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Light Up Your Holiday Travels

The holidays evoke treasured memories of family dinners, homemade cookies, and presents under a decorated tree twinkling with lights. The tree, in fact, is one of the most prominent symbols of the holiday season.You’ll find Christmas trees showcased in the largest of homes, nestled in the tiniest of apartments, displayed in businesses of all types, and featured on Main streets in cities and towns.

America’s Must-See Holiday Trees
There are countless places to visit for a tree-lighting ceremony. November through December, downtown festivities around America abound with spiced cider or warm cocoa available for attendees watching an annual tree be lit up to mark the season. Simply search the web or your newspaper to find your local schedule for tree lightings. Don’t worry if you’ve missed the initial flip of the switch to light these trees. You’ll likely have time to view the splendorous displays until the New Year.

If you love holiday lights and are up for a travel adventure, here are four festive trees to see.

SUPER FAMOUS TREES: With the exception of the White House’s tree, America’s most notable tree lighting takes place at Rockefeller Center in New York City, which is nationally broadcasted with live celebrity performances. The tree lighting of this year’s 75-foot Norway Spruce was held Nov. 29, and the tree will stay lit through Jan. 7.

TALLEST TRUCKED-IN TREES: This year’s Rockefeller tree was plucked from Pennsylvania, but don’t expect it to be the tallest. Last year’s title for tallest trucked-in tree went to an outlet mall situated outside Phoenix, AZ. The Outlets at Anthem had hosted the tallest holiday tree in America for several years, with last year’s tree standing at 110 feet.

TALLEST LIVING TREES: Perhaps you’d prefer to attend the lighting of the tallest LIVING tree in the United States. For that you’d visit Coeur d’Alene resort in Idaho to see the towering 161-foot tree celebrated annually with a “Festival of Trees” event series featuring, galas, parades, and, of course, a tree lighting.

BRIGHTEST TREE LIGHTS: Tree size is not the only thing that matters to holiday tree lovers – ornaments and lights count, too. For example, thousands of folks in Ohio head to “Lights Before Christmas” at the Toledo Zoo each year, which celebrates the season by decorating their living 85-foot Norway Spruce with over 35,000 lights.

We also encourage you to enjoy festivities off the beaten path. Call local chambers and research hotel-package options for pre-arranged holiday events in a city near you. From fake snow and fireworks in warm climates, to northern locales offering horse-drawn carriage rides in real snow – there are limitless light displays and holiday festivals across the globe.

Join us by sharing your holiday travel photos at Eat, Heal, Travel’s Twitter or Facebook pages. Happy Holidays!