Showing posts with label When to Go. Show all posts
Showing posts with label When to Go. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 August 2011
San Francisco Tourism
The peak San Francisco tourism season might be summer, but there really isn't a bad time to visit this beautiful city. Thanks to San Francisco's hills, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean to the immediate west, the urban and natural landscape here never fails to impress. The weather in this picturesque northern California city is mild, and even summer days can be relatively cool. The air is often damp, and fog is something that visitors are guaranteed to see. As such, San Francisco travel doesn't exactly revolve around time on the beach. That being said, when the sun is shining on summer days, the city's beaches can be excellent places to hang out for a while.
Weather is understandably at the heart of things for many travelers when it comes to deciding when to go to San Francisco. The skies tend to be clearer in September than any other month, and the temperatures often rise because of the more abundant sunshine. This can be an ideal month for San Francisco travel. As for San Francisco temperatures, average highs in the lower 70s and average lows of around 50 degrees can be expected during the summer months. The temperatures don't fluctuate much during the year, with average highs of around 55 degrees and average lows of around 40 to 45 degrees during the winter months. Regardless of the season, anyone who is going to travel to San Francisco will want to pack some warm clothing. This doesn't mean a snowsuit. More often than not, a sweater and a light jacket will be more than enough to keep you comfortable.
Many festivals and special events help to bolster San Francisco tourism, and planning a trip around one or more of them is always an option. Baseball fans who are wondering when to go to San Francisco, for example, can hope to catch a game at AT&T Park between the months of April and October. Other special events include theater shows at places like the Orpheum Theatre and special art shows at one of the local art museums. As for festivals, anyone wishing to include one on their San Francisco travel itinerary will have tons to choose from. While some of the San Francisco festivals revolve around something specific, others showcase music, art, food, or wine.
San Francisco tourism offers something for everyone, and while there really isn't a bad time to visit this beautiful city, the winter months can be most delightful for fans of the performing arts. Winter is the peak ballet and opera season, and the overall number of tourists goes down. One of the other perks to enjoying San Francisco travel in the winter is the fact that many of the hotels lower their rates. Deciding when to go to San Francisco can revolve around a number of things, and travelers are encouraged to look into San Francisco vacation packages when planning their trip. These packages tend to offer savings on things like flights and accommodations, which is always a good thing.
Sunday, 24 July 2011
When to Go to Napa Valley, California
Napa Valley is located in the greater Bay Area of Northern California, about 35 miles from San Francisco. It enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm summers. Although Napa is in sunny California, the climate isn't entirely static. Since Napa seasons do vary as the year progresses, it's worthwhile to consider weather when deciding when to go to Napa. The best time to visit Napa Valley will depend on personal preferences: Summer has beautiful weather but is the busiest tourist season; late spring and early fall are also great times to visit.
Visitors to San Francisco or Northern California can easily squeeze in a visit to Napa no matter which season their trip falls in. The high season is between March and November, though the real peak of summer tourism starts after the July 4th weekend. However, the wineries in Napa Valley are open to visitors for tours and tastings almost all year long, with the common exception of the last week of December and the first two weeks of January. More generally, many wineries are closed on Tuesdays. Keep these closures in mind when deciding when to go to Napa. Also, those staying in San Francisco should be aware that Napa seasons can differ greatly from those in city, despite the proximity of two destinations. Napa is warmer, drier, and sunnier, though Napa Valley does sometimes get its own morning fog in summer.
Spring is the beginning of the peak season for Napa Valley, and it's no wonder; it's a beautiful time to enjoy the scenery. In March through May, the land is lush and green from the winter rains, and the weather is starting hint at the warmer months to come. Napa gets busier as the spring months progress, with visitors and locals streaming in to enjoy wine tasting, fine restaurants, hiking trails, campsites, and spas. Prepare for various weather scenarios, from warm afternoons in the high 70s to rainy days in the 50s, but by mid-April, the rainy season ends, and little rain will be seen until mid or late October.
