Dyker Heights Christmas Lights

"I'm not the biggest fan of the Dyker Heights Lights, but some tourists love it. The residents of this neighborhood for decades have competed to see who can have the craziest Holiday Displays on their homes. They turned this sleepy Brooklyn neighborhood into a major tourist attraction. The problem is by public transportation, it's 1+ hour each direction to get to this area of South Brooklyn from Midtown. You also have to walk 15 minutes from the subway to reach the launch point (in the cold), although you could Uber. I do think families with children would appreciate the lights and the vibe. But the one time I went, it felt like such a tourist trap. I also grew up in North Jersey, where plenty of people did big holiday decorations, so this didn't impress me that much. Watch my video on this, and see if it's worth giving up 3+ hours for this (2 hours of transit). There's also no public bathrooms here. INSIDER Tip: Stop at Mocha Mocha Coffee Shop on 86th Street and 4th Ave. Buy something warm for your hands like a coffee or hot chocolate, use the bathroom and then walk the 15 minutes to the lights. Or on the way back, stop here and buy a drink to use the restroom before your subway ride back. Their are organized bus tours of Dyker Heights. But I don’t think they are worth the $. "

"Dyker Heights is a primarily residential neighborhood that has been dubbed "the undisputed capital of Christmas pageantry" and "king of the Christmas lights." While the origins of the Dyker Heights Christmas obsession are disputed, the legend I go with is that it was started by a woman named Lucy Spata. The legend is that Lucy moved to Dyker Heights in 1985, and wanted to honor her mother's magical decorating traditions. She began placing illuminated angels in her front yard. With each year, her decorations got more elaborate, which inspired her neighbors to join in the fun. The entire community participates, with houses often choosing themes such as Sesame Street, the Grinch, or Santa's workshop (complete with an animatronic Santa that lip syncs Christmas carols!)"

"Start off at 84th Street & 12th Avenue and walk along 84th to 10th Avenue, then walk back on 83rd Street to 13th Avenue"