Top 12 Best Places To Visit In California In December

California transforms in December, offering crisp mornings, fewer crowds, and perfect weather for exploration. From San Francisco's festive lights to Palm Springs' desert warmth, Monterey's dramatic coastlines, and Los Angeles' year-round appeal, the Golden State delivers unforgettable December experiences.

Keep reading as we uncover the best places to visit in California in December that will make your winter getaway extraordinary.

1. San Francisco: Winter's Urban Poetry

San Francisco wears December like a perfectly tailored coat. The fog retreats more often, revealing crystal-clear views of the Golden Gate Bridge that photographers dream about all year.

Union Square buzzes with holiday energy. Ice skating appears in the heart of the city. The cable cars carry fewer tourists, giving you space to breathe and actually enjoy the ride.

I remember standing at Crissy Field one December morning at 7 AM. The bay stretched out like glass, Alcatraz floating in the distance, and not another soul in sight. That silence in a city of nearly a million people—that's San Francisco's December gift.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: December (holidays)
  
• How to Get There: SFO Airport, drive via I-101
  
• Entry Fee: Free (individual attractions vary)
  
• Suggested Stay: 3-4 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, Chinatown
  

2. Palm Springs: Desert Warmth When You Need It

Palm Springs delivers 75-degree days when the rest of the country shivers. The desert air feels crisp and clean, perfect for hiking the Indian Canyons or simply lounging poolside.

The mid-century architecture stands sharp against December's clear blue skies. Palm trees sway without the oppressive heat of summer. Everything moves slower here, which is exactly the point.

Local tip: Visit the aerial tramway in the afternoon. The temperature drops 40 degrees as you ascend, offering mountain snow views while keeping desert warmth below.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: December-April
  
• How to Get There: Palm Springs Airport, drive via I-10
  
• Entry Fee: Free (tramway from $27)
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Aerial Tramway, Indian Canyons, Joshua Tree proximity, Downtown Palm Springs
  

3. San Diego: America's Finest Weather Continues

San Diego maintains its 70-degree reputation even in December. The beaches empty of summer crowds, leaving long stretches of sand for peaceful walks.

Balboa Park becomes particularly magical during winter months. The museums feel less rushed. The zoo animals stay active in cooler temperatures. Everything operates at a more human pace.

December sunsets from La Jolla Cove paint the Pacific in colors that cameras struggle to capture. Seals sprawl across the rocks, unbothered by the handful of visitors watching from above.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: June-August (December is shoulder season)
  
• How to Get There: San Diego Airport, drive via I-5
  
• Entry Fee: Free (attractions from $15+)
  
• Suggested Stay: 4-5 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Balboa Park, La Jolla Cove, Gaslamp Quarter, Mission Beach
  

4. Monterey: Dramatic Coastlines Without the Crowds

Monterey's rugged coastline reveals its true character in December. Storm clouds gather offshore, creating dramatic backdrops for the famous 17-Mile Drive. The cypress trees bend against winter winds that carry salt spray inland.

The aquarium becomes a refuge on foggy afternoons. Watching jellyfish drift through their tanks while rain patters against the windows creates an almost meditative experience.

Fisherman's Wharf empties of tour groups, leaving space to actually watch sea lions hauled out on the docks. They bark and jostle for position, providing better entertainment than most television.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: July-September
  
• How to Get There: Monterey Airport, drive via Highway 1
  
• Entry Fee: Free (Aquarium $40+)
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Monterey Bay Aquarium, 17-Mile Drive, Cannery Row, Point Pinos Lighthouse
  

5. Los Angeles: Urban Energy Without the Heat

Los Angeles sheds its summer haze in December, revealing mountain ranges that ring the basin. The Santa Monica Mountains, San Gabriels, and even distant peaks become visible from downtown streets.

Hollywood Boulevard feels less overwhelming without summer's crushing crowds. The beaches maintain comfortable temperatures for walking, though swimming requires dedication.

December brings clear skies that make the Getty Center and Griffith Observatory particularly spectacular. The city sprawls below in sharp focus, a concrete constellation that extends to every horizon.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: June-August
  
• How to Get There: LAX Airport, drive via multiple freeways
  
• Entry Fee: Free (attractions vary)
  
• Suggested Stay: 4-6 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Getty Center, Hollywood Boulevard, Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Observatory
  

6. Napa Valley: Harvest Season Aftermath

Napa Valley in December offers something summer visitors never experience: quiet. The vineyards stand bare, their geometric lines etched against rolling hills. Tasting rooms welcome visitors without reservations being booked weeks ahead.

Winter pruning begins in the vineyards. Watching workers move methodically through the rows, shaping vines for next year's growth, connects you to agricultural rhythms that cities make us forget.

The morning fog lifts later in December, creating ethereal scenes where hilltops float above white seas of mist. These moments last longer than summer's brief fog banks.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: September-October (harvest)
  
• How to Get There: San Francisco Airport + 1.5 hour drive
  
• Entry Fee: Free (tastings from $25+)
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Castello di Amorosa, Schramsberg Vineyards, Calistoga, St. Helena
  

7. Big Sur: Raw Nature at Its Most Powerful

Big Sur becomes elemental in December. Pacific storms crash against sea stacks with primal force. Highway 1 curves through landscapes that feel untouched by human hands.

