Okay folks, let’s crack open my travel notebook. See, December rolled in like a frozen monster truck over here, dumping snow and turning my sidewalk into an ice rink. I caught myself staring out the window, daydreaming about palm trees like some cartoon character. That’s when I knew – I had to find some sun, ASAP. Started digging deep online, basically swimming through a flood of “best warm places in the US during December” lists. My mission? Find spots that weren’t just kinda warm, but properly toasty.
The Big Escape Plan
First things first, I grabbed a map – the big paper kind I keep stuffed in a drawer, all wrinkled. Spread it out on the kitchen table, almost knocking over my coffee. Zeroed in on the bottom half of the country. Needed real data, not just vibes. Pulled up historical weather websites, hunting for places reliably hitting 70s or better in December. Key words? Sunshine hours. Dry days. Nobody wants beach weather just to have it pour rain.
My top checklist looked like this:
- Serious sunshine guaranteed (no ifs, ands, or buts)
- Enough warmth to ditch the heavy jacket completely
- Actually fun stuff to do outdoors
- No hidden winter chaos (like spring break-level crowds yet)
Trawled forums and travel blogs – real people complaining about cloudy days or bragging about perfect temps. That stuff’s gold.
Boots on the Ground (Or Sand)
Booked the trip fast before I chickened out. Packing felt weird – throwing shorts and swim trunks into a suitcase while snow piled up outside the window. Felt rebellious.
The Journey Begins: Flew south. Stepping off that plane? Boom. Hit me in the face like a warm, dry hug. Instantly peeled off my layers down to a t-shirt. Best feeling ever after weeks of shivering.
Spot 1: Florida Keys
Landed in Miami, then drove that crazy Overseas Highway – bridges and water everywhere. Found myself in Key West. Pure sunshine battery recharge mode. Wandered Duval Street, ate fish tacos right by the water, caught the wild sunset at Mallory Square with street performers. Temperatures? Mid-70s, feeling hotter in the sun. Perfection. Felt worlds away from home.
Spot 2: Arizona – Desert Vibes
From sea level to desert. Flew into Phoenix. Wow. Different kind of warmth, dry and crisp. Sun blazed down like a spotlight. Hiked Camelback Mountain stupidly early to beat any midday heat – it was chilly starting out! But hit that desert sun, warmed right up. Views were insane. Later, just lounged by the pool. Dry air meant 70s felt amazing. Explored Scottsdale art galleries when too lazy for exertion.
Spot 3: California Dreamin’ – San Diego
Coastal shift again. San Diego delivered that classic Cali chill. Temps held steady in the high 60s/low 70s. Just… pleasant. Spent a whole day at Balboa Park, wandering museums and gardens without breaking a sweat. Walked along the beaches at Coronado, didn’t swim but the sun felt so good. Ate way too many fish tacos (different vibe from Florida!). It wasn’t hot, just gently warm and completely sunny. Easy living.
Spot 4: Deep South Charm – New Orleans
Threw a curveball – humidity! Flew into NOLA. Air felt thicker right away, but warm! December air in the 70s feels different here, not dry like Arizona. Wandered the French Quarter without needing more than a light jacket in the evening. Street music, beignets powdered sugar disaster zone, explored the Garden District under giant oaks. Sunshine all day, with that unique energy NOLA has. Different feel from the others, but absolutely warm.
Spot 5: Hawaiian Bliss – Maui
Okay, this felt like the ultimate cheat code. Saved the longest flight for last. Maui is… well, Maui. Perfect. Snorkeling with turtles in water that didn’t freeze my face off. Sunbathing on beaches where the sand didn’t burn my feet (mid-70s to low 80s). Drove the Road to Hana, windows down, jungle heat radiating. Pure, consistent warmth and sunshine. It kinda spoiled me for everywhere else.
The Wrap-Up: Did My Hunt Work?
Absolutely. Escaped the freezer completely. Found serious sun everywhere I went. Learned:
- Florida Keys: Ultimate sunshine recharge, salty and bright.
- Arizona (Phoenix/Scottsdale): Dry, mountain-framed heat – great for active stuff.
- California (San Diego): Effortless sunny cool, pure coastal ease.
- Louisiana (New Orleans): Warmth with a side of buzzing energy and a humid hug.
- Hawaii (Maui): The gold standard. Consistent, perfect tropical warmth.
Packed away my winter coat. Mission accomplished. If your bones are aching for real sun in December? You can’t go wrong with these five. Just pick your kind of warmth!
