Top holiday lights destinations
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From dazzling Disney displays to brilliant boat parades, Yahoo! Travel ranks the best holiday lights destinations to ring in the season this year.
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10. Baltimore
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For more than 60 years, a charming block of row houses on the city's 34th street has been transformed into what’s dubbed “Christmas Street” and the “Miracle on 34th Street.”
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9. Virginia
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The “100 Miles of Lights” festival strings together illuminated extravaganzas between six cities, including Richmond, Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
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8. San Antonio
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The city's famous River Walk comes alive each year with more than 1.8 million holiday lights garnishing 200 trees and 20 bridges. Carolers sing nightly from passing river barges.
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7. McAdenville, N.C.
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For nearly six decades, this town of 700 lures some 600,000 visitors to witness its transformation into what’s been dubbed “Christmas Town USA," decking more than 375 firs with nearly a half-million lights.
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6. Branson, Mo.
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The city's 1880s-style theme park Silver Dollar City hosts “An Old Time Christmas" each year, an elaborate light-and-music show showcasing 4 million radiant lights and 1,000 decorated Christmas trees.
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5. Chicago
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Don’t miss Macy’s 45-feet-high Great Tree and downtown’s sparkling Christmas tree in Daley Plaza. The 20th annual “Magnificent Mile Lights Festival” is at the city’s celebratory epicenter.
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4. Denver
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Denver's dazzling city and county building is a must-see. The Denver Botanic Gardens’ “Blossoms of Lights” exhibition features more than a million lights, glistening ice sculptures and a strolling choir.
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3. Walt Disney World
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"The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights" blankets the theme park with a staggering 5 million lights that sync up with animated displays for choreographed interpretations of holiday tunes.
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2. Newport Beach, Calif.
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A flotilla of some 200 vibrantly decorated vessels glides through Newport Harbor in the "Christmas Boat Parade" as holiday music and costumed carolers fill the air with melodious merrymaking.
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1. New York City
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Rockefeller Center’s iconic towering tree, set aglow with some 30,000 bulbs that glisten down upon the ice-skating rink, is not to be missed. Also check out the downtown's Winter Garden and 14-foot illuminated stars at the Time Warner Center.