Where to see Christmas lights in Washington, D.C.

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My favorite way to see Christmas lights in D.C. is to walk around and see what I find. People get very creative with their holiday displays, and in my experience the prettiest lights are in Georgetown, Chevy Chase, Kalorama, Capitol Hill, Mount Pleasant, and Dupont Circle. My prefered way to do this is to bundle up, strap on my headphones, and take in the lights with a warm drink in hand.

Check out DC Holiday Hunt, an interactive holiday scavenger hunt, for a more organized jaunt. Stops on this free tour includes stops along main streets in Chevy Chase, Logan Circle, Cleveland Park, Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant, U. Street, and Downtown D.C.

One of my favorite Christmas displays in D.C. is the U.S. Botanic Garden's annual "Season's Greenings" display, which sees the garden deck out its outdoor gardens with festive lights.

The inventive display includes lots of G-gauge model trains that run through the lit botanical displays, plus botanical scenes and D.C. landmarks made from different plant parts. Grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate from the Zeke's Coffee popup inside the garden, and stroll through to see the whimsical displays.

While the animals aren’t involved in this Christmas activity at the Smithsonian National Zoo (they’re busy sleeping), Zoo Lights draws big crowds for its thousands of twinkling lights, live musical performances, nighttime carousel rides, gingerbread house decorating competition and yummy eggnog and holiday cookies. 

CityCenter DC is a smart stop for anyone who likes to see holiday decor. Every year, the shopping center erects a massive, 75-foot Christmas tree and adorns Palmer Alley with twinkling lights and snowflakes. When you visit, be sure to drop by Dolcezza in the shopping center for a comforting cup of hot chocolate. 

Head to the Ellipse near The White House to see the National Christmas Tree, a holiday tradition since 1923, which will be lit December 5. The massive tree will be lit with dozens of bulbs and ornaments, and is surrounded by trees that represent each U.S. state and territory. Find your home state, and take a close look at each and you'll see cute handmade ornaments decorated by school kids.

Just across the Ellipse from the National Christmas Tree lies the National Menorah, a 30 foot tall menorah that's been lit since 1979.

Anyone who drives the Beltway has surely seen the soaring LDS Washington D.C. Temple, recognizable for its four white towers and gold spires. Every year, the church hosts its Festival of Lights, which includes more than 500,000 Christmas lights, plus Nativity creches, and decorated Christmas trees. Another reason to go? The temple hosts daily performances of holiday tunes.

Every year, National Harbor puts on a holiday show. There's a massive Christmas tree there and there will be nightly tree light shows every half-hour from sunset to 9pm.

For a mix of holiday lights and shopping be sure to visit Mosaic, an open-air retail and restaurant mecca in Fairfax, which houses a mix of international and locally owned boutiques. Shop for gifts from more than 65 makers and vendors on November 23-24 and December 14-15.

The annual Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf has been happening for 25 years, and is a consistenly fun place to see some great holiday lights and decor. Gather by the water to see more than 60 decorated boats glide up the Washington Channel, then listen to some holiday music, take pictures with Santa, and sip on seasonal treats and drinks. 

Time Out tip: One of my favorite bits of The Wharf's Christmas celebration is the Jack Daniel's Barrel Tree & Bar, a towering tree-shaped stack of barrels adorned with lights at the end of the waterfront. 

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Every year, the Embassy of Canada's Rotunda includes a huge Christmas tree (imported from Canada) covered in lights and ornaments. Head to the National Mall to check it out.