Twelve nights of holiday lights

THE FIRST NIGHT: Train of Lights

Perhaps the coolest holiday lights experience in the Bay Area is also the toughest ticket to score. Sadly, it's simply too late for those of us who don't have tickets in hand to hop aboard this year. The Pacific Locomotive Association runs trains festooned with Christmas lights through Niles Canyon during the holiday season, and the rides are so popular that they sell out almost as soon as sales open on the Niles Canyon Railway web site at www.ncry.org.

So, consider this a word to the wise. Find somewhere to keep this reminder. Start checking the web site next August; ticket sales usually begin in September. You'll want to purchase tickets the first day sales open.

THE SECOND NIGHT: Menlo Park/Redwood City [PDF map]

The home at 728 15th Ave. in Menlo Park light up the street with decor on the roof, fence and lawn. Nearby, almost every house on St. Mary's Place, near the intersection of Marsh Rd. and Florence Ave. in Redwood City, pitches in. ``Someone must own a cherry picker as they decorate the street trees and poles as well,'' says our scout. Hard to miss the big peace sign on one roof.

THE THIRD NIGHT: East Palo Alto/Palo Alto [PDF map]

Nelvun Joseph stops traffic with her extensive display at 2693 Gonzaga St., near Notre Dame and Purdue in East Palo Alto. Her corner lawn is a wonderland of Santas, reindeer, snowmen, toy soldiers and wrapped gifts. Daughter Pam Rodgers says Joseph's 20-year collection takes up two backyard storage sheds.

Among our personal favorites is the long-running Christmas Tree Lane in Palo Alto. Fulton Street, off Embarcadero, is one of those destination light-gazing spots during the holidays. Families and the occasional carolers stroll the street, while cars creep along. You'll need to park elsewhere if you want to walk the street.

THE FOURTH NIGHT: Fremont [PDF map]

Fremont's two splashiest displays are a study in contrasts. The modern Victorian-style homes of Espada Court and Zacate Place (the nearest major street is Mission Boulevard) are adorned in classic, elegant fashion. Lights highlight architectural features of the lovely homes, and lawns often display characters from the Victorian era. Once again, neighbors are collecting food and money for Sister John Marie's Pantry. Across town, the homes around Cripps Place (the nearest major street is Fremont Boulevard) are a merry parade of wooden cartoon and comic book characters. Neighbors here collect money to help fight leukemia and lymphoma. And many visitors park their cars and stroll the streets for a closer look at favorite characters.

THE FIFTH NIGHT: Mountain View [PDF map]

The Bianco family train extravaganza is so popular the family is now seeing second- and third-generation visitors. For more than three decades, Ernest Bianco and his family have made merry with G Gauge trains at 2387 Adele Ave., off Thompson and the Central Expressway. The six tracks run on a platform, across the front lawn and, in a couple of cases, in and out a front window. The trains usually operate from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting. The operation will continue through Jan. 1. But please note the trains aren't in operation on Mondays.

THE SIXTH NIGHT: Sunnyvale [PDF map]

The homes at 1164 and 1168 Tangerine Way are the absolute, must-see, destination attractions of the holiday lights touring season. Just how over the top are these homes? Well, the families maintain a web site, complete with FAQ and the chance to be added to their e-mail mailing list. Check out www.severex.com/xmas.html. Their displays are so popular, the families collected $22,000 in donations for Second Harvest Food Bank last year. Dave Severns is touting the ``first solar-powered Christmas display!'' this season, not to mention the usual blinding light display, a snow machine, synchronized music and lights and much, much more. A half block away, at 548 Utica Drive is another display worth a look. And check out 757 Sheraton Drive and a home at the corner of Hollenbeck and Sheraton.

At the end of the 600 block of E. Bryan Ave., near Fair Oaks and Evelyn, the display raises money for pediatric brain tumor research. Things get busy on the roof at 1593 Blackhawk Dr. with Santa, reindeer and train on the roof. Nearby, houses on Crow Court off Inverness attract a steady stream of visitors.

Edward C. Bennett says his neighborhood, at South Mary and Blair, is ``getting pretty fancy.''

