13 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in California
Are you among the curious and tireless seeking unforgettable experiences? Well, you're in luck; California has just the perfect small towns for you. From the beaches to the northern Redwoods, these oases host something you will undoubtedly find unforgettable that appeases your taste, with pursuits that feel crafted just for you and your loved ones.
Everyone deserves an unforgettable getaway inspired by these small towns. Take Carmel by the Sea, for instance. Brimming with small-town charm, each aspect more luxurious than the last, it offers a well-earned escape to experience a fairytale come to life in a pet-loving atmosphere. You can start with the European vibes in Avalon and make your way over to the rose in the desert, La Quinta. Additionally, you can harvest and distill real roses into fragrant oil and rosewater in Healdsburg!
Avalon
This unique island-town experience, 20 miles off the southern California coast, is truly worth all the hype surrounding Catalina Island! Bestowing the feeling of an overseas villa, Avalon's major European vibes merge with pine-scented evergreen hills and tropical palms in an intoxicating concoction for all senses. The thrills start from the get-go with an hour-long ferry ride from the mainland, continue through the colorful, compact streets, and onto adventures like scaling its highest peak, Mt. Orizaba.
Descanso Beach is pure perfection for relaxing with views of Avalon Bay and serene strolls through the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens, while the Catalina Island Conservancy lets you explore the wild side. The one-square-mile town is perfectly strollable as it is, with the Green Pleasure Pier, and there's a 25-year waitlist to have a car here. Plus, when you're not lounging on the white sands, you'll enjoy snorkeling off the coast!
Capitola
Originally the site of the indigenous Awaswas village and then a Spanish mission, Capitola was transformed into a resort town by the American Frederick A. Hihn. Quaint and colorful, this seaside village has been attracting sightseers since its early days as a humble tent camp, welcoming its first guests in 1874.
Now boasting a 1.1 billion-dollar tourism industry, Capitola offers attractions like the Capitola Historical Museum and numerous wineries. Visitors can explore the original beach resort, unique rainbow-colored homes, shops, and restaurants along the seaside hills by Soquel Creek. The bayfront promenade is perfect for leisurely strolls, window shopping, and snacking, embodying the quintessential Santa Cruz experience. From the captivating soft sands of Capitola Beach to the sugary shores of New Brighton State Beach, the gentle breeze, a gift from the Pacific Ocean currents, both caresses and cools visitors.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
Once under the mayorship of Clint Eastwood, this quintessential village in Central California feels like a haven for sea lovers, romantic couples, and avid art enthusiasts. With natural beauty abounding along the Monterey coastline, sightseeing is a daily activity, akin to enjoying gourmet cuisine, nearly 100 galleries, and unique shopping experiences. Here, you'll find no chain restaurants, just freshly prepared seafood and other delicacies at local businesses, albeit at a higher price. With its remarkably pet-friendly attitude, you can bring your pup to most restaurants and galleries for an unforgettable experience along the Golden Coast.
Fitting it all into a fairy-tale-like architecture in a friendly, tail-wagging area of just a square mile, Carmel is one of the most enchanting towns in California. The stunning, lush, wooded landscape expands your experience into a truly dreamy vacation destination, where strolls in places like Mission Trail Park, just north of Junipero Street, turn into hikes. With everything within arm's reach, you can browse unique boutiques along Ocean Avenue and quickly relax at Carmel Beach after dropping your gift bags at a pet-friendly hotel. Or, you might seek shade under the fragrance of cypress trees in a private spot until sunset.
Dana Point
Along the namesake harbor, this may seem like just another lovely little coastal town in Orange County, but Doheny State Beach and Salt Creek, renowned as surfing destinations, are just the beginning. Known as “The Whale Watching Capital of the World,” there are ample opportunities to commune with wildlife. The Pirate Sea Cave Tide Pool Walk offers a stroll through natural history, with living creatures crawling and gliding before your eyes. From the seven miles of coastline beneath stunning bluffs to bluff-top overlooks and gently rolling hills, there is hiking for every level!
