Updated for Northern California December 2023: Winter is an amazing time to be in Northern California! There may be the occasional rainy day, but there are plenty of sunny days perfect for exploring. The holiday spirit can be felt everywhere, and there are still beautiful fall colors in early December. In my opinion, these are the best things to do in Northern California in December.
Check out all my California Travel Tips or these articles:
- Favorite Things to Do in Northern CA
- What to do in Napa Valley
- What to do in the Monterey Bay area
- What to do in Lake Tahoe
- What to do in San Francisco
- What to do in Sacramento
- What to do in Sonoma County
- What to do in Mendocino County
- What to do in Lodi
- Free things to do in Northern California
- Affordable family travel ideas in Northern California
What to do in Northern California, December 2023:
Mushroom Hunting w/ the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Monday Mushroom Walks every week through December at the beautiful Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, home to more than 160 species of wild mushrooms in fall and winter! A fun opportunity to learn about mycology with Naturalist and Mycologist, Mario Abreu. Plus, the botanical gardens are a must-visit, so this might be a good excuse to go there!
Where: Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
When: Every Monday through December 18
Cost: $20
More info here
Check out my recommendations for what to do near Mendocino.
Whale watching! North of San Francisco
Every year approximately 20,000 gray whales make the 6,000-mile migration journey between Alaska and Mexico and back. Winter is a perfect time to see migrating whales off the shore of California. Visit Point Reyes National Seashore and hang out at the tip (where the lighthouse is) for the best whale views.
The beautiful Bodega Head in Bodega Bay is another good choice, and like at Pt. Reyes, volunteers are present to let you know how many whales have been spotted that day and answer your whale watching questions. Whale watching tours can be taken in the Mendocino, San Francisco, and Monterey areas.
Where: Anywhere along the coast especially places that are high up for the best views. Point Reyes is known for its whale watching because the peninsula sticks far out into the sea.
When: generally December through early March
Cost: Free unless you book a whale watching boat tour
More info here
Read more: All my California travel tips
Go snowshoeing!
The Sierra Nevada mountains usually get a good amount of fresh snow in December, making it the perfect time to go snowshoeing. If you head for the Tahoe area, you can rent snowshoes in Truckee and snowshoe at the nearby Donner Lake Memorial State Park or rent snowshoes in South Lake Tahoe and snowshoe at Camp Richardson, one of the beaches farther down Hwy 89, or on the west shore at Sugar Pine Point State Park. Wherever you go, it will be beautiful!
Cost: Day use fee at parks ($10) and cost of renting snowshoes
Read more: A winter day trip to Donner Lake
Winter in the Wineries Passport, Napa Valley
If you want to experience Napa Valley wine country, the Winter in the Wineries Passport is a very good way to do it. Priced at just $75, the passport gives you tastings at 15 wineries in the Calistoga area and access to discounted lodging in the area. Good through early February of next year.
If you’ve been thinking of visiting Napa, winter is a great time to do so — winter there means few crowds, beautiful color from fall leaves and yellow mustard in the vineyards, and low season prices.
Where: Calistoga, the northernmost town in Napa Valley
When: Dec. 2, 2023 – February 4, 2024
Cost: $75 for the passport
And in another part of Napa Valley: Bright Nights at Cuvaison
At this beautiful winery, the holiday spirit is displayed after the sun goes down and the vineyard sparkles with thousands of twinkling lights. Gather with a glass of their estate-grown wine or choose a wine tasting experience; better yet, come on Fridays when there’s live music! The $10 deposit is refunded upon arrival. Tickets and info here.
Where: Cuvaison Estate Winery, Los Carneros, Napa Valley
When: Every Friday and Saturday evening 4-6 pm through Dec. 22
Cost: $50 which includes wine tasting paired with cheeses
See here for other holiday events in Napa Valley
Festival of Lights at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Every year the botanical gardens transform into an amazing show of inventive light displays in glittering color. The Annual Festival of Lights will run rain or shine . We can’t wait to share more festive cheer and inventive light displays with you! Advance purchase of tickets is required as some evenings may sell out.
