It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and two Naperville businesses are ready to showcase all the glitter and sparkle the city has to offer.
Tuk Tuk Naperville and Naperville Trolley and Tours offer hour-long holiday lights tours that let passengers enjoy the show while leaving the driving to the professionals.
For many families, the outings have become an annual holiday tradition, said Ashlee Miles, manager for Tuk Tuk Naperville.
“This gives the whole family a chance to get together and have bonding time,” Miles said.
When groups go out on their own, the driver of the car misses out on some of the fun because they are responsible for navigating, she said. Being part of a tour allows all family members to view the lights, which allows for a more relaxing experience, Miles said.
And Naperville has no shortage of decorated houses from which to choose, said Annette Wehrli, owner of Naperville Trolley and Tours, which is now in its 28th year of offering guided views of the sights.
So many, in fact, that they’ve added a third tour route this year, she said. The company finds new homes to spotlight each year while also returning to many fan favorites, she said.
“You can’t go wrong,” Wehrli said, adding that those families who have a tradition of going out every year can alternate routes each season.
Often, families bring hot cocoa and snuggle together on the vehicles as their drivers play holiday music, Miles said. If you choose a tuk-tuk tour, each vehicle accommodates up to six guests and has heated seats.
“Each driver puts their own spin on the tour,” she said. “They bring their own personality.”
The tuk-tuk tour picks up passengers at Hotel Indigo, 120 Water St. Each vehicle is 100% electric, low speed, and travel about a 2.5-mile radius around downtown Naperville.
“Naperville is a really festive city,” Miles said. “I feel the displays are unique, amazing.”
Until this year, Naperville Trolley and Tours offered two options: The northern tour, which checks out displays north of 75th Street, and the southern tour, showcasing the area south of 75th Street, Wehrli said. You board the former at Gemato’s Wood Pit BBQ, 1566 W. Ogden Ave., at the later at Aurelio’s, 1975 Springbrook Square.
The new eastern tour hits houses not previously included on the other routes but also includes some overlap from the northern and southern tours, she said. Its pickup location is at Lil’ Pops Pizza, 2799 Maple Ave.
While they focus on the big displays, her advice is to always be looking out the window because there are so many small- or medium-sized displays along the way, Wehrli said. And with so many of the over-the-top houses now offering music as well, it’s fun to tune into the radio frequency so participants can see the lights synchronized to Christmas tunes, she said.
The best thing about taking a tour, she added, is someone’s already done the work of mapping out the best locations.
“We just want people to have fun, relax and enjoy,” she said. “There’s nothing better than hearing the little ones ooh and ahh as we turn a corner.”
Tours for businesses are selling fast, so it’s best not to delay on booking a trip, company representatives say. Tickets for both tours are $25.
To make a reservation, go to www.tuktuknaperville.com or www.napervilletrolley.com.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.