7 Underrated Small Towns to Explore in California

Flaunting some of the nation's top beaches, California is always fun to vacation in, explore big cities, and soak in the scenery, from the rugged coastline to the mountains and back to the soft-sanded beaches. Whether you're into surfing or lounging in the sun, the underrated towns offer a unique take on the Golden State with all the beautiful views and amazing beach vibes, but without the crowds.

From the Golden Gate Bridge near Sausalito to the readily accessible Channel Islands National Park in Ventura, the best of the state doesn't have to be crowded, overpriced, or far away. And while the first town may require a morning drive, San Luis Obispo County buzzes with activities. Enjoy the rest of the hot summer and mild year-round climate to stay outdoors, like at the oceanfront parks in Del Mar.

Atascadero

Home to the Carrizo Plain National Monument and Los Padres National Forest, San Luis Obispo County is always fun to explore. Hidden along the Central Coast, just 25 minutes off the Pacific at the midpoint between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Atascadero may take longer to reach but is worth the effort. The town flaunts family-friendly attractions like a popular golf course and the 102-acre Heilmann Regional Park, with a disc-golf course, shelters, play areas, volleyball, and tennis. The 5-acre Charles Paddock Zoo features a woodsy vibe and animals from globally managed preservation programs. For the outdoors, nothing beats an early-morning hike along the Three Bridges Oak Preserve Trailhead, followed by brunch at the Country Touch Cafe.

Otherwise, join the locals for lunch at the airy Colony Market & Deli, a unique midcentury gas station serving hearty sandwiches, local wine, and craft beer on tap. The Artery offers supplies to create masterpieces for every artistic level and direction, while Chalk Mountain Golf Course and Paloma Creek Park with a bright playground are just a stroll away to continue a memorable day. Visitors can stay centrally at the 1928 Carlton Hotel, with easy access to your morning java at Bru, other restaurants, and independent shops like Mudflat Mercantile’s collection of vintage cowboy boots, textiles, old rotary telephones, and typewriters. The top-rated Eden House at Carriage Vineyards offers serenity away from downtown, just northeast, with its green lawn and Buddha vibes.

Capitola

Ever crave the Santa Cruz experience without the crowds or the skyrocketing prices for services? Taste it all in Capitola, a Northern California resort town of barely 9,500 locals, tucked into the hillside along Monterey Bay and Soquel Creek. Longtime home to Native Americans, making it one of the world's most historic villages, the Spanish arrived in the late 1700s, relocating the indigenous people to Mission Santa Cruz. Mexico, which had ruled it since 1833, later sold it to a German developer. During the Gold Rush, prospectors lived in oceanfront tents along the beach, a trend that caught on, surrounded by coastal beauty with panoramic views of the Pacific coastline. Defining the beach lifestyle today, camping persists along the sands to the sound of the beating waves, attracting dreamers, free spirits, and adventurers, including surfing couples and families, seeking to get away from it all.

The underrated town is as colorful as its history, flaunting bright florals, vibrant street murals, and colorful wood-framed bungalows against the cerulean sea. Enjoy the spectacular views under the swaying palms and surfable waves, while Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria, an imperative must-stop, preps fresh all-day grab-and-go sandwiches, salads, and housemade baked goods to power your adventures. Pack a picnic for a stroll along Soquel Creek to the vast Capitola State Beach, overlooking the long Capitola Wharf. From there, it is all about an afternoon of sandcastle building, swimming, and sunbathing, while the historic village awaits with Hawaiian-style restaurants. The fancy Shadowbrook Restaurant flaunts quirky dining rooms with creek views, along with California cuisine and an extensive wine list. The Grand Ave. Walking Trail is a scenic beachfront boardwalk, while Esplanade Park is perfect for a relaxed morning stroll.

