Jaunted

Your best bet for both celebrity and Santa sightings is The Grove in Los Angeles. Early in November, the 100-foot white fir tree was trucked in from Northern California. It isn’t hard to find as you can see it from pretty much anywhere in the outdoor shopping Mecca, especially with its 10,000 lights and 15,000 ornaments.

Nearby Orange County also has some pretty good shopping opportunities, and thus, needs to have some good Christmas trees as well. At the South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, a 96-foot white fir from Mount Shasta has been center stage since late in October. (Hopefully they’ve been watering it.) Over 20,000 lights illuminate this big guy as it tries to get you and your wallet in the mood for Christmas.

Finally, over at another Orange County shopping staple, Fashion Island, there’s one more tree to get everyone feeling warm and fuzzy inside. They’ve got a 115-foot white fir that was illuminated after Mrs. Claus, played by Cathy Rigby, saved Christmas. Santa flew himself in on a hot air balloon top things off. With over 23,000 lights on this big guy it can easily claim to be the largest tree in California--and the most power hungry.

Related Stories:
· Battle of the Los Angeles Area Christmas Trees [LAT]
· South Coast Plaza Christmas Tree Hoisted Into Place [OC Register]
· Christmas is Saved and Tree Lights Up [OC Register]
· Christmas coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of The Grove's 2006 tree: jslander]