A lot of New Yorkers and New Englanders booked winter trips to Havana and the Caribbean to escape winter for a while, especially in the 1920-1940 time frame.  The trips were on cruise ships and lasted 1-3 weeks.  I've read that some of the cruise lines offered special fares to even up the single sex ratios.  My ancestors were never flush enough to get tickets.  Maybe that's why they went to California.