Jaunted

The Lights Before Christmas – Toledo Zoo, Ohio

They definitely win the award for the cleverest name, but the folks over at the Toledo Zoo also do a pretty darn good job at dressing up the place for the holidays. The switch was flipped for the first time back in November, and now things continue nightly—usually until 8pm or 9pm—through December 31. They have lights on the trees, lights on the ground, and the lights are pretty much everywhere else. Other stuff includes the chance to ride an oversized rocking horse, ice carving demonstrations, and the opportunity to step inside of a life-sized snow globe. Ordering online saves you a dollar, so it’s $11 for the big kids and $8 for the little ones.

ZooLights – National Zoo, DC

Everyone has their favorite zoo, but when it comes to the best one around the National Zoo in Washington has to be in the running. They went up into the zoo’s attic back in November to get down the lights and decorations, and now things run through January 1—with a couple days off here and there. Obviously they’ve got animals here, but for the holidays there’s now 500,000 LED lights doing their thing as well. The zoo promises lit animal silhouettes, musical light displays, and a new garden scene light sculpture. Admission here is free—thanks Uncle Sam—but parking can set you back as much as $16.

[Photo: Toledo Zoo]