US (Road or Air) Trip Ideas for December
 

My work closes from Christmas - New Years and I would like to utilize that opportunity to do a little travelling. I would like to travel after Christmas up until the 1st but I'm flexible on exact days. I'm a single female travelling from Cincinnati (so ease of airport access and safety need to be kept in mind) but I'm not afraid to road trip and prefer more solitude than big city (and unique airbnbs over chain hotels). I love nature, hiking, national parks, photography and some general R&R (hiking and site sighting during the day and glass of wine and a good book type of evenings). The destination doesn't have to be warm, but I don't want to have to worry about trying to drive through lots of snow. Any ideas or recommendations on either location or a road trip route would be much appreciated!

I'll just convey a trip we took at that time of year a few years ago.

We started in Seattle, but for you I'd recommend starting in San Francisco.

Basically, head down the coast to southern California, using CA Hwy 1 for most of the journey. Stops along the way:

- Henry Cowell or Big Basin State Parks - coast redwood groves; if you haven't seen them you'll be gobsmacked.

- Santa Cruz - Funky college town with a cool oceanfront amusement park (open on weekends.)

- Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel - Amazing aquarium in Monterey, millions of migrating monarch butterflies in Pacific Grove, twee shops and a marvelous old Spanish mission in Carmel.

- Point Lobos State Park - Stunning coastal scenery, lots of wildlife.

- Big Sur coast - Among the most beautiful stretches of coastline in North America.

- Piedras Blancas/San Simeon - Huge elephant seal breeding beach just north of the turnoff to the don't-miss Hearst Castle.

- Santa Barbara - Gorgeous small town (my vote for most beautiful small city in CA) with its magnificent Spanish mission.

Then head inland to Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park. Lots of funky and affordable accommodations and good food in PS, and Joshua Tree is fab. You can drive through the park and see lots from the road, or climb rocks, or hike... many options.

Then back to LA and fly home; alternatively you can leave the car in Palm Springs and fly home from there - United, Delta and American all have one-stop service from PSP to CVG.

Map - https://goo.gl/maps/H5N76Pys62k

Possible timetable (overnight locations) -

25-Dec San Fransisco
26-Dec Monterey peninsula
27-Dec Monterey peninsula
28-Dec San Simeon/Cambria
29-Dec Santa Barbara
30-Dec Palm Springs
31-Dec Palm Springs
1-Jan Fly home

A combination of Portland and the Oregon coast or Seattle and Victoria BC or San Juan islands would work as well.

I've done both and my preference is definitely Seattle with a night or two in Victoria but that is largely because I really don't like to road trip that time of year. But I also like Gardyloo's Southern California option.

I live in Seattle and don't recommend Seattle/Victoria/San Juans at that time of the year because it is so dark and gloomy. On the other hand, a city trip to Victoria or Vancouver at that time is very festive.

There are a lot of mountains in New Mexico and snow, even heavy snow is perfectly possible.

CA is OK as long as you stay away from the mountains (snow again).

FL weather will be OK.

Arizona?

Christmas is a very busy time at airports, but if you can fly on Christmas day you might find it easier to get flights.

Perhaps a flight to Tucson and a bit of time in the southwest.

Santa Fe is pretty magical at that time of year.

Yes, there can be snow, but likely not or not a lot in town.

Fly into ABQ and rent a car for a 60 miles drive north on interstate that is well maintained if there is snow. It is a heavily traveled road,cursed daily by commuters so passage shouldn't be an issue. IF there is snow or you would prefer not to drive, there are shuttles and even the Railrunner (you'd have to time your flight right to use it since it is primarily for commuters so hours of operation is 24/7)

The azure blue skies and bright sunny days seems warmer than what the thermometer shows. There are national parks, hikes, museums, galleries and PHOTO OPS at every corner.

Once in Santa Fe, you can spend time without needing a car though if the weather is good, a day trip or 2 would be fun.

Many non-chain accommodations. Great food, nice "village-like vibe" not big city.

This is old, but can give you an idea...
nytimes.com/2005/12/16/travel/escapes/christmas-in-santa-fe.html

Google "Santa Fe Christmas images" see if you don't agree it's magical.

