10 Underrated Destinations in Southern California to Avoid Summer Crowds
Often synonymous with crowded beaches and sweaty bodies, not to mention the heated steel cities, Southern California remains largely undercover. Be that avid venturer to stumble upon one of these real hidden gems, the underrated destinations worth a visit with your family, friends, or pet company for memories made, glasses shared, and much more.
Visit these destinations for a real, subdued experience through exciting nature and fun attractions that feel reserved just for you and your pals. From the roaring waves of the Pacific over the dramatic coastal scenery to family-friendly beaches, alpine ventures, forested state parks, and deserts, Southern California is an endlessly giving part of the Sunshine State.
Anza Borrego State Park
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one of the most rewarding SoCal vacation experiences, off the beaten path for the sought-after "middle of nowhere" feel. The underrated gem owes a special thanks to the remote atmosphere for its undulating and most pristine natural beauty. Stumble upon the hidden park with plenty to do and see, like along the colorful hills and through amazing formations, a Bryce Canyon lookalike, and more. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a worthy Southern California road trip to stop or set base and explore around via hiking, biking, and horseback riding.
The desert park is a rugged landscape formed when the mountains were uplifted from erosion between San Diego and Palm Springs. It is a perfect family-friendly escape to bond over nature and explore the wild SoCal side. Venture around the many creeks and canyons where the area’s amazing wildlife greets you along the scenic way. Enjoy driving along the park’s many dirt roads and pay a visit to the outstanding Galleta Meadows Sculptures in Borrego Springs, just outside. Visit next spring when the wildflowers wake nature up in stunning bloom.
Big Bear Lake
The mountain lake along its namesake town of Big Bear is a real summerscape with activities for every level, taste, and group. Enjoy an easy escape, only two hours via most freeways from LA. Biking and hiking are the name of the game here around Big Bear Lake, with welcoming waters for leisurely swimming and fishing and to cool off after the sunny ventures, or more adventurous zip lining and rock climbing.
The family-friendly "Village" at Big Bear Lake is a fun, pedestrian-only district with thrilling shopping through over 60 shops and restaurants with something delightful for everyone. Enjoy daily walks along the refreshing waters with marvelous sunsets and stroll to the southern part of the lake, an abundant wildlife habitat with bears, foxes, and deer. Return anytime for wonderful year-round opportunities, like cross-country skiing at Big Bear Mountain Resorts, one of SoCal's largest, with skiing, snowboarding, and tubing for advanced and beginner trails in the Big Bear Valley, just below the lake.
Carlsbad
Carlsbad is a viciously overlooked yet unmissable SoCal city for a summer vacation along the otherwise tourist-ridden SoCal coast. The city has fun for everyone without the crowds when its lively population of under 116,000 thins after the locals leave for their own respite elsewhere. The small-town atmosphere is complete with modern amenities at hand and unique attractions unlike anywhere else. Escape from San Diego's hustle and bustle to the laid-back atmosphere with tons of relaxing and feel-good pursuits, just an hour north up the coast.
Find the same seascape with soft, crawlable sands to dig your toes in along South Carlsbad State Beach and lounge for days. Revel in serenity and scenic views along the shores that recreate the quaint beach escape of your childhood, along with family-friendly entertainment including Legoland and SeaWorld. From various walking and biking trails without tourist traffic to the stunning sunsets, there's also the seasonal Carlsbad Flower Fields—worthy of a whole other visit.
Kelso Dunes
The Kelso Dunes are a notoriously underrated summer escape destination in the protected area of the Mojave National Preserve. Take a fun ride along the dirt road, passable for most cars, and wait until you see the sandy galore of the dunes. These enormous wind-swept mounds are not like anything you have ever experienced in your life, and there are definitely no others like them anywhere else in California.
This overlooked SoCal National Landscape calls for days of trekking, photoshoots, and simply scenic enjoyment as you immerse yourself in the sereneness around you. Explore the dune area on foot, as vehicles are not allowed here, and scale some of the tops for the most magnificent sunset and sunrise views. The tallest dunes take about 1.5–2 hours round trip, while hiking early in the morning and before sundown with a flashlight or headlamp also offers less sweating under the SoCal sun and the best photos.
Lake Arrowhead
Lake Arrowhead is a lovely place to spend the summer if you are a beachgoer, a water lover, or a nature fan in search of pristine scenery and serenity. Complete with stunning mountain views in an alpine atmosphere, this mountain lake with a small town is some two hours east of the LA scene. It is a real respite for photographers and artists who seek inspiration from the natural vistas they find in the towering pines, rocky cliffs, and sparkling waters.
The dramatic scenery takes over your senses, while the lake is excellent for swimming, water sports, boating, and fishing. The beautiful lake tucked away in the San Bernardino National Forest calls for active, recreational, and relaxing vacations in the scenic outdoors. Explore the wilderness and enjoy cooling dips post-hike and lounging by the shores. Tackle the crisscrossing trails on a hike or a bike ride, where each venture opens up a different scenery, like the picturesque Arrowhead Pinnacles Trail, which winds around pines and meadows to a gorgeous lake overlook.
