Why Christmas in San Diego?

California’s second-largest city has 70 miles of coastline, 33 beaches and an average December temperature of around 18C (64F), plus Balboa Park, with its cornucopia of museums covering everything from art to aviation, sports to science, space to natural history, and numerous family attractions ranging from theme parks to a world-renowned zoo.

San Diego Seasonal Treats

Many of the holiday festivities centre around Coronado, a San Diego Bay almost-island connected to the city by an impressive bridge and a peninsular highway to the south.

Santa arrives at the Ferry Landing at the end of its main street (Orange Avenue) in early December and the Landing is also one of the ideal waterfront viewpoints for the San Diego Bay Parade of Lights.

On the mainland, Balboa Park’s December 5 and 6 December Nights offer free admission to the museums plus food and entertainment. There’s also an annual production of Dr Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas in the park’s Old Globe Theatre. Also of particular appeal to families are the seasonal attractions of the nearby San Diego Zoo – which, during this time of year, is open until 8pm so that visitors can view many animals by night – the Sea World theme park and Legoland around 40 miles up the coast at Carlsbad.

A special place to stay in San Diego

Coronado’s icon is the vast and handsome beachfront Hotel Del Coronado, completed in 1888 and the setting for Some Like It Hot, that great 1959 rom-com starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemon. During the holiday season, it is further enhanced by a large lobby Christmas tree, palm trees ringed in Christmas lights and an ice skating rink. Sited on the mainland’s Harbor Island Drive, the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina has good views of the bay and the Christmas boat parade.

Dining out in San Diego

The following trio of restaurants all have both great food and great views: Sheerwater at the Hotel Del Coronado, C Level on Harbor Island Drive in San Diego and, in chic La Jolla just up the coast, Ocean Terrace at George’s at the Cove.

Getting to San Diego

British Airways has daily, direct flights from Heathrow to San Diego. My America Holiday offers various holiday packages.