“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale
It is interesting how places come into our hearts when we most need them. I stumbled on Dyker Heights when I spent a couple weeks in New York six years ago, with my cousin during a period I would best like to forget. Not the trip per se, but I was dealing with some very fickle emotions that I prefer to keep in the hollows of the past. Thankfully I have learned from them and moved forward. The great thing about that period? I discovered a magical place right in the heart of the Brooklyn Borough.
Dyker Heights is a neighborhood in Brooklyn. The closest subway stations (The R, N, or D) are roughly a mile away give or take, so make sure you have your walking shoes on. They also do bus tours. Or if you are lucky to have a friend who has a car, that is even better!
They have filmed Christmas movies, commercials, and had photo shoots here. It really is a scene from Deck the Halls or The Great Light Spectacular which several houses in the neighborhood have actually been featured on.
What makes this place so great, is that it literally looks like Whoville threw up in Brooklyn. Houses, some which verge on mansions, go all out. Literally. Live Christmas displays you can walk through, go on and on, from house to house, to street to street, in the neighborhood. It is Christmas all hyped up! Monstrosities of giant nutcrackers, to a real life Christmas carousel, to even having Santa visit, these people know how to decorate. Or know how to pay someone since most of these houses are professionally done. I can’t complain because it is a Christmas bonanza. You leave there feeling giddy and in the mood for some holiday cheer.
Magic truly does reside here. No matter what you are going through, to spend a few hours here is the perfect therapy to recharge your head space and change your perspective. I think a lot of people feel that way. Rarely are people yelling or shouting or honking and it does get crowded. Bus tour crowded. Yet everyone is invested with that cheer and good will towards people mentality.
If you want to find some Christmas cheer, go visit here. It may just make you want to make it part of your holiday traditions every year.
