December is in full swing and that means all things Christmas on the mind.  There are so many places to visit with amazing twinkling lights.  We have taken out the stress of choosing by narrowing it down to the top 5 places in Austin and surrounding areas to see the lights.

1. Trail of Lights- It just wouldn’t be Christmas without the Trail of Lights and this year it is especially true with the Trail of lights celebrating its’ 50^th anniversary. So grab the kids and head over to Zilker Park. The celebration kicks off with The Fun Run on December 6^th, with runners ending at the Zilker Christmas tree. The rest of the celebrating will take place December 7^th-December 21^st. This year in addition to the endless display of lights and holiday decorations there will be a musical drama of Mother Goose. The trail will be open from 7pm-10pm nightly. Tickets and parking information can be found at www.austintrailoflights.org .
2. Rock ‘N Lights- This year marks the 3^rd annual Rock’N Lights Holiday Tour, a drive-through light show that features 1,000s of sparkling lights through Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock from December 1-30. Christmas Towne is a must stop after the light show; train rides, petting zoo, food, entertainment and more. The lights are open nightly from 6pm-10:15pm. For more information on the theme nights they host and pricing visit www.RoundRocktexas.gov.
3. Santa’s Ranch- This is the 13^th year for this mile long light show located in New Braunfels. You can enjoy your ride through while sipping hot cocoa and munching on kettle corn. The festivities run from November 7^th-January 3^rd. Hours of operation are Sunday-Thursday from 6pm-10pm and Friday-Saturday 6pm-11pm. For more information on ticket pricing visit https://santasranch.net.

   

4. BLORA Lights- Named for its’ location in Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area, the drive-through light display features over five and a half miles of lights and animated displays. BLORA is open now until January 4^th from 5:30-11pm nightly. Be sure to stop in at Santa’s Village and have the kids’ picture taken with Santa. You can also enjoy hot chocolate, cookies, crafts, and karaoke. If you want to continue your adventure you can hop on the tram at Marina Cove and see more lights that are not seen by the vehicular traffic. For more information on pricing and special Santa’s Village hours, http://www.hoodmwr.com/nature_in_lights.htm.

   

5. The Domain- Last but certainly not least, The Domain, pleases everyone in the family. Mom can check off her shopping list while the kids enjoy the 40 foot Christmas tree that is lit with over 6,000 lights. From 5pm-9pm, on the hour, there is a light show. Santa will be hosting a breakfast on December 6^th from 9am-12 pm with live music, games, and character appearances in addition to his regular appearances for photos. There are carolers, carriage rides, and live music to enjoy as well. For more information visit, http://www.simon.com/mall/the-domain.

***HONORABLE MENTION***

The Frozen House, Ranch at Brushy Creek

Although we’ve heard it’s tough to actually see this amazing creation that’s made its rounds on Huffington Post, Today Show, and several other major news outlets, it’s definitely worth it if you’re one of the few lucky ones! Synced to “Let it Go” from the Disney hit, Frozen, this dad went ALL out for Christmas this year and several other past years. One year he decorated and synchronized the lights and music to Gangham Style. HOW FUN!

:: Where do you like to go for Christmas light viewing? ::