Whether you’re brimming with a newfound, New-Year’s-resolution-fueled energy or are dealing with the winter blues (and perhaps a bit of a holiday hangover), January is a window of opportunity to get out there and explore. Fascinating wildlife is out to play in the wintery valleys of Wyoming and you can count on the Southern states for some sun and warmth.

Start the year off strong traveling to one of our top destination recommendations to visit in the USA for the month of January:

Southern California in January

For those looking to escape the cold, sun-kissed Southern California is the place to be. Not only is the weather temperate, the summer crowds are gone and you’ll have more of the scenery to yourself.

The excitement of the cities and beautiful beaches of the coastal regions, like Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Laguna Beach, are great winter options, but we’d also suggest a trip out to the desert. January is a beautiful time of year to take a road trip through glamorous Palm Springs and two of our favorite California national parks, Joshua Tree and Death Valley. You can explore the rugged landscapes of these two national parks by hiking throughout the day– unlike other times in the year when you’d have to be out of the sweltering sun once midday hit.

Plus, stargazing is renowned in Joshua Tree and Death Valley during any month of the year, but the darker, longer January nights elevate the experience from memorable to unforgettable.

Southern California Weather in January

Expect mid-60’s near the coast and even warmer 70’s in the Southern Californian desert.
January weather along the California coast is temperate, although winter storms can bring rain. In the desert, expect warm days and crisp nights, with rainfall a much rarer occurrence.

Yellowstone in January

Don’t let the cold scare you away! Winter is a wonderful time to visit Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park. It’s an active season in the Rocky Mountains for some huge wildlife, including bison, moose, wolves and many more.

Lamar Valley on the Northern Range of the park is even fondly nicknamed “America’s Serengeti” for its excellent winter safari opportunities. The lack of trees on the valley floor provide the ideal wolf-watching environment.

There’s an abundance of top-notch ranches in the area that will provide a cozy home base for other outdoor activities as well– think cross country skiing, snowshoeing and sleigh rides. Luxury options, like the wonderful Amangani, also abound in Jackson Hole and some of the best downhill skiing in the country is on your doorstep. If you’re open to traveling by snowcoach, Jackson can combine well with Yellowstone.

Yellowstone Weather in January:

It’s definitely deep winter in the Yellowstone National Park area and the weather can be extreme. Expect plenty of snow and temperatures can range from 0 to 20 degrees throughout the day.

Arizona in January

Need a restorative getaway to start the New Year off strong? Or maybe you’re looking to spend time in the great outdoors without freezing your toes off in the month of January? Arizona is the place to be.

In southern Arizona near Tucson and Scottsdale, the desert climate means mild temperatures and some nice winter sun– perfect for outdoor activities. You can get the full American dude ranch experience at places like Tanque Verde and White Stallion, where the wide range of experiences include horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing and hiking. Outside of Tucson, Saguaro National Park is a wonderland of giant cacti and scenic mountain views. Because of the variety in elevation throughout the park, there is a wide diversity of flora and fauna to be found there.

For a winter vacation that’s less action-packed and more relaxed, head north to the red rocks of Sedona. This tranquil area of Arizona– a place that has long been sacred in Native American culture– is now known for its spas and wellness resorts. Many even claim the area is a “vortex,” a mysterious center of energy conducive to healing and meditation. So if you happen to feel a tingling sensation on one of your hikes through Sedona’s red rock cathedrals, now you know why.

For those that don’t mind the cold, the higher elevation Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona, which will be in the depths of winter, can be magical under a blanket of snow. The South Rim’s roads will be open and drivable, except in inclement weather.

Arizona Weather in January:

The temperatures in Southern Arizona (including Phoenix, Tucson, Scottsdale, etc.) typically range from the 50’s to 60’s with the sun shining. A little further north near Sedona, temps usually stick to the 50’s.

South Carolina and Georgia in January

The Lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia is a place of underrated beauty and January is an underrated time to soak it all in without dealing with the crowds of peak season or the humidity of summer.  Sought after reservations at Charleston’s top restaurants are easier to come by, Middleton Plantation’s camellias are in full bloom and the Lowcountry Oyster Festival, the world’s largest of its kind, is taking place.

Charleston and Savannah Weather in January

Brisk but quite pleasant. Usually around 50 to 60 degrees.

U.S. Events in January 2023

Jan 1 – New Year’s Day
Jan 5-16 – Palm Springs International Film Festival 
Jan 13-16 – Napa Truffle Festival
Jan 16 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Jan 19-29 – Sundance Film Festival
Jan 29 – Lowcountry Oyster Festival

Check Out The Other Posts in Our Series Below:

• Best Places to Visit in the USA – Month by Month
• June
• October
• November

The post Best Places in the USA to Visit in January appeared first on All Roads North.

