newmarket2

I've got travel credits with Southwest which I have to use in the next 2 months.
I don't want to change planes and I don't want to go where it's cold.
I'm looking for personal opinions and reasons so I can see if they apply to me.
Which of these should I consider or reject?
....to help you understand my interests.....
Houston seems to have the best museum
San Diego seems to have a ton of gardens, the zoo and other sites all in one location.
Tucson is really warm and relaxing and there might be a spa there that doesn't cost a fortune.
I should go to Dallas at some point....I'm an American culturist and it's an important city.

PaulRabe

Dallas CAN get cold during the winter. Its average high in December is 58F, and 57F in January -- both mild temps for that time of year; but, remember, those are AVERAGE highs. It's the one city where bad winter weather is the MOST possible. If Houston does happen to have bad weather bad (again, it CAN happen), then weather in Dallas will definitely be worse.

For comparison:
San Diego -- 65F, both months.
Tuscon -- 65F & 64F.
Houston -- 65F & 63F.

The main reason I would recommend San Diego is because it has a beautiful beach (although winter is bit cold for swimming) AND some nice mountain areas nearby. Thus, no matter what mood you happen to wake up to, San Diego should have it.

One more thing to consider: winter is high season for Tucson, but (for some reason I can't figure out) low season for San Diego.

Just my two cents.

HappyTrvlr

Tucson is surrounded by mountains and is at a higher altitude than Phoenix. December and January are nice but not warm. Night time temps drop quite a bit. Just want you to be aware of temperatures that can be cool. It jeans and long sleeve weather, maybe a fleece jacket.

jayne1973

I would pick either Tucson or San Diego for weather reasons.

Dallas weather can be dicey from November through March, really.
Houston might be OK weather wise, but it is sprawling and kind of a hassle to get around.

newmarket2

I'm pretty much leaning to San Diego at this point.
It's Pacific (in all senses of the word) - and in Santa Fe we have no water - so an ocean will be very nice.
My research indicates that there are a LOT of San Diego's top attractions in or very near Balboa Park.
Is my thinking sound?
And, oh yes, is there any way to watch the Top Guns take off and land from Miramar? That would be awesome!

dulciusexasperis

Do you plan to rent a car? You don't say.

I'd say you need one unless you plan to visit only a very small area of any of those choices.

With a car I would pick San Diego hands down. Besides Balboa Park, you coul day trip to Coronado, La Jolla/Delmar, Idelwild and even as far as Borrego Springs in the desert although that one would be better as an overnight.

You can theoretically swim/surf in the ocean, ski in the mountains and hike in the desert, all in one day. Or just do one each day if you don't want to set a new land speed record. ;-)

volcanogirl

Houston and Dallas could be very chilly. Better to go in March or April. I'd go with San Diego.

HappyTrvlr

I love San Diego but check weather statistics. Rainy season?

lcuy

You can watch Navy planes take off and land (or practice touch & goes) on North Island NAS right from North Beach in Coronado. If the pilots are looking, you can practically see their facial expressions.

Between Balboa Park (many museums, the SD Zoo), North Park, the Waterfront (Star Of India and other historic ships & ferries), Little Italy, the Gaslamp district, Coronado (ferries across the bay from the waterfront, The Hotel del Coronado, great bike rides, and fun walks), you could have a nice visit within about a 3 mile circle.

Low season for tourism (except Christmas week) and the odds are good for nice weather too.

BigRuss

Do you plan to rent a car? You don't say.

You need a car, period.

Go to SD. I think rainy season in SD is a drought situation in London.

dulciusexasperis

HappyTrvlr mentions rain and lcuy suggests the 'odds are good for nice weather'. Both are correct.

I once spent Xmas at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel. On Boxing day it was raining and the forecast was for a week of possible rain. So we checked out and caught a flight to Tahiti and spent the week (including a great New Year's Eve party) on a Windstar ship.

If we had been on a tighter budget, good weather would probably have been found simply by driving to Borrego Springs (that I mentioned above)in the desert.
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxcli...ly/graph/92004

The key is to remain flexible. San Diego is somewhat unique in how easily you can move from one area of weather to another thanks to the mountains that divide the coast from the desert inland.

jayne1973

Let's face it, weather is always a crap shoot!

Goldens

There is so much to see and do in San Diego.
You can also visit the bar where scenes for Top Gun were filmed. It's called Kansas City Barbeque.

starrs

I would pick San Diego for a fall/winter trip.

I'd add Austin TX in consideration.

jayne1973

Oh and by the way Southwest also now flies to Key West.