Magical California Destinations

California Christmas Destinations

When the rest of the nation is freezing and places internationally (such as Australia) are searing from their summer heat, California is looking mighty sweet.  As a brand, California ranks among the top and Christmas is a very special time filled with community entertainment, gatherings, tree lightings, plays, musicals, parades and delicious food traditions such as the tamales festivals.  Every city and town in California is a great place to visit but we've hand-picked some really special destinations worth a trip as the days lead up to December 25.

LONG BEACH: In Los Angeles County there are many attractions worth seeing at Christmas but Long Beach has the advantage to the festivals and events being close to one another. From beautiful, beloved Naples Island to Queen Mary's CHILL, it doesn't take long to understand why the city earned the award as Aquatic City USA.

ORANGE COUNTY: Orange County is one of our favorite Christmas destinations (we're biased -- we live here!)  There's Disneyland decked out in bows, Knott's Berry Farm carolers sing songs, three magical boat parades, and so much more!

SACRAMENTO: We selected Sacramento for its history, culture, museums, and lovely settings such as the State Capitol Christmas Tree. Sacramento is easy to get to and offers many affordable holiday shows, parades and activities.

SAN FRANCISCO: If you don't fall in love with San Francisco in the summer, go back in the winter when you can see not one but several ice skating rinks, numerous off-beat holiday productions from Beach Blanket Babylon to the Dickens Fair and the Golden Girls Christmas. If you're Jewish, no problem. There's a Kung Pao Jewish Christmas Comedy Show.

SAN DIEGO: Balboa Park, Gaslamp, Coronado, Old Town and Mission Bay are but a few ways to celebrate glorious Christmas holidays.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.