December is likely one of the hottest occasions to go to San Diego. Festive spirit runs excessive as we ramp as much as the vacations, and it’s really a particular place to be on the finish of the 12 months.
This 12 months, we’re grateful that so a lot of our beloved occasions and gatherings are again and higher than ever!
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San Diego December Climate
San Diego climate in December is a mixture of chilly days and sunny heat days. To this point this month, we’ve had a few shorts climate days alongside the coast, however they do finish within the evenings with a necessity for a coat and Ugg boots.
Our Microclimates
I discussed our sunny climate alongside the San Diego coast, however when you’re within the inland valleys, mountains, or deserts, the temperatures that you just really feel are normally extra excessive. It does snow within the mountains often in December, however normally, snowfall occurs deeper into winter.
Most vacationers are nonetheless visiting our coastal areas as a result of that’s the place most San Diego sights and San Diego resorts are.
Blue Skies in Winter
I like December in San Diego as a result of we’ve principally blue skies by which we are able to benefit from the varied vacation twinkling lights, visits with Santa Claus, and tree lightings. Technically, it’s our coldest month, and we are able to have just a few thunderstorms, however we don’t have a real wet season
Listed below are the San Diego climate in December stats:
- Common temperature (excessive/low): 65°F/48°F
- Rainfall: 1.5 inch
- Days of rain: 6
- Days of sunshine: 73%
- Daylight: 10 hours
- Ocean temperature (excessive/low): 61.7°F/59.2°F
I can solely keep in mind a handful of occasions when it rained on Christmas in San Diego. Most of my recollections are normally of the household hanging out in shorts within the yard.
Can You Go to the Seashore in December?
A regularly requested query by folks planning winter break holidays right here is whether or not the San Diego climate in December is heat sufficient to go to the seashore. My reply is that it relies upon. We, locals, use it for walks, runs, picnics, watching the sundown, and water sports activities like browsing.
Guests from chilly climate climates have a tendency to make use of San Diego’s seashores as we do in the summertime. They’re used to snow and parkas. They discover the thought of spending the winter holidays on the seashore extremely interesting, which implies they take in the sunshine rays and head into the ocean.
SAN DIEGO OCEAN TIPS
So, what I inform out-of-state households is that if you wish to get your Pacific Ocean repair and California sunshine, you may.
Simply lease a wetsuit. Lots of our surf outlets and rental spots even have wetsuits for teenagers. Name forward to see if children’ sizes can be found. A rental might not match completely, however one thing is healthier than nothing.
Don’t let chilly water temperatures maintain you again from our greatest San Diego water sports activities. You CAN nonetheless take browsing classes in December. Lots of our greatest browsing faculties, like Surf Diva, provide superior winter break camps.
Put on a wetsuit when you plan to move in for greater than a (chilly) minute or two.
Recommendation for Reserving Inns in December
For those who plan to go to throughout winter break, it’s best to e-book San Diego inns as quickly as they’re out there for reservations. Winter holidays in mid-December are one among San Diego’s costliest peak seasons, and room charges solely enhance all through the vacation season.
So, I counsel guests and residents planning San Diego staycations to lock in a versatile charge instantly by means of the lodge. These charges are simple to regulate within the uncommon occasion that charges fall. More often than not, the lodge will simply regulate your present reservation as an alternative of canceling and rebooking a brand new one. Simple.
Our inns deck the halls actually with stunning Christmas bushes, Menorahs, poinsettias, and different decor. And every normally presents its personal listing of vacation programming, from alternatives to see Santa, vacation afternoon teas, tree lighting, Christmas dinners, vacation treats, and way more.
Resort del Coronado is essentially the most festive place to remain, due to its beachfront ice skating rink, full with a rink-side lounge, vacation market, and tree lighting. Lease skates proper on the Resort del Coronado and relax at your personal igloo whereas roasting s’mores over the hearth pit.
One other spot to get your vacation spirit on is on the Fairmont Grand Del Mar. This 12 months’s vacation festivities embody glice (artificial ice) skating, a vacation market, a tree lighting, and different vacation actions.
Seashore valet providers must be up and working so guests can clock in seashore time and benefit from the California sunshine. Our out of doors swimming swimming pools are heated year-round, so pack swimsuits for the entire household on your Christmas Day celebration!
San Diego December Occasions
Our gentle San Diego climate presents the proper alternative to get pleasure from San Diego occasions in December with family members that target vacation enjoyable. Parades with marching bands and drill groups, vacation markets, vacation occasions at theme parks, and a ship parade fill the whole month of December as we gear as much as rejoice Christmas.
Examine my final information to San Diego Christmas and vacation occasions for the total listing, however listed here are just a few.
Balboa Park December Nights
San Diego’s Balboa Park December Nights is a two-day, time-honored vacation custom the place the quite a few museums and cultural establishments in Balboa Park, the nation’s largest city cultural park, open their doorways freed from cost.
Friends additionally sit up for dwell music, vacation mild shows, dance performances, and meals vans from all over the world. This 12 months the occasion shall be taking place on December 2—third.
San Diego Zoo Jungle Bells
Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo happens this 12 months between December ninth – January 1st. The celebration consists of vacation lights, seasonal meals, scorching chocolate, dwell animal displays, vacation decor, and extra.
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Christmas at SeaWorld San Diego
Have fun Christmas at SeaWorld San Diego from November 14th by means of January eighth! Meet Santa and Rudolph, catch Donner and Blitzen’s Lazer lights present, or benefit from the sounds of the Vacation Brass band. Admission is included with common park admission.
Seek advice from my submit about shopping for low cost SeaWorld San Diego tickets. Reservations are required.
