6 Coziest Towns To Visit In Southern California
Southern California is home to a collection of charming towns. Whether it's the Old West allure of Julian, the vineyard-rich landscape of Santa Ynez, or the island serenity of Avalon, these towns provide perfect escapes from the urban hustle. Explore the artistic vibes of Joshua Tree, relax on the tranquil beaches of Carpinteria, or enjoy the family attractions at Lake Arrowhead. These six cozy Southern California towns have much to discover, making them ideal for day trips, weekend getaways, or longer stays.
Julian
Julian is an old mining town in the Cuyamaca Mountains that has preserved its Old West charm. The town was established in the 1870s after the Julian family, who founded the Julian Mining Company, discovered gold and quartz in the area. Tours of the mines at Julian and nearby Eagle Mining Companies are available, and visitors can even try panning for gold. Learn about the town's gold rush history through fascinating exhibits and artifacts at the Julian Pioneer Museum. After the peak of the gold rush, most small towns turned into ghost towns overnight (think Bodie), but not Julian.
Thanks to James Madison's ingenuity, who recognized Julian's soil and climate as perfect for apple growing, the town is now most famous for its apples, apple pie, and apple cider. Stroll down Main Street to shop for antiques, crafts, and specialty foods, or enjoy an old-fashioned soda at Miner’s Diner in the historic Levis & Co. Building—the first brick building constructed in Julian in 1885. Main Street is the perfect place for a slice of apple pie at Mom’s Pies or the Julian Pie Company. Drop by the Julian Cider Mill for cider, apple butter, fudge, vinegar, and all things apple.
Santa Ynez
The Santa Barbara town of Santa Ynez has existed since the 1880s, and many of the buildings in its historic downtown were constructed around that time. Period-style false-front buildings house shops, saloons, and feed stores, and visitors may even see random horses hitched to posts. But underneath the cowboy facade, there are plenty of modern conveniences in town, like The Baker’s Table—an artisanal bakery serving craft coffees and fresh pastries. The Maverick Saloon, named after the James Garner cult-classic TV series, is still going strong with live music, local wines, craft beer, and pub food in a nostalgic setting.
The Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum & Carriage House is a great place to learn about local history, including the region’s Native American heritage, pioneering settlers, and ranching culture. The Parks-Janeway Carriage House displays the largest horse-drawn vehicle collection west of the Mississippi.
Santa Ynez is renowned for its vineyards and wineries, and the top spots include Sunstone Winery, Gainey Vineyard, and Fess Parker Winery, named after the actor who portrayed frontiersmen Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone during the 1950s and 1960s. Enjoy tastings in beautiful settings, from Provençal French courtyards to historic adobe houses. Book the popular Santa Ynez Wine Tour with Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours.
Avalon
The resort community of Avalon is on Catalina Island and only accessible by airplane or boat. It is far away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. The quintessential beach town, visitors to the island can shop, eat, and drink or just sit back and enjoy Avalon’s beaches—South Beach, Middle Beach, and Step Beach—all within walking distance of hotels, shops, and eateries. Get the lay of the land with a tour from Guided Golf Cart Tours, or rent a kayak or a stand-up paddleboard from Joe’s Rent a Boat and explore the coastline. Catalina Island is a premier diving destination, so visitors can scuba dive from the shore or by boat on a tour with Diving Catalina or get a bird’s eye view of the island with a parasail from Catalina Xtreme Parasail.
Anyone interested in the island's cultural heritage should visit the Catalina Casino, an iconic landmark built in 1929. It is a reminder of the Casino’s heyday when people made the 26-mile trip across the sea to enjoy a movie, dinner, and dance. Book a tour, and visitors will see areas of the Casino that were once closed to the public for over 70 years, including the projection room, green rooms used by Errol Flynn and Cary Grant, and the famed Casino Ballroom, once filled with Big Band music and ballroom dancing.
Joshua Tree
The main attraction of this desert town is Joshua Tree National Park, where visitors can go hiking on 300 miles of trails or climb or boulder on 8,000 established routes. Renowned for its clear, dark skies, Joshua Tree is a prime location for stargazing, so be sure to look skyward to see the Milky Way, which is prominent during the summer, or watch a Perseids meteor shower, which peaks in mid-August. Don’t miss the panoramic views of the Coachella Valley and San Andreas Fault from Keys Views lookout. On a really clear day, visitors might even be able to see Signal Mountain in Mexico.
There are so many quirky attractions to see in Joshua Tree, but don’t miss the Crochet Museum, the Noah Purifoy Outdoor Desert Art Museum, and The Station, a transformed 1949 gas station selling souvenirs, gifts, t-shirts, and other cool stuff. Downtown Joshua Tree also has numerous art galleries, vintage motels, and restaurants like Crossroads Café, JT Country Kitchen, serving all-day breakfast, and the Joshua Tree Saloon. Joshua Tree Brewing is also a great spot to relax and enjoy a local craft beer.
Carpinteria
Carpinteria, or “Carp” as the locals call it, is a charming seaside town ten miles south of Santa Barbara. It combines stunning beaches with a relaxed, small-town vibe. The main attraction is the beach, which is as nice a place as any to hang out and watch the seals and dolphins play in the waves. The beach has a reputation for being the “World’s Safest Beach,” thanks to its calm waves and tide pools. There are a lot of sights to see in and around town, like the Carpinteria Harbor Seal Rookery and the Carpinteria Tar Pits—one of five natural asphalt lake areas in the world.
Linden Avenue is the town’s Main Street, full of colorful boutique shops, local cafés, and tall Torrey pine trees—the rarest pine species in the U.S. The Wardholme Torrey Pine is one of the most important landmarks in town, planted on the former Wardholme estate in 1888. Visitors will also find Robitaille’s Fine Candies, an old-fashioned candy store that makes many of its own sweets, including handmade chocolates. Other eateries on Linden include Little Dom’s Seafood, Esau’s Café, and The Spot, an old-fashioned burger joint.
Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead is in the San Bernardino Mountains, or the “Alps of Southern California,” and offers a variety of activities for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and everyone in between. Downtown Lake Arrowhead is perfect for shopping, entertainment, and dining in one-of-a-kind restaurants like the Cadillac Cowboy, Jetties Waterfront, and the Lakefront Taproom. Lollipop Park in the village is family fun, with a carousel and bumper cars, while SkyPark at Santa's Village offers year-round Christmas-themed activities like mountain biking, zip-lining, climbing and bouldering, and more.
Book a Lake Arrowhead Queen Boat Tour to spend some time on the eponymous lake. Learn the lake's history and enjoy stunning views aboard the historical paddle-wheel boat. The lake is also a paradise for fishing enthusiasts, with abundant trout, bass, and carp. Hikers can explore numerous trails, such as the Pinnacles Trail and the Heaps Peak Arboretum Trail, offering various difficulty levels and beautiful scenery ranging from desert flowers to mountain pines.
Summary
Southern California, renowned for its stunning beaches and bustling cities, is also home to six charming small towns that offer a serene escape from urban life. These cozy towns invite travelers with their picturesque landscapes, friendly communities, rich histories, and laid-back SoCal lifestyle. Whether looking for a peaceful retreat in the mountains, a quaint seaside village, or a historic inland haven, Southern California's small towns have it all.
