This Stunning Beach City Is California’s Top Winter Getaway, According To Travel Experts

There are a choose few locations offering winter solar that vacationers scope out yr after yr — California being considered one of them.

Whereas iconic cities akin to San Francisco can get a bit nippy, Southern California boasts year-round sunshine, from the brilliant lights of Hollywood all the best way right down to the border.

Simply to show I am not partial, journey consultants named my hometown California’s high sunny escape from the frigid temps that blanket a lot of mainland America.

That is proper — my hometown of San Diego is that this yr’s high winter getaway, according to Going (previously Scott’s Low cost Flights).

And so they’re proper!

Not solely are there vibrant shores awaiting to steal you away from shoveling your driveway, there is not any scarcity of enjoyable within the solar with regards to “America’s Best Metropolis”.

San Diego: Wintertime Is Greatest To Keep away from Hordes Of Crowds

Individuals I meet who know I reside right here, however have by no means been right here, all the time make the belief San Diego lives as much as its “75 and sunny” vibes twelve months per yr.

Whereas no place is flawless, it is fairly shut, except for a handful of oddball climate days intermixed. Heck, we even had a twister warning final week!

However, don’t be concerned — that is like seeing a unicorn on the San Diego Zoo.

The climate is really blissful, and much more so when you will discover your personal slice of paradise, which is an inconceivable activity throughout late spring and particularly summer season.

Mission Seashore (as seen above), lined with carnival video games and curler coasters, virtually turns into off-limits to locals throughout “vacationer season” when Arizona and Nevada plated-vehicles invade our roadways.

As does La Jolla to see the ocean lions, as does Pacific Seashore to persuade your self you are still younger, and even what we San Diegans take into account our tight-lipped secrets and techniques have slowly however absolutely change into vacationers’ new go-to spots (ahem, Solana Beach).

However all that adjustments in winter. You’ll be able to rating entrance row parking mere steps from the seashore, and discover an open barstool at a seaside bar in a jiffy, which my new favourite is Miss B’s Coconut Club in aforementioned Mission Seashore, and naturally, get into the well-known San Diego Zoo with far fewer snot-nosed kiddos working round like wild banshees.

Insider Tip: Regardless of opportune parking in winter, concentrate on San Diego’s newly issued downtown parking laws applied throughout occasions ($10 per hour?!).

Expertise Extra Tradition Than You Would possibly Anticipate

Provided that San Diego lies in LA’s gargantuan shadow, first-timers appear to suppose San Diego is a small, coastal city.

In actuality, it is a full-fledged metropolis with quite a few fascinating sides irrespective of the place your pursuits lie.

Sure, some seashore communities ooze small-town attraction the place locals all appear to know one another, however San Diego is definitely one of many largest cities in America, and I all the time encourage guests to go exterior their consolation zone past the Zoo, Mission Seashore, the Gaslamp Quarter, and every other notable locale that is been endlessly regurgitated by guidebooks.

For instance, do not eat at Mission Seashore except it’s a must to — it is a vacationer entice.

For an genuine meal, go to the Convoy district close to ever-popular La Jolla for San Diego’s model of Chinatown. Enterprise to the outskirts of downtown to Little Italy and seize a Soppressata sandwich at Mona Lisa’s deli, or my new favourite espresso spot, Twive, a hidden stand on the far north finish that feels and tastes straight out of Italy.

Or if you need one of the best seafood on the town, hit up Mitch’s, and I promise the one disappointment is that it is busy year-round.

For a portal to a previous period, in the event you do go to the Zoo, you are already steps away from the guts of Balboa Park, which seems to be straight out of Outdated World Mexico with its ornate Spanish Colonial structure and tiled fountains.

It is actually mesmerizing, irrespective of what number of instances I go to — and I have been coming right here for 10 years.

New Flights & Airport Makeover: Extra Methods To Get Right here Than Ever

Giving credence to individuals’s misperception of San Diego’s small city vibes, they’re proper about it feeling that method since San Diego Worldwide Airport solely has one runway.

Terminal 1 was a time capsule up till its current glow-up, and I am completely satisfied to report it is now open and higher than it is ever been with trendy facilities and higher site visitors circulation to make sure you make your flight.

What’s much more thrilling is San Diego now has 2 airports. Sure, you learn that proper…

35 minutes north of downtown lies the underrated seashore metropolis of Carlsbad, which simply final yr welcomed American Airways as its first business suitor in years.

It has been so successful that United is now following go well with, however vacationers must wait till March 2026.

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Author & Journalist primarily based in San Diego has visited 36 international locations and written over 1000 articles with a concentrate on sharing his personal journey experiences and shining a light-weight on lesser-known gems.