I also vote for Santa Fe. I've been there in all seasons and the time I was there over Christmas was the best of all. It's a beautiful town, maybe the most beautiful in the US, architecture & setting, though I know that's a subjective judgement. I think you'd have a wonderful time and lots of choices for day trips. I don't think you can go wrong.

Santa Fe is wonderful anytime but it can be hard to find downtown accommodations during the holidays.

Charleston, Savannah, Amelia Island or any one of the three

New Orleans

San Antonio

Santa Fe

Santa Monica

San Diego

Flying on Christmas Day has always been cheaper and less crowded than the day before or after. I don't know when you should return for maximum value.

My last visit to Santa Fe I stayed in an Airbnb room not far from the center. It was budget-friendly, charming and I could have walked into town if I'd found parking difficult, which I didn't (though it wasn't a holiday).

I just had a look on Airbnb for rooms under $100 and there are a number. I may convince myself to go soon, too!

What fantastic responses and ideas. Thank you all ... I'm definitely going to do some more research on a potential Santa Fe trip!

I had thought about Seattle only to explore Olympic NP, but Kathie you think it would be pretty dreary??

Gardyloo - I also loved your itinerary. A few questions ... should I have any concern about driving this route in late December? I thought I read somewhere that Hwy 1 could be a little dicey in winter. Also do you know approximately how long the total drive is in hours?

<i>I also loved your itinerary. A few questions ... should I have any concern about driving this route in late December? I thought I read somewhere that Hwy 1 could be a little dicey in winter. Also do you know approximately how long the total drive is in hours?</i>

I wouldn't be worried myself. The point-to-point times shown by Google in the map I made look to be pretty accurate; the longest single day would be the one from Santa Barbara to Palm Springs, which might or might not be slower depending on traffic through the LA area.

Regarding weather, well it IS winter, so sure, it can be rainy. Usually (famous last words) if it does rain it's just for a day. The only stretch of highway on my map that might give pause in poor weather would be the Big Sur coast between Monterey/Carmel and San Simeon, and although it would be a shame, you could bypass that stretch of CA 1 by heading to Salinas and down US 101 to San Luis Obispo, then - if you wanted - double back north on CA 1 to San Simeon. (Hwy 1 flattens out south of San Simeon and is freeway by the time you get to San Luis Obispo.)

But here are some pictures I've taken in January or early February (so pretty comparable) along this drive, just to show what it's like <i>most</i> of the time...

Monterey aquarium - http://gardyloo.us/0118-6a.JPG
Migrating monarch butterflies, Pacific Grove - http://gardyloo.us/20130124_187a.JPG
Big Sur coast - http://gardyloo.us/20130119_61H1a.jpg
Elephant seals, Piedras Blancas - http://gardyloo.us/20130119_90a.JPG
Refugio Beach, north of Santa Barbara - http://gardyloo.us/20110203_1a.JPG
Mission Santa Barbara (1820) - http://gardyloo.us/20110205_8a.JPG
Joshua Tree NP - http://gardyloo.us/20110205_55a.JPG

Ahhhh...Highway 1 or Santa Fe-- a true dilemma!

While Santa Fe may be colder, it will likely be drier, less than 1" average precipitation, much more pleasant, I think, than potentially soggy on the coast (7"-8" if we're lucky).

Another thing, I love the particular smell of fires from Santa Fe homes and hotels in the winter. Some hotels have fireplaces in the guestrooms.

Another thing, I love the particular smell of fires from Santa Fe homes and hotels in the winter. Some hotels have fireplaces in the guestrooms.
----
That's pinon wood burning.

Yes, DebitNM, distinctive and wonderful. Worth going to Santa Fe just for that (I kid you not). When I think of winter in northern NM that's what I'm thinking.

Not surprisingly (b/c CVG is the worst...) there are not any easy/cheap flights from Cincinnati to Santa Fe ... are there any other major airports that might be a fun road trip that either starts, begins or goes through Santa Fe?

When I fly to Santa Fe, I go into Albuquerque.

See Debit NM answer above. I think the train idea from Albuquerque to Santa Fe is super.