Things to Do in San Diego in Winter 2018 - December & January Activities & More

By Casey Makovich
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Smaller crowds, more vivid sunsets, and temperate weather in the 60's and 70's make winter in San Diego one of the best times to visit the area. Although you’re unlikely to see any snow, there are lots of seasonal activities and fun things to do in December and beyond. Take advantage of thinning crowds and sightsee around San Diego at your own pace this winter. From amazing theme park attractions to low-key local fun, check out our list of popular things to do in San Diego in Winter, including some of the best holiday activities and attractions to help you plan the perfect winter itinerary.

Save on Winter Attraction Admission

Regular admission to a number of these attractions is included on the Go San Diego pass. Choose as you go from dozens of top attractions and save up to 55% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. See all available San Diego passes, attractions & prices. Please note, some of these special Winter events may be separately ticketed and not included on the Go San Diego pass, but lots of these great activities are! For more ideas, check out our Christmas in San Diego post - for more fun holiday-themed activity ideas.

Jungle Bells at the San Diego Zoo

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Where: San Diego Zoo When: December (closed December 24) In the name of holiday spirit, the Zoo plays host to "Jungle Bells," with lots of fun and festive activities, performances, decorations, and more. You'll get to see twinkle light animal sculptures, acrobatic elf performances, and more. Enjoy special holiday meals at select park restaurants, visit Santa’s igloo, and watch some of the zoo’s most famous creatures enjoy holiday-themed enrichment play. You can even see a raccoon deftly open his Christmas present! Be sure to stick around later in the evening for the “Celebration of Lights,” a musical experience filled with magic and fun. You’ll get to watch the zoo’s huge holiday tree light up with a ton of sparkly lights – it’s pretty breathtaking. New this year is Aurora, an exciting visual and sound experience that weaves 3-D projections, music, and light into a spectacular performance. Getting in: San Diego Zoo tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass and Jungle Bells activities are included with admission unless otherwise noted.

Holiday Snow Days & Winter Nights at LEGOLAND® California

Where: LEGOLAND® California When: November to January The wintertime fun never stops at the Holiday Snow Days and Winter Nights of LEGOLAND® California with nightly snowfalls in Heartlake City, festive music, twinkling lights, seasonal live entertainment, a life-sized LEGO® Brick Santa, and more. There are tons of great kid-centric activities to celebrate the season, from building a LEGO snowman to gazing upon a massive LEGO Christmas tree. Snap a photo with a life-sized LEGO Santa and reindeer, and then stick around to enjoy the fantastic live entertainment and nightly fireworks. Especially for Kids’ New Year’s Eve, there are kids’ bands, party favors, fireworks and a 6pm giant brick drop! Getting in: LEGOLAND California tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass.

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration

Where: SeaWorld San Diego When: November and December SeaWorld goes all out with SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration, filled with festive activities and fun things to do, transforming into a winter wonderland that sparkles with holiday cheer, excitement, and over 3 million beautiful lights. You'll get to meet Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and his friends in Rudolph's Christmastown, complete with a 40-foot Happiest Dancing Christmas Tree. You can also get your picture taken with Santa in his cottage and join the Elves Dance Party for a sing-a-long, watch the nightly lighting of the largest Christmas tree in Southern California, and watch a mesmerizing nativity show, O Wondrous Night. Be sure to bring layers--you might want to bundle up after taking a ride on the Journey to Atlantis if the weather is on the cooler side. Getting in: SeaWorld San Diego tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass and SeaWorld's Christmas Celebration activities are included with admission unless otherwise noted.

Lunar New Year at SeaWorld San Diego

When: January - February 2020 (yet to be announced) Celebrate Lunar New Year and the year of the rat at SeaWorld San Diego. Enjoy riveting performances from the Chinese Acrobats of Hebei inside Mission Bay Theater®. The sights and sounds of Asia come alive during this cultural celebration with Pan-Asian entertainment and food. Getting in: SeaWorld San Diego tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass and Lunar New Year activities are included with admission unless otherwise noted.

