Polar Bear Plunge

Swimmers across the city will take to the not-so-icy waters to welcome the new year with the annual Polar Bear Plunge. Water and air temperatures on New Year’s Day typically hover around 60 degrees, which is Arctic enough if you ask us. You can spectate or dive in during meet-ups in Huntington Beach (dubbed Surf City Splash) and San Pedro, whose plunge at Cabrillo Beach tends to be the most consistent one. If you just can’t drag yourself out of bed after your New Year’s Eve partying though, you’re in luck: Santa Monica’s Annenberg Community Beach House hosts its own plunge later in the month, on the morning of January 10 ($10).