Sedona Northern Lights

Sedona's massive holiday light show is back for its second year starting Dec. 13, and it runs for four consecutive nights. It is touted as the country's largest 3D light show on a natural canvas--the area's famous red rocks, of course. They are transformed with stunning holiday video projections, and the best seat in the house is available at Amara Resort and its SaltRock Southwest Kitchen. From Dec. 13 to Dec. 16, a nightly stay at Amara Resort starts at $199 per night. A three-course tasting menu at SaltRock is $55 per person (reservations highly recommended). Before or after taking in Sedona Nothern Lights, families can spend time together in the cool air enjoying lawn games, cozying up fireside with a cocktail and roasting marshmallows over outdoor fireplaces with the resort's s'mores kits. sedonanorthernlights.com.

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park hosts its beloved annual winter wonderland of lights and displays through Jan. 6 each evening from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tip: To save some time, purchase a Fast Pass now to eliminate long waits to ride the Holiday Lights Train Ride. The Fast Pass is $15 per person per train ride for guests ages 3 and older. (Kids ages 2 and under are free with a paying adult.) therailroadpark.com.

Las Noches de Las Luminarias (pictured)

During the evenings of Dec. 1 through Dec. 28 (except Christmas Eve and Day), Las Noches de Las Luminarias lights up the night at Desert Botanical Garden. This year, the Electric Desert | A Light and Sound Experience by Klip Collective sets the stage for true holiday magic with more than 8,000 hand-lit luminaria bags, thousands of twinkle lights and the pulse of Electric Desert. Tickets starts at about $30 for members and about $35 for the general public. dbg.org.