10 Small Towns In Southern California Were Ranked Among US Favorites
Southern California is a destination that promises relaxation, adventures, and experiences for everyone to enjoy while bonding over something special. Every SoCal town on this list is not only a favorite but so special that even despite its smack-in-the-face popularity, it retains a personality and quirks that no town in the world, let alone the state, can match. These real characters of towns—the real darlings of the whole nation—make it easy to make cherishable memories with your loved ones.
Avalon
No list of SoCal towns is complete without Avalon, with every taste of favorite pursuits. The abounding experiences start with the scenic ferry ride into this island town at the south end of the beautiful Santa Catalina Island. The harbor greets you with a lineup of candy-colored homes, while a cruise around reveals the picture-perfect island's scenery from every side. Take a harborside stroll along the adorable shops, with something for everyone to enjoy on a stroll in the sea breeze. Start with a cup of java from one of your favorite cafes with a stunning oceanfront view and a pristine blue surface beckoning for a dip and your favorite water sports.
Meander up and down the narrow streets with the tranquil seascape twinkling in between the building roofs, illuminated by the blazing sun in the pleasant year-round weather. Immerse yourself in the real magical outdoors with hikes through the dazzling flora of many gorgeous colors and vibrant emerald plants. It is no wonder that Avalon, an ethereal town, receives upwards of 1 million annual tourists. Come see what it is all about in the destination favored for hundreds of years by worldwide pop culture stars and influential politicians. Keep the euphoria going through ecological sights like the Catalina Island Conservancy and Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden, along with alluring cultural hotspots like the Avalon Theatre and Catalina Island Casino.
Encinitas
This quintessential SoCal surf town is a real sun-kissed slice with charms for curious sightseers' and outdoor fans' tastes. Enjoy easy access in the North County of San Diego and follow the wet trails to the shores amid bungalow porches with wet suits flailing about and cute taco shops to quickly recharge the water creatures. Encinitas's energy infectiously makes you want to dive into the cool local lifestyle and never resurface again. Absorb all the culture from the cluster of oceanfront restaurants overlooking the dramatic bluffs.
Featuring a beautiful compact downtown area with hotspots, the larger town, with some 61,000 residents and previously comprising five different towns, is one of the best small beach towns today. Come catch a wave or two alongside the friendly locals and take a serene stroll through the famous Botanic Gardens, spread over 37 acres and featuring 29 different themed gardens. Hit the beach, explore the sophisticated downtown charm, and repeat.
La Jolla
This chic little town with so much to do is a favorite destination for boutique shopping and fancy dinners along the dressed-up La Jolla shoreline. Immerse yourself in the relaxed, luxurious feel reminiscent of but without Carmel-By-The-Sea prices. Hit the famous La Jolla beaches like La Jolla Cove, a skip away from your waterfront hotel. The town crafts its shoreline for your specific taste of water pleasure once you lift yourself off the soft sands to catch the best waves or take a stroll along San Diego's coastline for more rugged views made pleasantly comical by the local sea lion.
Just 20 minutes north of San Diego, La Jolla's village is easily strollable to reach everything in minutes, yet with endless sights and activities, you will stay entertained for hours, with a different one every day. From its renowned aquarium to a fun-filled family day at the beach, a slew of romantic restaurants and dimly lit bars await date nights and groups of friends. Visit the family-friendly La Jolla Shores Beach for swimming, surf lessons, or a romantic stroll down the vast sandy stretch, with nearby accommodations and shopping that take your beach trip to another level. Even the simple strolls here reveal picture-perfect views, with cafes at each corner and places to picnic in nature with jaw-dropping views of the Pacific.
Laguna Beach
Pack your flip-flops and surfboard for the nation's favorite town, right from the TV screen. Beyond its movie, surf, and beach fame, Laguna Beach is a laid-back and easygoing town. Its renowned artist colony awaits culture lovers, while the long, sandy miles of beaches, beloved for generations, warmly welcome friends, families, and lovers. Experience the special vibe and topography unique to all other SoCal coastal towns with easy access halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego. Find 20,000 acres of protected wilderness next door—a paradise for nature-starved and adventure-hungry tourists. Immerse yourself in the naturally beautiful world on a mountain bike along world-level trails for beginners to experts and hundreds of miles of hiking through dramatic vistas, including verdant hills and marine sanctuaries.