THE SEVENTH NIGHT: Downtown San Jose [PDF map]

Almost every tidbit you see on Christmas in the Park mentions that the display, located in Plaza de Cesar Chavez, leans toward the hokey. Sure, the little vignettes are a bit cheesy and careworn. We don't see this as a bad thing. But then, we still possess a tacky little moth-eaten stuffed elf with plastic head, circa 1963, that held a place of honor on the family Christmas tree for years. Christmas in the Park is about tradition and ritual, and it looks best -- dare we say, even a little magical -- under twinkly night lights. And of course, after strolling through Christmas in the Park -- this is not a drive-by experience -- you should venture over to Downtown Ice, where you can either take a twirl around the ice or watch others do so. It's another fun attempt to pretend we have a winter.

While you're downtown, it's worth driving through the nearby neighborhoods. One year we found the most charming, cheerful displays in one of San Jose's humblest neighborhoods right near downtown.

THE EIGHTH NIGHT: Santa Clara [PDF map]

This is our kind of town; Santa Clara recognizes the merry among its residents with an annual Holiday Decorations contest. The Cassidy home, at 375 Los Padres Blvd., near Saratoga Boulevard, has been a winner for 10 years running. It's a commitment to extravagance on the family's part, with 50,000 lights, animated figures and visits from Santa on Dec. 22 and 23. At 345 Sloat Ct., off Pruneridge, the Chavez family synchronizes 25,000 lights to music transmitted to FM radios. They go all out with cutouts of popular cartoon characters, snowflake projectors and even Santa waving to passersby. Ron and Laura Starnes run a snow machine most nights on Katie's tree farm, their themed display at 3190 James Ct. Also look for marvelous displays of excess at 2976 Taper Ave. and 1450 Bellomy St., where Santa visits on rollerblades.

THE NINTH NIGHT: San Jose [PDF map]

Fans rave about 6226 Hancock Ave., with homemade lawn ornaments, Santa in the chimney, Mickey on the roof, a garage scene, music and more. In Almaden, Hampswood Way decorates in a big way. At 6408 San Anselmo Way, Mark Dean collects for Toys for Tot and Second Harvest, while passing out candy canes. His home includes the requisite light extravaganza, wood cutouts, slide shows and ``added surprises.'' The McEuens, at 2056 Cirone Way, have made much of their own displays over the last two decades, including 30 or so hand-drawn and painted plywood cutouts. At 1213 Midpine Ave., Rick Llanos managed to coax the family's visiting foreign exchange students into helping with the display each year. ``They get a big kick out out of it and warn the future exchange students of this ritual,'' says sister Lisa Llanos. The Greccos, at 737 Riverpark Dr., off Hellyer, ``go crazy,'' report our scouts.

THE 10th NIGHT: Campbell [PDF map]

Debi J. Phelps carries on a decade-long tradition, festooning the four-plex at 595 Nido Dr. with more than 45,000 lights. Stop by, sign the guest book, take a candy cane and drop off some canned goods for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Fans call it ``a one-of-a-kind'' Christmas light show and drive from as far away as Oakland for a gander.

On Mitchell Court, neighbors push each other in friendly competition; Michael Grodin says ``My house has always been the Griswold's,'' with an abundance of lights and a dozen inflatables.

THE 11th NIGHT: FANTASY OF LIGHTS [PDF map]

OK, it galls us a bit to actually pay to see Christmas lights. But the kids love our annual expedition to the Fantasy of Lights in Los Gatos' Vasona Lake County Park. The oversized light sculptures, for a better word, are kid-oriented and rather whimsical. New this year is a herd of dinosaurs, but our favorite remains Santa shooting baskets. The Fantasy of Lights has the feel of an event; there's usually a bit of a traffic jam and a merry commotion as cars inch along the tour. While we've been convinced some years to stop at the concession stand -- and even coaxed into purchasing light-up reindeer paraphernalia -- more often we bring our own drinks and cookies.

So, pack the car to the gills, and head out to the park. It's $12 per carload, with a limit of nine passengers, and a bit more for vehicles with more occupants. The Fantasy is open through Dec. 31 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. nightly. Weeknights are your best bet.

THE 12th NIGHT: Los Gatos/Monte Sereno [PDF map]

Check out the full-size sleigh and the train at 17843 Andrews St., near North Santa Cruz and Rose Avenue, in Monte Sereno, then head to Tate Avenue off Highway 9 for a well-decorated street.