10 Darling Small Towns in California

Avalon

Visitors never get tired of preaching Avalon, a scenic reprieve on Santa Catalina Island, some 20 miles off the SoCal coast. Welcoming you along the sunkissed docks, a little hike up, and you're at the darling downtown overlooking the waterfront. Seeping with culture, from the Catalina Island Visitor Center to the Catalina Museum for Art & History, the quirky restaurant scene will keep you on the go, unless you want to lounge. A typical local's day often begins and ends along a sandy shore at sunset, with highlights like South Beach, Middle Beach, and Step Beach. Each with a vibe, enjoy the tide for boating, kayaking, snorkeling, parasailing, or swimming.

The 38.5-mile Trans-Catalina Trail is a scenery-infused route to hike or conquer the length on a bike. Afterwards, cool off at Descanso Beach, while many enjoy the Catalina Island Casino, with a movie theater, ballroom, museum, and vintage interiors. Just an hour away via a ferry from the mainland, the unique small town ambience resembles a seaside European villa amid the transcending beauty of the region. Flaunting rolling evergreen hills and towering palm trees, the lush outdoors are steps from the colorful, compact streets. Take a leisurely stroll along Avalon Bay, through the hillside Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens, or for some shaded wilderness, hit up Catalina Island Conservancy.

Capitola

Hands down one of the state's cutest towns, you would never even guess just how historical Capitola is. Discovering it as the home of California's first beach resort, the circa-1874 Camp Capitola with Soquel Creek through the heart, is a pleasure-filled jouney along a blessed Pacific slice. Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria is a great jumpstart to your day with a pastry and a coffee or a lunch sandwich to get exploring. The beckoning seaviews along the Grand Ave. boardwalk will get even the laziest trailing behind the morning joggers to the small Capitola State Beach. Return for an evening at sunset, with a different vibe of the Monterey Bay coastline.

Home to local galleries and boutiques like Art Inspired, Capitola Seashells, and Tony Pagliaro Gallery, stop by the tiny red Capitola Historical Museum, free to enter, for local history. From the fishing wharf to the village with a mall, Shadowbrook Restaurant can delight the most discernible palates with flavorful California cuisine over a memorable evening, creekside with a wine list. New Brighton State Beach is just a stroll from your state park campsite in town, and for an elegant stay, you won't be remiss at the Capitola Venetian Hotel. Whether you're in for the weekend or a week, take a short drive to Seacliff State Beach for a more low-key scene.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Frequented by Brad Pitt and Clint Eastwood on holidays, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a real seaside vision that everyday tourists flock to relentlessly despite its generally higher price point. Primarily a "beaches and shopping" destination, the colorful town, stark against the electric blue of the Pacific, boasts cultural attractions, entertainment, and outdoor pursuits for every taste in spellbinding surroundings. Meander characterful streets on hunt for heritage landmarks, a loungable cafe, or head straight to the sandy, clear-watered Carmel River State Beach, ideal for sunbathing and swimming. Easily one of the most enchanting places in California, the Carmel area is a breeze to explore on a bike in the salty air along the stunning Monterey coastline.

Point Lobos State Park, one of the state's richest marine habitats, offers trails around canyons and kelp forests, plus diving sites and overlooks into the protected area with frolicking sea otters and lions, dolphins, and even killer whales. Carmel Beach is popular for its shaded cypress trees under the hot sun and the best sunset views. Wrapped up in lush wooded landscapes, the fairy tale-like architecture downtown lends a storybook feel with a choice of pursuits to narrate your own chapter. You won't find any chain restaurants, just one-of-a-kind dining experiences and local businesses along Ocean Avenue. Stop by the 1962 Tor House and sit down for a meal at the Portabella Italian restaurant, with drinks next door at the top-rated Windy Oaks Camel Tasting Room.

Eureka

Eureka is a Victorian treasure trove of elegance, filled with rugged, remote ocean landscapes. eure between a majestic coastline and the towering redwoods, this small coastal gem transports you to the bygone era along its array of ornate buildings and vibrant colors of the Old Town. Take a hike through the stunningly beautiful forest to the Redwood Sky Walk at the Sequoia Park Zoo, popular among families and adventurers alike. Sequoia Park Zoo is a historic spot with pandas, primates, and an aviary, plus a petting area, a gift shop, and redwood forest education. From kayaking along the ocean shores to rivers running through redwood growth, the mix of scents is inebriating.

