These 5 Seattle cycling routes feature holiday lights. Try them this winter

Lights. Bicycles. Action!

If you’re looking for a bright and active pursuit around the holidays and amid the Pacific Northwest’s Big Dark season, how about taking the two-wheeler out for an evening spin to pursue glittering light displays?

A couple of touches, like a thermal carafe of hot chocolate and a string of battery-powered lights on your bike, can kick the outing into full holiday mode. On a bike, you can pedal past the traffic jams around the most popular public light displays around Seattle.

Warm the heart by carrying gifts, food or cash to donate, often accepted by those putting on the show. If you need further enticement, end your ride around a nearby pub table with a flight of warming seasonal craft beers.

Here’s a brief guide offering how, when and where to turn a winter bicycle ride into a noncommercial holiday memory.

First things first: Here are five Seattle loops to get your feet (and wheels) wet.

1. Northwest Seattle, 8.2 miles

Route map: st.news/cycle-lights-1

Start at: Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle

The Woodland Park Zoo puts on a destination light show with WildLanterns, which is itself an evening outing. But cyclists can coast through the parking lot and get a few glowing glimpses of the giant displays to kick off this ride. Leaving the zoo, head northwest toward Olympic Manor’s wide, quiet streets to see a neighborhood that gets into the spirit. From there, bike to Sunset Hill Park for a look down at festooned boats in Shilshole Bay Marina. On Friday, Dec. 23, the Christmas Ships dock at Shilshole (see more on those below), so you could add 4 miles to the route by cycling down to the water and then back through Ballard. On top of Phinney Ridge, look for zoo-inspired lit animal shapes in the windows of businesses and the neighborhood’s colorful “GloCone” atop the air raid tower right next to Ridgewood Bottle & Tap, where you can end the ride by enjoying a beverage and the light show.

2. Northeast Seattle, 11.1 miles

Route map: st.news/cycle-lights-2

Start at: Green Lake Park, 7201 E. Green Lake Drive N., Seattle

Off Ravenna Boulevard sits a half-block loop called Northeast Park Road, renamed Candy Cane Lane every December and worth a visit. Every home is decorated, and the neighbors collect food bank donations from visitors. Start in Green Lake and bike the wide boulevard. Pop down to Ravenna Brewing, then retrace the route. Or, for a longer ride, chase the Christmas Ships. They’ll stop at the University of Washington Shell House and Gas Works Park on Friday, Dec. 9, and at Ivar’s Salmon House and Gas Works again for their finale Dec. 23. The Burke-Gilman Trail is lit well enough from the UW to Fremont to use, carefully, after dark. From Gas Works, climb Fremont Avenue to bike by Woodland Park Zoo’s show and then take the newly opened trail along Aurora Avenue by Green Lake to return. Bonus: On Saturday, Dec. 10, Green Lake’s path will be alight with luminarias (and crowds of pedestrians wearing lights) for the Green Lake Pathway of Lights from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Don’t try to bike the trail, but the view will still be great from the bike lanes.

3. Downtown Seattle, 6.3 miles

Route map: st.news/cycle-lights-3

Start at: Lake Union Park, 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle

Head from Lake Union to the Seattle Center campus, where glittering Winterfest is a great place to start a center city lights tour. The event booted up Friday, Nov. 25. Bike down the protected Second Avenue bikeway to Pike Place Market, then continue south to Occidental Square’s Holiday Lights & Delights. Return in the bike lane on Fourth Avenue to larger-than-life lit sculptures in Westlake Park. Then perhaps warm up with a hot toddy at swanky Oliver’s in the Mayflower Park Hotel before you zigzag back to Lake Union to see the decorated boats near the Museum of History & Industry.

4. Southeast Seattle, 4.4 miles

Route map: st.news/cycle-lights-4

Start at: Seward Park, 5900 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle

Start at Seward Park to bike north on Lake Washington Boulevard for some fine home displays, including one house that’s two blocks inland on South Alaska Street, where homeowner Bill Muse says his display is not over the top, “but I can certainly see the top from here.” Loop inland for more neighborhood displays and then continue to Columbia City’s cozy business strip. You can even visit Chuck’s Hop Shop at Third Place Books before coasting downhill back to the park to complete the loop.

