Virginia Beach: Christmas Celebration ( courtesy:www.photo.xanga.com)

“Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do – or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so” - Stanley Crawford

Virginia Beach: Holiday Light Display ( courtesy: www.flickr.com)

Winter makes a bridge between one year and another and I feel the best way to narrow down the extent of this bridge is to illuminate it with lights of fun and frolic. This is exactly what the people of Virginia Beach believe in doing and one of the strong reasons that instigated me to travel all the way to this city.

Winter season means shorter days and long cold nights. But, the people of Virginia Beach do know how to charge up these long nights and continue to have fun and entertainment going at its full stride. As Christmas celebrations where soon approaching, I didn’t want to miss on to any of the excitement, especially when we are talking about Christmas celebrations in Virginia Beach City and I booked myself on the very first flight.

All around the world Christmas is a time for lights and celebrations, but, Virginia Beach has its own charm of

Virginia Beach: Festoons Of Light ( courtesy: www.gosoutheast.about.com)

Christmas celebrations, which start from 22 November and extends till the 1 of Jan. With this, I am sure I have succeeded in tickling your curiosities as to what could be the difference in Virginia Beach Christmas celebrations and celebrations in other parts of the world.

But friends, you got to see to believe and I am sure as you read along you will know for yourself where the difference lies. Christmas in Virginia Beach means a luxurious and leisurely drive around the city, to witness the thousands of lights that light up the city streets. Virginia Beach has to its credit, one of the best Holiday Light Displays in the world.

Being an exceptionally unusual visual treat for people like me, I couldn’t help but gape at the marvelous display of lights. I literally had my jaw falling down at the exuberant play of lights. The huge lighting displays along the boardwalks was something way beyond my imagination and if you happen to be someone with a musical inclination

Virginia Beach: Christmas Lights In The Form Of Riverbanks Zoo And Lights( courtesy: www.about.com)

like me, who loves to listen to soft songs while I drive, you ought to have a CD of holiday music playing along to add that extra charm.

Coming back to the lights, these are no ordinary festoons of lights; in fact, there are a whole lot of animated nautical and holiday-themed displays of lights depicting jumping dolphins, mermaids, frolicking porpoises and everything that represents the raw wilderness of Virginia Beach.

During one such drive along the boardwalks, I was informed that the credit for this dazzling display of lights goes to Verizon Wireless, who with their amazing display of nearly 500,000 lights contributes in a major way to over 100,000 tourists coming to Virginia Beach each year in winters. It’s not only the boardwalks that are decked up with lights, but, there are a whole lot many other places which are known to have an ornamental display of lights.

One such place that I fortunately happened to visit is called the Winter Wonderland Christmas Barn. Believe me guys; it would have been a great misfortune if I had missed on to this place. Decorated in the theme of “A Magical Forest Toyland”, you would be amazed to see the complete barn decorated with tons of toys, elves and other animals blending beautifully with an animated display of lights. While you need to drive to enjoy the lights along the boardwalks, to enjoy the lighted ambiance of this barn, it’s always better if you can walk through.

Though, it’s been almost a year since I had attended the Christmas celebrations in Virginia Beach, the memory of that sparkling display of lights is still fresh in my mind. At times I just get lost when I come to think of those lighted streets and barns and once again I am filled with a strong desire to visit Virginia Beach during Christmas.