What's the best part of the holiday season? Some say the gift-giving and receiving. Others say the food and drink - what with all those delectable sweets, rich egg nog and hot cider.

Still others say the holiday music is really what makes the season. (Who hasn't belted out "Feliz Navidad" along with the car radio?)

Then there are those who insist that the dazzling lights and sparkling sights are the highlight of the holiday season. As for me, I'm with them.

Already, as the sun races to set so very early and the leaves hurry themselves off the trees, the holiday lights are coming up, all over. At the shopping mall, along small-town main streets and at the house down the block.

While there's much to be said for those lovely lights, there's a bigger, brighter world out there. Throughout Maryland and just over the border in Pennsylvania and Virginia, there are a number of venues offering extreme-wattage holiday-light displays.

Some locations offer drive-through tours, some offer walk-through tours. All offer stunning displays of illumination - from giant lighted crabs in Ocean City, to a bedazzling display of midshipmen tossing their hats into the air in Annapolis, to a sobering display of 23,000 candles spread across Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg.

Below is a roundup of some of the more awe-inspiring light shows in our vicinity. So gather up the kids, grab a camera and get ready to ooh and ahh at the pretty lights.

Symphony of Lights

Location: Symphony Woods, Columbia. Use Merriweather Post Pavilion entrance on Broken Land Parkway.

Dates: Nov. 25-Jan 5.

Hours: 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and holidays through Dec. 12; 6 p.m.-11 p.m. daily Dec. 13-Jan. 5.

Tour specifics: 20- to 30-minute, 1.4-mile drive-through display.

What you'll see: More than 70 larger-than-life, animated and stationary holiday light creations set against a natural wooded backdrop.

Admission: $12 per car, van or recreational vehicle up to 11 passengers; $25 commercial vans and minibuses seating 12-24 people; $75 buses exceeding 24 passengers.

Benefits: Howard County General Hospital.

Call: 410-740-7666.

Lights on the Bay

Location: Sandy Point State Park, Route 50, Exit 32, near Annapolis.

Dates: Nov. 22-Jan. 5.

Hours: 5 p.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Tour specifics: 20- to 25-minute, 2.5-mile drive-through display.

What you'll see: More than 60 stationary and animated illuminated displays, including leaping deer and midshipmen tossing their hats into the air.

Admission: $12 per car; $50 per bus.

Benefits: Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Call: 410-295-3161.

Winter Lights Festival

Location: Seneca Creek State Park, Clopper Road (Route 117), Gaithersburg.

Dates: Nov. 29-Dec. 31.

Hours: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays.

Tour specifics: 3.5-mile drive-through light show, in a forest setting.

What you'll see: More than 300 illuminated displays, including 55 animated creations. See polar bears, deer, arches of light and marching toy soldiers. Theme areas include "Winter Woods," where nature comes alive; "Teddy Bear Land," where dozens of bears get into mischief; a "Victorian Village," complete with a shimmering ice-skating pond; and "Reindeer Flight School," where deer train for the big flight.

Admission: $10 per car; $25 per 15-passenger van; $50 buses.

Benefits: Local charities.

Call: 301-258-6350.

Winterfest of Lights

Location: Ocean City. Winterfest Express Train, Northside Park, 127th Street and the bay; Tunnel of Lights, Inlet Parking Lot; Avenue of Trees, Baltimore Avenue, from 15th to 32nd streets.

Dates: Today-Jan. 2.

Hours: Ceremonial tree-lighting and opening celebration at 5:30 p.m. today at Northside Park; Winterfest Express Train, 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays; Tunnel of Lights and Avenue of Trees, 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. daily.

Tour specifics: Winterfest Express Train, one-mile rail ride along light displays; Tunnel of Lights, drive-through display; Avenue of Trees, walk- or drive-through display.

What you'll see: Train rides take you along a path filled with colorful, glittering light displays. See animated magic genies, toy soldiers, the 12 days of Christmas, crabs and other dancing lights. Drive yourself to the Inlet to see the nautically themed light displays in the parking lot, including Santa Claus fishing. Head to the 17-block Avenue of Trees to catch traditionally decorated holiday trees and old-fashioned decorated lampposts.

Admission: $3 for train rides, under 12 free; other events free.

Call: 410-289-2800 or 800-OC-OCEAN.

Garden of Lights

Location: Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton.

Dates: Nov. 21-24, 29-30; Dec. 1, 5-8, 12-15, 18-23, 26-30; Jan. 1-5.

Hours: 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. (last car admitted 8:30 p.m.).

Tour specifics: A half-mile walk-through display.

What you'll see: A garden of twinkling flower-lights. Displays include a walk-through kaleidoscope caterpillar, clouds and rain (with sound effects), forest animals, colorful roses, dripping wisteria, a hummingbird and a robin. 600,000 lights were used to build the show.

Admission: $15 per car or van Fridays-Sundays; $10 per car or van Mondays-Thursdays; $120 per bus (register in advance by calling 301-962-1457).

Call: 301-962-1453.

Antietam Illumination

Location: Antietam National Battlefield, Route 34, Sharpsburg.