The must-see Lantern District, with street names inspired by maritime signal lanterns, offers a fun and insightful hunt for the remaining 5 copper lanterns that once guided traders on ships to port using color-coded messages—among other timeless maritime charms in Dana Point with its unflagging air of romance. Charming and walkable, you can wander around quaint marinas with boat sights and follow the wet trails to the beaches where surfers hang ten. The upscale Laguna Cliffs Marriott and resort will tuck you in an unforgettable way, or you can just stay long enough to enjoy a memorable meal overlooking the Pacific!
Fallbrook
The underrated SoCal gem, Fallbrook, is worth falling for, right in your own backyard in North San Diego County! Few are aware of its inland charms, hidden in the shadow of the coastal town of Oceanside, along the 76 freeway. Not a typical Golden State destination, Fallbrook is full-on classic Americana with ties to one of Hollywood’s most celebrated filmmakers. Frank Capra, the director, writer, and producer of "It’s a Wonderful Life," starring Jimmy Stewart, probably based his inspirations on the town where he lived and loved.
With its sweet downtown area, replete with cute little shops and restaurants, you can reminisce over Germany at the 127 Social House over a quick bite of the delicious Bavarian-style pretzel that goes down well with beer. The rural parts of town give Italy and the South of France a run for their money in views, offering serene spaces to explore and picnic with your loved ones! From the Heritage Center to the Palomares House and Park, you will learn how this little town is the “Avocado Capital of the World,” paying homage to this rich fruit with a highly celebrated Avocado Festival in April.
Ferndale
You know those towering redwoods everyone talks about? There's no better town to experience such grandeur than Ferndale, tucked between the California Redwoods and Humboldt Bay. It is practically magical and offers the best of all worlds, where sea breezes and forest scents blend along charming Victorians that effortlessly bring the past into the present against magnificent Lost Coast views.
With a fusion of old-fashioned Americana and modern quirkiness, Ferndale feels like it's straight off a movie screen, making you the star while enjoying local, good-feeling pursuits. With a vibrant dairy industry, you can stock up on fresh cheeses, amble between ice cream parlors on hot summer days, and take a day trip to nearby Eureka. You will keep coming back to this one-of-a-kind atmosphere long after in your mind, with every picture-perfect angle filling your camera with fantastically preserved Victorian-era architecture and stunning coastal scenery.
Healdsburg
It doesn't get closer to a Southern France getaway in the US than Healdsburg, a beautiful NorCal town in Sonoma County. Kick it off with Costeaux French Bakery for an indulgent breakfast, serving legendary artisan breads, fresh pastries, and tasty café meals since 1923! The rural town charms find you through beautiful landscapes. You can amble around the rolling hills and world-acclaimed wine-growing appellations under persistently pleasant weather—a standout quality in the north of the state as a true year-round getaway destination!
Still, this town encourages you to spend time indoors for vino tastings and Michelin-starred restaurants in between exploring the charming town square with quirky shops and art galleries. There's the annual seafood dinner at the Healdsburg Fire Department in April, when you can also harvest and distill roses into fragrant oil and rosewater with the Classic Perfume Rose Harvest & Distillation Tours. The Williamson Wines-sponsored Epicurean Dinner takes place each first Friday throughout the year!
La Quinta
Basking in the Coachella Valley, La Quinta, southeast of Palm Springs, is a town of 38,000 locals living in a real desert rose—a leading golf destination. Frank Capra wrote "Lost Horizon" at the legendary La Quinta Resort, which has been luring celebrities since its inception in 1926, while the municipal SilverRock offers outstanding golfing at the foot of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Besides the 100 golf courses in the surrounding area, there's something for everyone, like world-class spas, shopping, fine dining, and poolside lounging, which speak volumes in a desert! La Quinta delights with unforgettable charms, such as a quaint shopping village and outdoor opportunities around, including the Salton Sea and biking on the Bear Creek Trail.
Laguna Beach
Not just another beach town, Laguna Beach is among the most famous and fun destinations in the state. Its captivating natural beauty attracts sightseers, outdoors enthusiasts, and artists, who find it a haven for daily inspiration. Now, their creations enliven the streets, boutiques, and galleries with vibrant decorations, among other fun-filled activities. It wouldn't be a beach town without the sand, and Laguna Beach boasts some of the best in the Golden State for water sports, relaxing, sunbathing, and beach crawls. You can enjoy the seven miles of coves and stunning canyons, like Thousand Steps Beach, and magnificent sunsets at Crystal Cove State Park or the beautiful Heisler Park.
