The person credited with having invented the tradition of holiday lights is none other than Martin Luther, the 16th century reformer who became so enthralled with the beauty of stars, he sought to emulate their perfection at home by gracing the branches of an evergreen tree with candles. Today, lights are one of the most anticipated aspects of Christmas, with one New York family decorating their abode with 601,736 lights (thus shattering the Guinness World Record in 2014). If you are planning a future trip to a wintery destination in the U.S. and you want to ensure that the visit involves amazing displays of lights, make sure you add these three events to your bucket list.
The Trail of Lights, Austin
If you enjoy romantic walks at night time and you would love to be developed in the delicate sparkle of lights of all colors, then the Austin Trail of Lights is a great starting point. This trail has been a revered tradition since 1965 and goes on for miles. Austin Christmas lights can be viewed in a host of other spots as well – including the Bastrop River of Lights (featuring a plethora of gorgeous lighted displays), Zilker Park (check out the famous Zilker Tree, standing proud in the center of the park and boasting over 3,300 lights), and the Lakeway Trail of Lights embracing Cross Creek’s Lakeway. The twinkling lights and the sparkling waters make it easy to to imagine being in a virtual world where beauty and peace reign supreme.
The Magic Christmas Lights at Bellingrath Gardens, Theodore, Alabama
The Magic Christmas Lights at Bellingrath Gardens in Alabama are arguably the state’s best-known, owing to the sheer size and complexity of the displays. Over three million lights illuminate the night and there are over 1,000 sets to ‘ooh and aah’ over. The Gardens measure an impressive 65 acres, so it is the kind of place you can enjoy a long, leisurely walk through. Grab a hot cocoa and pull out your camera; your Instagram followers will adore your photographs of lights arranged to look like everything from dreamy pagodas to exploding fireworks.
Christmas Celebration at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, Virginia
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is lit up every year with over 10 million lights that take you to some of Europe’s most iconic cities and sites. Think London, France, Germany and more. Light projections, decorated trees, delicately lit gardens, and the Polar Pathway (which invites you to step into a sparkly silver snow globe) offers so many photo ops you will be clicking away all night. There are also a bevy of pubs, restaurants, and outdoor grills to enjoy a hearty winter meal, Christmas desserts, or a warm cup of mulled wine to give you energy to make your way through the theme park/winter wonderland.
The United States is arguably one of the most sparkly countries in the world come Christmas time, with individual homeowners and public and private businesses alike celebrating the brightest time of the year. Austin, Alabama, and Virginia have three particularly amazing displays but wherever you go, you will undoubtedly find a few artistic installations that will make you feel more Christmassy than ever.