Last-Minute New Year’s Getaways
A Redwoods New Year
Ring in the New Year lake-side surrounded by the lush forest in Lake Almanor. On the big night, head to the 4th Annual Fireworks Spectacular at Rogers Field in Chester to start 2024 with a bang.
Garden of Lights
Redding may be the second sunniest city in the United States, but on New Year’s Eve, over one million twinkling lights will light up the night at the city’s Garden of Lights. Held at the Turtle Bay Exploration Park, the festival includes fire pits and s’mores, holiday-themed food and beverage stations, synchronized music animations, and more throughout 10 acres of botanical gardens.
NYE Santa Barbara Style
Ending the year in the laidback luxury of coastal Santa Barbara is never a bad idea. During the day on New Year’s Eve, enjoy family adventures like kayaking through the mysterious sea caves in the Channel Islands or attending the Noon Year's Eve Pajama Jam at MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation. The kids can dance, play, explore and celebrate the New Year a few hours early.
For mom and dad, Santa Barbara sizzles on NYE. The five-star Rosewood Miramar Beach is throwing a speakeasy-inspired Chandelier Ballroom Gala, while the Santa Barbara Symphony is performing an evening of holiday, Broadway, pop and rock music at the iconic Granada Theatre. For water lovers, the Double Dolphin’s Champagne Cruise is an idyllic way to toast 2024.
Live it up in L.A.
For an over-the-top start to 2024, a hotel party in posh Beverly Hills can’t be beat. The only challenge is deciding which luxury property will be your spot to toast the New Year. The Waldorf Astoria’s hidden charms will be on display during its Masquerade Ball, while The Beverly Wilshire is throwing a Havana Nights party complete with a four-course dinner. The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel also hosts a grand four-course dinner and Sant’olina at The Beverly Hilton has a rooftop view perfect for a midnight toast…or kiss.
In nearby Santa Monica, the family-friendly ICE at Santa Monica offers an evening of skating and an East Coast NYE countdown, perfect for the little ones. If you’re with your best pals, the popular Santa Monica NYE Pub Crawl makes for a fun-filled celebration, and art lovers are sure to enjoy the Santa Monica Playhouse’s annual musical review performance.
Midnight Magic in the OC
Family fun abounds when you celebrate New Year’s Eve in Buena Park. At night, Knott’s Berry Farm transforms with a Midnight Fireworks Spectacular. While we might be moving into 2024, Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament will whisk your family back to 1399 with an evening of horsemanship, falconry and nail-biting swordplay. At the witch-themed Cauldron Spirits & Brew, you can conjure up your New Year’s dreams with a macabre cocktail in hand and a spirited midnight toast.
Hotel High in Carlsbad
With Carlsbad’s nearly perfect year-round weather, guests of the Beach Terrace Hotel can kick off their New Year’s Eve festivities early with a happy hour on the terrace featuring complimentary appetizers, drinks and music to enjoy the last sunset of 2023. Follow it up with a special dinner at the newly remodeled Ember at the Park Hyatt or Bob’s Steak & Chop House at the Omni La Costa. For a truly memorable night, the Park Hyatt also offers a New Year’s Eve Wedding Package for anyone wanting to ring in 2024 with a new ring on their finger.
Where to be at Midnight
Lakefront Life
Ringing in 2024 surrounded by majestic Yosemite is hard to beat. The Pines Resort in Madera County is the only lakefront resort in the area and it's celebrating the New Year with an all-night party culminating with a midnight toast and a firework display you’ll enjoy from the comfort of the resort’s deck.
White Lotus Blowout
This year White Lotus was the hot TV hit of the season. Santa Rosa’s The Flamingo Resort celebrates the show with an Emmy-deserving New Year’s Eve White Lotus party in Sonoma County. Partygoers can move between White Lotus seasons via the ballroom, which will be a Hawaiian paradise featuring dancing and tiki cocktails. Next door in the Vintage Space Music Lounge, the sexy sounds and vibe will transport guests to the streets of Sicily.
Après-ski
Hit the slopes during the day and then come back to The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe to ring in 2024 in style. If you’re traveling with the kids, enjoy a prix fixe New Year’s menu at Manzanita while the kids nosh on a special Ritz-Kids buffet. If you’re looking to celebrate all night long, opt for the hotel’s Countdown Party featuring a heavy reception menu, live music and a livestream of the iconic ball drop in New York’s Times Square.
A Proper Time in SF
Paint the town red with one of the city’s biggest rooftop celebrations at the Scarlet Soiree, held high above the streets of San Francisco. The rooftop celebration at Charmaine’s at The Proper features DJ Nichole Leon spinning tunes to help ring in the New Year.
Boogie on Down in the Desert
The desert will sizzle with the sounds of the 1970s as KC and the Sunshine Band, followed by Zowie Bowie, heat up Rancho Mirage at the Studio ’24 party. Get out your best bell bottoms and sparkly attire and disco yourself into the New Year at Agua Caliente Casino’s blowout bash.
Wine Down
Temecula celebrates its wine country with its annual New Year’s Eve Grape Drop. As Southern California’s top wine escape, it seemed more than appropriate for a cluster of grapes to represent the ball. The family-friendly party features live music, food vendors and a kid’s fun zone. Look for a celebration when the grape cluster drops on both the East Coast and West Coast.
Sparkling Celebration
Newport Beach is all about the glitz, so what better way to ring in 2024 than at the Balboa Bay Resort’s “Diamonds and Pearls” party? Dance the night away to a live band, enjoy food and drinks and step into the photo booth to get a picture to remember the night forever.