For many people, summer is the best time to visit Napa Valley. It's also the busiest of the Napa seasons for tourism. Hot weather from June through August makes relaxing on a patio with a glass of wine divine, and the valley fills with out-of-towners and local visitors, especially on weekends. The weather is generally hot and dry, with blue and sunny skies. From mid-May through mid-October, rain is rare. Summer daytime temperatures are generally in the 90s, though overnight temperatures cool to the mid-50s to mid-60s.
While summer attracts droves of visitors, many people consider fall the best time to visit Napa Valley, with great weather and fewer tourists compared to summer, as well as beautiful autumn scenery. Napa and San Francisco have both have an Indian summer, a burst of warmer weather in September and October. Daytime temperatures are often in the 80s, and nighttime temperatures in the high 40s to high 50s. September is also a great month for local produce, even better than July and August.
Winter in Napa is, like much of the Bay Area, fairly wet. Cool and wet winter weather scares away most tourists, and the valley is quieter. Of course, Napa winters are cool only by relative California standards, with daytime temperatures largely in the 50s. The different wine-country experience appeals to some, especially on the sporadic dry weekends, though the winter means that popular outdoor activities, such as hot-air balloon rides, aren't always available.
Deciding when to go to Napa is a matter of personal preferences, since weather and crowds vary by season. However, Napa hotels are open year-round, and the variety means that you should have little trouble finding a place to stay, and the valley's many things to do are sure to keep you entertained. Whether you choose to visit during the balmy spring, hot summer, Indian summer fall, or cool winter, each of the Napa seasons has a special allure that makes every visit memorable.
Visitors to San Francisco or Northern California can easily squeeze in a visit to Napa no matter which season their trip falls in. The high season is between March and November, though the real peak of summer tourism starts after the July 4th weekend. However, the wineries in Napa Valley are open to visitors for tours and tastings almost all year long, with the common exception of the last week of December and the first two weeks of January. More generally, many wineries are closed on Tuesdays. Keep these closures in mind when deciding when to go to Napa. Also, those staying in San Francisco should be aware that Napa seasons can differ greatly from those in city, despite the proximity of two destinations. Napa is warmer, drier, and sunnier, though Napa Valley does sometimes get its own morning fog in summer.
Spring is the beginning of the peak season for Napa Valley, and it's no wonder; it's a beautiful time to enjoy the scenery. In March through May, the land is lush and green from the winter rains, and the weather is starting hint at the warmer months to come. Napa gets busier as the spring months progress, with visitors and locals streaming in to enjoy wine tasting, fine restaurants, hiking trails, campsites, and spas. Prepare for various weather scenarios, from warm afternoons in the high 70s to rainy days in the 50s, but by mid-April, the rainy season ends, and little rain will be seen until mid or late October.
For many people, summer is the best time to visit Napa Valley. It's also the busiest of the Napa seasons for tourism. Hot weather from June through August makes relaxing on a patio with a glass of wine divine, and the valley fills with out-of-towners and local visitors, especially on weekends. The weather is generally hot and dry, with blue and sunny skies. From mid-May through mid-October, rain is rare. Summer daytime temperatures are generally in the 90s, though overnight temperatures cool to the mid-50s to mid-60s.
While summer attracts droves of visitors, many people consider fall the best time to visit Napa Valley, with great weather and fewer tourists compared to summer, as well as beautiful autumn scenery. Napa and San Francisco have both have an Indian summer, a burst of warmer weather in September and October. Daytime temperatures are often in the 80s, and nighttime temperatures in the high 40s to high 50s. September is also a great month for local produce, even better than July and August.
Winter in Napa is, like much of the Bay Area, fairly wet. Cool and wet winter weather scares away most tourists, and the valley is quieter. Of course, Napa winters are cool only by relative California standards, with daytime temperatures largely in the 50s. The different wine-country experience appeals to some, especially on the sporadic dry weekends, though the winter means that popular outdoor activities, such as hot-air balloon rides, aren't always available.
Deciding when to go to Napa is a matter of personal preferences, since weather and crowds vary by season. However, Napa hotels are open year-round, and the variety means that you should have little trouble finding a place to stay, and the valley's many things to do are sure to keep you entertained. Whether you choose to visit during the balmy spring, hot summer, Indian summer fall, or cool winter, each of the Napa seasons has a special allure that makes every visit memorable.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)