Looking to get in the festive spirit while also making memories that last a lifetime (and making your social media followers jealous)? We have the perfect spots for you. Northeast Ohio is loaded with great places to really feel like it’s the holiday season, and they also make for great photographs.
Tagg’s Candy Cane Lane
1156 West Miner Rd., Mayfield Heights
In Mayfield Heights, you’ll find a picture-worthy one-house wonder and a synchronized music/light display. Over 8,500 lights dance to Christmas favorites. You can tune in on 107.1FM. for a soundtrack. Credit: Scene ArchivesRide or Visit the RTA’s Holiday Car
The RTA’s Holiday Car always gets us in the mood for the holiday season. You can plan your trip here, or visit the car at one of the stops it’ll be making around town, like the La Gran Parranada (4346 Ridge Rd., Brookyln, 12/16 6-9 p.m.) or Season’s Greetings from Shaker Square (13224 Shaker Blvd., 12/17, 2-6 p.m.). Credit: @GreaterClevelandTransit/InstagramNela Park
2147 Noble Rd., East Cleveland
If you’re in the mood to see a really extraordinary holiday lighting display, General Electric’s Nela Park has got you covered. For the 94th year, you can visit the most well-known light display in Cleveland, which begins on November 30th and goes until January 2nd. Credit: Scene ArchivesStrongsville Winter Wonderland
16099 Foltz Pkwy., Strongsville
Strongsville really is the place to be when it comes to photographing Christmas lights! The city puts on this display, with the Crystal Palace gazebo and the clocktower lit up, in addition to a giant Christmas tree. Credit: Scene ArchivesFrost at the Cleveland Botanical Garden
11030 East Blvd., Cleveland
The Cleveland Botanical Garden’s annual Glow winter experience changed this year to a new exhibit called ‘Frost’. With gorgeous botanical displays, awesome themed rooms and holiday lights and immersive experiences including creating a frosty masterpiece, walking through a tunnel of mirrors, playing the icicle xylophone and roasting marshmallows, this is the perfect spot for those magical holiday moments and photos. Open daily through December 31st (10 a.m.-4 p.m.). (closed 12/11 and 12/25). Open nightly Thursday through Saturday through December (4-8 p.m) Credit:@CleGarden/InstagramVisit Castle Noel
Castle Noel (260 S. Court St., Medina) is an indoor, year-round Christmas experience, but there’s no better time to visit than around Christmas. If you’re looking for everything Christmas in one place, like props from Christmas films, display windows from department stores, a Blizzard Vortex, Santa’s Chimney Squeeze, indoor snow, a 25 inch animated Christmas tree and much more, this is your place. Credit: Scene ArchivesSeabury Avenue
Seabury Ave., Fairview Park
The whole of Seabury Avenue is lined with glittering Christmas lights on both sides. Many houses on the street have beautiful displays, making it a great drive-through light display. Check it out at night until Christmas is over. Credit: Bill McVickerGo Skiing at Boston Mills or Brandywine
7100 Riverview Rd., Peninsula
Yes, we have skiing in Northeast Ohio. And when there’s snow on the ground, it really makes for beautiful shots, that’ll have all your social media followers thinking you’re out in Aspen or Park City (well, not really, but you can dream). Credit: Scene ArchivesThe Rink at Wade Oval
Wade Oval, Cleveland
Nothing like some ice skating on Wade Oval to get in the holiday spirit. Whether you know how to skate well or not, you can always fake it and make for a good Instagram pic. Credit: Emanuel WallaceCredit:Sugar Pines Farm/FacebookMagic Of Lights
19201 East Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights
Magic of Lights is a 1.3 mile drive-thru holiday light display featuring a 100+ foot light tunnel, and over 30 full light static & animated displays and other holiday activities, all making for awesome photos. The cost to visit is $18 per car if you buy tickets in advance. Through December 31st, from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Credit:Magic Of Lights – Northeast Ohio/FacebookCredit: Stan Hywet CenterGo for a Toboggan Ride
