Sunglasses and Santa Hats: Surprising Things to Do in California in December

Quintessential Things to Do in California in December That Defy Winter Logic

December in California operates under different natural laws than the rest of America. While midwesterners shovel driveways and easterners battle slush, Californians face their own version of winter hardship: deciding whether today calls for a light or medium-weight wetsuit. The state transforms into a playground of seasonal contradictions, offering things to do in California in December that would require time travel or teleportation anywhere else.

Coastal Holiday Absurdities

Newport Beach’s Christmas Boat Parade (December 13-17, 2023) represents peak California winter madness. Here, millionaires with too much money and electricity transform multimillion-dollar vessels into floating Christmas displays that would make Clark Griswold weep with inadequacy. For $30-75, tourists can board viewing boats to witness this aquatic light competition while sipping hot chocolate in 65°F “winter” weather. The parade features everything from simple string lights to animated displays that probably require their own power grid.

Further south, Dana Point hosts the annual Surfing Santa competition where wave riders don red suits and white beards before attempting to hang ten without drowning in holiday spirit. Spectators watch for free from coastal bluffs as surfers in full Santa regalia perform tricks that seem physically impossible while wearing velvet suits. The cognitive dissonance of watching Saint Nick get barreled in six-foot swells must be experienced to be believed.

Winter whale watching along the coast offers another December anomaly. Gray whales begin their migration south, visible from coastal viewpoints or better observed via boat tours ($45-75 per person). Unlike summer whale watching when passengers roast under the sun, December expeditions feature the unique experience of simultaneously scanning for blowholes while monitoring for raindrops. Oceanside tour operators proudly note that seasickness percentages drop in winter, though they neglect to mention this is primarily because only the truly committed book December whale tours.

Beach bonfires at Huntington Beach ($15 for fire pit rental) exemplify the California winter dichotomy. Locals gather in sweatshirts to roast marshmallows while occasionally glancing up to watch wetsuit-clad surfers catching sunset waves. These December beach gatherings include all normal summer beach activities, just performed while wearing slightly more clothing and with more frequent mentions of how “freezing” the 58°F evening has become.

Mountain Adventures for Weather Commitment Issues

Californians with altitude-seeking tendencies find December offers early-season skiing without requiring relocation to Colorado. Mammoth Mountain typically opens by mid-November, with December delivering respectable snowpack and significantly reduced crowds. Lift tickets ($89-209 depending on date) cost approximately the same as refinancing a modest home, but December visitors often find deals impossible during peak season.

Lake Tahoe in December exhibits geographic bipolarity, with snow-covered slopes on one side and relatively mild lakeside conditions on the other. Visitors can theoretically ski in the morning and kayak in the afternoon, though the lake’s 40°F water temperature suggests this combination appeals primarily to those with questionable circulation or unresolved childhood issues.

Yosemite National Park undergoes a dramatic personality change come December. Summer’s suffocating crowds disappear, replaced by a serene winter landscape where waterfalls partially freeze and the valley floor occasionally disappears beneath snow. The $35 per vehicle entrance fee buys essentially private access to one of America’s most photographed landscapes. Accommodation rates at the Ahwahnee Hotel drop from astronomical to merely outrageous, while camping becomes an exercise in legitimate winter survival skills.

Sequoia National Park offers perhaps the most surreal December experience: ancient redwood giants dusted with fresh powder. Nothing quite matches the scale-distorting sight of 300-foot trees with snow-laden branches stretching toward a crisp blue winter sky. The park’s elevation means serious winter conditions apply, requiring chains and winter driving skills that many California coastal dwellers acquire only through terrifying trial and error.

Desert Winter Wonders

Death Valley National Park performs a December miracle by transforming from summer hellscape to pleasant hiking destination. Winter temperatures hover around a reasonable 65-70°F compared to summer’s life-threatening 120°F inferno. Visitors can actually walk Badwater Basin without feeling like human jerky in the making. Zabriskie Point and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes deliver otherworldly landscapes with comfortable temperatures and dramatically improved survival odds.

Joshua Tree National Park in December offers the dual pleasure of daytime hiking and world-class stargazing. The $30 per vehicle entrance fee purchases access to surreal landscapes where the namesake trees create alien silhouettes against winter skies. After sunset, temperatures plummet faster than San Francisco real estate during a tech industry correction, requiring serious layering for those staying to witness the extraordinary night sky. The park’s high desert elevation means December nights regularly dip below freezing, creating campfire gatherings where visitors huddle for warmth while contemplating infinite stars.

