Best Winter San Diego Sight Seeing
In other, colder parts of the country, the fun either moves inside during the winter or involves dressing in layers of warm clothing. In San Diego, however, the temperature remains mild and sunny during the winter months. The outdoor activities, such as sailing tours San Diego, don’t stop but some are added during the winter to reflect the festive season. Here are a handful of the most interesting things to see and do in San Diego in the winter.
1. Parade of Lights
Many cities have a parade of lights, but San Diego takes an interesting twist on an existing tradition. This Parade of Lights takes place on San Diego Bay and involves brightly decorated boats rather than automobiles. Approximately 80 vessels participate, each decorated around a yearly theme. The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights takes place on two different December evenings each year.
2. Whale Watching
There are always private San Diego boat charters to take you out whale watching in the coastal waters. December through April is a popular time to go whale watching because it is the season of the gray whale migration. Gray whales are massive animals that feed on tiny ocean life near Alaska but travel south to Mexico each year to breed. Sightings of gray whales are common during the months of their migration as approximately 20,000 of them make the trip south.
3. Ice Skating
Beaches and skating rinks may not go together in everyone’s mind, but at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego, skating next to the ocean is a beloved tradition. In some respects, the outdoor skating rink is similar to those that you would find elsewhere in the country, opening in late November and closing down again in early January. However, most outdoor rinks do not offer ocean views and the opportunity to skate underneath palm trees as this San Diego marvel of refrigeration does.
4. December Nights
December Nights is a winter festival that takes place in San Diego’s Balboa Park during one of the first weekends of the month. Among the fun attractions you can find there are musical acts, colorful light displays, and unique food and beverage offerings. Balboa Park is home to 17 different museums, and during December Nights they offer free admission.
5. Sunset Cliffs
Sunsets over the ocean can be spectacular to observe. As implied by the name, Point Loma’s Sunset Cliffs neighborhood can be a fantastic place to watch the natural display, as well as to observe the waves and watch the surfers. Plan to arrive early, however, because winter sunsets occur in the early evening, between 4:30 and 6:00 p.m., and the sun won’t wait for you if you’re running late.
6. Torrey Pines
For a more rugged outdoor adventure, head to La Jolla for a visit to Torrey Pines State Park. There are dozens of trails to hike, some offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Winter is the off-season, meaning that the park is less crowded and parking is much easier.
From seasonal festivities to whale watching San Diego, there is a lot to do in the city during the mild winter months. The activities listed here are all family friendly and offer all-ages fun.
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