Del Mar

One of San Diego's finest communities, Del Mar, may just be among the world's most overlooked towns, comprising just two picture-perfect miles along both sides of the historic Coast Highway 101. Flaunting stunning ocean views, upscale shopping, and casual dining, visitors can enjoy easy access from every block to its award-winning City Beach for great swimming and intermediate surf, while the pet-friendly atmosphere extends to some beaches. This beach is also great for a photoshoot under scenic bluffs with unsanctioned trails along the cliffs, like the popular dirt path parallel to the train track for miles of walking or jogging along the bluff. From oceanfront parks and scenic spots for a relaxing picnic, bring your two- and four-legged kids to the River Mouth, aka Dog Beach, a broad wedge perfect for volleyball and sandcastle building, while the dogs play in the surf.

Del Mar is a compelling destination for couples and solo travelers who like to rough it up by day and go out in style at night. The Powerhouse and Seagrove parks feature a playground and beach access. Just south, Sunset Seat is an unmissable scenic spot, while each lifeguard station features helpful tourist maps. Surrounded by wildlife reserves, sandy beaches, and dramatic coastal bluffs, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is one of the state's finest nature preserves, with its stunning beach backed by cliffs nudging right up against the town. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has been delighting equestrians every year since Bing Crosby's initiative in 1937. Visitors can stop by the state-of-the-art facility at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which plays host to the summertime San Diego County Fair, and unwind along the San Dieguito River at the top-rated Viewpoint Brewing Company.

Eureka

Home to just over 25,000 people, this lively seaport town between San Francisco and Portland blends eccentricity and diversity with quaint seaside charm. Flaunting a Victorian-style Old Town district and a working harborfront, Eureka, a state historic landmark in its entirety, has a split personality with an eco-conscious and artistic, collegiate vibe. The logging trucks add authenticity to a prosperous lumber town, rumbling past hundreds of ornate 19th-century homes, like the elaborate take on Queen Anne architecture of the Carson Mansion, unmissable at the end of Second Street. The pretty waterfront promenade overlooks Humboldt Bay, where rustic fishing boats chug alongside handsome cruise ships, and the MV Madaket offers a highly demanded one-hour guided cruise in early 20th-century digs. From the outstanding Eureka Visitors Center to the small maritime museum and many galleries throughout, the Redwood Discovery Museum features kid-friendly hands-on exhibits on art, technology, and science.

To the east, the former Carnegie Free Library hosts exhibits by local and international artists as the gorgeously appointed Morris Graves Museum of Art. Blue Ox Millworks is a Victorian wood shop, producing custom architectural millwork for historic homes and new construction, as well as a school and a historic park. Home to red pandas, river otters, bears, gibbons, and birds, as well as a barnyard petting zoo, Sequoia Park Zoo is the oldest AZA-accredited community zoo in the state. The internationally acclaimed Redwood Sky Walk deep in Sequoia Park is an all-accessible network of suspended bridges within an old- and new-growth redwood grove. Visitors can walk some 60 feet above ground among the record-setting trees, plus the 100-foot-high bridge over a ravine spanning the forest floor. Across the bridge, Woodley Island flaunts the area's largest working marina, the Fisherman statue, and Café Marina for fresh seafood lunch, overlooking the next catch being brought in.

Point Arena

Engulfed by forestlands, Point Arena has always been a rugged, hard-working town reliant on lumber, with ships frequenting its scenic harbor, which would run aground along the uneven seafloor. The lighthouse, built to protect sailors, was badly damaged in 1906 and tenaciously rebuilt in 1908, but the grievances did not stop there, as the town was ravaged by a devastating fire in 1927. Proving themselves resilient once again by reviving Point Arena, many of the downtown buildings date from this reconstruction period. In addition, having rejected the idea of a nuclear power plant project and taking advantage of its scenically rugged coastline, the underrated town rediscovered itself as a heavenly escape for mind, body, and soul in the outdoors from the city.