Knott’s Berry Farm

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Where: Knott’s Berry Farm When: November to January Knott’s Berry Farm is chock full of fun seasonal activities this time of year. Are you a Peanuts fan? Then don’t miss out on Snoopy’s ice skating show, or the Peanuts tree lighting (featuring the big man himself). Next, visit Santa’s Christmas Cabin for a photo with the man of the hour and to enjoy some of Mrs. Claus’ amazing treats (no doubt baked with some of that famous Knott’s Berry Farm jams). Enjoy the musical stylings of the Calico Carolers, marvel at the Calico Saloon Christmas Show, and soak up the Snow and Glow Show. Last but not least, stop by Ghost Town to enjoy a synchronized lights show. There’s also Christmas Crafts Village for those of you looking for some unique presents. Getting in: Knott's Berry Farm tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass.

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

Let the kids play scientist for a day with all the hands-on things to do and exhibits at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. Kids can examine images from the Hubble Telescope, build free form structures using wooden planks, explore the unseen world of cellular biology through the lens of a microscope, and more. Plus, “Kid City” features a part play area, part exhibit where younger kids can explore scientific concepts while staying entertained and interacting with other kids. Bonus: one IMAX movie is free with admission. Getting in: Reuben H. Fleet Science Center tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass.

Natural History Museum

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Find a new appreciation for nature and the environment. The oldest scientific institution in southern California, this 134 year old museum focuses on the natural worlds of the Southern California and Baja peninsula regions while maintaining a global scientific perspective. Travel to the Polar Regions at the End of The Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins exhibit, or see a striking film come to life in the museum's 3-D theater. Getting in: Natural History Museum tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass.

Air and Space Museum

Explore all things aviation at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, from ancient aircraft designs to modern space-age flights. Wander through the World War galleries or experience the action firsthand in the FS2000 Two-Seat Flight Simulator. Don't miss the "Be The Astronaut" exhibit, where your kids can enjoy an interactive adventure of piloting a spaceship, launching a rocket, and steering a rover in space. Getting in: San Diego Air and Space Museum tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass and December Nights activities are included with admission unless otherwise noted.

Museum of Photographic Arts

Explore over 9,000 images from the 19th century to today through the lens of a trained eye at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA). The MOPA is dedicated to collecting, conserving, and portraying the art of photography in its entirety with exhibits featuring cultural, historical, and social issues. Getting in: Museum of Photographic Arts tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass and December Nights activities are included with admission, unless otherwise noted.

Museum of Man

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Explore one of the most impressive presentations of anthropology and human evolution in the nation. This museum seeks to answer questions such as "What makes us human?" and "Race: Are We So Different?" through extensive artifact collections and exhibits. Getting in: Museum of Man tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass and December Nights activities are included with admission, unless otherwise noted.

The Birch Aquarium at Scripps

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Head to La Jolla to poke around the shops, grab lunch seaside, get in some ocean activities, and explore the sea life at the Birch Aquarium.

Dive into exhibits that showcase the mysteries of ocean, air and life through interactive displays and multimedia. You'll learn all about living coral reefs, see baby seahorses play, listen to whale songs, and even pet living sea stars. Check out the Aquarium's 'Seas 'n' Greetings' events during the month of December and Deck the Hall (of Fishes) and get into the holiday spirit. Check the schedule for special appearances by Scuba Santa, live holiday music, and face painting. Getting in: Birch Aquarium at Scripps tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass and all Seas 'n' Greetings activities are included with admission unless otherwise noted.

Check Out the USS Midway Museum

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Learn about life at sea without ever leaving the Navy Pier port aboard the longest-serving aircraft carrier in United States history. Aboard the ship there are over 60 exhibits and 27 restored aircraft to explore at your own pace with a self-guided audio tour narrated by USS Midway sailors. Getting in: USS Midway Museum tickets are included with the Go San Diego pass.

Kayak, Bike, or Snorkel in La Jolla

Head out to the seaside community of La Jolla, where a scenic sprawl of cliffs and sandy beaches await. Take your pick between biking along the beach town streets, snorkeling in La Jolla Cove, or Kayaking along the coast to get an up-close look at the famous sea lions sunbathing on La Jolla beach. Getting in: Kayak, Bike, and Snorkel Gear rentals are included with the Go San Diego pass.

Watch a Winter Sunset

 By Farwestern Photo by Gregg M. Erickson (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons The winter months mean better sunsets. Make a point to watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean one evening when you're in San Diego--a must-see experience. Head to the Sunset Cliffs National Park for a pre-sunset walk along the coastline and one of the best views of the sunset, drive up to Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial to see the famous landmark and watch the sun set with a view of the San Diego skyline, or go out to Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve for classic, oceanside sunset views.

