Looking for a special holiday experience? There's nothing quite like colorful lights sparkling on the water to capture the magic of the season. It's a Christmas tradition along the California coast. Here's a few events to make your holiday brighter.
December 4
Morro Bay Parade of Boats
Enjoy a parade of boats decorated with holiday lights. You can view the parade in style on a harbor cruise.
December 4-5, 10-12, 18-19
Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train
Ride a beautifully lit holiday train through Victorian Santa Cruz as you sip hot spiced cider, listen to carolers and view downtown Santa Cruz all decked out in lights.
December 12
Monterey - Brighten the Harbor
Boats decorated with Christmas lights parade from the Coast Guard Pier to Lover's Point and back. Afterwards, boats will be judged at the Yacht Club.
December 15-19
96th Annual Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade
Watch beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks and canoes sail along the harbor. The parade begins at Collins Island each evening at 6:30 pm, and lasts about 2.5 hous. Adding even more sparkle to the event is the Ring of Lights waterfront home and business decorating competition.
If you're looking for a great winter vacation spot, there are some California beaches you should consider. However, the first thing you should know about California weather is that winter is the rainy season. But that means different things in different parts of California.
The good news is, there's also less fog along the coast in the winter. It moves off the coast and into the interior valleys, where it causes all sorts of havoc.
For a winter vacation, you'll want to stick to the central and southern California coast. As a rule of thumb, the weather gets warmer and drier as you head south.
So the winter rains aren't a big deal in places like Santa Barbara, with only 15 inches of rain annually. Temperatures also remain mild, with average highs of 65 degrees and average lows of 45.
Santa Barbara has an abundance of lovely beaches and recreational opportunities. But if you do run into a bit of rain, there are plenty of indoor attractions to choose from.
Farther south in Orange County, Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach are both good choices. At Huntington Beach you can surf, or enjoy a bonfire on the beach.
If you're an art lover, head to Laguna Beach. You'll find a wonderful art museum and numerous art galleries in walking distance of the beach. Temperatures range from lows of 45 to highs of 63, and annual rainfall is only 14 inches.
When it's wet and gloomy here in east Tennessee, my tired old joke is, "Who wants to move to San Diego?" With weather that's almost too perfect, San Diego makes a great winter destination. Average winter highs are in the 70's, and lows are in the 60's.
With only 10 inches of rain a year, your chances of enjoying some great sunny weather are pretty darn good. San Diego's a lovely city, with beautful beaches and cultural treasures like Balboa Park and Old Town.
And don't forget to send your shivering friends a post card.
It's a sight to behold - thousands of Monarch butterflies clustering in eucalyptus groves and settling on pine trees. They invade every year at select locations along the California coast, where they overwinter from mid-October through February.Monarchs can't tolerate cold weather, so they migrate south every year, from as far away as Canada. The best time to see them is now, because you'll find the greatest numbers of butterflies from late November through early December.
They're not active when the temperature is below 55 degrees, so try for a nice sunny day.
The butterflies favor three winter vacation spots in particular:
- The Monarch Preserve at Natural Bridges State Park
The park is located just north of Santa Cruz. Be sure to download the excellent park brochure (in PDF format). It contains detailed information, photos, and maps. - Pacific Grove (nicknamed "Butterfly Town, USA)
Located in the Monterey Peninsula, Pacific Grove has some pretty spectacular scenery to offer, along with the butterflies. - Pismo State Beach
Located south of San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach boasts the largest Monarch butterfly population in the US. While you're there, be sure to check out the spectacular Pismo Dunes.
Photo Courtesy of Pismo Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau
