When I was writing my column this week, I had a lot of difficulty coming up with a recommendation for Christi, who was trying to set up a family vacation for the pre-holiday period this year for her family. They want a warm destination with a beach and possibilities for bike-riding, but they don't want to go to Hawaii, which would have been my recommendation. My second recommendation would probably have been Puerto Vallarta, though the opportunities for bike-riding are limited down there. However, I decided that if Hawaii was out, PV was probably out as well since it's about as far in terms of travel time.

Here's a link to what I said: http://www.fodors.com/news/story_3348.html.

I recommended either Napa Valley or San Diego. I think San Diego is probably better suited, but when you rule out Hawaii, what does that leave you with as a beachy destination on the west coast? Even LA can be rainy during the hoilday period (though usually not until January). I'd welcome some additional suggestions, and I think Christi would, too.

www.hoteldel.com best bet in the US

www.cabo.com further down the west coast in Mexico...

Even warmer...

Don't feel bad that you're striking out, Doug. I know of few Portland area residents, self included, who aren't dreaming of a warm, beach destination at that time of year. ;-) In my experience, though, you have to go at least as far as the Baja Peninsula to find one.

Baja is not that warm in December, nor is the water warm enough for swimming. You need to be farther south, or in Hawaii.

Agree with Marginal. Southern California MIGHT have nice weather that time of year, but beachy-warm? Not likely.

I agree with my fellow Oregonian, Beachbum. Warm and near Portland is just not something you will find. We have spent quite a few holidays down in San Diego visiting family, and while it was better weather than here, it definitely was not warm. But as mentioned also, the Del is a great hotel and we have stayed there quite a bit. Only once in Dec. was it warm enough to even swim and hang out at the pool.

Lots of people want things that simply don't exist; this request is one of them.

And sorry but Puerto Vallarta is NOT a good destination for bike riding, no way no how!

Yeah, Hawaii would have been my choice, too. Five hour direct flight from Portland, same country, so no customs to clear, no currency change. What's the problem with that?

Hi Doug. We've lived in the PNW for 20 years - first Portland and now Seattle. Hawaii would be my first choice for bicycling and warm weather in Dec. If they don't want to fly that far, they can take their chances on San Diego. I met friends in the Phoenix area one winter and we had a grand time - nice weather.

We've discovered vacationing closer to home is just fine in December. We like going to Victoria or Vancouver over the holidays. Sometimes the weather is suprisingly good in Victoria, as it is in the "rain shadow" of the Olympics. Some years, one can bike during the holidays. This year, it snowed....We still had a great time. It helps to get used to the rain and find things to do in it. Sad but true.

Well, there is no beach but there is sand there....Palm Springs area! It is usually much warmer there than the coast.

Palm Springs or Death Valley would be nice but Hawaii really would be their best bet.

I live in the Napa Valley and we actually had great weather last year just before Christmas. It was even beach weather. But, this was highly unusual. December is usually very wet.

We used to go to San Diego at Christmas and almost always found it very nice. LA too but we liked SD better.

Other than that, Florida or the Caribbean would be our first choices other than Hawaii.

Palm Springs can be nice, but it's not "beach weather" - more like 70 degrees average in December.

We loved our anniversary in December in Southern CA at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego and The Montage Resort in Laguna Beach. We had very nice, warm weather and were tanning at the beach mid-morning. If the Montage is too pricey, we also enjoyed a stay at the Laguna Reef, a Best Western property this past 4th of July with our family, this is a gorgeous area of the Southern CA coast. ***kim***