Looking for somewhere to go to see the sights and sounds of
Christmas? How about a drive through the local neighborhoods to
view the handiwork of your neighbors.
Looking for somewhere to go to see the sights and sounds of Christmas? How about a drive through the local neighborhoods to view the handiwork of your neighbors.
So get the kids ready in their warmest gear, grab a hot coffee or cocoa and pile into the car. Make sure to have your favorite holiday music playing while you browse the lights.
And you may want to switch drivers halfway through so everyone gets a chance to gawk out the windows.
Almost every neighborhood will have lights up. But some always go out of their way to decorate their houses.
Here are some of the top places in the area you may want to check out.
Hollister
One of the highlights of a trip through Hollister is the Machado home on Versailles Drive. It is adorned with all the traditional Christmas decorations as it has been for at least the past 10 years. In addition to Christmas, the owners also have decorated the house for each major holiday (and for several minor holidays) each year for more than a decade.
Located behind Gold’s Gym on Severinsen Street is a group of homes that always decorates extravagantly each year, and another top attraction in Hollister are the homes along Sunnyslope Drive, particularly one which goes all out – keep your eyes peeled for it.
Also check out the decorations on homes on Prune Street and on Highland Drive.
Or just take a stroll through downtown – all aglow with sparkling lights – and stop into local merchants’ stores to finish up your holiday shopping.
Gilroy
The Gilroy Chamber of Commerce recently held its annual holiday decoration contest. The winner, featuring a Christmas Carnival theme, was on La Sierra Way.
A house on Howard Avenue came in second with its Gingerbread theme, and a home on Lexington Place came in third with wooden characters.
At the corner of Orchard Drive and Eighth Street, are four homes that again received the best neighborhood award.
For a complete list of all the entrants in the contest go to www.gilroydispatch. com.
Bonfante Gardens west of Gilroy on Highway 152 is lit for the season is the perfect place to stop after a night of sightseeing.
Morgan Hill
One of the top areas to drive through is Holiday Lake Estates east of Morgan Hill, or take a drive along Bartlett Court in San Martin for a dazzling display. A house off of East Dunne Avenue on Gitana Court in Morgan Hill is all done in white, and several houses in that area and on Magnolia Drive are done up festively.
Some homes on Olympic Drive behind Community Park and on Calle Mazatlan between Main Street and Diana make for good viewing as well.
Morgan Hill’s downtown is also lit up in white lights.
