(Updated for 2023!) Northern California may not be the first place that pops into your head for winter travel, but winter is actually a great time to visit. The weather can be very nice, especially on the coast where the it tends to be sunny and mild — nicer than in spring or summer! The holiday spirit is out in full force but the crowds tend to be thin until the last week of the month. If you’re thinking about visiting Northern California in December, I think you’ll love it! Here are my picks for what to do in Northern California in December plus some tips for visiting in winter:
Check out all my California Travel Tips or these articles:
- Best Things to Do in Northern California in December 2022
- 30 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 is the weather like in Northern California in December?
The rainy season starts in November, so it is possible to have cold, rainy days in any part of California in December. But when it’s not raining, you can expect temperatures in the upper 50s or 60s in most places. The coast, which is usually socked in fog in the summer, is often clear and beautiful in winter. In the Sierra Nevada (think Lake Tahoe and Yosemite), it can be quite cold and snowy in December, which is great for snowshoeing and skiing if it’s a good snow year.
Is Northern California crowded in December?
In most places, no. One of my favorite areas to visit in the winter is the wine country, even Napa Valley — you can expect fewer people, lower prices, and more attention from winery staff at that time of year. But if you can come a bit later, in January through spring, please do because the yellow mustard flowers that bloom in late winter make the wine country so beautiful.
San Francisco is busy during Winter Break, the week between Christmas and New Year, as well as just before Christmas when people come to see the holiday decorations.
What to do in Northern California in December:
Mushroom Hunting w/ the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
This event can be done from the safety of your home and/or on site in Mendocino. The two parts include a virtual mushroom ID’ing workshop held online and an optional guided walk through the gardens with a mycologist. Plus, the botanical gardens are a must-visit, so this might be a good excuse to go there!
Where: Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden
Cost: $40
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.
Bodega Head in Bodega Bay is another good choice, and like at Pt. Reyes, there are volunteers who can answer your whale watching questions. Tours to see whales closer up can be taken in the Mendocino, SF and Monterey areas.
Where: anywhere along the coast, but places that are high up afford the best views, and Point Reyes is known for its whale watching because the peninsula sticks so far out in the sea
When: generally December through early March
Cost: nothing, unless you book a whale watching boat tour
More info here
Read more: All my California travel tips
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 $60, the passport gives you tastings at 15 wineries in the Calistoga area of Napa Valley. It also allows you to access 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. And the area was once again hit hard by fire this fall, so this would be a great way to support the region!
Where: Calistoga, the northernmost town in Napa Valley (I love it there!)
When: December through early February
Cost: about $75 for the passport
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.
More info here.
Where: Downtown Napa (walkable and free parking!)
When: Various dates in December
Cost: Free + the cost of anything you choose to purchase
See elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park, south of San Francisco
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, it is to mate. It is then that you can see the most exciting event at the park: the huge males (up to 2.5 tons!) display their fight for dominance. They bang their chests against one another, sometimes with bloody consequences. Lots more information here: “Where to See Elephant Seals in California”
Where: Año Nuevo State Park, north of Santa Cruz
When: Guided tours daily starting December 15 (note the park is closed December 1-14 to give the seals extra protection during part of the mating season)
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. More info here.
Where: Various locations throughout San Francisco
When: Through early January
Cost: Free
Sutter Creek Christmas Open House
Sutter Creek, a quaint Gold Country town in the foothills east of Sacramento, celebrates the holiday season with its Christmas Open House. Expect lots of decorations, special sales and incentives, and shops staying open late. Note that there’s good food and wine tasting in town, too! More details here.
Where: Sutter Creek downtown
When: early December 2 & 3
Cost: Free
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
12 Days of Christmas at Cornerstone Sonoma, northeast of San Francisco
An annual tradition of holiday celebration continues at beautiful Cornerstone Sonoma In past years there is a Snowman Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, a giant gingerbread light house, garden light walk, pictures with Santa, horse trolley rides, cocktail party & game night, cooking classes, free children’s events, boutique trunk shows, and a French circus. Get more details here. While you’re there, stop for a meal at Folktable.
Where: Cornerstone Sonoma, just south of the town of Sonoma
When: Various dates in December
Cost: $0-75 depending on which event you attend
Where to see the best Christmas decorations in Northern California:
Along the central coast, Carmel is my favorite place in the holiday season because the whole village is decorated, making it even more charming than it already is.
Sacramento is known for its Christmas decorations in the Fabulous 40s neighborhood of East Sac.
Union Square in San Francisco is all decked out for the holidays with a huge lighted Christmas tree, decorations filling the windows of Macy’s, and an ice rink in the center of the square. Stop in Neiman Marcus to see its Christmas tree in the store’s Beaux-Arts style rotunda and in the Westin St. Francis to see its Sugar Castle and the St. Francis Enchanted Castle. Find out more about where to see holiday decorations and Christmas trees in San Francisco here. While there will not be lighting ceremonies, you can visit the lighted trees in both Union Square and Pier 39.
Northstar Ski Resort at Lake Tahoe is always fun at the holidays. It typically has special holiday nights leading up to Christmas with horse-drawn sleigh rides, ornament decorating, fancy s’mores, ice skating, and photos with Santa. See more here.
The town of Napa is one of my favorite places at any time of year, but the Christmas tree, lighted art tour, and carriage rides in December make it a fun place for families to get in the holiday spirit. See more here.
Nevada City features Victorian Christmas celebrations on Wednesday and Sundays in December. Besides the fun events, expect decorations in the old town’s small shops and on the historic buildings on its main street. See more here.
And Redding has a lighted Christmas parade in early December.
What suggestions do you have for what to do in Northern California in December?
It’s always a joy visiting your blog! Will recommend North California to my friends in USA. 🙂
Thank you, Renuka!
Northern California seems like a picturesque travel destination, Jenna. Plus, visiting it in December seems like a great idea. How many days would you recommend staying there?
It’s such a big region. I would say a couple of weeks at the least, but if you focus on one area (for example, Mt. Shasta, Lake Tahoe, Mendocino or San Francisco Bay Area), you could stay for 3-4 days in each area.