California’s most famous wine region isn’t exactly known as affordable but there’s actually a decent range of budget-friendly hotels and rentals available, especially outside peak summer and harvest seasons. Prices plummet in winter, with deals at hotels and wineries plus special set-priced menus during January’s Restaurant Week – all with temperatures of around 12°C (55°F), rising to 17°C (64°F) in March.
Almost exactly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo – or SLO – has a sunny disposition and an enviable location. Make walkable, lively downtown your base for exploring mountain trails, wineries and beguiling beach towns like Avila Beach, Cambria and Morro Bay. Temperatures can reach 17°C (63°F) in January and up to around 25°C (77°F) in summer. Check out our favourite things to do in this underrated city here.
Commonly called the Big Island, the 50th state’s largest island suffered damage and loss of tourism after the May 2018 eruption of Kīlauea volcano. While a few parts remain closed, most of the vast island – whose landscape varies from verdant valleys to black-sand beaches – is open and basking in average temperatures from 25°C to 29°C (78°F to 85°F).
Dull days are rare in this chilled-out coastal city. And, if they do come, it’s a nice excuse to shelter in a Cali-Mexican restaurant or cool craft brewery. Average temperatures range from 14°C (57°F) in January to 21°C (70°F) in summer. You can spot whales year round too, with grey whales migrating from December to April and blue whales passing between June and September. Find more things to do and where to stay in San Diego here.
January highs of 14°C (57°F) make Dallas a safe bet for a warm weather city break. It can get a little too hot in summer, with temperatures soaring to around 35°C (96°F), but it barely matters with so many world-class museums, chic cocktail bars and top-rated restaurants. When it is nice out, sculpture gardens and patio seating mean you can enjoy those attractions without missing out on the sunshine.
Alabama’s Gulf Coast is something of an open secret – a favourite vacation spot for those in the know and a surprise for those who maybe didn’t realise the state even had a coast. Once found, this stretch of alabaster beaches, lined with seafood restaurants and quirky bars, is hard to forget. Visit out of peak summer season for average temperatures from 29°C (85°F) in September down to 14°C (57°F) in January.
Winter doesn’t last very long in Savannah and with average January highs of around 15°C (60°F), it’s barely noticeable. The city oozes sunny, Southern charm and an intriguing air of mystery, which is easier and cheaper to discover in the quieter, cooler months. Explore its thought-provoking museums and historic homes, then kick back in one of the restaurants and bars that line the river.
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Georgia’s barrier islands – St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island – combine the classic Southern charm and moss-draped oaks of the state’s best cities with coastal breezes, birdlife-rich marshlands and sandy driftwood beaches. And with an annual average temperature of 20°C (68°F), there’s never need to huddle indoors.
Grand Isle is a wildlife lovers' paradise with a network of bird-spotting trails in oak forests and salt marshes. Between spotting brown pelicans and snowy egrets, the barrier island has honey-hued beaches and seafood restaurants to enjoy, often without crowds. It can be rainy but with average temperatures between 12°C (53°F) in January and 28°C (82°F) in July, it’s pretty mild year round.
You’ll find the biggest bargains during summer in NOLA, mainly because highs of around 32°C (90°F) can feel uncomfortably hot for exploring the city’s cocktail bars, jazz clubs and Creole-influenced cuisine. Head there in December or January instead, when daytime temperatures are between 11°C and 18°C (52°F and 64°F), and hotel rates haven’t hit their festival season peak. Discover more of what New Orleans has to offer with our guide.
January is the coolest month in this island city off Texas’ Gulf Coast, at 12°C (53°F), with the mercury rising to an August average of 28°C (82°F). So, while you might need a jumper in winter, it’s rarely truly cold. So you can indulge in retro seaside delights like amusement rides on the Pleasure Pier or kayak around the coast, which is rich in birdlife.
Aside from February, when prices rocket around the famous Daytona 500 NASCAR race, you can pretty much find bargain stays and sunshine every day at this classic coastal destination. January days can reach 18°C (64°F) so you can wander along boardwalk arcades, eat seafood by the sand and drive on beaches without catching a chill.
What’s a better bet for sunshine than a desert? Retro-heaven Palm Springs has winter averages of between 13°C and 17°C (55°F and 62°F), with July the hottest month, averaging 32°C (90°F). Throw in palm trees, mid-century modern homes, natural hot springs and an impressive number of tiki bars and brunch spots, and this southern California city is sure to warm your cockles any time of year. You can find our guide to Palm Springs here.
Average January highs of 21°C (70°F) – rising to 32°C (90°F) in summer – make this walkable, chilled-out city an affordable sunny getaway. Catch a free tram to Ybor City, whose Cuban heritage is present in old cigar factories and bakeries. Or explore the highlights of the Riverwalk, which links downtown’s dining and nightlife to galleries and hip neighbourhoods like Tampa Heights. Discover more things to do in Tampa here.
Sun-kissed Scottsdale has two summers – dry summer, in May and June, and wet summer, up to mid-September. Both have average highs around the 37°C (100°F) mark. Go in milder autumn or winter instead, when average temperatures can still reach 20°C (68°F) and it’s far more comfortable for exploring the charming Old Town and hitting miles of hiking trails.
