Winter may be some months away yet, but we all like to plan ahead for holidays. While you may embrace the cold weather, snow, ice and all, sometimes you just want to be warm. We’ve picked the best places around the USA (plus US territories) for some winter sun and included their balmy January temperature highs. Get ready to catch some rays.

Winters in the coastal city of Myrtle Beach don't see scorching temperatures, but there's still plenty of sunshine. January highs are typically around 13°C (55°F), and the boardwalk arcades, white sands and candy-floss sunrises are appealing at any time.

January highs of 13°C (57°F) make Dallas a safe bet for a warm-weather winter city break. It can get a little too hot in summer, with temperatures soaring to around 35°C (96°F), but it barely matters with so many world-class museums, chic cocktail bars and top-rated restaurants. When it's nice out, sculpture gardens and patio seating mean you can enjoy those attractions without missing out on the sunshine.

California’s most famous wine region doesn't let up on the sunshine. Make the most of the warm winter weather by hopping between wineries, sampling tasters on terraces with sweeping vineyard views. Prices plummet in winter too, with deals at hotels and wineries, plus special set-priced menus during January’s Restaurant Week – all with temperatures of around 13°C (55°F), rising to 18°C (64°F) in March.

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This German-settled town wears its heritage proudly, from displays at the Pioneer Museum to traditional dishes given new twists in innovative restaurants. January is pleasantly warm at around 16°C (60°F), while downtown boutiques and wineries along Highway 290, just outside town, twinkle with Christmas lights during the holiday season – incongruous but delightful in the winter sun.

Georgia’s barrier islands – St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island – combine the classic Southern charm and moss-draped oaks of the state’s best cities with coastal breezes, birdlife-rich marshlands and sandy driftwood beaches. And with January highs of 16°C (60°F), there’s never a need to huddle indoors.

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Alabama’s Gulf Coast is something of an open secret – a favourite vacation spot for those in the know and a surprise for those who maybe didn’t realise the state even had a coast. Once found, this stretch of alabaster beaches, lined with seafood restaurants and quirky bars, is hard to forget. Visit out of peak summer season for high January temperatures of 16°C (61°F).

Winter doesn’t last very long in Savannah and with January highs of around 16°C (60°F), it’s barely noticeable. The city oozes sunny, Southern charm and an intriguing air of mystery, which is easier and cheaper to discover in the quieter, cooler months. Explore its thought-provoking museums and historic homes, then kick back in one of the restaurants and bars that line the river.

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Known as Savannah’s beach because it’s just about 18 miles (29km) from the city, this barrier island basks in January highs of around 16°C (61°F). Even if it isn’t exactly sunbathing weather, you can still enjoy strolling along, fishing from or just sitting on its famous broad sweep of sand, gazing at the sunset or scouring the water for resident dolphins.

Summer in NOLA, when there are highs of around 32°C (90°F), can feel uncomfortably hot for enjoying the city’s cocktail bars, jazz clubs and Creole-influenced cuisine. Head there in December or January instead, when daytime temperatures reach highs of 17°C (62°F), and hotel rates haven’t hit their festival season peak. 

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January is San Antonio’s coolest month with highs of around 17°C (62°F). So it’s pretty much always mild enough to stroll along the Riverwalk, lined with restaurants and bars, or potter around the boutiques and food hall at trendy Pearl, a micro-district built on a disused brewery site. Tip the hip scale off the charts by combining with a trip to Austin, around an hour and a half’s drive away.

January is the coolest month in this island city off Texas’ Gulf Coast, with highs of 17°C (62°F) in January, and the mercury often rising to 32°C (89°F) in August. So, while you might need a jumper in winter, it’s rarely truly cold. So you can indulge in retro seaside delights like amusement rides on the Pleasure Pier or kayak around the coast, which is rich in birdlife.

Almost exactly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo – or SLO – has a sunny disposition and an enviable location. Make walkable, lively downtown your base for exploring mountain trails, wineries and surrounding beach towns like Avila Beach, Cambria and Morro Bay. Temperatures can reach 18°C (64°F) in January and up to around 25°C (77°F) in summer.

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Dull days are rare in this chilled-out coastal city. And, if they do come, it’s a nice excuse to shelter in a Cali-Mexican restaurant or cool craft brewery. High temperatures range from 18°C (65°F) in January to 24°C (75°F) in summer. You can spot whales year-round too, with grey whales migrating from December to April and blue whales passing between June and September.

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Grand Isle is a wildlife lovers' paradise with a network of bird-spotting trails in oak forests and salt marshes. Between spotting brown pelicans and snowy egrets, the barrier island has honey-hued beaches and seafood restaurants to enjoy, often without crowds. It can be rainy but with January highs of 18°C (64°F), it’s pretty mild year round.