Remember to Save on Attraction Admission

So there you have it. Our list of a few things to do in San Diego in the winter, including holiday events, other seasonal activities in December, January, and more. Remember, many of these options are included on the Go San Diego pass, where you can save up to 55% on combined admission vs paying at the gate. Please note, the Winter events taking place at some of these attractions may be separately ticketed and not included with the Go San Diego pass. We hope you plan to add a few of these fun options to your winter vacation itinerary.

Casey Makovich
Go City Travel Expert

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The legendary Hotel del Coronado in San Diego
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Things to do in Coronado San Diego

Connected to the California mainland by a sandy isthmus and (since 1969) a road bridge, Coronado is a sunny island resort nestled in the heart of San Diego Bay, just across the water from downtown. There’s stacks to do here, especially for families, from tide-pooling on the beach to touring the island by bike or on the Old Town Trolley. Hop aboard for our guide to the 10 best things to do in Coronado San Diego. Spend a Night at the Hotel del Coronado Perched right on the beachfront overlooking Point Loma, ‘The Del’ is a Coronado institution that has been welcoming presidents, celebrities and royalty since Victorian times. Former guests include Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Madonna; the hotel’s distinctive conical turrets are said to have inspired the Emerald City in L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; it’s even rumored that Prince Edward first met Coronado resident Wallis Simpson here at a 1920 banquet. And, naturally, a hotel of this vintage also has its very own ghost story. Rooms start north of $700 but a visit to the adjacent Ice House Museum for a walk through the hotel’s rich history is gratis. Hit the Beach The long stretch of golden beach in front of The Del is great for families, thanks to its gentle waves, tide pools crammed with anemones, hermit crabs and sand dollars, and mineral-rich sand that actually glitters in the sun. Kids will love having a go at building their very own sparkling Emerald City sandcastles. Also look out for the legendary Sandcastle Man, who can often be found here on Coronado Central Beach building his extravagant and highly artistic sand sculptures. In the evening, use one of the public firepits to barbecue your own burgers and toast marshmallows as the sun sets over the Pacific. Get on Your Bike Dedicated cycle paths snake around much of Coronado, making bike hire a great idea for family days out. The Bayshore Bikeway runs down the Silver Strand sand spit, and all the way back up into downtown San Diego, from where you can catch the Coronado Ferry back to your starting point. Expect swaying palms, wildlife reserves and sweeping views of the Pacific on this epic 24-mile ride. A shorter version that turns back before you hit the mainland may be the smarter option if you’re with kids, and there’s another more urban route around Coronado itself. Visit Spreckels Park Named for Victorian entrepreneur John D. Spreckels, this park in the middle of Coronado is a beautiful green oasis amid the city streets. Families stop by to picnic beneath the trees, while kids live their best lives in the large playground. In summer, the gazebo bandstand bursts into life every Sunday as part of a series of free concerts that run the gamut from marching bands to high-energy pop acts. Local artists showcase their work at the Art in the Park event on alternate Sundays while the Coronado Flower Show brings thousands of colorful fragrant blooms to the park every April. Ride the Old Town Trolley Hop aboard one of San Diego’s brightly colored trolley buses for a whistle-stop narrated tour of the top attractions in Coronado and Downtown. Taking in Coronado Beach and the Hotel del Coronado, the bus then cruises over the bay to visit several more locations on the mainland, including the historic Gaslamp Quarter and sprawling Balboa Park, home to San Diego Zoo and many of the city’s top museums. You can hop on and off the trolley at your leisure along the route. Discover the Local History Take a deep dive into Coronado’s past at the Coronado Museum, where a huge collection of art, photographs and other exhibits tell the story of island life since the 1880s. The museum also runs a weekly walking tour of some of Coronado’s most important locations, including Orange Avenue and, of course, the Hotel del Coronado. The leisurely tour, in which a knowledgeable local historian will point out interesting architecture and wow you with fascinating anecdotes, lasts around 90 minutes and covers approximately two miles. Shop the Farmers’ Market Hit up the weekly farmers’ market at Coronado Ferry Landing for your fix of all things fresh and wholesome. Here’s your chance to taste sweet organic tomatoes fresh from the vine, and crisp, zingy apples that have ripened on the branch. The whole operation is certified farm-fresh, so you just know there’s going to be more flavor packed into that single strawberry than in any number of mass-produced punnets at the mall. You’ll also find beautiful fresh blooms and countless homemade oils, pickles, condiments and jams. Delicious. Take to the Water The relatively tranquil waters off Coronado make it ideal for trying out some of those watersports you’ve always fancied having a go at. Grab a kayak and paddle your way around the island’s scenic shores. Or get to grips with a stand-up paddleboard. Like surfing, but gentler, this increasingly popular activity can be surprisingly relaxing once you’ve got the hang of it. Try not to be put off your stride by pelicans dive-bombing the water for their lunch! Treat Yourself on Orange Avenue Saunter along flower-filled Orange Avenue, a broad street packed with bougie boutiques, cute cafés, local artisan jewelers and more. There’s plenty to see and do along this mile-long stretch that runs all the way from Bayside to the Hotel del Coronado. Pick up a unique souvenir at the Coronado Museum Store, take in a show at the intimate Lamb’s Players Theatre and sample some of San Diego’s famous craft beers at the Coronado Brewpub. Take the Ferry Downtown Hands down the most romantic way to reach downtown San Diego from Coronado is on the quaint old ferry that chugs back and forth throughout the day. Time your trip for around sunset to get the most magical views as you pull in to dock by the legendary USS Midway aircraft carrier. From here, it’s just a short stroll into the Gaslamp Quarter or Little Italy to enjoy some of the best nightlife (and pizza!) in town. Save on things to do in Coronado San Diego Save on admission to San Diego attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
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Stuart Bak
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The art of people-watching in San Diego