The seven miles of coves and beaches beckon for a full-on relaxation mode between your favorite activities along the whole stretch, including sea caves, tide pools, and hanging bluffs with picnics and photoshoots. Take a stroll through the buzzing downtown area, filled with antique cafes and fancy restaurants. With the state's largest concentration of beachfront lodgings right here, you can snatch a beachfront deal, a downtown condo, or a clifftop cabin to complement your style of getaway. Descend to the beach from the rocky ledges along the array of colorful homes and vibrant storefronts with a ton of vendors to buy "only here" food and merchandise like handmade jewelry.
Manhattan Beach
Just southwest of LA, Manhattan Beach is not just another SoCal town but a favorite city escape among the "Angels," with its own 35,135 dwellers in the paradise. See what the buzz is about along this Pacific slice of coast near the second-largest city in the US, receiving 4 million annual tourists from around the world to enjoy in between the LA scene. The town, with its cool profile yet warm ambience, modestly offers the whole world at the feet of the refreshing waters, replete with lush scenery for shade seekers. Visit the destination town anytime, with the easiest access from the city and even the inland areas.
Take a stroll in the sea breeze along the shore under the relaxation-inducing vibes and eye-pleasing scenery, chosen some 8,000 years ago by the indigenous American Tongva tribe. Manhattan Beach, a former Chowigna settlement, solidified its popular retirement into nature with features like the spectacular Sand Dune Park, Hermosa Beach Pier, and Polliwog Park open for recreation. Enjoy your favorite beachside pursuits and explore the area's countless family-friendly spots like the Roundhouse Aquarium, AdventurePlex, and Manhattan Beach Art Center for the cultured.
Morro Bay
Morro Bay, a cute town along the rolling hills, is a perfect blend of SoCal's best coastal scenery and bucolic charms. Start with a morning stroll or jog to the statement-making Morro Rock before breakfast at one of Morro Bay's waterfront cafes. Dive into the waters of Morro Strand State Beach's 3-mile stretch with windsurfing, fishing, and swimming. The town with a perfect cultural profile offers a fun downtown scene replete with charming hotspots that make the old-timey charms especially cool. From seafood restaurants and vintage shopping to a classic movie theater and local bars with pool tables, you can enjoy a wholesome family getaway where everyone finds excitement while bonding.
One of the least visited SoCal coastal towns, with just under 11,000 residents, offers a remote experience, with only around 800,000 die-hard fans during the summer months. Although they spend over $160 on their tropical summer seascape, many come for nature, which is full of lagoons, nature trails, and saltwater marsh habitats packed with bird species. Discover history at Morro Bay State Park's Museum of Natural History with exciting exhibits and intriguing local Chumash Indigenous American facts. Among its plethora of ecology, take the aptly named Beautiful Trails to Black Hill for the best views of Morro Bay times three: the namesake bay and the rock. Return to the ancient, volcanic rock for a picnic and photoshoot commemorating your fun-filled stay at the sleepy fishing village before a sunset seafood feast at the Galley Seafood Grill & Bar.
Ojai
Not your typical beach town, Ojai wraps its fans in unique scenery and culture like no other in the state for a memorable getaway with new experiences. The town, with a slew of art, culture, and local history in everything that it touches, is joyous on a stroll, like a chapel turned museum. Every place here feels special, crafted for a specific taste but relatable to everyone with a memory or a feeling in their chest, like Bart's Books. Browse through this literature cave with rare collection lists while your friends enjoy the picture-worthy atmosphere and drop coins in the slot to pay and pick up any books at any time.
This scenic town in the valley, the heart of Ventura County, offers the most charming and peaceful escape into the natural embrace that will take away your breath. With just over 7,500 souls and many visitors, you can still enjoy all the rolling hills, lush forests, and serene rivers in close group serenity. Come with your loved ones to find excitement and share memories after hiking, biking, horseback riding, wine tasting, and golfing in every natural view of the historic Ojai Valley—a breath-stealer. Return in June for the most sensual "Lavender Month," when the gorgeous lavender flowers bloom and wrap Ojai under their heavenly-scented purple veil.
