8 Great Winter Escapes

Get cozy along the Pacific
Yellow-slickered fishermen mix with just a sprinkling of iPad-toting tourists in this small riverfront town with San Francisco-steep streets. Winter is a lovely time to visit, as rain can actually be romantic when paired with thundering surf-and fresh, crisp beach walks when the storm breaks. Plus, in the off-season, you've got the typically packed place to yourself-particularly fine stretches of sand with towering dunes, uninterrupted ocean views, and some of the most impressive storm watching anywhere.
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