Seems strange to already be planning a Christmas vacation, but nonetheless…
Last year our family (me, husband, 20 year old daughter, 17 year old son) went to St. Augustine FL for Christmas and had a great time. I’d like to do another family vacation, especially since the 20 year old will be doing a co-op next summer. So - reasonable airfare is to be found to San Diego, Miami, and Albuquerque. San Diego is the longest flight - but seems to have a wide variety of things to do (and the kids have never seen the Pacific). Miami seems less family oriented, and we’re not hang out on the beach types. And I’m not sure the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area has enough to do for a week in the winter (we don’t ski), and we’ll be a little late for the pre Christmas festivities.
I’d REALLY love to go to Venice Italy, but the flights are too expensive unless they drop a lot
We can’t leave until the 23rd, but can come back as late as January 3. We’ll probably stay a week in a rental home rather than a hotel.
Can anyone offer suggestions or pros/cons for each location?
I went to San Diego around Christmas a couple of years ago with my two teenaged sons and my parents, and we had a great time! The weather was warm enough for the kids from Maine to run into the ocean. We took a side trip La Jolla. The scenery was beautiful and there were a lot of good restaurants. There were a bunch of good shops on the harbor, too. Our hotel was right on the water, and I enjoyed running on a path right next to the harbor.
I’ve also been to Albuquerque. I would choose San Diego over Albuquerque any day!
I read the title of this thread an clicked to add my argument for the obvious underdog of Santa Fe. (Not Albuquerque, and I lived there…)
Then I read “the kids have never seen the Pacific”. 180 turn. You have to choose San Diego. (Cheaper flights may be possible to Orange County (SNA))
Please, please, please pick California! It’s like no place else.
Here in Southern California, we are expecting* December to be the rainiest December on record due to the El Nino conditions that we expect* to come our way. So, in good conscious, I cannot recommend San Diego next December.
for expecting, feel free to substitute "delusionally counting on," "irrationally hoping against hope," and "blindly placing all of our hopes for the future on something we heard one guy say on tv."
I would second Santa Fe (less than an hour up the road from ABQ)! Art, food, opera, hiking, snow, clear skies, fireplaces, luminarias, ristras-- it is just the bomb!
I would LOVE to go to San Diego one of these days! I would pick that, depending on weather. I have been to Miami numerous times and it’s a blast. You can also combine it with a trip to the Keys. Key West, the farthest point, is 3 1/2 hours from Miami. Key Largo is known for their snorkeling…gorgeous reefs. They have glass bottom boats and air boat rides through the Everglades. There’s also Bayside, which is a huge open air shopping mall, kind of geared to the European tourist. Boat trips around Miami are fun…they show you where all the celebrities live. They have beautiful Gardens (Viscaya), and outdoor activities like a Monkey Jungle and Parrot Jungle. There is South Beach that made Miami famous many years ago…topless bathing is pretty common. You don’t have to go to the beach…you can walk around…they have tons of restaurants, all outdoor seatings…shops, etc.
The weather guy is always wrong, so pick Lajolla and San Diego. Even when it if there is El Niño, it will stop some time. I live through several El anions. I don’t remember being flooded.
Spent a couple of Christmas holidays in San Diego. Absolutely loved it. Did not want to come back to the dreary Northeast. There is so much to see and the weather is pleasant for winter time. Very relaxing vacation. Would go again for the holidays in a heartbeat if I could get affordable plane tickets.
Chocchipcookie makes a lovely case for Miami, south beach, and the Keys. I live nearby, and have enjoyed being in Key West for many holidays.
That said, I have also visited my sister in Santa Fe over holidays. We stayed in the oldest hotel there, where candles in bags decorated the outdoor walls. It left us with great memories. There was a crafts show there, which also made it nice. It can be chilly in December.
While I’ve been to San Diego, never over the holidays, so I have nothing to add.
It is supposed to be an El Niño year (bring an umbrella and jacket gear) but you can plan on the following:
1). Balboa Park: San Diego Zoo or San Diego Wild Animal Park (Safari Park in Escondido),
Old Globe Theater’s: The Grinch (pay in advance for tickets).
(Christmas in the Prado/December nights only happens towards the beginning of December.)
2). Torrey Pines State Park
3). Old Town San Diego State Historic park, the beginning of California (Mexican flavor, food and gigantic strawberry margaritas) and the Mission San Diego de Alcalá (further into mission valley)
4). Cabrillo National Monument
5). La Jolla Shores and tide pools if weather permits.
6). Native American Casinos and shows at Viejas, Barona, Harrahs, Pala, Pauma, Sycuan and whatever ones I’ve missed, or Pechanga in Temecula. Mick Jagger recently did some hiking in the back country area near one of them.
7). Hotel Del Coronado’s Crown room brunch (pricey).
8). Whatever event/party is occurring in the Gaslamp near Petco Park.
9). I am not quite sure about the Orca/whale watching tours calendar yet. Should be up around September for late December.
10). The Bay Boat parade of lights is scheduled for Dec 20th this year so you will probably miss that.
Important: The US State department does not recommend going into Mexico as it is considered unstable and dangerous. We locals don’t recommend it either. It’s very easy to get too, hence the allure, but, so seriously not recommended for families.
We are now getting ready for Comic Con, so event pages about local activities should be up soon.
Last year, I think we had a cloudy Dec 25th. But previously, it’s been sunny, in the 80’s.
i don’t want to hijack this thread but…would you locals recommend staying in La Jolla or San Diego?? We will be there with our boys (24 and 21) for 4 nights in late December (including New Years). Currently holing rooms at hotel Del Coronado and a small hotel in La Jolla and we just can’t decide!! Thanks
Not a native… But do your boys plan on any NYEve activities? We were there last year, and the downtown SD was hopping! In a good kind of way. Very festive.
@BunsenBurner - Good question. I think they could go either way - go out or just hang out with us. We spent last NY eve in Seville, Spain and we all had a nice dinner then rang in the new year together! It was pretty cozy!
Wow, San Diego definitely leading the list! Would Mission Hills be a good area to stay in? I’ve found a very cute house that we could rent. The description says it’s located just above Old Town and Presidio Park. I’m assuming a rental car is a must-have.
It was quite festive in the city!