San Clemente
Visit San Clemente, a quiet beach town in California, to never guess just how popular of a destination it really is. Despite the hustle and bustle of Anaheim around it, its strong character and one-of-a-kind charm act like a guard against letting the big city engulf the small town ambience. Visit San Clemente for the feeling of having stepped into a whole other realm where the traffic slows and the relaxed local vibe infects you with a "go with the flow" attitude. With many pursuits that disperse small groups, you can find surprisingly uncrowded beaches and become even more immersed in oneness with nature when you choose to camp along the sands. Wake up every morning to swimming, surfing, or lounging along the calm shores from your doorstep.
The Pacific Coast Highway town under a blanket of bliss is one of the most scenic beach towns in California as well as culturally abundant, earning the telling nickname "Spanish Village by the Sea." Take an immersive stroll at the serene Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, with human and natural history surrounding this Orange County gem. San Clemente exudes scenic vibes from every pore, like the picturesque sandy beaches, the beautiful colonial-style architecture, and the San Clemente Pier, its top attraction. The coastal hiking and biking trails for miles offer easy access to the downtown shopping scene with shops and diners. Come year-round to this SoCal beacon for water sports and fishing, with fresh oysters at seafood restaurants on the boardwalk and catching your own dinner from the pier.
Santa Barbara
The romantic town of Santa Barbara is a favorite destination in the south of the state, dressed with red-tiled rooftops under an old-timey feel and glam in the air. Visit this real Bougainvillea on a family-friendly getaway where birdsong mingles with the ocean breeze on a stroll with sea views, islands, and spouting whales at the horizon. The picture-perfect town captivates from the get-go and at every step, where every sight is Instagram-worthy in a unique atmosphere. Just 90 miles north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is a perfect weekend respite on a day trip along Highway 101 with two beaches.
Enjoy easy access, even by train, for a day spent along the pristine sands, or stay overnight on a budget with hikes and camping through the glorious Gaviota State Park. Find Rincon Beach Park, some 20 miles to the south, with a remote feel, along with world-class surfing at Rincon Point, to handle the waves without crowds. Explore places like Refugio State Beach or Campus Point Beach on the famously gorgeous UC Santa Barbara Campus—definitely a must-see—and visit Hendry's Beach with your four-legged friend, including the Boathouse Restaurant, for a memorable seaside dining experience.
Venice Beach
Santa Monica's southern neighbor, Venice Beach, or Venice to the locals and Venice the Beautiful to its many die-hard fans, is where a lot of quirks occur. Immerse yourself in the prominent bohemian vibe alongside skateboarders, mimes, jugglers, musicians, and other street performers that make the famous beachfront boardwalk so iconic. The dynamic culture and fluid scenery defy this hip town, which has an unforgettable atmosphere and endless ways to experience it. Rent a beach bike for a ride along the 22-mile Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail, heading south to the boho-chic Abbot Kinney Boulevard for dinner along the mile-long stretch of high-end restaurants. Enjoy a retail fix amid food trucks, live music, and posh galleries, with edgy boutiques for furnishings and fashions to decorate yourself and your house, and bring something pretty for a friend back home.
This seaside paradise of around 41,000 friendly locals welcomes an endless string of tourists. Just outside of Los Angeles, the real chaos of downtown with art sights and an entertainment mecca unlike any other attracts many unusual characters to come and live here. Take a beachfront stroll or skateboard ride along with others in the Venice skate park and head to the world-famous Muscle Beach to let out some steam on the home turf of the bodybuilder, actor, and Governor Schwarzenegger. Venice Beach feels crafted for family visits but synthesizes pursuits that will delight any group along the walkway from the downtown Venice area to the Santa Monica Pier. The High Rooftop Lounge is a must-experience real LA scene to feel high while enjoying high-end food, specialty cocktails, and a live DJ from an open-air deck overlooking the rest of the Earthly creatures.
Find one blissful experience after another along the pristine sands, coastal trails, and nature hikes of these SoCal towns. Immerse yourself in small-town charm through the downtown shopping and dining of your life, with arts and cultural sights abounding. Enjoy low crowds when you visit off-season, or come in the summer to get into the real spirit of what makes these towns the favorite SoCal destinations in the US.
