8 Towns in Northern California With Thriving Local Businesses

San Francisco. Sacramento. Oakland. San Jose. Those are the extremely vibrant and popular cities that occupy Northern California. But what if you heard that Trinidad, Fort Bragg, Guerneville, and Murphys are equally vibrant and must-visit NorCal communities? Although they are not as populous or famous, they have thriving independent businesses that put big city box stores to shame. Learn about those four and four more small, business-savvy NorCal locales.

Trinidad

A non-tropical seaside paradise in Northern California, Trinidad is cool in temperature and appearance. Although swimming is not recommended in its brisk water, sightseeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and whale watching can be done with verve and ecstasy that is unique to the area. But Trinidad has just as much commercial charm as it does natural.

It is classified as a city despite having only about 300 residents. Those lucky people patronize shops like Windansea, restaurants like the Beachcomber Cafe, galleries like the Trinidad Art Gallery, and even a restaurant-gallery called the Trinidad Bay Eatery & Gallery. Tourists can visit the same places and more from their base at the Trinidad Bay Bed & Breakfast Hotel.

Sonoma

A sampling of Northern California cannot be complete without a sampling of its wine. For those that imbibe, Sonoma, as a hub of California winemaking, is one of the most distinguished drinking destinations in the world. This "city" has just over 10,000 residents but is in the vicinity of around 400 vineyards. Some, like Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, are inside Sonoma, while others wind through the breathtaking countryside.

Since many Sonoma County wineries also offer food and lodging, even teetotalers can enjoy a tour of California's Wine Country. Other tours can be done by train at the Sonoma TrainTown Railroad or by foot at downtown sites such as Sunflower Caffè and the El Dorado Hotel & Kitchen.

Fort Bragg

Fort Bragg is another NorCal community with a scenic railroad—only this sweet attraction has a foul name. The World Famous Skunk Train picks up passengers at Fort Bragg and takes them along Pudding Creek and past ancient redwoods before returning them to the depot. Do not worry: it is not as smelly as a skunk. Rather, it was named for old-fashioned motorcars that used gas-powered engines and crude oil-powered stoves. The cocktail of odors was pungent.

Off the tracks, tourists check out D'Aurelio & Sons, Sea Pal Cove, Cowlick's Ice Cream, Triangle Tattoo & Museum, and the Ocean View Lodge, which, true to its name, overlooks the picturesque Pacific.

Nevada City

Nevada City's businesses are made from gold, built on the back of Gold Rush prosperity. The National Exchange Hotel opened in 1856 to serve miners and speculators in unprecedented luxury. Nearly 170 years later, it serves the same purpose with slightly different clientele and is considered one of the longest-running hotels west of the Rocky Mountains.

A few doors down is the Nevada Theatre, which entertained wealthy transients and still does so as the "oldest, continuously operated theatre venue on the west coast of the United States." Also providing entertainment to tourists is the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, which hosts concerts, plays, and fairs in the 2020s but operated as an ironworks factory in the 1850s.

Guerneville

Though off the beaten path between giant redwoods and the Pacific coast, Guerneville is in the same winemaking region as Sonoma. Thus, it is home to wineries like Porter-Bass Vineyard & Winery and Korbel Winery, where customers can taste Chardonnay and Champagne in a natural setting. Another scenic setting in Guerneville is the Russian River, on the banks of which sit various vibrant businesses.

They include Jerry Knights River Theater, Smart Pizza, and the River Inn Grill. However, there are far more colorful businesses in the downtown district, such as the Rainbow Cattle Company, which has helped Guerneville become an unlikely NorCal LGBTQ+ friendly haven.

Mariposa

Mariposa is one of the southernmost communities in northern California. It is also the Spanish word for butterfly. Appropriately, Mariposa sits in the path of butterflies flying south for the winter or north for the spring. The main event of May's Mariposa Butterfly Festival is releasing the exquisite insects into the Sierra Nevada foothills.

After releasing their own butterflies, guests can celebrate at local haunts like Fredrick’s of Savourys, Sierra Cider, the Charles Street Dinner House, 1850 Restaurant and Brewery, and Hideout Saloon. Be a butterfly on the wall in Mariposa.

Murphys

Anything that can happen, will happen in Murphys. This small Sierra Nevada village has a variety of attractions, ranging from wineries to cafes to galleries to restaurants to geologic formations. One can fill their Murphys itinerary with a bottle from the Milliaire Winery, a smoothie from Gold Country Roasters, a painting from The Independent Mercantile, a sandwich from Cured Belly, and photos from the Mercer Caverns. Natural attractions are big business in the Sierras. Each year, thousands of people tour the caverns at a price of about $22 per adult and $16 per child.

Tahoe City

Lake Tahoe is not overly pricey, but luxurious communities grow along its banks. They serve residents and tourists who decided to make Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America, a significant part of their lives. Arguably, the best of these waterfront way stations is Tahoe City. It is an unincorporated town that, combined with another unincorporated town called Sunnyside, has a population of just over 1,500. That swells tenfold, if not a hundredfold, as tourists drop in during the summer, so thankfully, Tahoe City has plenty of places for them to dry off.

These include the Bridgetender Tavern and Grill, which is a popular eatery on the Tahoe-fed Truckee River; Fire Sign Cafe, a locally owned brunch spot that has been in operation since 1978; and Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema, which lets you drink craft beer while watching new releases as "the area’s only cinema drafthouse."

While planning your next trip to Northern California, do not think of San Francisco or Sacramento. Instead, pin Trinidad, Sonoma, Fort Bragg, Nevada City, Guerneville, Mariposa, Murphys, and Tahoe City on the map. In those small communities, independent businesses thrive, providing customers with homemade meals and homespun gifts. Eschew big city corporations for mom and pop shops in unincorporated NorCal towns. Your eyes, taste buds, and wallet will thank you.