Until recently, I had no idea you could hike down into the Grand Canyon. I had heard stories of people coming on tour buses, taking pictures of the view and then getting back on the bus.  According to a poster in my hotel, 99% of those hiking in the Grand Canyon do not venture below the rim. This kind of interaction did not appeal to me so I had never really wanted to go, until I discovered that you could walk down into it: suddenly my interest was piqued.

There are a number of approaches to the Grand Canyon but the main ones are the North and South Rim. Both have hiking trails that meet in the middle at the bottom of the Canyon. The North Rim is more peaceful, but since it was hundreds of miles farther from Flagstaff, Arizona, which was my stopping off point as I drove from East to West, I had to settle for the busier South Rim, which luckily turned out not to be so crowded after all. (On a side note: Flagstaff is a lovely town, full of breweries and students with an outdoorsy feel and it is only an hour and a half from the South Rim, which makes it a good base if you don’t want to stay in the park.)    

Bright Angel Trail drops 2,968 feet to Plateau Point and makes for a challenging 12 mile round trip from the rim (ph. L Kaye)

There are two trails from the South Rim down into the canyon. I chose the Bright Angel Trail since it had two water and toilet stopping points and a shady campsite half way down called Indian Gardens, whereas the South Kaibab trail was described as having no water and no shade – I thought, why make life harder for myself? I left my car at the Backcountry Office car park and made my way past the various lodges in the Grand Canyon Village to the trailhead at the edge of the canyon. Up ahead, through the trees, I realised something was strange, there was an emptiness where there should be more trees. Then I saw the canyon. It is true that no pictures or photos can prepare you for it – for a start, no photo could fit the whole panoramic stretch of it in. What surprised me was the colour: red yes, but mostly hazy pink and purple. It is incredibly beautiful but there is something raw and fear inducing about it – the river has cut the earth so deeply that you can’t actually see the water, just a dark zigzagging wound. It is a view that everyone should see, even if you do just get on and off a bus. After a few minutes taking it in, I made my way to the start of the walk.

In an ideal world I would have booked a bunk at the Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon (or a campsite) but since I only discovered it existed that day and then found out that the spaces get snapped up a year in advance this was not an option. Also not an option is to walk all the way to the Colorado River and back in one day according to the numerous warning signs around the village. So I decide to go as far as the Indian Gardens and come back – a ten mile round trip.  

Hiking beneath the rom of the Grand Canyon gives you a totally different perspective and you really feel inside the canyon (ph. L Kaye)

The walk down is fine: everyone is friendly and greets one another. There are people of all ages, all shapes and sizes – even small children. I walk down with a girl from Oklahoma and we discuss politics. Like me, she was in Flagstaff the night before but had drunk so much of the excellent beer that she decides to stop at the second rest house. I continue to Indian Gardens alone. There are less people now and the landscape changes and it is surprisingly lush – tall trees, flowers and the burbling sound of the stream are very welcome after two hours in the sun.  I’m not particularly tired and have half a mind to continue to the river, though I know it is probably dangerous. I discuss this with a man in his seventies who tells me he has walked from the North Rim. It is his 26th time walking rim to rim – a 21 mile walk. The first time, he tells me, you either never want to hike again, or you’re hooked. He suggests that I walk out to Plateau Point – another 1.5 miles – rather than 5 down to the river which would add 10 miles onto my total and is definitely too much.  

The canyon drops in two phases – a steep cliff, then a flat plateau and then the narrow, deep crack in the earth: the wound. As I walk across a flat plateau of scrubby desert towards the edge, I look around and I suddenly realise I am really inside the canyon. I feel as though I am in a giant amphitheatre with cliffs rising up above me on all sides. The sun is very hot and I am scared that this was a mistake – there is nobody else around. But when I get to Plateau Point, to my relief, there are a few people there. And it is worth it to see the river below which is emerald green – so vivid against the red rocks. The scenery is so alien to me, I feel like I am on Mars.

The emerald waters of the Colorado River nearly 4,500 feet beneath the rim of the Grand Canyon (ph. L Kaye)

The climb back up isn’t as bad as I thought. I meet a woman who is a member of the Navajo tribe who comes from the area but has never been hiking in the Grand Canyon before. She tells me about growing up on the reservation with no water or electricity and we discuss portrayals of Native Americans in films like ‘Last of the Mohicans’ and ‘Dances with Wolves’. ‘We laugh at them,’ she tells me, though she can’t quite articulate why. The sky has mercifully clouded over and we are distracted from the pain by the view of the canyon, which changes with every switchback turn. I can’t think what this would be like on a cloudless day in August – I probably would have only made it 20 metres. Suddenly we are at the top and we take one more long look at the view before we say our goodbyes. I would say to anyone of any hiking ability to give it a go – you can always turn back. It really is worth it. Next time, I’m going to do the rim to rim.          

Laura Kaye is a television producer and author based in London. Her debut novel, English Animals, will be published in March 2017.

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