few questions about the usa/canada?
Question by billyboo: few questions about the usa/canada?
hi i might be allowed to go on a summer exchange to the USA/Canada!! (im in australia and our summer holidays are 6 weeks (in december-january) so how long do the winter holidays in the usa go for, i’m assuming its the same for canada and also how cold does it get in LA and where in canada is warmest in winter bacause i hate the cold!
thanks, best answer gets 10 points 
Best answer:
Answer by MasterPython
The warmest place in Canada is Southern British Columbia. At that time of year even they will likely have sub zero temperatures and snow.
Kids in school get around two weeks off for Christmas and New Years depending on where they live.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Here in Southern Ontario (the most southern part of Canada!!) during that time of year it gets to be average minus ten or so. At night it is about five or ten degrees colder. If you go up to Muskoka (central ontario.. AKA cottage country) during that time of year it’s usually minus 25 during the day and go down to minus 35 at night. If it’s a cold windy winter (like last winter) it gets much colder. It’s absolutely ridiculous but the snow is so much fun!! big tip —> If you don’t like sub zero weather then don’t come to Canada in the coldest time of the year.
The winter holidays in Canada and the US are short for students, usually around 2 to 2 1/2 weeks over Christmas/New Years. Some do go longer but not many.
In LA it can get cool around 5C at night sometimes even lower, but then again other times it can be in the 20s. It really does vary from day to day.
The warmest place in Canada to go is also on the West Coast like Victoria or Vancouver, BC. Victoria is usually warmer but cooler than the temps I gave you for LA.
Southern california doesnt really get too cold. During December and January, you still can go without a jacket, unless you’re a person who is sensitive to cold. As far as Canada, Im not sure what the warmest place is, but I think the province, BC, has fair weather ( but I hear it rains like a mofo!) But since Canada is cold, I say, take advantage of the snow and go snowboarding! SInce youre going to california anyway, take advantage of the beautiful mountains and snow here in canada!
if you go to L.A., make sure you go to O.C. (where I am from) just south of LA, visit Disneyland (great time to go cause theres no people) and California Adventure Park which requires a separate admission. In that same block, theres downtown disney, a shopping area with restaurants and bars and a House of Blues. Knotts Berry Farm is a smaller amusement park which is still lots of fun (go there before Disney). Also, close to Knotts is Medieval Times, a jousting show with dinner, you may want to check it out, I personally think its lame but tourists seem to like it, especially families. For food, make sure you hit up an “In N Out” burger, cause theyre the best and dont forget to get some Mexican food which is the best food in the world. Go to hole in the wall places, theyre the best ones, if youre there, go to Alberto’s which is my favorite, theres a few around OC-also, just ask locals for great hole in the wall mexican places they recommend.
Winter holidays go for 2 weeks, more or less, the last two weeks of December, so unfortunately you probably wont have girls and guys out having fun, its very sleepy in SoCal during CHristmas. Unless you go to Hollywood where there will be things going on.
Have fun
When it is the summer in Australia, it is midwinter here in USA and Canada. You can expect cooler temperatures depending on where you will end up on your exchange program.
In Canada, the mildest place during that period is the Vancouver area. It will be the rainy season, with some days and several nights that go below freezing. If you hate the cold, you probably should lean towards USA for your exchange.
In L.A., that time of year, you will probably not see snow except in the mountains, but you do get very cold nights with days hovering around 60-70F (about 15-18C).
I know of a young lady from Australia who came up to Canada on her summer break and loved it. My friends and I were out west on a ski trip to Banff and we met up with her during that time. She enjoyed the gondola trip to the scenic lookout at the top of Sulphur Mountain, a tour of the natural hot springs, and downhill skiing at Lake Louise and Sunshine Village resorts.
The best part of coming to Canada at that time of the year is that there are no bugs, any dangerous wild animals are hibernating, and you really look forward to warming up in front of a fireplace with a mug of cocoa at the end of a long cold day outside.
But if you are not really into trying the whole tobogganing, ice skating, hockey, skiing, snowboarding thing, in the Rocky Mountains (which are some of the best in the world for their skiing experience and spectacular views), then I would suggest San Francisco instead of Los Angeles as your destination.
L.A. area is huge and there are a few things to see there (Hollywood, Disneyland, Malibu, Pasadena Rose Bowl, etc) but in San Francisco you can visit the Golden Gate Bridge, walk the yard at Alcatraz, go to the Fisherman’s Wharf area, take the street trolleys, and I find it has more to offer a tourist in a smaller area than L.A. does.
But a lot depends on what your interests are, how much you can afford, and how much you want to travel. Perhaps you can post your interests here or in a new question and someone can give you a better idea of some suggestions for places to visit.
By the way, the flight from Australia to L.A. or Vancouver is about 12-13 hours, so get yourself some good reading material or get some sleep because it will feel like you’ve been flying for days!