Whoa Prancer, hand me some sunglasses!
Across the North Olympic Peninsula, holiday cheer can be so infectious that it overtakes a family’s home.
It climbs up the chimney and blankets the rooftop, the trees and every inch of the front yard, too.
Even if you’re a subdued wreath-on-the-door-tree-in-the-living-room decorator yourself, it’s always fun to go out for a drive and ogle other folks who’ve caught true Christmas fever.
For a fun-filled, family-friendly driving tour, pack a good map, a flashlight for in-car navigating, some hot chocolate and a batch of holiday munchables.
Jefferson County
* Karen Knowlton, 923 19th Street (near Sheridan), Port Townsend — A dramatic nighttime display.
Santa and sleigh with reindeer appear to be flying off of the roof; also lighted are the house, the yard, a snowman and a drumming drummer.
“Neighbors also have nicely lighted trees and a `brilliant’ house.”
* Larry and Jeanette Poorboy, 430 Dennis Blvd., in Cape George Village of Port Townsend (take the Dennis Boulevard entrance; go all the way to the bottom of the hill):
More than 5,000 LED lights; 38 lighted ornaments; display of a simulated waterfall turning into a creek that runs into an LED pond surrounded by LED grass. Two deer are drinking from the pond.
“We also have lighted LED bushes and lighted bears and a lighted train plus numerous lighted trees.
“We also have a simulated snow machine that makes it look like it’s snowing on the house.”
Sequim, Dungeness Valley
* Tom and Judee Ledford, 820 West Hendrickson, Sequim — We have over 10,000 lights; a complete nativity scene; Santa and reindeer; North Pole with Mrs. Clause; three Christmas trees decorated with lighted presents under them; large blow-ups.
“Christmas music playing — drive in, roll down your windows and enjoy the lights and listen to the music. If windy, blow-ups might not be up.”
Directions — From Sequim Safeway, drive north on Seventh Ave, turn left on West Hendrickson; house is on the right.
* Larry and Marilyn Cross, Brigadoon Vacation Rentals, 62 Balmoral Court off of Sequim Dungeness Way — Lighted fantasyland of Christmas figures; a lighted fence; spheres hanging down from the porch.
Directions — Cross street is Brigadoon Boulevard going up to Dungeness Heights.
Forks/West End
Any Clark W. Griswolds out there?
Anyone with a twinkle in their eyes?
We haven’t heard from any residents or businesses.
Port Angeles
* Franni’s Gift Expressions, 1215 E. Front Street — Thousands of red lights cascading down and covering the roof of the building complimented by green lights framing the tall, arched windows.
* Alan Barnard and crew at RE/MAX Performance Team, 1007 E. Front St. — “Much variety of color, patterns and designs. Facia lights with animated and lighted Christmas characters. One handbuilt Christmas tree that kids can’t steal or break.”
* Sunset Wire Rope/Do It Best Hardware, 518 Marine Drive — Brightly bedecked with attention-grabbing holiday displays and thousands of dazzling lights.
* Chestnut Cottage restaurant, 929 E. Front St. — Abundance of colorful lights outlining the building and surrounding landscaping.
* MV Coho ferry, Railroad Avenue (when docked) — Simple and elegant, with lights and a beautiful Christmas star.
* Windermere Real Estate, 711 E. Front St. — Awesome bounty of bulbs. Cascading colored lights go down the side of the building.
* Willi-Lou’s Building, 105 and 107 W. First St. — Thousands of draped and cascading lights across the building.
* Dan and Laurie Bower, 460 Guy Kelly Road — “A must-see. Beautifully decorated; many molded figurines and blow-ups. You won’t be disappointed!”
Turn on Lake Farm Road (by Fairview School). Go down to Guy Kelly Road and turn right.
* Sandy Cawell, 1714 W. Sixth St. — Blow-up snowman, grinch, Winnie the Pooh, lights in snowflakes, candy cane — the works!
* Dan Shideler and Lisa McMillian, 1130 E. Eighth St. — “My husband, Dan, climbs the cedar tree in our front yard to strategically place lighted Christmas balls.
“This involves going up and down and up and down and up and down again. After placing them, he walks down the street to evaluate and then climbs the tree and makes more adjustments.
“The balls form the shape of a Christmas tree as best as the branches and Dan’s safety allow.
“Our inspiration came from a segment we saw on Martha Stewart’s show in 2000, but we have taken it to levels that even Martha could not have imagined.
“From Eighth and Chambers, go east on Eighth. You can’t miss us.”
Lights tour by coach
All Points Charters and Tours will offer a Port Angeles Christmas Lights Tour in an executive mini-coach every evening from Dec. 20 to Jan. 1.
Reservations are necessary. Tours leave at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. each evening from the Safeway parking lot, 110 E. Third St., Port Angeles.
Special pickup arrangements can be made for either tour.
Tours cost $7 per person and include hot cider and cookies.
Phone 360-565-1139 to make a reservation, or to arrange a pickup.
All Points also provides “designated driver” service for guests at holiday parties.
It provides custom transportation for any size group to and from Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle and takes groups on tours of Peninsula tourist spots.
Holiday light elves
For the past four years Scott Smasal, Emma Smasal and Ralph Jones have volunteered their time to get Chestnut Cottage restaurant, 929 E. Front St., Port Angeles, ready for Christmas.
The trio drapes the business in thousands of festive lights as a way of giving back to the community and as a favor to owners Diane Nagler and Ken Nemirow.
Nagler said that when they approached her several years ago, she and her husband didn’t understand why these people wanted to decorate the restaurant for free.
“They told us they just wanted to pitch in and do their part in making Port Angeles festive for the holidays,” Nagler said.
“I still can’t believe our good fortune in having such great people in our community that would put that amount of time in beautifying our drives along Front Street.”
Despite having full time jobs, Jones and the Smasals plan and implement a new theme each year.
