It is a magical time of year in Coastal Virginia. No matter where you turn you can see that the holidays have special meaning in Hampton Roads. One of our favorite activities during the holiday season is to the see the holiday light displays at the Norfolk Botanical Garden and the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. These two locations are iconic for this area and even hold their own when it comes to brilliant light displays in the country. The best feature is that they are both driveable! You can pack your family in the car and have a memorable outing for all ages or grab someone special and make it a date night. There isn’t anything much more romantic than twinkling lights during the holidays.
The lights at the boardwalk are called the “Holiday Lights Maola Milk Merry Mile.” It is the only time of year that cars are allowed to drive on the actual boardwalk. Throughout the mile-long drive, you get to experience light displays that all tie into their nautical, holiday and Adventureland theme. Of the two displays, this one is the shorter and the cheaper option but doesn’t disappoint. For only $5 you can experience the lights and listen to the accompanying music to the displays. Plus, it has been listed as Southeast Tourism Society “Top 20 November Events” and the American Bus Association “Top 100 Events in North America for 2011!” The Merry Mile is an amazing activity that should not be missed.
The light display at the botanical gardens is called “Garden of Lights.” If you haven’t been to the Norfolk Botanical Gardens in the summer, you are surely missing out because it is stunning, but we love the lights this time of year. The 2-mile long drive has more than 1 million lights displayed. Throughout the drive, you will experience scenes from all seasons of the year. There are springtime flowers, underwater vignettes for summer, a spooky trail for fall and of course a winter wonderland. The Garden of Lights was voted #8 best light displays in the country by USA Today in 2014! The lights are pretty spectacular, but they are going to be more expensive at about $25 to $30/car. But don’t let that deter you because this display is one that is not to be missed!
Living in Coastal Virginia is a special place and the holiday light displays are just another reason we love this area! For more information about the exhibits, their location, costs, and times check out the websites below!
http://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/holidays-at-norfolk-botanical-garden-2017/
http://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/dominion-energy-garden-of-lights-2017/
https://www.beachstreetusa.com/festivals/holiday-lights-maola-milk-merry-mile