The protected marine wildlife areas have successfully earned it the designation of a California Coastal National Monument, while the land appears as it did years ago—wild and untouched. From the Pelican Bluffs, a cliffside park, to the most pristine beaches, stop by the rustic Point Arena Fishing Pier and say hello to animals at the B Bryan Preserve. Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands features serene acres for walking and photoshoots, past Rocas, another landmark, and onto the striking 115-year-old Point Arena Lighthouse, with a small museum, a gift shop, and nearby lodging. Offering a peaceful slice of California, the slower pace encourages visitors to savor each moment, making memories with their loved ones, like savoring the sunset against unmarred coastline views.

Sausalito

Defined by its iconic floating artist homes constructed after WWII and unparalleled views of Richardson Bay, Sausalito is a real NorCal golden gem just across the Golden Gate Strait from San Francisco. One of the state's most scenic small beach towns, visitors come to enjoy a day on the water and ogle at the scenery from the Golden Gate Bridge. Primarily a delightful getaway for the senses, with a gourmet selection of oceanside dining steps from the beautiful beaches and promenades, visitors take advantage of Sea Trek Kayak and SUP to explore the waters and beneath. From swimming to the rustic boardwalk, take a sunset cruise or a ferry to the Embarcadero.

The 1.5-acre Bay Model Visitor Center, a model of San Francisco's bay, is open for tours to experience the rise and fall of tides, while the Floating Homes tour offers a unique glimpse of the appointed boardwalk. Owned by a Danish couple, the Lighthouse Cafe elevates every breakfast experience with an American menu and Danish options. After a morning stroll through Dunphy Park, return for waterfront recreation like sand volleyball, bocce courts, and a scenic gazebo. Browse through unique pottery at Heath Ceramics to decorate your home, while the Industrial Center Building houses an art gallery. After hours, Bar Bocce is a popular oceanside pizzeria overlooking Pelican Harbor for snacks and drinks with a side of scenery.

Ventura

Often overlooked and deeply loved by its locals, Ventura is a perfect SoCal escape just south of the beautiful Lake Casitas. Nestled along the Pacific Surfliner, just a two-hour train ride away for Angelenos, it is a great early morning wakeup call to take on the waves after a delectable lunch burrito at Lalo's Fast Food. Many come just to chill out at the iconic Surfers Point at Seaside Park, a destination beach for surfers and windsurfers, with picnic tables and comfort amenities to linger against spectacular coastal views. Don't miss a selfie by the hilltop Serra Cross, a time-tested wooden cross with a storied past, nearby hiking trails, and panorama, while the sweet Kellogg Park at the heart features a kids' playground. The spectacular 132-acre Arroyo Verde Park offers miles of hiking trails, open grass areas, a nature center, and a playground, while Golf N Stuff is a popular amusement park for all ages.

Across the Santa Clara River, McGrath State Beach is a scenic, protected sand stretch renowned for its birding, campgrounds, surfing, and fishing. After a hike through the Harmon Canyon Preserve north of downtown, revel in serenity along the Harbor Cove Beach, protected by breakwaters, with lifeguards, nearby restaurants, and a visitor center. Blessed with a good share of SoCal's attractions and arid natural beauty, Ventura Botanical Gardens is a must-visit amid over 160 plant species, offering guided and themed tours against all the flora, city views, and ocean vistas. From the modern pier and promenade, find a spot among the selection of local high-end seaside restaurants serving seafood classics like fish and chips or succulent oysters. Just south, past Ventura Beach, the Robert J. Lagomarsino Visitor Center at Channel Islands National Park is a must-stop for a guide to your onward adventures.

Chase lighthouses in Point Arena or take in the sunset from the rustic boardwalk in Sausalito after an afternoon SUP experience. The popular state to visit deserves all the accolades without the hot bodies crowding up your space. Instead, why not cloud your mind with a long list of Santa Cruz experiences without the long lines for seafood indulgences in Capitola?

Enjoy a culturally enriching stroll through the Victorian-style Old Town district and a working harborfront in Eureka, an eco-conscious and artistic college town. While you can't beat the heat along coastal SoCal, at least make it pleasant in these seven towns without the crowded attractions, congested trails, or astronomical hotel prices in the high season.