6 Weird Little Towns In California
The state spans rocky coasts and pristine beaches, wine regions, and mountain ranges, with little-known towns or those you didn't know were a little weird, at least in the eyes of mainstream tourism. Whether you're from Los Angeles or the Bay Area, there's a town unlike any other in the state nearby.
From fiercely independent Bolinas to Danish delight and the Spanish-era mission in the heart of the Santa Barbara wine country, each has a story to tell, revealing the state's unforeseen depths, geography, and culture. Pick one of the state's weirdest six for your next atypical escape.
Bodega Bay
Framed by the protected bay, it is easy to see what inspired Alfred Hitchcock to choose the dramatic backdrop for The Birds. The bayfront village on the Sonoma Coast offers front-row seats to the sights, smells, and sounds, and of course, birdwatching. You can explore hidden coves, beaches, and dunes, then dive in for seafood—especially oysters and chowders. From surfing lessons to fishing charters to kayak rentals, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better hideaway for your city-starved soul.
For 360-degree scenery, take the trail across Bodega Head, a rocky cliff with waves thumping below, sweeping views of the Pacific, and migrating whales offshore. For scenery at leisure, Doran Regional Park juts into the bay with a dog-friendly 2-mile public beach, complete with a boat launch, fish cleaning station, camping, and picnic areas. Next to a somber memorial, Birds Cafe serves tacos, oysters, and beer bayside, with outdoor picnic tables. Candy & Kites is a popular gift shop.
Bolinas
Just an hour north of San Francisco, miles of rugged California coast lie largely undiscovered by mainstream tourism, including incredible surf spots. This NorCal coast hamlet feels secluded and a little strange. Bolinas' nonconformist stance does not detract from luring artists, surfers, and nature lovers with its unpretentious vibe, tasty food, and arts. Plus the nature is absolutely stunning, whether you're up to explore or sticking to the town's sandy, uncrowded beach for surfing and dog-walking.
North across Hwy 1, Cataract Falls is a series of rapids tumbling in a mythical forest, offering a 2-mile steeper approach and no soul around. Just upshore, Palomarin Trailhead weaves in and out, teasing you with coastal views. Seven miles out, a brook spills over cliffs into the ocean at Alamere Falls. The peaceful beach below beckons to finally relax in view of the dramatic chute. To really unwind, Bolina's Smiley's Saloon, Hotel & Kitchen is the West Coast’s oldest saloon, nearby a kid-friendly museum.
Borrego Springs
Borrego Springs lures travelers with an experience that feels almost nightmarish at the heart of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. In lieu of a conventional downtown area, the park's art installations, scattered haphazardly south and north at Galleta Meadows, are as colossal as they are intriguing. This massive metal "Sky Art" park features creatures created by artist Ricardo Breceda, with over 100 distinct giants, as colossal as they are intriguing, like the Giant Scorpion and Serpent Sculpture.
Exploring the endless wasteland, you can spot desert lilies and distant peaks, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto ranges. Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail threads the desert canyon en route to an oasis of fanned palm trees, with frogs and birds. The 2.5-mile Hell Hole Canyon Trail is enclosed in canyon walls under open skies to a stunning waterfall, tangled in mosses and vines. The highway west offers pull-offs with sweeping views of the canyonlands, particularly during the early hours.
Ojai
This chill town in Ventura County is easily one of the coolest places worldwide. The artists’ colony is your spiritual retreat to find zen around the picturesque village’s spas and art galleries, healthy restaurants, aromatherapy stores, crystal shops, and more arranged along a historic California-mission-style main street. Celebrated for its Bohemian spirit, the SoCal sun drenches Ojai in “pink moments” before sunset, bouncing off the Topatopa Mountains, and the entire valley is awash in pink.
Just 1.5 hours north of LA and under six south of San Francisco down Highway 101, you'll feel right at home in no time downtown at the mission-style Su Nido Inn. You can see the bell tower steeple, hop on a bike ride among citrus trees, and dine on tapas at the local brewery and wine patio. At Bart’s Books, an outdoor bookstore, you can browse shelves of literature in a courtyard, while the Ojai Valley Museum houses history exhibits and contemporary artwork inside a former Catholic church.
Pacific Grove
Pacific Grove has a come-as-you-are vibe, with a vintage downtown arrangement of narrow streets and 19th-century cottages. The oldest continually operating lighthouse, circa 1855, on the Pacific, offers tours of the Victorian-era structure. As a sanctuary for monarch butterflies, hundreds flap their delicate wings spanning endless miles to summer at the town's preserve with pine, cypress, and eucalyptus trees from Oct. to Mar. and feed on nectar, pollinating the area's wildflowers.
It seems like all nature has been pulled to this rocky coast, curving around Monterey Bay, with birds, harbor seals, and sea otters just offshore. Asilomar State Beach features a boardwalk crossing the dunes and the mile-long Asilomar Coast Trail. Its collection of Arts and Crafts-style buildings by Julia Morgan, the architect of Hearst Castle, is her largest in one location. The 18-mile paved Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail begins near Lovers Point Park, connecting to Monterey.
Solvang
Founded in 1911 by three Danish immigrants, this Danish-inspired town in the heart of the Santa Barbara wine country preserves its colorful heritage with a Scandinavian-styled downtown and venues like the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art. Hans Christian Andersen Park honors the literary giant who was born in Denmark as a great place to disappear for an afternoon with storybook vibes, trails, and sculptures. Check out the tiny bookstore and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum.
Authentic buildings, bakeries, and windmills are just one part of its distinct charm. The 1804 Old Mission Santa Inez is an active parish, open daily, with views of the Santa Ynez River Valley and surrounding mountain ranges. Start the morning with a danish, ending it over exceptional wines. You can hop on the horse-drawn Solvang Trolley for a narrated 25-minute downtown tour, taste traditional dishes like herring, wurst, and meatballs, and unwind at the beer garden with a pint of authentic craft.
Whether it's slightly off the beaten path, lost in dramatic landscapes, or it is hard to put your finger on their unique charm, each town is a wild card. Whether the weirdness is intangible or in plain view—their unique charm makes for the most memorable getaways.
From counter-culture in Bolinas to Ojai's zen vibes and nightmarish sculptures, you can hide out, find your zen, get nostalgic, and enjoy good food and wine in good company over California's diverse scenery. No matter where you land, you'll have stories to tell.