5. West Seattle, 5.2 miles

Route map: st.news/cycle-lights-5

Start at: The West Seattle Junction, California Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska Street, Seattle

All routes lead to the Junction to see the Glorious Lights of West Seattle, with the glowing town center hosting an art walk with luminarias Thursday, Dec. 8, and a menorah lighting on the first day of Hanukkah, Sunday, Dec. 18. Loop south to see the largest lit tree in West Seattle, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Parish, then pedal west to the water to see the Menashe family home, reputed around the neighborhood to be the brightest residence out there. A climb into Solstice Park may yield views of neighborhood or Puget Sound light shows for an added treat. Finish with a warming pint at Elliott Bay Brewing back in the Junction.

Suburban shows for cyclists

While we’ve only covered Seattle, there are shows galore in cities and towns around the region.

• Bellevue’s downtown extravaganza tops the list, with lights around the Downtown Park, which includes a temporary skating rink, and the Snowflake Lane streets around the nearby mall that come alive with music and dancing every night at 7 p.m. Out at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, the walk-through Garden d’Lights is another destination show.
• Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium has a hot ticket in Zoolights, and downtown, the towering tree outside the Pantages Theater has been lit annually for 70 years.
• Kirkland is the home base for many Christmas Ship departures, and performances are held at three of its parks with a special event Dec. 10.
• Redmond sets its downtown park aglow, with more to see in the nearby Redmond Town Center shopping area.
• Renton sparks an impressive glow in Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, along with light shows nearby at The Landing shopping center and Piazza Park downtown.

Tips for cycling in the PNW winter

Beyond these selected routes, remember these three lessons when you take your bike out this winter. And for a full refresh on readying your bike for the Pacific Northwest’s cold and rainy season, check out st.news/winterize.

Layer and luminate

The first consideration is gear. Layered outerwear, even ski clothes, can stave off the chill. Hand-warmer packets fit inside bike gloves or can be used at stops. Add beanies or ear coverings under helmets, neck gaiters and bike shoe covers. Most of the suggested rides are short, so padded bike clothing isn’t necessary.

Are you concerned about evening cycling during the darkest time of the year? You’re wise to be cautious. But decking out your bike in holiday lights can be the solution to keep you visible and safer.

A wrap of multicolored, battery-powered LEDs turns you into an attraction. There are many styles available, found in the light displays at local stores or quickly delivered through online ordering. You might even find them at your neighborhood bike shop. Installing them is as easy as twining garland around a railing, and a zip tie will keep the battery box in place. Even with a light string, charge up and use your headlight and taillight, too.

Seek clear skies

It’s no secret that winter around here is dark, cold and rainy — not exactly prime cycling weather). However, mid-December often is dry, and there are certainly days when the rains hold off. The key to this outing is flexibility, where you prep the bike (and merry company) so you can put a plan in motion on a clear night.

That said, watch the weather app and target a date when something special is happening. The prime candidate is the aforementioned parade of “Christmas Ships.” These Argosy holiday cruises visit beaches around Seattle and Lake Washington parks, and many include caroling and bonfires. The suggested routes above include notes about where and when to find the ships.

But the calendar is replete with holiday activities. Plan a stop at a night market, an art opening or a festival that’s specific to your neighborhood.

Follow the glow

The routes above are centered on known quantities: yearly displays that are always a wow. You will likely know about excellent destinations in your area, but space precluded a comprehensive list.

Many of the routes are short, concentrating just on getting to, from or around the public display. But if you want a longer outing, plan to start the trip midafternoon and conclude with the suggested holiday lights segment right after dark. You’ll get a workout, see the lights and be home in time for dinner.

Add your own twist if you know of folks near the route that go all-in with displays, or if you just want to loop through a neighborhood in search of the glow. It’s fun exploration, as they’re easily spotted at every dark intersection.

One warning that will be familiar to anyone who has cycled our city at night: In general, our major bicycle trails are not lit, so while those might be the safest and most attractive routes during the daytime, they can be unsafe or even treacherous at night, so they are not included in the routes.