Desert Botanical Gardens
Phoenix, Ariz.

For 19 nights in November and December, Phoenix's Desert Botanical Gardens takes on a warm glow for Las Noches de las Luminarias, an annual Southwest holiday tradition that transforms one of the world's finest collections of desert plants into a place of enchanted beauty. Thousands of hand-lit luminarias (candles inside brown paper bags) line the Gardens' trails.

The desert never looked so vibrant, especially when accompanied by live music and cups of cocoa or cider. Plus, this year you can experience "Chihuly: Nature of Glass," artist Dale Chihuly's innovative glass-sculpture exhibit (above) along the path.

For exhibit dates and ticket information, visit www.dbg.org