This was the second year we went to Descanso Gardens for the Enchanted Forest of Light, and we were just as blown away this year as we were last year! I think that this has become a new favorite holiday tradition for my family. The installations are breathtaking and interactive, and transport you to a wonderland of light and sound as soon as you start down the self-guided path.
We got there early, and started our night at Café Descanso before entering the garden. We ordered soft pretzels, hot cocoa for the kids, and craft beer for the adults. Cafe Descanso is just one of the many dining options inside and outside of the garden. If you’re looking for a more formal dining experience Maple is the way to go. For more casual dining, there are burgers, tamales and street dogs, and beverages, including beer, wine and soft drinks, as well as snacks, such as popcorn or warm churros. For more information about the menus, or to make reservations at Maple check out www.patinagroup.com/descanso-gardens/dining
Even though we have experienced Enchanted before, we found new a magical ways to explore the garden. Each of the ten stops along the mile-long walk have different themes and different ways to interact. www.descansogardens.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Map-2018.pdf My boys, ages eight and four years old, were so excited as they were running around exploring the exhibits. They rediscovered that they could touch things and interact with the lights and sounds.
My four year old was giddy as he made lights and sounds change in the Symphony of Oaks. The eight year old said that one of his favorite parts was, “the lights that you could step on and change the colors”. Both boys were running around and giggling, along with a group of other kids, on the light up paths of the Luminous Lawn. I even found myself strolling one of the paths, changing the colors as I went.
We stopped at the Lightwave Lake Bar which has an “exclusive menu of hot chocolate, cocktails, and warm treats available nightly”. We got a warm churro for the boys to share and spiked hot ciders for mom and dad. It was so good, and it hit the spot while we were enjoying the atmosphere of the ethereal Lightwave Lake. This is another of the boys’ favorite places. There are buttons to push and dials to spin in order to manipulate the colors of the lights. They each had to find their favorite color again and again as they cycled through the rainbow.
My favorite installation is still the Ancient Forest. It seems to transport you to a time and place outside of reality. The path leading into the forest is lit with tiny lights that looked just like fire flies, or even fairies, inhabiting and darting through the trees. As you travel deeper into the forest along the path, there is an unimaginable landscape of light, color, sound, and nature that seems otherworldly.
Everything about the Enchanted Forest of Light is definitely worth experiencing, and I would recommend it as a fun family night out, or even as a date night for mom and dad. Don’t forget to get there early to grab a bite or a drink before you enter the garden. The Enchanted Forest of Light runs daily from 5:30 to 10pm, now through January 5th. General admission tickets start at $28. Kids two and under are free, but still require at ticket. There are some special “Members Only” nights listed on the website, for which members can purchase tickets starting at $23, depending on date and time selected. There are also special “Enchanted with Entertainment” nights featuring performances by California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley and The Flashdance DJs. Tickets for these nights start at $32. For more information or to reserve tickets go to www.descansogardens.org/programs-events/enchanted/
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