Sun-kissed Scottsdale has two summers – dry summer, in May and June, and wet summer, up to mid-September. Both have average highs around the 37°C (100°F) mark. Go in milder winter instead, when January highs can still reach 19°C (66°F) – it’s far more comfortable for exploring the charming Old Town and hitting miles of hiking trails.

Huntington Beach’s iconic pier bathes in January highs of 19°C (66°F), as do the surfers, sunbathers and sun-seekers who flock here. An hour’s drive south of LA, the beach town has an entirely different vibe that’s all about being outside, whether that means riding waves or toasting marshmallows on an evening beach bonfire.

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Arizona’s capital is rarely in the shade, with 3,832 annual hours of sunshine and average temperatures. Bask in the warmth of 19°C (67°F) January highs, while playing a few rounds at one of the city’s famed golf courses or strolling around botanical gardens filled with cacti. On the occasional scorcher, take a dip in Salt River or sample the city’s craft brew scene to cool down.

Aside from February, when prices rocket around the famous Daytona 500 NASCAR race, winter brings plenty of bargain stays and, of course, sunshine to this classic coastal destination. January days can reach 20°C (68°F) so you can wander along boardwalk arcades, eat seafood by the sand and drive on beaches without catching a chill.

This Sonoran Desert city is one of the sunniest places on Earth, with more than 4,000 hours of sunshine recorded annually. It can be unbearably hot in summer, when temperatures have been known to soar above 38°C (100°F). Winters, though, tend to be delightful, with January highs of 21°C (70°F). And, if it does get too hot, you can always cool off in the Colorado River or Martinez Lake, a popular spot for fishing, boating and swimming.

January highs of 21°C (70°F) – rising to 32°C (90°F) in summer – make this walkable, chilled-out city an affordable sunny getaway. Catch a free tram to Ybor City, whose Cuban heritage is present in old cigar factories and bakeries. Or explore the highlights of the Riverwalk, which links downtown’s dining and nightlife to galleries and hip neighbourhoods like Tampa Heights.

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What’s a better bet for sunshine than a desert? Retro-heaven Palm Springs has January highs of 22°C (71°F), with the hottest month, July, averaging 32°C (90°F). Throw in palm trees, mid-century modern homes, natural hot springs and an impressive number of tiki bars and brunch spots, and this southern California city is sure to warm your cockles any time of year. 

Blazingly white sands scattered with shells and lapped by warm waters make Sanibel Island and neighbouring Captiva justifiably popular. Holiday lets are good value, especially outside peak summer months. And, when the crowds fall away, temperatures stay balmy with January highs of around 23°C (73°F).

It’s perhaps unsurprising that the southernmost point in continental USA – marked by a buoy-shaped landmark – is blessed with year-round sunshine. January highs reach 23°C (74°F), while July and August can hit 32°C (89°F). Hot weather is still manageable thanks to the coastal breezes. The drive from Miami, along the water-skimming Overseas Highway, makes a lovely winter road trip too. 

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The beach stretches the length of Fort Lauderdale’s downtown area, making it pretty clear from the outset that this is a destination for sun and fun. It sees January highs of 24°C (75°F), so there’s never a bad time to explore its seafood restaurants, upscale shopping and waterways edged with lavish homes. The city is also perfect for incorporating into a southern Florida road trip.

Commonly called the Big Island, the 50th state’s largest isle is perfect for winter-sun seekers. Its landscapes range from verdant valleys to black-sand beaches and it basks in January highs of 26°C (79°F). The biggest city, Hilo, has an infectious, artsy vibe too. 

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It may be the rainy season, but that doesn't stop travellers descending on this verdant Hawaiian island to enjoy balmy January temperatures of 26°C (78°F). Explore the rainforest and cliff-backed beaches of the so-called Garden Isle – the colour-splashed Na Pali Coast is a particular highlight.

With January highs of 27°C (80°F), Oahu Island is perfect for sun-seekers. It's home to state capital Honolulu, famous surf spot Waikiki Beach and the site of Pearl Harbor. Diamond Head, a hulking dormant volcano by the water, is one of the island's most famous sights.

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Pastel-hued houses, surfing beaches, rainforest parks, and bioluminescent bays with micro-organisms that sparkle – this Caribbean island has plenty to offer any time of year, and it’s easy to travel and stay on a budget too. January is the coldest (or perhaps we should say least hot) month with highs of 28°C (82°F), but you'll still soak up plenty of sun. 

The US Virgin Islands – St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John – have January highs of 28°C (86°F). Swerve hurricane season (July to October), and visit in January to dive into lush national parks, bask on white-sand beaches and snorkel in crystal-clear waters. St. Croix is known for its affordable dive hotels, mostly aimed at scuba divers looking for a simple place to crash too. 

From trees weighed down with coconuts to rock formations and the shortbread sands of Tanguisson Beach, Guam is such a picture-perfect tropical island it barely feels real. January highs hover around 30°C (86°F), so you might just find yourself wishing for a chilly breeze. Then again, maybe not.

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