Where: Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
When: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening 5-7 pm from November 24 through December 17
Cost: $10 (kids 16 and under free)
More info here
See elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park, south of San Francisco
Highly recommended! This is one of the best places anywhere to see elephant seals in the wild. They come here at various times of the year for different purposes, but in December, they are here to mate. The huge males, which weigh up to 2.5 tons, display their fight for dominance by banging their chests against one another, sometimes with bloody consequences. The guided tour is 3-4 miles long and takes about 2 1/2 hours. Read “Where to See Elephant Seals in California” for more info about this amazing place.
Where: Año Nuevo State Park, north of Santa Cruz
When: Guided tours daily starting December 15 (the park is closed December 1-14 to give the seals extra protection during part of the mating season). Closed Dec. 25.
Cost: $7 per person for the guided tour, and children under 3 are free. It’s highly recommended to make reservations in advance because tours are limited to 20 people. Tickets go on sale on Oct. 20th and can be purchased up to 56 days in advance. If you do not make a reservation at least one day before arriving, you can try to buy any unused tickets sold each day on a first-come, first-served basis. Find out more here.
Illuminate SF Festival of Light
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The Illuminate SF Festival of Light comprises 44 eco-friendly light art installations created by local and world renowned light artists. Some are illuminated buildings and outdoor sculptures, others are indoor installations.
Where: Various locations throughout San Francisco
When: Through January 1, 2023
Cost: Free
Downtown Napa at the holidays, Napa Valley
Typically, there are many fun events happening in charming Downtown Napa in December, starting with the Christmas tree lighting ceremony and parade in late November. December continues with holiday lights and decorations downtown, holiday tea celebrations, a Charles Dickens Christmas, and an ice skating rink. Nearby Sonoma has several holiday events and a beautifully decorated town square plaza.
More info on current events here.
Where: Downtown Napa (walkable and free parking!)
When: Various dates in December
Cost: Free + the cost of anything you choose to purchase
Visit the California Railroad Museum, Sacramento
The California State Railroad Museum is a fun family visit at any time of the year, but it’s extra special in the holiday season. A huge Christmas tree fills the entry, trains are decorated with wreaths and garlands, and the interactive train sets upstairs are decorated for winter, too. And if you’re lucky, you can get a ticket to ride the Polar Express train that goes along the Sacramento River in the evenings. After visiting the museum, stroll the streets of Old Sac and see the lights and Christmas decorations on the old buildings.
Where: Old Sacramento State Historic Park, Sacramento
When: Through the New Year, open daily 10-5
Cost: $12 for adults, $6 for kids 6 and over for museum entry.
Christmas Events at Cornerstone Sonoma, northeast of San Francisco
An annual tradition of holiday celebration continues at beautiful Cornerstone Sonoma with a wreath making class and Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 2 and ongoing shows of the Cirque Boheme (a French circus). Past events used to include pictures in front of a giant gingerbread light house, garden light walk, pictures with Santa, horse trolley rides, cocktail party & game night, cooking classes, free children’s events although I don’t see those listed this year. Get more details here.
While you’re there, eat at Folktable, the sleek yet cozy Michelin-recognized restaurant at Cornerstone.
Where: Cornerstone Sonoma, just south of the town of Sonoma
When: Various dates in December
Cost: $0-75 depending on which event you attend
Christmas in Columbia State Historic Park
During the holiday season, there are many fun things to do at Columbia State Historic Park, which is such a fun place to visit at any time of year! In this preserved gold rush town, you can watch the Christmas equestrian parade, see confectioners make giant candy canes, and can enjoy a Nativity procession. If you haven’t been to this great place to travel with kids in California, I highly recommend it!
Where: Columbia State Historic Park in the Gold Country southeast of Sacramento
When: Various dates in December
Cost: Most events are free
Northern California must be beautiful this time of year! I’d love to get back to Cali sometime soon.