Known as Savannah’s beach because it’s just 18 miles (29km) from the city, this barrier island basks in average January highs of around 15°C (58°F), up to 31°C (88°F) in July. Even if it isn’t exactly sunbathing weather, you can still enjoy strolling along, fishing from or just sitting on its famous broad sweep of sand, gazing at the sunset or scouring the water for resident dolphins.
This Sonoran Desert city is one of the sunniest places on Earth, with more than 4,000 hours of sunshine recorded annually. It can be unbearably hot in summer, when temperatures have been known to soar above 38°C (100°F). Winters, though, tend to be delightful, with average highs between 20°C (68°F) and 26°C (79°F). And, if it does get too hot, you can always cool off in the Colorado River or Martinez Lake, a popular spot for fishing, boating and swimming.
Arizona’s capital is rarely in the shade, with 3,832 annual hours of sunshine and average temperatures between 17°C (63°F) and 30°C (86°F). Bask in the warmth while playing a few rounds at one of the city’s famed golf courses or strolling around botanical gardens filled with cacti. On the occasional scorcher, a dip in Salt River or sampling the city’s craft brew scene should help cool you down.
Average highs range from 13°C (56°F) in January to around 32°C (91°F) in July, so it can be a little chilly at times in the coastal city of Myrtle Beach. Although the sunny weather often spills into autumn and winter, and the boardwalk arcades, white sands and candy-floss sunrises are appealing at any time.
The beach stretches the length of Fort Lauderdale’s downtown area, making it pretty clear from the outset that this is a destination for sun and fun. Average temperatures range from 16°C (61°F) in winter to 31°C (89°F) in summer, so there’s never a bad time to explore its seafood restaurants, upscale shopping and waterways edged with lavish homes. The city is also perfect for incorporating into a southern Florida road trip.
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Average highs range from around 26°C to 29°C (80°F and 85°F) on this verdant Hawaiian island, although the rainy season – December to March – is actually the most expensive time to visit. Stay dry and avoid peak prices by booking an early winter or spring trip, when you can explore the rainforest and cliff-backed beaches of the so-called Garden Isle with fewer crowds.
Huntington Beach’s iconic pier bathes in average year-round temperatures of between 18°C and 26°C (64°F to 80°F), as do the surfers, sunbathers and sun-seekers who flock here. An hour’s drive south of LA, the beach town has an entirely different vibe that’s all about being outside, whether that means riding waves or toasting marshmallows on an evening beach bonfire. You can find our top six essential things to do in Surf City USA here.
With an annual average low of 21°C (70°F) and high of 29°C (85°F), Oahu Island is perfect for sun-seekers. It's home to state capital Honolulu, famous surf spot Waikiki Beach and the site of Pearl Harbor. Travel in autumn to get the best bargains, still with sunshine pretty much guaranteed.
This German-settled town wears its heritage proudly, from displays at the Pioneer Museum to traditional dishes given new twists in innovative restaurants. Average highs can reach 32°C (90°F) in July, while January is pleasantly warm at around 15°C (60°F). Downtown boutiques and wineries along Highway 290, just outside town, twinkle with Christmas lights during the holiday season – incongruous but delightful in the winter sun.
Pastel-hued houses, surfing beaches, rainforest parks, and bioluminescent bays with micro-organisms that sparkle to the touch – this Caribbean island has plenty to offer any time of year, and it’s easy to travel and stay on a budget. January is the coldest (or perhaps we should say least hot) month with an average low of 21°C (70°F), while summer temperatures average between 21°C and 31°C (70°F to 89°F).
January is San Antonio’s coolest month with average highs of around 17°C (62°F). So it’s pretty much always mild enough to stroll along the Riverwalk, lined with restaurants and bars, or potter around the boutiques and food hall at trendy Pearl, a micro-district built on a disused brewery site. Tip the hip scale off the charts by combining with a trip to Austin, around an hour and a half’s drive away. Discover more reasons to visit San Antonio here.
Blazingly white sands scattered with shells and lapped by warm waters make Sanibel Island and neighbouring Captiva justifiably popular. Holiday lets are good value, especially outside peak summer months. And, when the crowds fall away, temperatures stay balmy with average January highs of around 23°C (73°F).
From trees weighed down with coconuts to rock formations and the shortbread sands of Tanguisson Beach, Guam is such a picture-perfect tropical island it barely feels real. Average highs in this US territory in the Western Pacific hover around 30°C to 32°C (86°F to 90°F) all year round. You might just find yourself wishing for a chilly breeze. Then again, maybe not.
The US Virgin Islands – St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John – have average highs between 29°C (85°F) and 32°C (90°F). Swerving hurricane season (July to October), the best bargains can be found in November and spring, while St. Croix is known for affordable dive hotels, mostly aimed at scuba divers looking for a simple place to crash.
It’s perhaps unsurprising that the southernmost point in continental USA – marked by a buoy-shaped landmark – is blessed with year-round sunshine. January highs reach 24°C (74°F), while July and August can hit 32°C (89°F). Hot weather is still manageable thanks to the coastal breezes. The drive from Miami, along the water-skimming Overseas Highway, makes a lovely winter road trip too. Find out more about Key West and the Florida Keys here.