Morro Bay
The small, eco-friendly town of Morro Bay, in the heart of Morro Bay State Park, is a unique SoCal animal, unlike anything you have ever experienced in your life. It is a real gem along the south-central California coastline that takes your breath away with perfect sights from each angle. Morro Bay draws you in with magnetic vibes and captivating sights along the scenic central SoCal coast. The ultra-photogenic beach is a long stretch of sand under the shadow of the gargantuan volcanic Morro Rock. Enjoy strolls along the expansive sandy shoreline to the iconic structure and relax under the awe-inspiring views, take selfies, or set up a photoshoot.
Morro Bay is a perfect family escape for the active and sightseers, with the park full of lagoons, marshes, and bird-watching spots. Revel in the removed feel, like you’re escaping everything, where the picturesque harbor seems out of a fairytale or a dream realm. From beach crawls and fishing vessels dotting the sparkling Pacific to some of the best seafood in the area, you can enjoy it all in Morro Bay without crowds. Visit Morro Strand State Beach for swimming and camping at one of the campgrounds, and don't forget those cookouts and roasting marshmallows at sunset with your favorite peeps.
Palomar Mountain State Park
This state park is a 1,862-acre forested adventureland with large pine, fir, and cedar trees to explore via hiking trails, campsites, and more relaxing and thrilling nature ventures. With easy access to and from Anza-Borrego and Temecula, located between the two, Palomar Mountain State Park stands behind its name from a dominating elevation averaging at 5,000 above sea level with its real dreamy alpine scenery.
The hidden gem feels like you are vacationing not in Southern California but in Alaska, at the very least, with some memorable family times. Enjoy the winding mountain trails and scenic drives with mind-blowing vistas along the way and from vantage points. Escape to this summertime oasis from the hot cities, where Palomar Mountain remains pleasantly cool under the oxygen-infused pine-scented air.
Salton Sea
The Salton Sea, California's largest lake, on the way to Palm Springs, Salvation Mountain, or Slab City, is just an hour away from Joshua Tree National Park's south entrance. At 240,640 acres, the shallow, saline lake spreads between Palm Springs and the Mexican border. Enjoy the safe environment where the deepest point is only five feet, perfect for family swims. Sadly, the unique lake, host to celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Sonny Bono in the 1950s and 1960s, is waning, just like tourism in the area since the 1970s.
Visit now to enjoy crowdless water fun and recreation with your favorite peeps in an intimate setting. It is a real quirky surprise, with more than just nature abounding but also art and scenic drives to diversify your vacation. Visit the nearby International Banana Museum and Bombay Beach, home to some usually funky art installations. Relax along the shores and head for a memorable drink at sunset at the Ski Inn, which feels like it's in the middle of nowhere, in Niland, California.
Temecula
Temecula, a real SoCal hidden gem, pokes its lovely face through the Temecula Valley Wine Trail. The Inland Empire's charming town is strewn with fun opportunities for everyone and is one of the coolest destinations in the whole state, with boundless nature around. Explore this cheaper-than-Napa yet classy wine country with enough vineyards and wineries to diversify a whole vacation, including over forty wineries in the immediate area. The interactive Pennypickle’s Workshop and the historic Temecula Valley Museum house interesting discoveries for the young and old, while venturing through the Old Town is a great evening pastime.
Temecula, the underdog, offers a secluded environment for couples and close friends to share many glasses over vacation. Enjoy romantic vineyard strolls and stock up on your favorite bottles at great prices for back home. The tasting opportunities come with some real epicurean experiences and the triple threat of finding it all in the most picturesque landscapes without crowds. Enjoy quick access from LA and San Diego into the town with a Mediterranean feel, the Italianesque countryside, and under an hour to the SoCal coast. Return for the spectacular annual Temecula Valley Balloon and Wine Festival, the Turkish Cappadocia doppleganger.
Thousand Steps Beach
Thousand Steps Beach is an overwhelmingly scenic SoCal escape that stays crowdless even in the summer in Orange County. Conveniently near Laguna Beach, it is a real hidden gem with a picturesque seascape and soft sands for relaxation and some active times amid sights. This slice of natural respite requires a bit of a hike to its blissful spit of sand, but with many unique attractions, you will not be remiss in descending the many wooden stairs with photo ops of the shore behind and peaceful seclusion by the waters.
Seek even more intimacy during the spectacular sunsets when you head to the southern end of the beach through a large rock cave, emerging into a small cove. This real scenic experience, only accessible at low tide, unveils two natural swimming pools hidden from the oblivious for private enjoyment. Score a stay at the nearby hotel, perched scenically atop a coastal bluff, for a summertime vacation with life-long memories. Montage Laguna Beach offers 30 acres with The Loft restaurant overlooking the Pacific and fantastic meals, including an interactive cheese bar with over fifty world-wide varieties.
Choose a small town like Morro Bay, with its ionic rock and magnetic pull, for the sights that will leave you breathless and inspired. There are state parks of all kinds, from thick woodlands to shore-bound and desertscapes, while the two lakes are unmissable on the SoCal map of must-visit places for seclusion by the waters.
Visit the small town of Temecula or Thousand Steps Beach for inspiration you never thought possible. These places of real power recharge and rejuvenate you so that you feel inspired upon return and ready to tackle the daily hassle like a pro.
