Make your holidays EXTRA magical!

For many Coloradans, driving around to look at Christmas lights is a non-negotiable holiday tradition. It shouldn't come as a surprise this tradition was especially popular last year. With people spending more time and money on home decor, many large retailers completely sold out of outdoor lights, and it's not hard to see why if you drive through any given neighborhood in December! Additionally, Christmas light drives are a safe, socially distanced way to enjoy the season.

Plenty of designated Christmas light drives have opened up too, allowing drivers a (typically, free) opportunity to explore high-quality scenic vistas.

With Christmas around the corner, we'd like to share our tips for maximizing your Christmas light drive! Starting with:

Know Your Route Beforehand

As with any drive, it's a good idea to know where you're going beforehand. This doesn't mean you have to plan out your exact route on a street-by-street basis. After all, part of the magic of a Christmas-light drive is discovering new, unexpected streets. Plus, it can be hard to savor the moment if you're concerned with checking your GPS every few seconds.

That said, it's a good idea to know what general roads you'll be exploring on your drive. Some drivers will do their research ahead of time and drive to one specific, tourist attraction-level house. Other drivers will simply stick to a town's main road and loop off further into the neighborhood whenever something Christmas-y pops up. There's always the option to simply pick a start and endpoint on opposite ends of the neighborhood and meander there. 

Knowing where you're going can also be useful in getting back home. Some neighborhoods randomly transform into mazes when the sun goes down, and knowing the lay of the land can save you a couple of dead ends on your way out. 

Take Advantage of the Sunset

This is one of our favorite #LIFEHACKS, so guard this knowledge well. 

With a little bit of planning ahead, you can make your drive into an absolutely magical, fairytale experience. All you need is a little timing. When you head out for the night, try to leave an hour before sunset and drive to a high location—one that overlooks the town or neighborhood. This can be somewhere as high-up as a mountain overpass or simply a grocery store with an elevated parking lot. 

Once the sun goes down, you should see the entire neighborhood start to light up. It's an incredible experience, one that makes for a magical start to your drive. 

Bring Snacks. Duh.

Okay, this one should go without saying. Fresh-baked cookies are a must. Hot chocolate (in a travel mug) is optional but strongly encouraged. Marshmallows are also strongly encouraged, but any s'mores-making should probably wait until you're back at home. 

Pick a Playlist!

As with any sort of driving, there's careful diplomacy in picking the right playlist. You'll want something that enhances the experience without distracting from it. This can be a daunting task. After all, even a good soundtrack is a distraction if you spend too much time fiddling with a playlist.

While this is definitely the most subjective thing on this list, it's also an important one to keep in mind if you want to make a truly magical drive. We recommend streaming a good lo-fi mix. What is lo-fi, you ask? It's like elevator jazz presented in the form of a festive, whimsical trance. You're welcome.

Know the Difference Between "Blanket Cozy" and "Heater Cozy"

It's automatically easy to stay cozy in a car. All you have to do is turn the heater up! However, if you want the most magical possible drive, it's worth remembering the difference between being "blanket cozy" and "heater cozy." You can probably guess what the distinction is: one means staying warm with the car's heating system, and the other involves blankets!

It's worth noting that you don't have to sit in the car and shiver for the first 20 minutes while waiting for body heat to fill the cabin. Rather, try cranking the heat for a minute or two when you start the car to thaw all the passengers before turning it off and letting blankets, mittens, or other warm clothing take over. The interior of the car will feel a lot toastier and cozier for it!

Is there anything you do as part of your Christmas light drives? Sound off in the comments!