Our neighborhoods? Yeah, we've got the requisite strings of lights; the odd bush with a few chili pepper lights; and a plywood, painted snowman or two. But when it comes to true holiday spirit in the form of thousands of twinkling lights and inflatable contraptions, we found a couple that blew ours (and our neighbors') get-ups out of the water.
Tomorrow's Cycle will take a tour through some of the best lit/decorated spots around the valley, but in the interest of eye candy (and who can get too much of that around the holidays?) we have a small teaser ...
First up, go see "The Brill House" at 16th Street and Brill in Phoenix, which has a reflection pool and painted cut-outs adorned with lights on the outside.
Head in and you'll discover a winter wonderland of miniature, snow-capped villages complete with running trains and candle lights. It's almost too much to take in. The display runs from 6 to 10 p.m. until January 2nd.
We're not just full of hot air when we say that the house on the corner of Papago and 68th Street in Scottsdale has more inflatable Christmas lawn decorations than Home Depot's after-Christmas sale.
Perched on top of the car port is a motorized, inflatable helicopter with Santa in the pilot seat. A Noah's Ark full of puffy animals bids you season's greetings. Every square inch of yard is occupied by some sort of cartoon character, inflated and wearing a Santa outfit.
Need more? Check out the Santa Train located at 541 E. Mountain Sky Ave. in Ahwatukee. This display is full of motorized attractions including a train, a ferris wheel, animated lights, and an erupting volcano.
The display chugs along until 11 p.m. nightly.
