Winter Fun in SoCal

When you think Southern California, winter isn't the first thing that comes to mind. We don’t have snow or Christmas tree farms. What we do have, though, is Hollywood movie magic. That means we can recreate all of the fun and festive events and feelings that are associated with the season. I’ve rounded up the top places to visit in three categories, so if you are local to SoCal and want to enjoy some winter activities, keep reading!

Theme Parks All of the major theme parks in Southern California go big during the holiday season. Starting mid-November through early January, major décor and seasonal foods and activities take over these parks. The following places are definitely festive and loads of fun to visit this time of year – Holidays at Disneyland and California Adventures, Grinchmas at Universal Studios, Holiday in the Park at Six Flags, and Knott’s Merry Farm. If you’re looking for something on a smaller scale, I’d recommend Chill at the Queen Mary or the LA Zoo Lights. Both are decked out in lights and decorations.

Entertainment If theme parks aren’t your thing, try a more relaxed approach to your winter festivities. There are so many ways to explore and enjoy the greater LA area. You could catch a showing of a holiday favorite, The Nutcracker at The Bloc. Get a front row seat to the most amazing display of flowers on floats at the Tournament of Roses, Rose Parade in Pasadena. Get your holiday shopping done early with a trip to The Grove in LA (fake snow and Santa’s Village included). Grab a cup of hot cocoa, or artisan coffee, and watch a majestic sunset on any one of our beautiful beaches.  

Activities For a more active winter season, there are plenty of SoCal spots to visit. Outdoor rinks pop up all over, turning your ice skating dreams into a reality. Pershing Square and LA Kings Holiday Ice (both in Downtown) are popular. Snow Day LA at Elysian Park is a fan favorite, with light shows, tubing hills, and (fake) snow. Winterfest is a similar set up in the OC, with tons of cold-weather activities, shows, and themed shopping and dining. If you’re looking for the real deal, take a drive up to Angeles Crest or Big Bear for real (real!) snow. Bundle up and go for a hike at Runyon Canyon or to the Hollywood sign for epic city views.  

No matter what you decide to do this holiday season, the most important thing is to spend it with those you love. Have fun!

Holiday Décor Trends

Now that Halloween is over, we can start thinking about Christmas and what style we want to use to decorate our homes. I’m going to focus on three trends this season – traditional, minimal, and whimsical. I’m a fan of all three, and I haven’t decided which trend I’ll be following this season, but you can’t go wrong with whatever style you choose. Let’s dive in!

Traditional One thing that never goes out of style is a traditionally decorated space. When it comes to Christmas, the classic colors are red and green, with pops of gold. These will be your three main colors when choosing ornaments, accessories, and other decorative pieces. Red, green and gold ornaments on the tree and wreath, lots of ribbons and sprigs of holly, a big red Santa, letter boards featuring one (or all three) of the colors, tons of plaid print, pine cones, and anything else that gives you that warm and cozy, homey vibes that only a classic Christmas can give you.

Minimal If you are looking for a more modern way to make your space festive this year, pick one main color and go for a monochromatic look. Think winter white, metallic (gold, silver, rose gold, mixed metals), or you can even pick red or green. By utilizing one focal color, you can keep your décor modern and minimal, while still being festive. It adds a sophisticated flair to any room in your home. You can create layers by incorporating different shades of the color you choose to add depth or texture. You can also create an ombre effect by placing your shades in a gradient.

Whimsical What if you can’t decide on a theme, or want something different than the traditional or minimal design? There are no real rules when it comes to decorating. If you want to use the traditional red and green, but want to include some of your favorite blue ornaments on the tree – go for it! You can feature jewel-toned shades of purples and greens, or red and white striped candy canes. Place elves and snowmen all around the mantle, or go for a more natural and earthy look with pine cones, wood logs and plain wreaths. Because the style is whimsical, you can be heavy-handed with mixing colors, textures, and even styles! 

What trend will you choose for your holiday decor this season?