TravelingMom is the definitive online resource and survival guide for parents who travel. We travel quite a bit, so they’ve been my go to resource for quite some time.
I’m also a big fan of Christmas lights. Not far from where I live, an entire street decorates, each house in competition and it gets bigger and bigger every year. When TravelingMom asked me if I was interested in promoting their 52 Holiday Lights Delights guide, it was only natural that I share the love and pick out some of my favorite places listed, as well as those I want to visit.
This guide also has more than just lights. There’s advice on how to handle travel with gifts, choosing a cruise, plus great travel discounts from hotels like Omni Hotels and Resorts.
I’ve included lists of places I’ve visited in 52 Holiday Light Delights and that’s on my immediate list to visit. Where have you visited? Where do you want/plan to visit? Let me know in the comments below!
Visited:
1. Gatlinburg, TN — I’ve attended the “Winter Magic” light display on and off for 20 of it’s 22 years. I love the shopping, the festive feeling and the lights that are everywhere. Take the trolly tour, or park and walk. Traffic is very heavy.
2. Virginia Beach, VA — Driving down the boardwalk in Virginia Beach is part of the fun when visiting the “Holiday Lights at the Beach”. Christmas music is playing, the ocean is crashing and the nautical theme makes you wish you were wearing a bathing suit. There generally isn’t a long wait, but that can change nightly.
3. Charlotte, NC — “Carolina Christmas” at Charlotte Motor Speedway includes over 3 million lights in 600 different displays. There is a Festival of Trees, food and drink and photos with Santa. Best of all? You drive on one of the premiere race tracks in the US. Go early and expect an extended wait.
4. McAdenville, NC — “Christmas Town USA” I’m lucky enough to live 3 (!!) miles from McAdenville and visit multiple times a season. How many is multiple? At least twice a week. You can’t access McAdenville from 85-N, nor Hwy 74 East, in an effort to control traffic. Go early as the lights turn off at 9pm during the week and 10pm on the weekends.
Places I want to visit:
1. Winterfest of Lights in Ocean City, Maryland. My husband is a Marylander and I had no idea this existed. I love the beach. I love Christmas lights. The two together are the perfect fit!
2. Lights on the Bay in Annapolis, Maryland is also on my list now. I’m beginning to sense a conspiracy theory!
3. The Holiday Festival of Lights on James Island in Charleston is on my list of places to visit this year. A short 3.5 hour drive, I can’t wait to load up the family and spend the night in the grand dame of the South, soaking in the Holiday spirit and enjoying Christmas Low-Country style.
4. Red Rock Fantasy in Sedona has been added to my travel list. This is an area that’s high on my travel list and I just bumped it up another notch. All proceeds go to charity.
5. Celebration in the Oaks in New Orleans also appeals to my wanderlust, Christmas light obsessed nature. Taking a walking tour through City Park in a city I love, to see millions of lights, will definitely be an enriching experience.
6. The Festival of Lights at the historic Mission Inn Hotel and Spa just makes me giddy. I have a girlfriend who goes there frequently, so Mission Inn was already on my travel list after seeing her photos and hearing about her experiences. To see it decorated for the holidays? That’s just a bonus.
Click on this guide to be taken to 52 Holiday Light Delights
Disclosure: I was not required to write about this guide, however TravelingMom is an advertiser on my site. All thoughts contained herein are my own