Discover San Diego’s liveliest, quirkiest and coolest people-watching scenes—find your front-row seat to the city.
A beach at sunset in La Jolla, San Diego
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Where To Stay in San Diego

Sunny San Diego is made up of a series of neighborhood villages, each with its own distinct personality and stacks of different things to see and do. But where to stay in this often bewildering landscape of canyons, mesas and golden California sands? Surfers and divers could do worse than La Jolla, with its easy access to rolling waves and underwater kelp forests. Bringing the kids? You’ll love the laid back family vibe of Ocean Beach and Coronado. If you’re just looking for some of that legendary San Diego nightlife, that’d be the Gaslamp Quarter and hip nearby neighborhoods of Hillcrest and North Park. Still not sure? Read on for our mini guide to where to stay in San Diego. Best for First Timers San Diego’s atmospheric Old Town is an intoxicating hybrid of Mexican, Spanish and American culture. Here, in the birthplace of California, first timers can truly immerse themselves in the city’s heritage. It’s a place where palm-lined streets are crammed with colorful shops and restaurants inside restored adobe buildings and there are more fab museums, galleries and – gulp – haunted houses than you can shake a very large stick at. Visit the notorious Whaley House Museum, once described by LIFE magazine as ‘the most haunted house in America’ and scare yourself silly on one of their spooky evening tours – if you dare. The nearby Old Town San Diego State National Park contains many more original and reconstructed 19th-century buildings including the old courthouse and restored Cosmopolitan Hotel. It’s a real slice of the Old West, with regular living history demonstrations and a colorful Mexican market housing independent boutiques, artisan souvenirs and, of course, plenty of lip-smackingly authentic taquerias. All of which makes the Old Town a fantastic choice for first-time visitors to San Diego. Couple that with easy access to Downtown, Mission Bay and historic Mission Valley, home to the Insta-perfect Mission San Diego de Alcalá (the sugar-white 18th-century church that gives the region its name), and you have all the ingredients for the perfect introduction to America’s Finest City. Best for Seeing it All Perched on the San Diego Bay, the Downtown neighborhood is the location for you if it’s fine restaurants, the best nightlife and easy access to the city’s bucket-list attractions that float your boat. Head to the waterfront Embarcadero for sport fishing, seal-spotting, sensational seafood and sweeping sunset views of Coronado, and get your fix of pizza and pasta in Little Italy, with its cobbled piazza, ornate tiled fountain and traditional trattorias. Sample some of San Diego’s famously excellent craft beers in the Gaslamp Quarter’s atmospheric dive bars or shake it up with rooftop cocktails and live music here in the city’s nightlife mecca. If you’re planning on seeing the Padres in action or spending a lot of time in Balboa Park (and let’s face it, why wouldn’t you?) Downtown is the place to stay. The Padres’ huge home stadium also puts on major concerts and has hosted such household names as Taylor Swift and Paul McCartney in recent years. Balboa Park is San Diego’s vast green lung. Walkable from Downtown, it also happens to contain some of the city’s biggest attractions, including – deep breath – San Diego Zoo, the Fleet Museum of Science, a Japanese Friendship Garden, the San Diego Museum of Art and an old-fashioned carousel. And that barely scratches the surface. Sun worshippers take note: while San Diego Bay is renowned for its views across the water it is less esteemed for its beaches. Because, well, there aren’t any. Fear not though: Ocean Beach, La Jolla and Pacific Beach are within your grasp thanks to Downtown’s proliferation of cabs and other easy transport links. Best for Families and Beach Lovers Sunny days that number well above the national average, a laid back SoCal vibe and some of the best beaches on the West Coast make San Diego a great choice for family vacations. South of