Portland, Oregon's Top Holiday Light Displays: Peacock Lane to Winter Wonderland

Winter has arrived in the Pacific Northwest, and with it, the cold and the rain. But bad weather isn't all that looms on the horizon, because the holidays are right around the corner, and Portland, Oregon, is ready to celebrate in style. Among the many activities that will treat the city are several renowned holiday light displays. So gather your family together, and get ready to walk, drive, or just sit and watch some of the best holiday light displays in the West.

If you are up for a little exercise, then pound the pavement towards Peacock Lane. This neighborhood full of old Tudor houses (between SE Stark Street and SE Belmont Street) has been decorating for Christmas since the 1920's. While you can drive through the neighborhood, it is better to walk or take a horse drawn carriage ride due to large crowds and limited vehicle access. The displays will be up from December 15^th through December 31^st. For maps, schedules, and an interesting history, visit www.peacocklane.net . There is no cost to view the displays, but there is a fee for the horse drawn carriage rides.

The air is cold, so if you want to stay warm pile into the family car and drive on down to the Portland International Raceway. Portland's "Winter Wonderland" is celebrating its' 15^th Season, and will be featuring two-hundred-fifty displays and forty animated scenes. This is a drive through display, and is known as the "Largest Light Show Display West of the Mississippi". It is tentatively scheduled to start on November 22^nd and will run through January 1^st, but check the website at www.globaleventsgrouppdx.com/wonderland/general.html before going, as this is subject to change. Cost is fifteen dollars per car with higher and lower rates for other passenger vehicles. The display benefits local charities.

If you are more of a watcher than a walker or a driver, then find a nice parking spot alongside either the Willamette River or the Columbia River and settle in with a nice cup of hot chocolate to watch the famous Christmas Ships go by. The fleet boasts between fifty-five and sixty elaborately decorated boats (between the Columbia and Willamette groups) that will follow a variety of routes along the river. There will be a special performance to kick the season off on December 1, 2007 in Camas, WA, and then the boats will be out every night December 7^th through December 20^th. For a full schedule, as well as photos, media, and more information, visit www.christmasships.org . There is no cost to watch the boats, but many local restaurants along the river support the Christmas Ships, and offer great views and good food, too. (Call ahead for reservations, as watching the boats is a very popular local activity)

No matter how adventurous you are feeling, Portland, Oregon offers a holiday light display to make your season merry and bright. Be sure to fit one (or all) of these displays into your holiday traditions, and have a safe and happy holiday season!