Christmas lights up the night

A tour of the valley's holiday illumination

Soon after Thanksgiving, the Flathead Valley takes on a glow and twinkle that casts a spell over Christmas curmudgeons.

Headed home in a finely honed humbug mood, motorists find themselves uplifted by the glory of thousands of lights illuminating the night.

It happens every night on Montana 40.

Just before the bridge over the Whitefish River, towering trees ablaze in color explode the December darkness.

Man-sized candy canes frame the garage door crowned by a wreath. A reindeer gazes down from the roof as the spectacle draws drivers to the side of the road.

And so the shock and awe begins for another season. The search begins anew for the holy grail of outdoor light displays.

Continue a few more feet on Montana 40 to the house next door. A Santa and snowman frame a tree in another roadside Christmas attraction.

A short distance farther on Montana 40, make a right turn into River Bluffs subdivision. A delight in lights awaits at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Proceed on into the city of Columbia Falls to Marantette Park for a walk through the painted scenes from storybook and Disney favorites such as Cinderella and the Little Mermaid.

Jump back in the car to explore surrounding residential displays. Check out the charm of Marvin Torgeson's place at 1506 Fourth Avenue West.

Cross over to Second Avenue East to enjoy the hand-built Santa Claus, deer and sleigh framed in twinkling lights at 416. The strings of red lights and Christmas tree in the window at 208 deserve another stop.

Head for Whitefish to continue the quest. The downtown strings of lights and bells over streets recall quaint hometown traditions.

Proceed out Second Street West and take in the annual thrill of the twin, mammoth Christmas trees gracing Whitefish Lake Golf Course. Next, turn on Fairway Drive to admire the splendor of Grouse Mountain Lodge bedecked in white lights and garlands.

Cruise along Fairway to take in a few displays and arrive at Karrow Avenue. Turn right and then right on Seventh Street West.

Watch for 1057 on the left. Behold the rocking horse rocking, the soldier and reindeer that move, the gift boxes, the snowman. Add in a Santa and a train for the perfect picture of holiday merriment.

Make your way back to Second Street West and turn left to head for Ramsey Avenue, which runs next to the Whitefish Cemetery. Go right on Ramsey, veer to the right onto Birch Point Drive and right again on West Lake Shore Drive.

Take in the awesome sight of more than 30 trees encased in white lights surrounding the log home with stone pillars at 706. Residents can admire this forest of light on the lake for miles around.

The copper-clad garage doors alone make this stop worthwhile.

Backtrack to downtown, taking time to admire the snowflakes and lanterns lighting the way into Whitefish city center. Go to the end of Fourth Avenue East to Willow Brook Close.

Nearly every home there glows with colored lights and displays. The elves did a bang-up job at No. 5.

Before leaving Whitefish, don't fail to take in the huge Victorian home swathed in garlands and lights on the corner of Third Street East and Columbia. Check out the backyard full of lights.

Head for Kalispell where endless possibilities for extreme light touring beckon. Head down Whitefish Stage Road for options off both sides of the road.

Divert left down Mission Trail Road for a wide variety of displays lining every street and cul-de-sac. Return to Whitefish Stage Road and turn left on to River View Drive for drop-dead-beautiful homes twinkling in classic garlands and white lights.

Head west to Two Mile Drive and make a right on Konley Drive. This neighborhood deserves special mention as a must-drive-through place every year.

Check out the 18-foot or higher Christmas tree inside the A-frame home. Stop to admire the winter wonderland of white and blue lights with tiny decorated trees complete with stars lining the driveway.

Youngsters will enjoy the Grinch with his bag of stolen Christmas in front of another house on Konley. Note Santa in the chimney and the reindeer and sleigh blinking on and off on the roof.

Head south for Foy's Lake Road and behold the glory of the houses lighting up the night off Rainbow Drive. Take a tour down Whalebone to take in miles of colored lights wound through trees and bushes at the O'Brien home.

No tour of Kalispell is complete without drives through the city neighborhoods on both the west and east sides of town. Pull over by the Conrad Mansion to ogle its acres of lights in trees, bushes and even the gazebo.

Once again, the home at Fifth Avenue East and Sixth Street East provides jaw-dropping beauty with red and white lights entwined in garlands. Look for the geese peeking off a ledge and gifts tumbling down the front.

Not tired or out of gas? Head out U.S. 93 south for Somers and Lakeside. Watch for the bright lights of MacKinaw's Grill (formerly Montana Grill).

Keep a sharp eye on both sides of the road on the drive to Lakeside. Gaily lit homes flash by along the lake and up on the hillsides.

Take a tour through Mission View Terrace's many residential displays before heading to the ultimate Christmas town of Bigfork across Montana 82.

Flathead Bank deserves a stop to take in the huge red sleigh out front, the Santa and sleigh on the roof and the thousands of lights decorating the bank at the first stoplight on Montana 35.

Turn left at the light and proceed down Grand Drive and enjoy the magic of thousand of Christmas lights reflecting in the bay. Savor the evergreen boughs tied up with red bows by the Bigfork elves.

Make a right turn down Electric Avenue for more awesome decorating. Exit over the little bridge wound with evergreens and lights for the perfect close to the ultimate holiday light tour.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com