san francisco winter vacation

San Francisco is a California city known for its diverse culture and food. It’s also one of the most popular destinations in the world, welcoming visitors from across the globe throughout the year. If you’re planning to visit this beloved destination during winter, there are plenty of fun winter activities to consider. Below you’ll find some great ideas on how to spend your winter vacation in San Francisco:
san francisco in december

- San Francisco in December is typically mild and sunny. The average high for the month is 57 degrees F (14 degrees C), with lows dropping to 46 F (8 C) at night.
- If you’re looking for fun things to do, check out the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, where you can take a tour of ships or have lunch on their dockside restaurant. You can also go ice skating at Justin Herman Plaza or visit a museum like the Asian Art Museum or the California Academy of Sciences.
- Or just walk around! Most streets have been cleared of snowfall by now and will be clear until springtime arrives—but watch out for ice patches if you’re walking around on foot!
san francisco in january
San Francisco’s average temperature in January is 45 degrees. The average amount of rain that falls in January is 7.4 inches, and the average high temperature for a normal day is 53 degrees, while the average low is 41 degrees. The humidity level typically ranges from 70 percent to 80 percent throughout most of January. Typically, the wind will blow at speeds between 3 and 6 miles per hour during this time period
san francisco winter activities
In the winter, you’ll find plenty of activities to keep you busy. Try snowshoeing at Mt. Tam or Stinson Beach, ice skating in Union Square and Pacific Heights, skiing at Northstar California Resort or Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, sledding on Mt. Tamalpais or Dolores Park (or even in your own backyard!), snowboarding at Tahoe Donner Ski Ranch or Sky Summit Mountain Resort, ice hockey and ice fishing (with a trip to San Francisco Bay if you want). Try hiking on Mt. Diablo’s trails or Calistoga’s hot springs! There are so many options for fun in San Francisco during the wintertime!
san francisco winter weather
San Francisco’s average winter temperature is in the 50s, with a few days in the 40s. Fog is common because of how close the city sits to the ocean. Rain and even snow are not unheard of, but neither are likely (although it did snow for about 20 minutes in December 2017!).
San Francisco has mild winters compared to other coastal towns. In fact, San Franciscans get excited when they see frost on their lawns!
There are plenty of ways to enjoy san francisco in the cold weather.
While San Francisco winters are known for their foggy, chilly weather and usually snowless streets, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the city in the cold. If you’re looking for some inspiration for your next visit, here are a few suggestions:
San Francisco has always been a place where new ideas flourish and thrive. It’s no surprise that this city is home to a plethora of museums—and not just ones dedicated to big names like Coca-Cola and Apple! The Contemporary Jewish Museum offers an interactive experience for all ages exploring different aspects of Judaism through art, film, music and more.
The de Young Museum does double duty as both an art museum (with its rotating exhibitions) as well as one that focuses on natural history with its permanent collection featuring everything from dinosaur bones to Native American artifacts.
If you’ve never tried out virtual reality before but have always been curious about it, check out what VR has to offer at SFVR 2017 (created by Oculus) where you can interact with other people or go solo while taking part in activities like painting portraits or playing music together using VR technology
Conclusion
Winter is a great time to visit san francisco, especially if you enjoy winter sports. You’ll find that the city is filled with people who love winter activities, from skiing and snowboarding at nearby resorts to playing hockey in one of our many ponds or rinks around town. With so many things for visitors to do here at this time year, there’s no reason not to come out and explore all that San Francisco has offer during winter!
Best Weekend Trips from San Francisco, California
As the rest of the country is zipping into down coats and pondering snowplows, California is frequently drenched in sunshine, with just scattered rain showers and slightly cooler temperatures. It’s one of the very best places to visit in the US in December.
Summer crowds are gone, leaving pristine beaches empty as iconic cities dress up in holiday glitter. Wondering where to go in December? Read on to learn about all of my favorite places.
Here, travel bloggers share their favorite things to do in winter in California …Where to go, what to see, and where to stay! So if you’re looking for things to do in California in December, read on.
For even more ideas, check out my posts on the best weekend road trips from San Diego or getaways in Northern California.

California in December: Weather
California’s weather in December obviously varies depending on where you go.
It’s one of the coolest months for the state but that means you can expect day time temperatures in Southern California in the mid to high 60’s and overnight lows of about 50 degrees.
Days are mostly sunny with scattered rain showers.
In Northern California, it’s just a bit cooler. For example, San Francisco in December sees sunny days in the low 60’s and overnight temps averaging around 48 degrees.
Head to the mountains—Lake Tahoe or Mammoth for instance—and you can expect clear sunny days in the mid 30’s (for snow!) and 40’s with overnights in the teens. December in California is gorgeous!
Places to see in CaliforniaPlay Video
California’s rainy season is between November and April so expect a few showers at lower elevations and snow at higher elevations.
If you’re looking for warm places in California in December, head directly to the desert. You’ll enjoy the very warmest sunny weather with little chance of rain.
Death Valley and Palm Springs make an ideal California vacation in December.

Best Places to Visit in California in December
1. San Diego in December
San Diego is one of the best places to visit in California during winter.
As a native, I love walking the empty beaches on clear sunny days. Or walking the PCH in downtown Encinitas in North County.
Whale watching season also kicks off mid-December so it’s a perfect time to book a harbor cruise spotting gray whales migrating south from Alaska (or look for them from the shore).
If it’s Christmas in California you’re after, consider a holiday tea at the iconic Hotel Del (scene of Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe) on Coronado Island.
Or check out the Pet Parade in the trendy Gaslamp Quarter.
San Diego’s famous Old Globe Theater in beautiful Balboa Park brings Dr. Seuss to life for kids and the young-at-heart in its annual rendition of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
Balboa Park’s December Nights is San Diego’s premier holiday festival with food, drink, free admission to all of the museums, and festive holiday lighting!
Whatever you do, don’t miss the Parade of Lights in San Diego’s Bay.
More than 80 boats decked out in colorful holiday lights strut their stuff as they cruise from Shelter Island, past Harbor Island, the Embarcadero and the Ferry Landing on Coronado. It’s a uniquely San Diego celebration.
San Diego in winter is amazing! If you’re wondering where to go in California in December, look no further!
2 Where to Stay in San Diego
La Valencia is a Mediterranean-inspired retreat with vintage luxury and oceanside views in the cute seaside village of La Jolla north of downtown.
Check price and availability at La Valencia here. For an even better value, check out my list of oceanfront and other unique vacation rentals in La Jolla.
Or, see my list of the coolest vacation rentals by San Diego neighborhood.
Chris | Explore Now or Never