Date: Dec. 7 (inclement-weather date: Dec. 14).

Time: 6 p.m.-midnight.

Tour specifics: 45-minute, five-mile drive past illuminated memorials.

What you'll see: Battlefield will be aglow with more than 23,000 candles. Each candle honors a killed, wounded, captured or missing Civil War soldier.

Admission: Free.

Call: 301-432-5124.

Winter Festival of Lights

Location: Watkins Regional Park, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro.

Dates: Nov. 29-Jan. 5.

Hours: 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. daily.

Tour specifics: 30- to 40-minute, 2.5-mile drive.

What you'll see: More than 500,000 colored lights and animated displays, including a lighted train station, giant tree, Santa and snowmen.

Admission: $5 per car; $15 per minibus or limo; $25 per bus. Donations of nonperishable food gladly accepted.

Call: 301-699-2456.

Winter Wonderland

Location: Salisbury City Park, East Main Street, Salisbury.

Dates: Nov. 25-Jan. 6.

Hours: Dusk-10 p.m. Opening ceremonies 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 25.

Tour specifics: A one-third-of-a-mile (approximately) drive- or walk-through display.

What you'll see: 26 illuminated stationary and animated displays, including toy soldiers, boats, a lighthouse and tumbling bears. Opening-day ceremonies feature food, caroling, hayrides and pony rides.

Admission: Free.

Call: 410-548-4914.

Festival of Lights

Location: Washington Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Temple), Visitors Center, 9900 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington.

Dates: Dec. 6-Jan. 1.

Hours: 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Tour specifics: Walk-through outdoor light display. Also, a live Nativity scene, international Nativity sets and nightly concerts.

What you'll see: More than 300,000 colored lights decorate the grounds and landscaping around the Visitors Center. Red, green and white lights represent Christmas; blue lights symbolize Hanukkah. Indoors, view miniature Nativity scenes from around the world and trees trimmed with international decorations. Nightly concerts are presented by regional music groups.

Admission: Free.

Call: 301-587-0144.

Mountain Reflections

Location: Rocky Gap State Park, Interstate 68, Exit 50, near Cumberland.

Dates: Nov. 25-Jan. 5.

Hours: 6 p.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Tour specifics: A half-mile drive- or walk-through display.

What you'll see: More than 30 life-size holiday creations, including Victorian carolers, leaping deer, a tunnel of lights, Noah's ark, a unicorn pulling a coach, and Santa and his sleigh, all set in a background of illuminated trees.

Admission: $7 per car; $25 per motor coach.

Benefits: Western Potomac Chapter of American Red Cross.

Call: 800-361-9481.

A Longwood Gardens Christmas

Location: Longwood Gardens, U.S. 1, Kennett Square, Pa.

Dates: Nov. 28-Jan. 5.

Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (light displays start at dusk).

Tour specifics: Walk-through displays of lights throughout the gardens. Also, lighted-fountain show.

What you'll see: 400,000 lights strung on trees. Also, lighted displays of starry snowflakes, and roses and lilacs blooming in flower beds. Open Air Theatre fountains dance to holiday music each half-hour, beginning at 11 a.m.

Admission: $15; $6 ages 16-20; $2 ages 6-15; free under 6.

Call: 610-388-1000 or 800-737-5500.

Christmas Magic: A Festival of Lights

Location: Rocky Ridge County Park, off Deininger Road, York, Pa.

Dates: Nov. 29-Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24-25).

Hours: 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays.

Tour specifics: A half-mile walking tour on trail of lights.

What you'll see: Stationary and animated scenes created with more than 200,000 twinkling lights. Also, G-gauge train display, Santa, crafts, entertainment and food.

Admission: $5; $4 seniors; $3 ages 4-12; free under 4.

Call: 717-840-7440.

Hersheypark Christmas Candylane

Location: Hersheypark, 100 Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pa.

Dates: Tomorrow-Sunday, Nov. 20-24, 27-30; Dec. 1, 4-8, 11-24, 26-31; Jan. 1.

Hours: Generally opens 5 p.m. weekdays, noon Saturdays-Sundays. Closes 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. most days. Some 5 p.m. closings. (Call ahead.)

Tour specifics: Walk-through tour of decorated amusement park.

What you'll see: More than 1 million twinkling lights, live reindeer, Santa, yuletide carolers, brass bands, horse-drawn carriage rides, train rides through "Santa's Magical Forest," amusement rides and lots of chocolate.

Admission: Free, pay as you go for rides; $6 parking.

Call: 800-HERSHEY.

Miracle of Lights

Location: Bull Run Regional Park, Bull Run Post Office Road, Centreville, Va.

Dates: Saturday-Jan. 5 (closed New Year's Eve).

Hours: 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. daily.

Tour specifics: 25- to 30-minute, 2-mile drive-through light show.

What you'll see: More than 250 stationary and animated displays. Five theme areas, including "Noah's Ark" and "Angel's Playground."

Admission: $12 per vehicle up to 14 passengers; $25 commercial vehicle, 15-34 passengers; $50 per bus.

Benefits: Medical Care for Children Partnership.

Call: 703-709-5437.