The town, situated between San Diego and Los Angeles, epitomizes SoCal dreams, from boutique shopping to a first-rate foodie scene, featuring places like Nick's with fresh seafood. Victoria Beach is known for its pirate tower built into the cliffs, while Main Beach is famed for its traditional sandy shores under the year-round warm and mild climate, perfect for late-night parties. Among a colorful array of festivals, the world-class Sawdust Art and Craft Festival stands out with food, entertainment, and local artisan booths. The nearly century-old Pageant of the Masters is world-renowned for bringing the most iconic paintings and artworks in history to life!
Mendocino
The bluff-top town of Mendocino is the perfect place to enjoy the simple things in life: play, eat, and shop. Situated between Headlands State Park and Mendocino Bay, its groovy downtown boasts a hippie vibe from the past and quaint New England-style architecture. You can connect with nature in the state park, a wildlife corridor linking the coast to inland areas along the Mendocino Headlands Trail. Enjoy spring wildflowers and hiking along secluded cliff trails, accompanied by the sounds of seagulls, splashing waters, and barking seals. The Mendocino Art Center, established in the 1950s by San Francisco artists, is a must-visit.
The historic Ford House, which houses a city museum and the State Park Visitors Center, offers stunning ocean views and hosts the Mendocino Music Festival in July. After exploring blowholes, wave tunnels, sea arches, grottos, and tide pools along the beaches, enjoy an evening performance at the Mendocino Theater Company. Don't miss bird-watching at Cleone Lake, and the tidal lagoon in MacKerricher State Park. Fort Bragg, just three miles south, features the half-day Skunk Train trip to inland Northspur. Just two miles north of Mendocino, Russian Gulch State Park is home to a 36-foot-high waterfall and Devil's Punch.
Sausalito
The town on the northern side of San Francisco shares its iconic Golden Gate Bridge—an unforgettable sight in itself—over the bay's beautiful, sparkling waters. Sausalito is worth a visit just to experience the landmark from the other side, with its small-town atmosphere. The underrated town effortlessly charms with its name meaning "small willow grove" and the stunning Richardson Bay, home to houseboat enclaves. Boasting a steady population of over 7,000, Sausalito aspires to perfection, from the scenic road trip over the bridge to the picturesque waterfront, creatively "stocked" by resilient artist squatters after World War II.
The meticulous downtown area, with historic landmarks and a vibrant art scene, draws crowds for immersive experiences like the Bay Area Discovery Museum and the Marine Mammal Center, often with kids in tow. From the area's colorful houseboats at both Galilee Harbor and Waldo Point Harbor to the Bridgeway, the main drag, Sausalito offers a welcome breath of fresh air from the bustling city of San Francisco! Speaking of which, you can meander along the bayfront with breathtaking water and skyline views while browsing unique Heath Ceramics, local restaurants, and parks, including Dunphy Park and Morning Sun Trailhead!
Solvang
We'll never tire of extolling the virtues of Solvang, one of California's most intriguing small towns! Quintessentially Danish, it will take your breath away with its fairytale architecture, especially in the southern Santa Ynez Valley. Known as "The Danish Capital of America," it hosts a quaint cottage scene at the gateway to Santa Barbara wine country, complete with its own tasting rooms and a town windmill. The stylized community offers a taste of Denmark without kitsch, from renowned bakeries serving Aebleskiver, akin to doughnut holes, to decor and souvenirs for home.
Adored for its unique heritage today, Danish immigrants began settling in the region in 1850, fleeing economic problems in their homeland and leaving behind a mid-19th-century lookalike for us to admire. Retaining culture in a close-knit community, you can join in the Danish cultural festivities and visit Old Mission Santa Ines, once used to evangelize Indigenous Americans—an important landmark providing insights into Solvang's long and complex history.
The Golden State, studded with real gems in its small town scene, is unforgettable, no matter what experience you choose from the list, but Fallbrook has ties to Frank Capra, the director, writer, and producer of It’s a Wonderful Life! Then there is the blufftop Mendocino and the candy-colored Capitola, while the hidden gem of La Cañada Flintridge is just north of Hollywood!
