Folks who find themselves away from their families and stationary homes can enjoy the charms of the season in numerous ways.
By Pat Jennette, F505807
November 2022
RVers who travel during the winter find unique ways to celebrate the holidays. We, too, have learned that discovering new places and experiences can make holidays meaningful even without family and loved ones nearby.
Ocean breezes beckon at South Carlsbad State Beach in Carlsbad, California.
Technology has made it easier to share the holidays with family while on the road. We’ve baked cookies with our grandson over a Zoom video call, helped our daughter and her husband prepare their first-ever turkey and stuffing via Facebook video, and attended online Christmas Eve services with our favorite church.
Our first Thanksgiving away from home was at South Carlsbad State Beach in California, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Who knew that Californians reserve sites months in advance to celebrate this holiday outdoors? Sunshine and sea spray mixed with smells of turkeys in outdoor roasters, and tables set in festive array, permeated the campground. Among shared campsites, families gathered around multiple tables filled with plates and casseroles of delicious fare.
We assembled our own meal, a small turkey roast that fit in our RV oven and our favorite side dishes from our holidays past. Yes, it’s a challenge cooking a holiday meal on a three-burner RV stove and in a small oven! Even so, we enjoyed the different experience. We decorated our picnic table in keeping with the holiday theme, uncorked a bottle of wine, and enjoyed our meal as we overlooked the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by the festivities of fellow campers.
Nights Of Lights in St. Augustine, Florida, is a sight to behold.
During our winter in St. Augustine, Florida, we experienced a completely different holiday. The historic district of this oldest city in America is transformed into a dazzling light spectacle. Now in its 29th season, Nights Of Lights runs from November 19 to January 31 throughout downtown St. Augustine. Three million lights festoon historic structures, stores, restaurants, trees, and public areas. It’s so magical that we recommend it to anyone heading to Florida over the winter.
Many of the buildings in the oldest part of the city date back as far as the 1700s. The Historic District in this walkable city is on the National Register of Historic Places. This area teems with history that began in 1565 when Spain established St. Augustine as a way to protect its shipping routes and to stake its claim in the area. More than 20 sites within the district are listed on the register. Among our favorites, especially when lit up at night, were the Lightner Museum and the Alcazar Hotel.
Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine.
Besides Nights Of Lights, the city offers enough to keep you busy for several days or more. If you’re looking to add to your national park sites visited, don’t miss Castillo de San Marcos. This national monument preserves the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States and proudly defines the area along the bayfront. Other attractions for all ages include trolley tours, Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, Potter’s Wax Museum, and the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Another popular holiday event in the city is the Regatta Of Lights, slated this year for December 10. Hosted by the St. Augustine Yacht Club, vessels of all sizes parade along Matanzas Bay, decked out in holiday revelry. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. and is free to the public. Participants not only show off their decorations, but they also compete for best theme, most colorful, best in class, and best overall.
Regatta Of Lights brightens St. Augustine’s Matanzas Bay.
RVers who celebrate the holidays here can choose from state parks and private campgrounds, including Sun Outdoors RV Park (formerly Compass RV Park). Located just five miles from the historic district, the park sells shuttle tickets that provide trolley transportation to and from the facility.
The park’s calendar has expanded since our stay when we served as its first activity directors. Activities now include holiday campfire singalongs, a site-decorating contest, holiday-themed outdoor movie nights, and the popular New Year’s Eve bash with live music under the pavilion.
In addition to that Thanksgiving spent at South Carlsbad State Beach, in recent years we’ve experienced holidays at other spots in Southern California, with its endless calendar of light displays, beach events, and botanic gardens transformed into fields of dazzling lights. Our favorite is Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge. This season, the magnificent Enchanted Forest Of Light display among the gardens returns November 20 through January 8.
A different take on a holiday experience is the brand-new, 5,000-square-foot Christmas exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley. An American Christmas Story is open November 11 through January 8, featuring holiday traditions from all U.S. states and territories. More than 60 Christmas trees plus items from the Reagan family’s own Christmas collection and the Hanukkah menorahs presented to the White House in the 1980s will be on display.
Descanso Gardens’ Enchanted Forest Of Light displays artful creations along a mile-long walk.
We’ve enjoyed the float display in Pasadena after the Rose Bowl Parade several times, and it never disappoints. Plan on walking a lot. We’ve found that the second day is best to avoid the post-parade crowds. This year the theme is Floatfest, and it will be held on January 2 and 3, 2023, displaying more than two miles of floats.
RV parks are limited in the Los Angeles area. We stay at Walnut RV Park in Northridge. Centrally located in the San Fernando Valley, it’s a 40-minute drive to the Malibu-Santa Monica coastal stretch, and about 30 minutes to the Santa Monica Mountains.
En route from east to west one winter, we experienced New Year’s Eve fireworks over Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, where we opened a bottle of champagne and celebrated another year of life on the road and new travel experiences. After all, isn’t that what RVing is about?
More Info
California
Descanso Gardens. To learn more and purchase tickets for the Enchanted Forest Of Light display, visit www.descansogardens.org. Prices are $22 to $28 for members and $34 to $40 for non-members.
Ronald Reagan Museum and Presidential Library features An American Christmas Story. Tickets are $24 for adults, $21 for seniors, $17 for youths 11-17, and $14 for children 3-10. www.reaganfoundation.org
Rose Bowl Parade Floatfest tickets are $20, free for children 5 and under, and are purchased on a timed entry basis. www.tournamentofroses.com/event/floatfest/
South Carlsbad State Beach Campground. Located in the city of Carlsbad, the campground is part of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The park overlooks the Pacific Ocean and accepts RVs up to 35 feet. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during the holidays. Dogs are permitted in the campground, but not on the beach. The camp store offers a small café and basic supplies, as well as beach rentals. Seasonally, area artists perform a variety of live music. An active state junior ranger program is available for youngsters. Reservations for campsites can be made through parks.ca.gov. For more information, call (760) 438-3143.
Walnut RV Park in Northridge provides a clean, level, modern place for RVs of all sizes. On-site amenities include a heated swimming pool and laundry room. The community room offers exercise equipment, table games, television, and a fireplace. www.walnutrvpark.com
Florida
St. Augustine. The website www.visitstaugustine.com is jam-packed with information and links to sites for everything to see and do in the area. You can find maps and guides, a list of events, and places to stay. For all the events happening during Nights of Lights, visit www.visitstaugustine.com/event/nights-lights. To find more information about the Regatta of Lights, visit www.visitstaugustine.com/event/regatta-lights.
Sun Outdoors St. Augustine is part of the nationwide Sun family of RV resorts. For information and reservations, visit www.sunoutdoors.com/florida/sun-outdoors-st-augustine.