Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year\u2019s Eve).\u00a0 Experience a historic Christmas at Mt. Vernon<\/a> with a candlelight tour and caroling on selected evenings from November 23 to January 6.<\/p>\n

(Special thanks to our Taking The Kids intern, Becca Tash, a senior at the University of Miami, for helping us compile and fact-check this guide)
\n
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November 5, 2012<\/a> http:\/\/www.takingthekids.com\/travel <\/a> For some families, it may be cutting down their own tree; For others, their holiday tradition is oohing and aahing over the light display in a favorite city, botanic garden, zoo or theme park. You\u2019ll find memorable displays wherever you live or wherever you Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[153,6,251,286,297],"class_list":["post-1365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-holiday-lights","tag-kids","tag-seasonal","tag-travel","tag-washington-dc"],"yoast_head":"\nFifty-plus Great Places to See the Holiday Lights in 2012 - Dominique and Kristina's Au Pair In America Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fifty-plus Great Places to See the Holiday Lights in 2012 - Dominique and Kristina's Au Pair In America Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"November 5, 2012 http:\/\/www.takingthekids.com\/travel For some families, it may be cutting down their own tree; For others, their holiday tradition is oohing and aahing over the light display in a favorite city, botanic garden, zoo or theme park. 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