Holidays at LEGOLAND California
Children at all times sit up for seeing the world’s largest LEGO Christmas tree (30′ tall). Starting November nineteenth – January eighth, the whole resort shall be decked out in vacation décor and extra in the course of the Holidays at LEGOLAND, California.
As well as, you’ll see LEGO Christmas characters, together with LEGO Santa, and luxuriate in particular occasions together with a vacation mild present.
CHRISTMAS PARADES IN SAN DIEGO
What’s Christmas with no parade or two? The La Jolla Christmas parade and vacation pageant is on December 4th this 12 months and options floats, horses, marching bands, and an vintage aircraft flyover. Keep after to get pleasure from the very best Christmas pageant La Jolla has to supply, full with crafts, meals, video games, and Santa.
The place else are you able to see an armada of boats decked out with inflatable Santas, reindeer, and snowmen? The reply is on the San Diego Bay Parade! This parade showcases boats embellished with festive lights that may carry out the vacation cheer.
It begins at Shelter Island and heads in the direction of Seaport Village and the Coronado Ferry touchdown. There are many alternatives to catch the parade, particularly as it’ll run on each December eleventh and December 18th.
SNOW N GLOW HOLIDAY FESTIVAL
Del Mar Fairground transforms right into a winter wonderland between December eighth and December twenty second this 12 months with their Snow N Glow vacation pageant.
Get pleasure from over a million festive lights, tubing with actual snow, vacation treats, visits with Santa, and extra. Lower your expenses with a Groupon and prepare to make new vacation recollections this Christmas in San Diego.
Issues to Do in San Diego in December
If the above San Diego December occasions aren’t your cup of tea, otherwise you’re searching for one thing else, there are nonetheless loads of issues to do in San Diego.
Go Tide Pooling
Hold an eye fixed out for our twice-daily low tides that occur throughout daytime. For those who test the web tide charts, you’ll probably discover minus tides in December which are excellent for tide pooling.
Use my listing of greatest tide swimming pools in San Diego to seek out out the place to go, however yow will discover a number of tide swimming pools in La Jolla alongside the La Jolla seal path to hit just a few widespread spots like La Jolla Cove and Shell Seashore.
As I mentioned final month, you’ll want to observe good etiquette by leaving the tide swimming pools as you discover them. Essentially the most commonly-seen creatures embody hermit crabs, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, limpets, and small crabs. You possibly can’t take away something apart from trash from tide swimming pools within the La Jolla Ecological Reserve.
Go to San Diego Botanic Backyard
San Diego’s Botanic Backyard has 4 miles of trails for train, letting children blow off steam in a reasonably garden-like setting with some edutainment actions woven in.
Get pleasure from Our Out of doors Buying Areas & Malls
If you could do some Christmas procuring, head over to Westfield UTC mall, the outlets within the Village of La Jolla, Cedros Avenue in Solana Seashore, North Park, and extra.
Excursions on the Water
San Diego climate in December is ideal for having fun with excursions on the water. You possibly can tour the La Jolla sea caves by kayak, a harbor tour, or trip the Patriot Jet Boat with Flagship Cruises and Occasions. For a particular deal with, we love Metropolis Cruise’s vacation cruises.
Collect your loved ones and pals for a enjoyable and unforgettable brunch, lunch, or dinner cruise on the San Diego Bay over the vacations this 12 months.
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Torrey Pines State Pure Reserve
Hit up a number of the greatest mountain climbing trails San Diego presents at Torrey Pines State Pure Reserve. For some additional cardio, take a look at Man Fleming and Parry Grove trails.
Cabrillo Nationwide Monument
Cabrillo Nationwide Monument is the one nationwide park in San Diego and properly value a go to. Head to the Previous Level Loma Lighthouse and Customer Middle for a historical past lesson and strolling trails with magnificent views.
The Cabrillo sea cave can be close by with tide swimming pools to discover, and through the suitable season, you’ll need to maintain an eye fixed out for migrating whales.
Climb at Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a historic, beachfront amusement park that opened in 1925 and is a San Diego icon. With no admission charge, you may wander the park earlier than summoning the braveness to climb on the Big Dipper curler coaster or Octotron. The park is embellished for the vacations in December for an additional festive spin.
What to Put on in San Diego in December
Your San Diego packing listing for December entails extra sweaters, long-sleeved T-shirts, and a medium-weight jacket when you plan to be out within the evenings.
Though, as I sort this, it’s scorching exterior, and persons are strolling across the Village of La Jolla in shorts. So, don’t neglect the shorts as a result of right here in San Diego, you may want them in December and possibly even January!
Right here’s what to place in your suitcase:
- Medium-weight jacket for the evenings
- Transportable umbrella
- Bathing swimsuit and hotter cover-up
- Rashguard or UV shirt for solar safety and heat
- Sun shades
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Flip flops for the seashore and pool
- Shorts for beachgoing
- T-Shirts (principally long-sleeved)
- Pants or denims
- Sweaters or sweatshirts
- Comfy strolling sneakers for sightseeing
- Informal wool/heat gown or collared shirt and good denims (when you plan to dine in one among our nicer San Diego eating places )
- Sweaters and sweatshirts
- Ugg boots
- Wetsuit, when you have one (in any other case, they’re simple to lease)
Individuals right here typically don’t put on conventional raincoats. A part of the reason being that it very not often rains in San Diego. Don’t pack fur coats or fur equipment to maintain you heat. They typically aren’t well-received.
Way of life: What Residents Are Up To
Usually, San Diegans are prepping for the vacation season. We’re consuming an excessive amount of, staying up too late, and procuring in our out of doors malls. San Diego is such a improbable place to dwell and go to, and we are able to’t wait to welcome you right here.
For those who dwell right here, please share your ideas about San Diego in December!
Climate and temperature sources: seatemperature.org, currentresults.com, NOAA
