December is among the hottest instances 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 yr.
This yr, 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 Weather
San Diego climate in December is a mixture of chilly days and sunny heat days. So far 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 points of interest and San Diego resorts are.
Blue Skies in Winter
I like December in San Diego as a result of we have now principally blue skies through which we are able to benefit from the numerous vacation twinkling lights, visits with Santa Claus, and tree lightings. Technically, it’s our coldest month, and we are able to have a couple of thunderstorms, however we don’t have a real wet season
Here are the San Diego climate in December stats:
- Average 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 bear in mind a handful of instances 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 Beach in December?
A continuously requested query by individuals 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.
Visitors 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 absorb 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 possibly can.
Just lease a wetsuit. Many of our surf outlets and rental spots even have wetsuits for youths. Call forward to see if youngsters’ sizes can be found. A rental could not match completely, however one thing is best 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. Many of our greatest browsing colleges, like Surf Diva, supply superior winter break camps.
Wear a wetsuit when you plan to go in for greater than a (chilly) minute or two.
Advice for Booking Hotels in December
If you propose to go to throughout winter break, it’s best to e-book San Diego motels as quickly as they’re obtainable for reservations. Winter holidays in mid-December are one in every of San Diego’s most costly peak seasons, and room charges solely improve all through the vacation season.
So, I counsel guests and residents planning San Diego staycations to lock in a versatile fee instantly by way of the lodge. These charges are straightforward to regulate within the uncommon occasion that charges fall. Most of the time, the lodge will simply alter your present reservation as an alternative of canceling and rebooking a brand new one. Easy.
Our motels deck the halls actually with stunning Christmas bushes, Menorahs, poinsettias, and different decor. And every normally gives its personal listing of vacation programming, from alternatives to see Santa, vacation afternoon teas, tree lighting, Christmas dinners, vacation treats, and rather more.
Hotel 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. Rent skates proper on the Hotel del Coronado and relax at your personal igloo whereas roasting s’mores over the hearth pit.
Another spot to get your vacation spirit on is on the Fairmont Grand Del Mar. This yr’s vacation festivities embrace glice (artificial ice) skating, a vacation market, a tree lighting, and different vacation actions.
Beach valet companies ought to be up and operating so guests can clock in seashore time and benefit from the California sunshine. Our outside swimming swimming pools are heated year-round, so pack swimsuits for the entire household in your Christmas Day celebration!
San Diego December Events
Our delicate San Diego climate gives the right alternative to get pleasure from San Diego occasions in December with family members that concentrate on vacation enjoyable. Parades with marching bands and drill groups, vacation markets, vacation occasions at theme parks, and a ship parade fill all the month of December as we gear as much as have fun Christmas.
Check my final information to San Diego Christmas and vacation occasions for the total listing, however listed below are a couple of.
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.
Guests additionally stay up for reside music, vacation mild shows, dance performances, and meals vans from world wide. This yr the occasion will probably be occurring on December 2—third.
San Diego Zoo Jungle Bells
Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo happens this yr between December ninth – January 1st. The celebration contains vacation lights, seasonal meals, scorching chocolate, reside animal shows, vacation decor, and extra.
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Christmas at SeaWorld San Diego
Celebrate Christmas at SeaWorld San Diego from November 14th by way of January eighth! Meet Santa and Rudolph, catch Donner and Blitzen’s Lazer lights present, or benefit from the sounds of the Holiday Brass band. Admission is included with common park admission.
Refer to my put up about shopping for low-cost SeaWorld San Diego tickets. Reservations are required.
Holidays at LEGOLAND California
Kids at all times stay up for seeing the world’s largest LEGO Christmas tree (30′ tall). Beginning November nineteenth – January eighth, all the resort will probably be decked out in vacation décor and extra through the Holidays at LEGOLAND, California.
In addition, you’ll see LEGO Christmas characters, together with LEGO Santa, and revel in particular occasions together with a vacation mild present.
CHRISTMAS PARADES IN SAN DIEGO
What is Christmas with out a parade or two? The La Jolla Christmas parade and vacation competition is on December 4th this yr and options floats, horses, marching bands, and an vintage airplane flyover. Stay after to get pleasure from the very best Christmas competition La Jolla has to supply, full with crafts, meals, video games, and Santa.
