I think you might agree December is the most magical time of the year. There’s the excitement of presents under the tree, family gatherings and everyone decorating their homes to look like frosted cookies. I love driving around the neighborhood to see how far people will go to make their home the most festive of them all.

Starry Hall at Descanso Gardens.

Los Angeles offers too many Christmas light activities — not that I’m complaining. Most recently, I paid a visit to Descanso Gardens’ Enchanted Forest of Lights. The event is running through Jan. 9, 2022. I heard tickets are sold out for the most part, but we got our hands on a set of tickets and had ourselves an impromptu enchanted night. There are 10 themed areas with music to complete the experience — it was very Zen. I particularly enjoyed three of them. First was a tulip field of lights, then the ancient forest and, lastly, the Japanese garden. No festive night light event is complete without warm, festive drinks. There was the classic hot apple cider and hot chocolate, and they even offered a Mexican hot chocolate which had a boozy twist I thoroughly enjoyed.

Interactive music installation.

Enchanted Japanese Garden.

Basically, I’ve realized there is never a bad time to go to a botanical garden.

Sid and I enjoying Enchanted Lights.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a very prosperous, travel-filled year ahead!

— Maria Angeles, account executive