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Last night was our annual Christmas light tour! With beverages of joy (i.e. peppermint hot chocolates & caramel apple spiced ciders) Caleb & I (plus two friends) cruised around the Kansas City metro checking out Christmas light hot spots. Much joy and merriment was had by all!

We’ve always enjoyed Christmas lights this time of year.  However, a couple of years ago, I got the bright idea to google “christmas lights in Kansas City.” (See my post from 2008.) Lo & behold! There was someone who was documenting all the great houses, businesses, and neighborhoods that go crazy with decorating this time of year!

You can find that website here – created by Keith Stokes.

This particular site lists most of the great light locations in Johnson County and even lays out suggested map tours.  We like to pick some of our favorites and make our own route.  Either way – this website is an awesome resource.

Last night we visited a couple of places for the first time.  Paulie’s Penguin Playhouse – was INSANE… Over 150 inflatable Christmas themed penguins IN THEIR YARD. You can actually walk through their yard and they even have a snow machine.  If you have small children that can handle the 20-30 min car ride there… this might be a fun stop.  Here is a long review of it.

Another one, that you’ve gotta stop and see at least once in your life is Mike Babick’s House. All of those individual “store front” windows have moving animatronics inside.I’ve never seen anything like it.  Honestly, (as I mentioned in the post from 2008) all the moving creatures kind of creep me out, but it’s incredibly impressive that he does this to HIS HOUSE.

We also particularly enjoyed driving through “Christmas Place” a small neighborhood that completely decorates each of their homes. It’s located at 131st Place West of Antioch Rd in Overland Park.

The Ultimate Holiday Tree is pretty impressive – a giant tree shaped LED light screen coordinated with Christmas music. Again, amazing what lengths people will go to decorate their homes. This house was even featured on a TV show.

I do tend to be a sucker for displays in which the lights coordinate with the music (you just tune your car radio to a particular radio station to listen). Places like Vince & Associates light display on Metcalf . That’s probably the biggest one I’ve seen.  I’m not a huge fan of their music selection this year but the size of their display is rather impressive.

Anyway… if you’re looking for a fun holiday activity in Kansas City – check out the Johnson County Light website, hop in your car, turn on the Christmas tunes, and go on an adventure!!