With a knack for artistry, the city's unique allure also comes from one-of-a-kind shops, restaurants, and other businesses. Enjoy easy beach access across the Tuluvat Island to a string of warm sands, washed by the cooling Pacific, like Samoa Beach. From the Morris Graves Museum of Art to an ocean tour with the Madaket Harbor Cruise. The architectural splendor makes Eureka a cultural wonder, including the eclectic Ingomar Club, a grand Victorian house with turrets and gables. For more nature, Humboldt Coastal Nature Center is perfect for a rainy day activity, just north via Hwy 101. And when it's dinner time, Lost Coast Brewery & Cafe hosts a comfy, down-to-earth brewpub featuring house beers on tap and classic American cuisine.

Idyllwild

Nestled entirely within Mount San Jacinto State Park, beneath Mount San Jacinta peak to the north, some say that this wondrous mountain town is a mile-high paradise. Surrounded by towering pines and breathtaking mountain vistas, the underrated darling feels cut off from the rest of the state. Idyllwild welcomes you awash with verdant forests and granite peaks—Yosemite-like landscapes without the crowds. Having served as a popular summer retreat for artists, musicians, and nature enthusiasts since the 19th century, Idyllwild has bloomed with galleries, festivals, and theaters showcasing local art. After a good hike from Deer Springs Trailhead, you'll be straving for the local brewpub's upscale fare in a polished space with a live band.

Many enjoy Idyllwild Nature Center for a fun family day along the trails with picnic areas, plus education on local ecology and Cahuilla Native culture. Bottoming out into the 202-acre Idyllwild Regional Park with lakes and shaded campsites with fire pits, Idyllwild complements the natural world with its own rustic charm along the streets with local businesses. For one-of-a-kind goods and no chain restaurants and stores, its quaint array of shops, cozy cafes, and inviting lodges offer a warm atmosphere in every season to enjoy between waterfalls and trails through the rugged wilderness. Just a quick northbound drive to Cabazon and you're at the Desert Hills Premium Outlets, an upscale outdoor shopping center for designer fashions and casual dining.

Julian

Arguably one of the best fall destinations in the state, families adore this mountain town, perched high above San Diego County. To be looking down on the rest of the hustle and bustle over sweeping wooded landscapes, it only takes about an hourlong scenic drive from the city. Welcoming visitors into a former gold mining town, Julian offers an abundance of outdoor activities, historic sites, and harvest picking. Its old-timey main street features Western-style facades decked out in Americana and the infamous Julian Pie Company, your undeniable companion for morning java or an afternoon snack. Nearly as iconic, Julian Cider Mill promises fun evenings a-many after exploring the many beautiful parks around, like Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, 20 minutes east.

Just north of downtown, Volcan Mountain Trailhead is an artist-designed gateway into an expansive wilderness preserve with an elevated trail for top view. Just south, Desert View Park offers great scenery to explore with a picnic, and for something more immersive, the tranquil William Heise County Park features hiking trails, RV and tent camping, basic cabins, and comfort amenities. Afterwards, enjoy the warm atmosphere at Julian Beer Co., a laid-back BBQ joint in an airy space with an open-beam ceiling plus an outdoor seating area. From Cuyamaca Rancho State Park to Serenity Sage Visuals, an artist studio, stop by Eagle Mining Co. for unforgettable insights into the historic gold mine behind much of the riches you see today, with tunnel tours, gold panning, and a gift shop.

Malibu

Who hasn't heard of "the 'Bu"? And while this town boasts world-wide recognition with an almost mythological status, few can lay out its notable attractions beyond the elegant veil of privacy along the beaches that make it a national darling. "Malibu Seafood" overflows with fresh catches, where you can try the famed Ahi tuna burger at a picnic table, overlooking the stunning coastline views. The circa-1953 Surfrider bathes in its old-school surf culture charm as a posh hotel, complete with a roof deck and farm-to-table restaurant. Plain visitors enjoy oceanfront strolls between the villas and unforgettable sunsets. Beyond the Pier, the two-hour Malibu Wine Hike meanders along the rolling terrain of Saddlerock Ranch vineyard with wine tasting and stops like Chumash cave drawings.

Strethcing over 30 miles along the Pacific coastline and Highway One, Malibu's northern Point Dume is an ideal perch to spot migrating gray whales. Contemporary, beachy masterpieces decorate 30 historic surfboards since the 1910s, while Pepperdine University’s Payson Library is home to the iconic Surf Museum. Make a reservation to Getty Villa—the original home of the Getty Museum, opened in 1974, with its Ancient Greek and Roman Art, free of admission. Nearby, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area features trails through hills and canyons with spring wildflowers and waterfalls. Dine organic waterfront at Malibu Farm Restaurant on the pier, or Hawaiian at Duke’s Malibu, which honors the pioneering surfer Duke Kahanamoku.

