The holiday season is now in full swing, and no matter what holidays your family celebrates, there are incredible lights to be found for any occasion.
The biggest question isn’t whether you want to see holiday lights; it’s how you want to enjoy them. Do you want to wander through the lights on foot? Or drive through in the comfort of your own car? Or go by train?
If you live somewhere near the Portland Metro area, chances are you have relatively quick access to all of those.
Go on foot
Oregon Zoo Lights
Now through January 4th, you can experience the zoo after hours, lit up by impressive light displays, and you can even ride the train to add to your once-a-year experience. Tickets are required, and there is a limited number of entries per evening, so plan your visit. If you venture in on select nights this month, you’ll find special performances as well.
Glow Oregon
Just outside Salem, in Keizer, the Volcanoes baseball team has turned its stadium into a winter wonderland of lights, sights, and fun activities. They have impressive displays to see, the opportunity to visit Santa, a play area for kids, a market, and food and drinks. It’s a new and great option if you are tired of the time-tested classics around here.
The Grotto Festival of Lights
Portland’s original holiday light display, The Grotto, once again illuminates its timeless grounds with a unique display. In addition to offering food and beverages, activities for little ones, and a unique gift shop, if you time your visit right, you might even catch an award-winning performance by their choir. Even if you have already done this many times before, each time is the best time.
Oregon Coast Aquarium Sea of Lights
On select evenings on weekends through the 20th, you can head to the aquarium to see a fantastic light display and visit your favorite undersea animal friends, meet Santa, and even see the underwater tunnels at night. While the tunnels won’t have any special decorations, they are never dull and always full of fascinating sea friends.
Go by car
Magic of Lights
The state fairgrounds in Salem have been transformed into a magical holiday wonderland, with a huge route of stunning displays for all ages to fall back in love with the holidays once again. You can sit in your warm car sipping cocoa and listening to any music you choose, and drive around this amazing path full of the best holiday light displays for miles. Tickets are required and can be bought online for a discount, but you can’t reserve a time to go, so you’ll have to wait in line when you get there.
Lightopia: An Illuminated Journey
The Gordon Faber Rec Complex in Hillsboro has been converted into its own magical light display, and you enjoy it from the comfort of your own vehicle. They have many stunning displays, and it’s not on the level of zoo lights or magic of lights, but it’s still quite a scene. Entry is free, and no online tickets are needed, but you will have to wait in line when you get there, just like the similar option in Salem. So, depending on your drive time to either one, you will have to decide how much time to spend in the car going there, waiting in line, and then heading back.
Go by train
Polar Express
Mount Hood Railroad is running its holiday train experience in Hood River, where you board the Polar Express and take a journey to the North Pole to meet Santa! It’s like something out of a book or a movie, I just can’t put my finger on which one. All passengers get cocoa and cookies, and all kids get a sleigh bell from Santa himself. There are songs, dancing, and a good time to be had by all. Tickets are not cheap; a family of four will likely spend at least $300 to ride the train.
Holiday Express
Driving to Hood River is fun, but driving all the way over there to take a train there and back, then driving home, might sound interesting to some, but others might prefer a closer option. Well, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center offers a once-a-year option to ride their 1912 steam engine on a 45-minute journey along the Willamette River. If you like the incredible scenery around Portland, trains, and your kids do too, this one is for you. Tickets are required to board the train, and they cost $31 per adult and $25 per child. You can also purchase a family ticket for two adults and two kids for $99.
Casey Mabbott is a husband and parent first, and also an experienced and dedicated writer and researcher. Born and raised in the Portland area, when Casey is not spending time with his family gallivanting around Portland and the surrounding areas, he genuinely enjoys helping people (especially families) find the “hidden gems” in the Pacific Northwest. In today’s world of lightning fast information at our fingertips, it’s truly a wonder to stumble across a place, an experience, or an activity you’ve never heard of.