Palm Springs transforms into a bizarre winter refuge where east coast and midwest escapees congregate to remind each other how smart they were to flee real winter. December hotel rates drop 40-60% from summer prices, despite offering far more comfortable temperatures. Golf courses that require dawn tee times in summer to avoid heat stroke become all-day affairs in winter’s mild climate. The city’s mid-century modern architecture and pool culture continue uninterrupted, merely accessorized with the occasional light jacket after sunset.

Urban December Delights

San Francisco embraces winter with uncharacteristic enthusiasm, installing an ice skating rink in Union Square ($20 adults, $15 children) beneath palm trees and skyscrapers. The city’s microclimates mean December visitors might experience all four seasons while walking a single mile. Holiday shopping along Union Square and in neighborhods like Hayes Valley comes with the additional entertainment of watching locals dramatically overreact to 55°F temperatures, donning Arctic-worthy parkas while tourists from Chicago walk comfortably in light sweaters.

Los Angeles’ outdoor holiday markets create another December paradox. The Grove transforms into a winter wonderland complete with hourly “snowfall” (soap bubbles) that dissolve before reaching the ground while shoppers in sunglasses watch from outdoor cafes. The Hollywood Christmas Parade features celebrities waving from convertibles in perfect 70°F weather, creating holiday television specials that cause bitter resentment in viewers from actual winter climates.

San Diego’s December average high of 65°F creates perfect conditions for visiting the world-famous zoo ($67 adult admission) and Safari Park without summer’s crushing crowds and heat. Balboa Park’s December Nights festival transforms the cultural center into a holiday celebration where the primary winter weather concern involves whether evening temperatures might necessitate adding a light jacket over one’s t-shirt. The city’s outdoor holiday celebrations continue uninterrupted by actual winter, creating a perpetual seasonal Twilight Zone where Christmas carols play as palm trees sway.

Wine Country’s Winter Secret

Napa and Sonoma become insider destinations in December when summer crowds disappear and tasting rooms offer personalized experiences impossible during peak season. Winter brings the unique opportunity to chat directly with vintners who suddenly have time for conversations longer than “Next tasting, please.” Special barrel tastings ($25-75 per person) available only in winter months provide access to upcoming vintages alongside educational experiences that summer’s mass-tourism model cannot accommodate.

Wine cave tastings take on special significance in December, when the consistent 58°F underground temperature feels cozy rather than chilly. Fireside tastings in stone-walled rooms with vineyard views create quintessential winter wine country memories. Hotel discounts of 30-50% off peak season rates make luxury accommodations suddenly accessible to visitors not actively running hedge funds. The dormant winter vines create stark, artistic landscapes perfect for photography, especially during morning fog or rare rainy days when moisture adds drama to the sculpted hillsides.

Budget-Friendly December Discoveries

For travelers seeking things to do in California in December without liquidating retirement accounts, the state offers numerous free alternatives. Residential holiday light displays reach competitive levels in neighborhoods like Thoroughbred Street in Rancho Cucamonga and Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena. These community light shows rival professional productions without admission fees, though navigating local traffic requires the patience of a zen master with unlimited podcast subscriptions.

State parks often reduce winter rates or offer free admission days in December, providing budget access to California’s diverse landscapes. Cabin rentals in mountain communities like Big Bear ($120-200/night) cost substantially less than resort lodging while delivering authentic winter experiences. Even California’s notoriously expensive theme parks offer reduced December weekday rates ($104-129 for Disneyland versus peak rates of $179) with the added benefit of lines short enough that visitors might actually ride more than three attractions per day.

December hiking across California’s climate zones delivers world-class experiences without entrance fees. Coastal trails from Point Reyes to Big Sur offer dramatic winter storm watching and whale migration sightings. Desert paths in Anza-Borrego or Mojave National Preserve provide comfortable daytime temperatures and possibilities of early wildflowers after winter rains. Even urban hikes like Los Angeles’ Griffith Park or San Francisco’s Lands End trail deliver exceptional experiences when summer crowds thin and winter air quality improves.