SOmewhere warm for New Year's
 

I have a milestone birthday coming up on New Years, and would like to spend it someplace kinda warm--like 50 - 60's--during the day. (I live in the upper midwest, so this would be a novel experience!) My husband would rather not leave the continental US. Does anyone have any suggestions?? We've spent time in Florida, so someplace new would be great. Recommendations on fun New Years events, lodging, restaurants, and other activites would be most appreciated.

Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque do not fit your request, especially at night.

Dunno about Southern New Mexico.

Los Angeles or San Diego. Or the traditional getaway for the famous, Palm Springs.

Recommendations for events, etc. should wait 'til after you decide where to go.

San Diego was the first place that came to my mind.

Tucson or Phoenix/Scottsdale in addition to San Diego.
Southern New Mexico would meet temp requirement usually, not a lot to do there besides hiking/outdoors stuff.

New Orleans, San Antonio, Savannah and Charleston would likely fulfill your temperature requirements also and are all interesting places in US history as well as being enjoyable destinations.

Hi leslie t,
Santa Monica! My daughter took me there early March for my b-day. And if you're looking for above average budget accommodations, check out the Wilshire Motel.
Entertainment and events all around. World-class museums...many of them free. Bergamot Station is a complex of upscale art galleries. And a wide variety of shopping and dining venues...the 3rd Street Promenade and Montana Ave are just a couple.
And if you're interested in tours, definitely go with Malabu Discovery Tours...very different from the typical tourist LA tours driving around looking at celebrity homes. They have a Sunrise Hike iinto the hills overlooking the ocean, Dining and Wine tasting, and their Santa Monica tour, our first afternoon there, was a charming highlight of our trip, introducing us to the history of the city, and many places we returned to for further exploration and relaxation.

One problem with New Orleans at New Years: Sugar Bowl on Jan 2 2014, which will drive hotel rates sky high and fill the streets with drunken college football fans. We love New Orleans and have been there for Christmas (may go again this year) but wouldn't go for New Years.

Also wouldn't trust the weather in N.O., Savannah or Charleston at that time of year. Might be lovely, or might be cold and rainy. New Orleans at Christmas was cold and rainy the year we went.

So, San Diego, L.A., or somewhere else in southern California would be my choice.

On Accuweather, I checked San Diego, historical average temperature from December 25th-31st is 64 degrees F; bizarrely enough, LA is listed as slightly warmer at 68 degrees F. Historical averages for same time period for San Antonio: 62 degrees F, New Orleans and Savannah: both 60 degrees F, and Charleston SC: 57 degrees F. Anyhow, have a blast going South that time of year, wherever you choose!

I vote for Palm Springs or Palm Desert as most likely to be truly warm, and also sunny.

Thanks everyone! Not being a big college football fan, I hadn't thought about planning around bowl games, but that's great advice! I will look into the locatiosn you suggested--Santa Monica sounds great!

Thanks everyone! Not being a big college football fan, I hadn't thought about planning around bowl games, but that's great advice! I will look into the locatiosn you suggested--Santa Monica sounds great!