the San Diego River, hippy-dippy Ocean Beach has a lovely community vibe. It’s packed with cute taquerias and boho boutiques and there’s a weekly market with live music and great street food. Not to mention that all-important stretch of sun-kissed California sand, where surfers ride the gently rolling waves, pelicans dive-bomb the herring-rich waters for their dinner and kids hunt for crabs and anemones in exposed tide pools beneath the epic, 600-meter Ocean Beach Pier. There’s even a dedicated dog beach here where your four-legged friends can frolic happily in the surf and sand with their doggo pals. Head over the river to Mission Bay for SeaWorld San Diego, where there are enough thrill rides and sea creatures to keep even the most jaded teen entertained for a day or more. Across the bay, Coronado’s landmark hotel is a tourist attraction in itself. The Hotel del Coronado is a San Diego institution (haunted, of course) that has been hosting US presidents, household-name celebs (you’ve heard of Marilyn Monroe and Sly Stallone, right?) and royalty since the 19th Century. Its turrets are even said to have inspired resident writer L. Frank Baum’s Emerald City in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Families build sandcastles along the fine stretch of golden sand in front of ‘The Del’, go paddle-boarding in the lagoon and gorge on firepit s’mores at sunset. Around 12 miles north of Downtown San Diego, La Jolla is an absolute playground for outdoor types. Set in pine-scented hills along seven miles of coastline, it scratches your surfing, sunbathing, sea-swimming and seal-spotting itches all in one go. Here’s where you can find native harbor seals basking in their dozens at Children’s Pool; spot dolphins and migrating whales from high in the bluffs of wildflower-rich Torrey Pines Nature Reserve; and scuba-dive among the green tendrils of La Jolla Cove’s vast kelp forests. Or get your sea-critter fix at the Scripps Aquarium where you can meet leopard sharks, loggerhead sea turtles and a giant Pacific octopus without even getting wet! La Jolla also boasts fine dining and boutique shopping galore in its village, a world-class clifftop golf course and some of the best outdoor art in the city. It’s also well-placed for day trips to family favorites just north of the city, including LEGOLAND California and the sprawling 1,800-acre San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Best for Hip Young Things Hip with a dollop of history might be the best way of describing Hillcrest and North Park, the alluring uptown neighborhoods that hug the north end of Balboa Park. Hillcrest is the heart of San Diego’s thriving LGBTQ+ community, its streets brimming with lively gay bars and cool brunch spots. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hillcrest also provides the hub for the annual Pride festival. Each July, thousands of revelers from around the globe descend on its leafy avenues, here for the legendary Parade, huge music festival in Balboa Park and – in some cases at least – the 5k fun run. Like its neighbor North Park, Hillcrest is famed for its fine 1920s Crafstmen’s houses – simple dwellings that date to the 1920s Arts and Crafts movement – as well as being one of the jewels in San Diego’s craft ale crown thanks to the likes of the Hillcrest Brewing Company, self-styled ‘first gay brewery in the world’. North Park’s charming jumble of colorful street art, microbreweries and 1920s style earned it a place in Forbes’ 2012 list of America’s finest hipster ‘hoods, in which it was praised for its creativity and cultural diversity. And you don’t have to wander far in this art lovin’ beer drinkers’ paradise to see what they mean. There’s around a dozen local microbreweries within two or three blocks around University Avenue and 30th. Look out for the Belching Beaver Brewery, right next to the famously Instagrammable Greetings from San Diego mural, and the Fall Brewing Company, with their excellent hazy IPAs and beloved Humpty Dumpty mascot. Save on things to do in San Diego Save on admission to San Diego attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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