Where 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 adorned with festive lights that can deliver out the vacation cheer.
It begins at Shelter Island and heads in the direction of Seaport Village and the Coronado Ferry touchdown. There are loads of alternatives to catch the parade, particularly as it’s going to 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 yr with their Snow N Glow vacation competition.
Enjoy over a million festive lights, tubing with actual snow, vacation treats, visits with Santa, and extra. Save cash with a Groupon and prepare to make new vacation recollections this Christmas in San Diego.
Things to Do in San Diego in December
If the above San Diego December occasions aren’t your cup of tea, otherwise you’re on the lookout for one thing else, there are nonetheless loads of issues to do in San Diego.
Go Tide Pooling
Keep a watch out for our twice-daily low tides that occur throughout daytime. If you test the web tide charts, you’ll seemingly discover minus tides in December which are excellent for tide pooling.
Use my listing of finest tide swimming pools in San Diego to search out out the place to go, however you’ll find a number of tide swimming pools in La Jolla alongside the La Jolla seal path to hit a couple of fashionable spots like La Jolla Cove and Shell Beach.
As I stated final month, make sure you follow good etiquette by leaving the tide swimming pools as you discover them. The most commonly-seen creatures embrace hermit crabs, sea anemones, sea cucumbers, limpets, and small crabs. You can’t take away something apart from trash from tide swimming pools within the La Jolla Ecological Reserve.
Visit San Diego Botanic Garden
San Diego’s Botanic Garden has 4 miles of trails for train, letting youngsters blow off steam in a reasonably garden-like setting with some edutainment actions woven in.
Enjoy Our Outdoor Shopping Areas & Malls
If that you must do some Christmas procuring, head over to Westfield UTC mall, the outlets within the Village of La Jolla, Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach, North Park, and extra.
Tours on the Water
San Diego climate in December is ideal for having fun with excursions on the water. You can tour the La Jolla sea caves by kayak, a harbor tour, or trip the Patriot Jet Boat with Flagship Cruises and Events. For a particular deal with, we love City Cruise’s vacation cruises.
Gather your loved ones and mates for a enjoyable and unforgettable brunch, lunch, or dinner cruise on the San Diego Bay over the vacations this yr.
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Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Hit up a few of the finest mountaineering trails San Diego gives at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. For some further cardio, try Guy Fleming and Parry Grove trails.
Cabrillo National Monument
Cabrillo National Monument is the one nationwide park in San Diego and nicely price a go to. Head to the Old Point Loma Lighthouse and Visitor Center for a historical past lesson and strolling trails with magnificent views.
The Cabrillo sea cave can also be close by with tide swimming pools to discover, and through the fitting season, you’ll wish to hold a watch 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 possibly can wander the park earlier than summoning the braveness to climb on the Giant Dipper curler coaster or Octotron. The park is adorned for the vacations in December for an additional festive spin.
What to Wear 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.
Although, as I sort this, it’s scorching outdoors, 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!
Here’s what to place in your suitcase:
- Medium-weight jacket for the evenings
- Portable umbrella
- Bathing swimsuit and hotter cover-up
- Rashguard or UV shirt for solar safety and heat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Flip flops for the seashore and pool
- Shorts for beachgoing
- T-Shirts (principally long-sleeved)
- Pants or denims
- Sweaters or sweatshirts
- Comfortable strolling footwear for sightseeing
- Casual wool/heat gown or collared shirt and good denims (when you plan to dine in one in every of our nicer San Diego eating places )
- Sweaters and sweatshirts
- Ugg boots
- Wetsuit, if in case you have one (in any other case, they’re straightforward to lease)
People right here usually don’t put on conventional raincoats. Part of the reason being that it very hardly ever rains in San Diego. Do not pack fur coats or fur equipment to maintain you heat. They usually aren’t well-received.
Lifestyle: What Residents Are Up To
Normally, San Diegans are prepping for the vacation season. We’re consuming an excessive amount of, staying up too late, and procuring in our outside malls. San Diego is such a incredible place to reside and go to, and we are able to’t wait to welcome you right here.
If you reside right here, please share your ideas about San Diego in December!
Weather and temperature sources: seatemperature.org, currentresults.com, NOAA