Pismo Beach

Not all beaches are created equal, and Pismo boasts one of the best, which is a lot to say in a state chock-ful of them. Located midway between LA and San Francisco, the southern and northern hubs, respectively, enjoy easy access just off Highway 101. A classic beach town along California's famous central coast greets you with beloved and shiny new attractions. Enjoy wading in fashionable sandals or flip-flops between ice cream shops, surf stores, and boutiques. With coffee shops and waterfront cafes made for lounging, the most popular Splash Café is a beachy burger joint serving clam chowder, fish and chips, and hot dogs. From golfing to ATVs and horseback rides at Oceano Dunes Natural Preserve, many enjoy adventurous kayaking around sea caves at Dinosaur Caves Park.

Tipping out at 1,200 feet, the spectacular pier into the Pacific offers sweeping views of the coastline and beachfront action, like surfing, bodyboarding, and fishing. The long white-sanded stretches beckon for pleasant morning strolls under great weather, while the surrounding wineries encourage explorations beyond the award-winning boardwalk adjacent to the Pismo Pier. The iconoc dog-friendly Monarch Butterfly Grove features a tree-filled grove with thousands of monarch butterflies in late October through February. Home to the California Welcome Center, Pismo Beach Premium Outlets is every shopaholic's and window shoppers' dream. Book a lesson at Esteem Surf Co. with the motto "Not L.A., Not the Bay," and enjoy the spectacular views of Pismo while riding the waves.

Sausalito

Sausalito, one of the dreamiest small towns in the state, welcomes visitors with sweeping coastline views on the northern side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Just a hop for a fresh breath of air to recharge, it is a favorite escape from the city and a long-beloved destination among nation-wide tourists. For those coming from the inland, Sausalito offers a perfect base to explore its own vibrant attractions, drive across the iconic bridge, and soak up some San-Fran charm. Home to just over 7,000, the peaceful vibes and bayfront location make you feel more than a mile from the bustle, while "Fish" serves sustainably sourced seafood in a laid-back atmosphere in the outdoors, bayside.

Enjoy an architectural stroll from the waterside to the town's heart, which collides at Bridgeway, the apt main drag with breathtaking water and city views. Sift through the local shops, restaurants, and parks, with a stop at the family favorite Bay Area Discovery Museum at the foot of the bridge, with kid-friendly educational exhibits. Bay Model Visitor Center reproduces the rise and fall of tides in San Francisco's bay. Say hello to creatures at the Marine Mammal Center, and no visit to Sausalito is validated without a photo in front of the colorful houseboats in Galilee Harbor or Waldo Point Harbor. A reprieve in the uncrowded feel and a bout of water-based real estate envy are guaranteed!

Solvang

Established in the 1900s, darling, doesn't even begin to describe this Dutch-inspired community right across from San Francisco in California's wine-growing Santa Ynez Valley. One of the most intriguing small-town destinations in the Golden State, Solvang welcomes visitors with great weather, culture, local delicacies, vineyards, and wine-sipping opportunities. Albeit not without a little kitsch, the town keeps it real on a stroll along its authentic architecture, museums, and windmills. From Danish treats to hunting for crafty souvenirs, it is impossible to leave without a pair of wooden clogs and a big smile on your face after chowing down some aebleskiver, like a doughnut hole, but better. Olsen’s Danish Village Bakery serves a touch of tradition.

Journey into California’s heritage at Solvang and getaway into Santa Barbara wine country, like during the harvest season, with tasting rooms in town. Just in time for the “Danish Days” in September, many enjoy traditional dress, delicious food, games, and activities. Continue your vibrant browsing through the “Danish Capital of America” with exhibits and artifacts at the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art. Now a museum and church, the nearby Mission Santa Ines, was founded in 1804. The Rideau Vineyard boasts tons of open space in a quaint ambiance for wine tasting or close gatherings. Commemorate your visit over a picnic and unique photo at Solvang Windmill—straight from overseas—that makes you look like a globetrotter.

It's impossible not to fall for the charms of these ten darlings in the Golden State. Enjoy surfing in Malibu or explore around for some spring wildflowers and waterfalls—more than just celebrity- and top-athlete-ridden—thanks Shwartznegger? While some towns bathe in fame, others stay oblivious to their own charms.

Eureka is filled with ornate architecture and rugged, remote ocean landscapes, plus Sequoia Park Zoo among the world's tallest trees, which are stunning by the way. Explore the sea caves in Pismo Beach or visit the Spanish Mission near Solvang, where you can try an aebleskiver in front of a windmill for your feed and feel like a Dane during its "Danish Days" activities.