Photo Credit: Krista

Christmas is in the air! It’s the end of November and Thanksgiving 2015 is a cherished memory. Now it’s time to turn our attention to the upcoming winter holidays. Just because San Diego doesn’t typically experience winter-like weather doesn’t mean the city by the bay doesn’t go “all out” to celebrate the holiday season. Here are a few ideas of how you can enjoy some special Christmas and holiday memories in San Diego:

Holiday Décor:

Holiday Lights on Garrison Street (Point Loma) – Located in Point Loma near Nimitz Blvd. and off Chatsworth Blvd., the homes at the north end of Garrison Street transform each year into a winter wonderland with elaborate displays of lights, window decorations, music, and animated features. If possible, park and walk to admire the displays – walk down one side of Garrison Street and then cross over and walk up the other side. Some of the homes have hot beverages and treats available as fund raisers.

Hotel Del Coronado (DELights) – The Del in Coronado has a long-standing tradition of festive and elaborate decorations for Christmas. In 1904, the Del made history with America’s first outdoor Christmas tree lit with electric lights. This year, the Del is adding a new feature to its holiday events with DELights – the Garden Patio has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Be sure you also check out the glorious Christmas tree in the Hotel Del’s main lobby.

Trolley Tours (“The Holly Jolly Old Town Trolley” Special Holiday Lights Tour) – According to the website, on this 90 minute tour guests of all ages will celebrate in the sights, songs, and traditions of the holiday season. You’ll join in sing-a-long caroling with the conductors, hear fun holiday facts, and learn about the history and traditions of the holidays. In addition, you’ll see the festive lights of Old Town, the Embarcadero, Balboa Park, Garrison Street and more all from the special Old Town Trolley tour. See additional details and make online reservations on the Trolley Tours website.

Special Events:

December Nights at Balboa Park (Dec. 4^th & 5^th) – This annual event transforms Balboa Park into a premier winter festival complete with decorations, music, entertainment, food, and access to many of the museums. Be sure to check the official Balboa Park website for all of the details for December Nights such as times, parking, entertainment schedule, and more. We visited this event in 2013 on Friday evening and it was a fun time. We decided to park on the west side of Balboa Park (in the neighborhoods off Park Blvd.) and walked across the Laurel Street Bridge to the Prado area. Attending this event is free and many of the museums are open late and are free to visit. It was fun to see Balboa Park transformed to a winter festival and we visited the Air & Space Museum.

Jungle Bells at San Diego Zoo (Dec. 12^th – Jan. 3^rd) – Visit the animals at the zoo during the day and stay after dark to see “Jungle Bells”. There are larger than life 2-D animals created out of holiday lights which you can view on a special trip aboard a tractor-pulled cart. Jungle Bells also features special holiday music and entertainment. Zoo admission is required to attend this event at the San Diego Zoo.

San Diego Bay Parade of Lights (Sun., Dec. 13, 2015 and Sun., Dec. 20, 2015) – For two different nights, the San Diego Bay features a parade of more than 80 decorated boats cruising along from Shelter Island past Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport  Village, and finally Ferry Landing in Coronado. There are many free places to view the Parade of Lights as well as special ticketed viewing opportunities aboard the USS Midway. The theme for 2015 is “Christmas around the World”.

Sea World’s Christmas Celebration: Wintery Wonderland (Nov. 21^st – Jan. 3^rd) – Sea World is “Where the Season Meets the Sea” complete with a Santa’s Village and special holiday themed entertainment. At Santa’s Village you can see some reindeer and play some games. The pets, dolphins, and sea lions all have special Christmas and holiday-themed shows. We visited Sea World this past week and enjoyed visiting Santa’s Village and seeing the pets show. The polar bears are “denning” right now so you may not see them swimming and playing right now. Also, the penguins follow the Antarctic winter sun schedule which means their habitat may be dark when you visit. Sea World admission is required to visit.

LEGOLAND’s Holiday Snow Days + Winter Nights (Nov. 21^st – Jan. 3^rd) – If your little ones have never experienced snow, and you don’t feel like driving to the local mountains, a visit to LEGOLAND during Snow Days is a fun way to play in the snow. Special entertainment is held throughout the day and into the night. Check the official website for details and admission information. LEGOLAND admission is required to visit.

Holiday Wonderland at Petco Park (12 nights – Dec. 4^th – 23^rd) – Back again for 2015 is the Holiday Wonderland at Petco Park. Walk through magical displays. Ride the Polar Express. Visit Santa Claus. Gather around a 40’ Christmas tree. Tickets are night specific and can be purchased on the Holiday Wonderland website. Additional “Experience Enhancements” are available and parking can be pre-purchased online. A special “Red Bow Package” includes a limited edition Padres-themed Elf on the Shelf.

Rudy the Reindeer playing some reindeer games at Sea World’s Santa’s Village. Photo Credit: Krista

Ice Skating (outdoors):

Skating by the Sea at Hotel Del Coronado (Nov. 26^th – Jan. 7^th) – A magical experience is ice skating by the sea alongside the beautiful and historic Hotel Del Coronado. The proceeds benefit Make-a-Wish Foundation. Check the Del website or follow the Del on Twitter for the skating schedule.

Fantasy on Ice at Liberty Station (Nov. 19^th – Jan. 3^rd) – Another place to ice skate outdoors is at NTC Liberty Station, located in Point Loma. The proceeds benefit Rady’s Children’s Hospital. The rink is located behind the NTC Liberty Station Command Center at 2640 Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego, CA 92106. Be sure to check the Fantasy on Ice website for the skating schedule.

Fantasy on Ice at NTC Liberty Station – Point Loma | Photo Credit: Krista

Visiting Santa:

Most of the local San Diego shopping malls have a place where you and your family can visit Santa Claus, tell him your wish list, and take a photo.

Seaport Village has a “traditional” Santa you can visit daily, but on the last Saturday of November each year a special Surfin’ Santa makes a brief visit just for one day. This year Surfin’ Santa made his appearance on Nov. 28^th and it was quite an experience! He arrived at Seaport Village near the Pier Café via boat and then rode in a red vintage Corvette to the West Plaza Fountain area where he posed for pictures on his surfboard until 5:00 p.m. The Surfin’ Santa only makes an appearance once a year – if you’re able to see the Surfin’ Santa next year, be sure to do so!

Surfin’ Santa made his annual appearance on November 28, 2015 at Seaport Village. Photo Credits: Krista

Many of the events and activities I’ve mentioned on this post are ones I have either experienced or plan to do with my family. If you want to see even more ideas for December events in San Diego, check out this post: “Top 30 December Events in San Diego”.

It’s officially Christmas time! Tis the season of giving and sharing special times with family and friends. What are some of your favorite holiday related activities in San Diego?

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”