Head to The Chalet in Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville (16200 Valley Parkway) and you’ll find the Metroparks toboggan track. It’s fun, it’s active, and you get to cuddle up with your partner while you sled down the hill. No snow is required, so the toboggans will stay sliding through the first weekend in March. Bundle up and you’ll have the time of your life. Credit: Scene ArchivesCrown Point Parkway Festival of Lights
Crown Point Pkwy., Strongsville
There’s over 32,000 lights, a moving train and merry-go-round. It runs from Thanksgiving night to January 1st, and hot chocolate and cookies will be served for a very low price. It’s the perfect place to post a photo from and make all your followers jealous. Credit: Scene ArchivesWadsworth Griswold House
173 Duane Ln., Wadsworth
Head out to Wadsworth and you’ll see one of the coolest residential light displays around. In an homage to the Griswold family from National Lampoon’s Vacation films, this family lights their house up to look just like the home from the movie. From Thanksgiving until New Years, you can see the lights and get some awesome photos while you’re at it. Credit:Wadsworth Griswold House/FacebookCredit:Hale Farm and Village/FacebookHit Up A Christmas Bar
Grab a festive drink and an awesome pic or two at one of the many Christmas bars that pop up around town over the holidays. There’s the Christmas Corner Bar at Around the Corner in Lakewood, the pop-up Christmas Bar in the Flats and Miracle on 4th Street at Society Lounge. You can also do some gambling while at Sleigh in the Jack Casino, grab a Christmas Ale at the Secret Cellar Christmas Bar at Great Lakes Brewery or do some bowling while hitting up Christmas Explosion at Rollhouse in Mentor or Tinsel Tavern at Rollhouse in Solon. You can also visit Winter Wonderland at Velvet Dog, Christmas Island at Margaritaville, Blitzen’s in Hudson, and Let It Snow at Brew Garden in Strongsville. Credit:The Christmas Corner Bar/FacebookChurch Lights Experience
13200 Bagley Rd., Middleburg Heights
Over 50,000 lights on 700 channels are synchronized to music at Pleasant Hills United Methodist Church. There is face painting, crafts, and snacks. The outdoor display is open every night from Thanksgiving to New Year, and the indoor display runs on Sundays. Credit: Scene ArchivesGo For a Winter Hike
As long as you’re appropriately bundled up, there’s really nothing better or prettier than enjoying the winter scenes than a winter hike. The Towpath at Cuyahoga Valley National Park is one of our favorite spots to enjoy Northeast Ohio’s winter wonderland. Euclid Creek Reservation is another favorite, along with the Holden Arboretum, North Chagrin Resrevation’s duck pond, Miller Nature Sanctuary in Avon and Blue Hen Falls (part of CVNP) in Brecksville. Credit:Peters_Outside_Adventures/InstagramAshtabula County Lights on The Lake
Lakeshore Park, 1700 East First St., Ashtabula
Open through December 30th, it’s the biggest lighting display on Lake Erie. There are over 70 different displays to see over 54 acres of rolling hills at Lakeshore Park. It’s definitely worth making the trek out to Ashtabula. Credit:@ClaudiaJanette6/InstagramCleveland Zoo Wild Winter Lights
3900 Wildlife Way, Cleveland
Through December 30th, the Zoo will have lights across a ton of areas at the park including Candyland, Enchanted Forest, Conservation Trail & Santa’s Workshop. There’s als oa choir, carousel rides, and the highlight – a 50-foot tall Christmas tree. Credit: Scene ArchivesCheck out Tower City
230 W. Huron Rd., Cleveland
Every December, Tower City Center becomes a winter wonderland in the heart of Downtown. There’s all types of goings on like Bingo Fridays in December (5-7 p.m.), Reindeer Fun on 12/16, DJ Saturdays with holiday spirits by Nuevo, Frozen Fun on 12/23 (12-4 p.m.), Happy Hour with the Grinchy (12/14 and 12/21, 5-7 p.m.) and many other opportunities for great photos. Credit:Tower City Center/Facebook