The redwood groves provide shelter from coastal winds. Walking among these ancient giants while winter mist drifts through their canopy creates cathedral-like silence broken only by dripping condensation.

McWay Falls drops directly onto the beach below, its 80-foot plunge unchanged since before humans walked this coast. Standing at the overlook while winter swells surge below puts human timescales into proper perspective.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: April-October
  
• How to Get There: Drive Highway 1 from Carmel or San Simeon
  
• Entry Fee: Free (state parks $10)
  
• Suggested Stay: 1-2 days
  
• Must-See Spots: McWay Falls, Bixby Creek Bridge, Hearst Castle, Nepenthe Restaurant
  

8. Santa Barbara: Mediterranean California

Santa Barbara maintains its Mediterranean charm even during December's shorter days. The mission's white walls catch afternoon light that feels warm despite cooler temperatures.

State Street bustles with locals rather than tourists, creating authentic California coastal town atmosphere. The harbor holds working fishing boats alongside recreational vessels, reminding visitors that this remains a functioning port.

At Stearn's Wharf one December evening, I watched pelicans dive for fish while the sun set behind the Channel Islands. The mountains behind town glowed orange, then purple, then disappeared into darkness. That's Santa Barbara's December magic.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: July-September
  
• How to Get There: Santa Barbara Airport, drive via Highway 101
  
• Entry Fee: Free (attractions vary)
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Santa Barbara Mission, Stearn's Wharf, State Street, Santa Ynez Mountains
  

9. Carmel: Fairy Tale Village Comes Alive

Carmel-by-the-Sea transforms into a storybook setting during December. The cottage architecture gains charm from winter's softer light. Cypress Point's lone tree stands more dramatically against December's moody skies.

Ocean Avenue leads directly to Carmel Beach, where white sand stretches in both directions with minimal footprints. Dogs run free here, their owners walking slowly behind, everyone operating on Carmel time.

The town's quirky regulations—no street addresses, no chain restaurants—make more sense in December's quieter atmosphere. Walking these streets feels like stepping into a carefully maintained past.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: June-October
  
• How to Get There: Monterey Airport + 20 minutes drive
  
• Entry Fee: Free
  
• Suggested Stay: 1-2 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Carmel Beach, Mission San Carlos, Ocean Avenue shops, Point Lobos State Reserve
  

10. Death Valley: Winter's Desert Revelation

Death Valley in December reveals why this seemingly barren landscape attracts devotees. Temperatures hover around 70 degrees instead of summer's life-threatening extremes. The desert floor spreads endlessly under winter's crystal-clear air.

Zabriskie Point at sunrise becomes a cathedral of light and shadow. The badlands stretch toward distant mountains, every ridge and valley carved with precision that seems almost intentional.

Night skies here offer darkness that cities make impossible. Standing at Dante's View while the Milky Way stretches overhead reminds you why humans once navigated by stars.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: October-April
  
• How to Get There: Las Vegas + 2 hours drive west
  
• Entry Fee: $30 per vehicle (7 days)
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-3 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin, Dante's View, Artists Palette
  

11. Joshua Tree: Desert Minimalism Perfected

Joshua Tree National Park achieves perfect balance in December. Days warm to comfortable hiking temperatures while nights drop enough to require jackets around campfires.

The Joshua trees themselves—those alien-looking yucca plants that aren't actually trees—stand silhouetted against December's reliably clear skies. Rock formations create natural sculptures that change character throughout the day.

Sunrise at Cholla Cactus Garden transforms thousands of teddy bear chollas into a glowing forest. The light catches every spine, creating halos around plants that will painfully remind you to keep distance if touched.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: October-April
  
• How to Get There: Palm Springs + 45 minutes drive
  
• Entry Fee: $30 per vehicle (7 days)
  
• Suggested Stay: 1-2 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Cholla Cactus Garden, Skull Rock, Keys View, Hidden Valley
  

12. Yosemite Valley: Winter's Granite Cathedral

Yosemite Valley in December offers experiences summer crowds make impossible. El Capitan and Half Dome rise from the valley floor without human ants scaling their faces. Yosemite Falls may run dry, but the granite monoliths reveal details obscured by summer's haze.

Snow dusts the high country while the valley floor remains accessible. This contrast creates postcard scenes where meadows stay green beneath snow-capped peaks.

The Ahwahnee Hotel's massive fireplaces welcome visitors seeking warmth after day hikes. Sitting by those fires while storm clouds gather around the valley rim creates memories that outlast any photograph.

Quick Facts:

• Peak Season: June-September
  
• How to Get There: Fresno Airport + 2 hours drive
  
• Entry Fee: $35 per vehicle (7 days)
  
• Suggested Stay: 2-4 days
  
• Must-See Spots: Tunnel View, Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove, Valley View
  

Ready for Your California December Adventure

California in December offers what few places can: diversity without compromise. Beach walks in San Diego. Snow-capped peaks in Yosemite. Desert silence in Joshua Tree. Urban energy in Los Angeles.

The best places to visit in California in December reward those willing to explore beyond summer's beaten paths. Pack layers. Bring a camera. Leave room in your schedule for spontaneous discoveries.

December California doesn't demand anything from you. It simply offers everything, then waits patiently for you to choose your own adventure.