Best Christmas Lights Displays in Los Angeles

While Los Angeles may not have a traditional "White Christmas", it certainly does not leave you wanting of one. Diving into this city during the holidays always turns out to be a whirlwind of an occasion, and the glamour of Hollywood, combined with the wispy palms and beaches of Los Angeles serve as the backdrop of some of the most spectacular Christmas lights displays in the country! It'll make you wonder, who needs snow? The holidays in Los Angeles are more than complete without it!

Arguably one of the best lights displays in the country is at The Grove, a centrally located mall featuring a semi-outdoor arcade of shops and restaurants. It's not your typical box-type mall, and there's plenty of strolling in the chilly outdoor breezes, but the festive atmosphere more than makes up for it. Store hours are typically extended for the holidays, and there are lots of stalls and carts selling Christmas-themed treats and gadgets. There's a spectacular 60-some foot authentic Christmas tree-one of the largest you will ever see (they say it's even taller than the one at the Rockefeller center)-that lights up spectacularly at night. The entire complex then seems to be encapsulated in a magical glow as lights blaze from every nook and cranny. There's also an electric sleigh that takes shoppers for a leisurely ride around the complex. The scene is sure to take your breath away!

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also puts up their own lights display every Christmas, with a mile-long exhibit along Griffith Park. Each lighted miniature commemorates famous local landmarks, most notably the Hollywood Bowl, the historic Hollywood sign, the Venice Boardwalk, Staples Center, and the Los Angeles City Hall, among others.

A local favorite, and what has become a customary lights display, is Candy Cane Lane. The residents of this neighborhood sure do us a service of keeping the holiday spirit alive as they deck their houses out in whimsical and stunning lights every year. The area, Woodland Hills, is located approximately two hours north of Los Angeles, but the grandiose quality of the displays will make this trip every bit memorable, especially for the whole family.

Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena is a mile-long stretch of road lined with more than a hundred cedar trees. Every year, the trees delight locals and visitors alike as they are decked out in beautiful Christmas lights, which has become a yearly tradition for decades. There's a tree-lighting ceremony accompanied by caroling and celebration. Christmas Tree Lane has become a historic landmark in its own right, and has endeared itself to generations of Americans throughout the years.

For the romantic type, a gondola ride through Naples in Long Beach may just be the thing for you. During the holidays, there are Christmas tree shaped platforms scattered throughout the canal, and they give out a beautiful, ethereal glow at night-the perfect setting for a date during the holidays. The gondola is also an excellent way of cruising around and viewing the lights on Naples Island. The gondolier will even offer you some French bread and cheese for a light snack, and you could complete the evening by bringing along your own bottle of champagne!

Another anticipated event is the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. It's an exciting whirl of lights, music and festivities afloat on the serene waters. There are beautiful and whimsically-decorated yachts, boats, canoes, and kayaks. Boat owners spend have been known to spend lavishly for this event, and you'll see some of the most creative animated Nativity scenes and gingerbread houses afloat! Really, the outcome is all worth the hype. This event is especially great for families, and it's one of the most spectacular of its kind in the country.