Holiday Cheer with Hilton San Diego Bayfront

One of the twelve best places to spend Christmas in America is San Diego, and for good reason. It was 68 degrees last weekend when we spent a festive weekend in December at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. From Los Angeles, the drive to San Diego took around 2 hours leaving mid morning.

The annual Holiday by the Bay celebration kicked things up a notch with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the waterfront ice skating rink that brings a vision of winter until January 2 right outside the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel. If that wasn’t enough Cali winter cheer, feel Christmas-y with their outdoor European style market offering a hot chocolate bar of every imaginable fixing and Ghirardelli flavor along with speciality Naughty or Nice mixology cocktails, like Naughty Nog, Not your Granny’s Cocoa, Apple Pie over Ice, and Peppermint Cookie Martini.

To spice up your holidays even more, venture inside the lobby of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront to view a life-size gingerbread house made from over 1,595 pounds of ingredients and more than 250 pieces of candy cane. It took the pastry chefs over 276 hours to complete this edible winter wonderland. Make sure to sample the free soft gingerbread cookies in the little boxes next to the house. Yummy!

Hilton San Diego Bayfront adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center and PETCO Park also offers holiday movies under the stars and 12 Days of Bliss at Spa Aquazul. From Decemeber 12 to 23, donate an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots and receive a 50 minutes Gentle-Touch Massage and Spa Gift for $75. We experienced the Traveler’s Tonic. This 80 minute massage will help you combat stress, muscle soreness, overall fatigue, and feel renewed and relaxed.

We also recommend breakfast in bed, lunch by the pool in the mod chairs with waterfront views, and a waterfront walk around the bay to see the war memorial of the National Salute of Bob Hope and the Military as well as the grand scale “Unconditional Surrender” — a giant statue of a World War II sailor kissing a nurse, replicated from the famous black and white photo.

Escape LA and enjoy San Diego’s Holiday by the Bay! Need more San Diego inspiration?

Hilton Hotel Holiday by the Bay Activities:
Breakfast with Santa – Vela Restaurant: December 11, 18, 24
Naughty or Nice Mixology Classes – Odysea Lounge: December 10,17,24 at 3pm
Naughty or Nice Happy Hour – Odysea Lounge: December 10-January 2 from 4-6pm
Holiday Movies – Promenade Plaza: December 10,17,24 at 7pm
Life-Size Gingerbread House – Lobby: November 24 – December 30

Social Media Contest
Share your #HolidaybytheBay photos for a chance to win a two-night stay at Hilton San Diego Bayfront! One winner will be chosen each week starting December 12.