5 Beautiful Cities For Cheap Vacations In California This Winter
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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Want to escape to California without emptying your savings? Skip the tourist traps and go for the gems that aren’t popularly publicized.
Here are five local cities in California that are worth the winter vacation and give you that Golden State magic at half the price.
Solvang
This little slice of Denmark in Santa Barbara wine country feels like you’ve stumbled into a European village. The streets are lined with windmills, bakeries smell like fresh pastries, and wine tasting rooms are everywhere.
A family of four can do a week here for around $2,100 in January — that’s $900 for a cozy hotel, about $100 a day for meals — (try the Danish pancakes!), and plenty left over for activities. Pro tip: lots of wineries offer free tastings in winter.
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Paso Robles
Ever soaked in a hot spring surrounded by vineyards? That’s Paso Robles for you. This central coast gem is wine country without the Napa attitude or prices. A week here runs about $2,400 for a family in winter. Hotels go for around $1,000, meals another $800, and activities like hot springs visits won’t break the bank. The best part? Winter means you’ll have many of those 200-plus wineries practically to yourself.
South Lake Tahoe
Here’s a secret: Tahoe’s stunning in early winter and late season, when prices drop but the views don’t. Skip Christmas week and come in early December or late February. You can do a week for $2,800 — that’s $1,200 for lodging, $900 for food, and plenty left for activities. The hiking’s still great, the scenic drives are actually better with less traffic, and you might catch some sweet off-peak ski deals.
Oceanside
While everyone else fights for hotel rooms in San Diego, smart travelers head to Oceanside. This laid-back military town has the same great beaches, plus a historic pier and the coolest little surf museum you’ve ever heard of. A family can swing a week here for $2,300 — figure $1,100 for a hotel, $700 for food and $500 for fun stuff like surf lessons.
Eureka
Up in Northern California, Eureka feels like a movie set with its Victorian mansions and working port. It’s your base for seeing the redwoods without paying Big Sur prices. A week here runs about $2,000 total — hotels are a steal at $800, food’s reasonable at $700, and you’re right next to Redwood National Park. Winter bonus: the moody coastline makes for amazing photos.
The smart move? Travel mid-week if you can, grab a place with a kitchen to cook some meals, and check out free days at local museums. State parks are always a win for cheap family fun. Just remember — prices can swing based on when you book and how fancy you want to get. But that’s the beauty of these spots, you don’t need to get fancy to have a great time.
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