Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario ranks 27 out of 37 among Best Warm Winter Holiday Destinations

When  you think of winter holiday destinations, do you think cold weather, snow skiing and hot cocoa or sun-soaked beaches, surfing and umbrella drinks?

If you’re looking for a warm weather destination, San Diego and San Francisco top the list.

San Diego is on the Pacific coast of California known for its beaches, parks and warm climate. Immense Balboa Park is the site of the renowned San Diego Zoo, as well as numerous art galleries, artist studios, museums and gardens. A deep harbor is home to a large active naval fleet, with the USS Midway, an aircraft-carrier-turned-museum, open to the public.

A popular tourist destination, San Francisco is known for its cool summers, fog, steep rolling hills, eclectic mix of architecture, and landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, the former Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, Fisherman’s Wharf, and its Chinatown district.

Ahead of what could be one of the coldest winters in years with lots of precipitation, according to the latest forecast from the Old Farmer’s Almanac, WalletHub today released its 2021’s Best Winter Holiday Destinations report.

Focusing on cost and convenience rather than scenic beauty, WalletHub compared nearly 70 of the largest U.S. metro areas grouped by warm and cold weather. Each destination was analyzed based on 39 key metrics, primarily the expense and hassle of traveling to each location but also on other indicators, such as weather forecasts, safety and variety of activities.

Here’s a quick glimpse at some of the report’s most interesting findings:

Best Cold Destinations for Winter Travel
1. Atlanta, GA
2. Washington, DC
3. New York, NY
4. St. Louis, MO
5. Albuquerque, NM
6. Chicago, IL
7. Denver, CO
8. Cincinnati, OH
9. Kansas City, MO
10. Boston, MA

Best Warm Destinations for Winter Travel
1. Austin, TX
2. Las Vegas, NV
3. San Diego, CA
4. Dallas, TX
5. Houston, TX
6. San Antonio, TX
7. Phoenix, AZ
8. San Francisco, CA
9. Tampa, FL
10. Orlando, FL

Best vs. Worst

  • The average flight to a popular cold winter destination costs $359.92, lasts 3 hours and 19 minutes and has 0.22 connections. In comparison, the average flight to a popular warm winter destination costs $458.43, lasts 5 hours and 35 minutes and has 0.48 connections.
  • Among cold destinations, Louisville, Kentucky, has the lowest price for a three-star hotel room, $43, which is 2.8 times lower than Worcester, Massachusetts, the city with the highest at $119.
  • Among warm destinations, Augusta, Georgia, has the lowest price for a three-star hotel room, $43, which is 3.9 times lower than Honolulu, the city with the highest at $168.
  • Among cold destinations, Chicago has the most restaurants (per square root of population), 6.052004, which is 6.3 times more than in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the city with the fewest at 0.964293.
  • Among warm destinations, Orlando has the most restaurants (per square root of population), 7.246160, which is 28.7 times more than in Deltona, Florida, the city with the fewest at 0.252768.

To view the full report and your metro area’s rank, click here.  

Image Sources

  • San Diego tree ornament: Shutterstock