7 Picture-Perfect Main Streets In Southern California
Southern California makes main streets feel cinematic. Sunlight bounces off stucco and shop windows, palms sketch moving shadows across sidewalks, and the air shifts between salt breeze and warm chaparral. This guide rounds up seven picture-perfect main streets built for wandering, snacking, and catching a frame-worthy moment between stops. San Juan Capistrano sets the tone with mission-era details and garden paths that glow in late-afternoon light. Laguna Beach adds a coastline cameo, where flashes of Pacific blue slip between galleries, patios, and boutiques.
Along the way, Southern California’s downtown cores deliver desert art, citrusy plazas, shaded awnings, and parks that host music as the sky turns honey-colored. Follow the sidewalks with us, stay for the streetlights, and let the scenery do the work!
San Juan Capistrano
There are plenty of photo opportunities in historic San Juan Capistrano, along Camino Capistrano. The Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded in 1776 as a Spanish mission and boasts centuries-old architecture and lovely gardens. Visitors may want to stop by on St. Joseph's Day to celebrate the return of swallows to the region.
Families can then head down adjacent River Street to River Street Ranch for a chance to visit the petting zoo or take a train ride close to nearby Trabuco Creek. Guinea pigs, goats, and sheep all make for adorable photos during a visit. Visitors can also head off Camino Capistrano onto adjacent El Camino Real to visit Historic Town Center Park, perfect for days outdoors and popular for its summer music concerts.
Laguna Beach
Few places are better for pictures than Laguna Beach. Coast Highway hugs the shoreline, offering stunning ocean views and endless opportunities for photos. The Deck is the Pacific Edge Hotel's beachside restaurant, a popular spot for seafood and for unparalleled views of the shore. Shopping along Coast Highway also allows for a chance to enjoy the view while spending a day out.
The Shops at Laguna Village offer diverse destinations, including handcrafted jewelry at Handmade Hearts and art from the Laguna Beach region at Viszolay Gallery. Of course, while you are in town, you should not skip a trip down to the beach. Main Beach is the area’s most popular shoreline, offering sweeping ocean views and its iconic central lifeguard tower, with a sandy promenade and walking paths that follow the coast.
Borrego Springs
Few places make for more interesting photos than Borrego Springs. Borrego Springs Road runs through the heart of town, and just outside the main area, the desert is dotted with the Sky Art sculptures of Galleta Meadows, including dinosaurs, camels, and serpents set against the backdrop of the Santa Rosa Mountains.
The Santa Rosas remain visible throughout town, including near the Borrego Art Institute, a small gallery offering exhibitions and community art events. The institute also hosts an annual pottery sale, sponsors the Friday Harvest vegetable sale, showcases across many media, and offers art classes for those cultivating their artistic touch.
Nearby, the Christmas Circle Community Park sits directly in the middle of town and is a great way to admire the surrounding countryside. The distant mountain can be seen from the park, which sits in the middle of Christmas Circle Road. The park is also a great launching point to destinations throughout town.
Ojai
Ojai Avenue cuts right through the center of town and makes for a full day of fun in Ojai. Right off the street is Libbey Park, a peaceful destination for residents where you can spend the afternoon. Throughout the year, the park offers tennis courts and a playground for kids. The park is especially photogenic during community events, and its central location makes it a hub for festivities connected to the annual Ojai Music Festival.
A little west of the park, you can take a few steps off of Ojai Avenue and find the Ojai Valley Museum. This museum occupies the former site of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, rebuilt in 1918 after a fire, and today showcases classic Mission Revival architecture that makes for striking photos. Today, visitors can find art by local creators that showcases the history and culture of the Ojai Valley.
In the evening, the Ojai Vineyard Tasting Room can be found just steps off Ojai Avenue. Guests can always enjoy a glass on the outdoor patio while selecting from over 300 wines or stop in for events like the Sip N' Shop Holiday Market.
Carpinteria
Coastal Carpinteria is a photo lover's dream. Linden Avenue is where most shopping is done in town. Nearby Whimsy Antiques is the local hot spot for vintage items and unique decorations like model sailboats, vintage maps, and classic brand signage. Continuing along the avenue, you will find yourself at Carpinteria State Beach. Guests to the area have direct access to the shore. This area is perfect for photos, with the public beach open for swimmers, surfers, and those just enjoying sunset along the cove.
Nearby, you can find The Spot, a counter-serve destination where you can grab a hamburger and fries before sitting outdoors or wandering into the park. Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park is also just a few minutes' walk away and offers views of the town's salt marshes and incredible photo opportunities of the surrounding Santa Ynez Mountains.
Julian
Julian is a very small destination that was once a gold rush boomtown. Main Street runs directly through historic downtown, a perfect place for photos. Many of the storefronts here retain much of the same charm as when the town was first built in the late 19th century, with wood-plank facades and shaded awnings reminiscent of Old West towns. The Town Hall and Visitor Center is a good place to start your adventure if you want to learn about the area and its historic sites.
Good food and drinks are available just a block down at Julian Beer Co., where delicious BBQ is served up all day. Returning up the street, you can find Julian Pioneer County Park and Museum steps off of Main Street near Fourth Street. The park is housed in a 19th-century building, and the artifacts inside range from gold-mining tools to household goods from the late 19th century. The surrounding park is also ideal for spotting good photo opportunities in the countryside.
Monrovia
Monrovia's historic downtown is host to plenty of unique sites. Myrtle Avenue is where you want to be. Guests enjoy days spent at Library Park. Home of the Monrovia Public Library, you may want to pop into the library to visit the Friends of Monrovia Public Library Bookstore. This used bookstore is open during regular hours and could be where you find your next great read. Afterward, you can wander the park, where the bandshell plays host to live music throughout the year.
After enjoying time beneath beautiful California skies, you can head across the street to Basin 141. Craft beers are served up over dinners of pork belly banh mi and steak frites. You may also want to enjoy walking along the cozy storefronts, which give off a small-town feel. As you do, you will spot the iconic art piece, "The Location." Portraying a director finding the ideal camera shot, this piece is uniquely Californian and a must-see photo opportunity before heading home.
Picture Perfect Destinations
The small towns of California are picture-perfect in so many ways. Monrovia features its must-see spot, The Location, which captures the California spirit. Meanwhile, Carpinteria delights with views of the Pacific Ocean and the nearby Carpinteria Salt Marsh. No matter what you are in the mood for, California has it. So, the next time you are looking for a picture-perfect spot to visit, visit any of these California main streets.
