As holiday spirits fill the air, everyone is looking for a fun winter activity that is perfect for the whole family. Brookside Gardens’, Gardens of Lights and Winter Lights at Seneca Creek all offer winter light displays, but which one is best?
The Gardens of Lights in Wheaton is roughly a 40-minute walking tour through four seasonal-inspired displays. The annual display attracts around 40,000 visitors each year and contains a total of about 940,000 lights.
The Gardens of Lights takes you through the four seasons chronologically starting in spring. Displays range from life-size animals to blooming flowers and even a rainstorm with thunder sound effects. Various displays include an 11-foot giraffe covered with over 9,000 lights.
Brookside Gardens’ regular trees, fountains and gazebos are transformed into a winter wonderland each year. Being able to walk through individually is a plus as spectators can linger and admire any light on their own time. This also provides a perfect backdrop for any photo.
However, because this is a walking tour, a brutally cold night might detract from its appeal. Brookside Gardens has tried to alleviate this potential deterrent by selling various warm refreshments, along with having live musical performances.
On the other hand, the 14th annual Winter Lights at Seneca Creek’s 3.5-mile driving tour can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own car. During the 20-30 minute drive you have the option of adding your own soundtrack to the lights display while the heat from your car warms you.
The drive is organized into a mixture of themed displays including Winter Woods, Teddy Bear Land, Victorian Village, North Pole, Toyland and Penguin Cove. Designed to appeal to a wide variety of age groups, the whimsical displays help bring out everyone’s inner child.
A portion of all proceeds will be donated to local charities. To help those in need, donations will be made to Dolores Swoyer Camp Scholarship Fund, Friends of Seneca Creek State Park, Gaithersburg HELP and Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
To avoid the heaviest traffic Winter Lights at Seneca Creeks advises, visiting on weeknights instead of weekend nights. The busiest times are from Dec. 17-26 during which it could take up to an hour or more to complete the drive. As a safety precaution you must stay in your vehicle at all times during the drive and must obey all safety belt laws.
While both displays have different advantages and disadvantages, both have the potential for a great winter night.
