8 Adorable Small Towns In California
California is a dream destination for quick escapes, spring breaks, or family vacations, perhaps one of the only places in the US where you can go surfing in the morning and skiing in the afternoon. Between its verdant mountains and golden beaches, scenery finds you along the boardwalks, historic districts, and recreational trails. Many seek leisure and quaint times in a small circle to make each moment count, discovering a new place with good food, friendly locals, shopping, and art. Each feels like a place of strength to recharge, with scenery that inspires, where biking, boating, and dining give you the sense of accomplishment and nostalgia of having visited somewhere far away. This article delves into the eight most adorable small towns in California so you can have the best experience possible.
Crestline
This sleepy little town in California's San Bernardino Mountains can be a cozy retreat or a favorite lakeside destination you'll seek out again and again, with designated picnic areas and BBQ grills, water slides, and dog-friendly trails next to Lake Gregory, reflecting the pine-studded mountains in the tranquil blue waters. The 2.6-mile Lake Gregory Trail is popular for hiking, birding, and cycling the loop around the lake. The lakefront park offers rentals for aquacycles, kayaks, and paddleboards.
Just north of the highway, the piney Heart Rock Trail leads you to a heart-shaped hole in a cliff and a hidden 20-foot cascade via a scenic trail. After an outing, nothing hits the spot quite like Crestline Cafe's relaxed alpine theme. Travelers can unwind in cozy lakeside cabins or a historic inn, and choose from a top choice of coffee shops to fuel up for a do-over. The Rim of the World Scenic Drive ultimately connects east to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake, with nearby pulloffs like the Red Rock Scenic Overlook.
Dana Point
Named after the author of Two Years Before the Mast, this coastal SoCal city south of Laguna Beach caters to the beachy overspill with a more intimate feel and all kinds of entertainment for surfers, paddleboarders, and kayakers beyond the perfect surf. Doheny State Beach Park stretches along the shoreline beside Dana Point Harbor with camping and surfing spots. Between the state park and the extensive Dana Strands Beach with scenic stairs, the front-row views along the coastal bluff trail are unreal.
In addition to six miles of beach and one of the largest harbors in Orange County, you can venture out on a whale-watching tour and explore inland to the 1776 Spanish mission, offering historic exhibits, events, and a gift shop. Offering beach bars, seafood haunts, and upscale lounges, the climate is ideal for playing in the ocean or relaxing and letting it all sink in. As the "Dolphin and Whale Watching Capital of the World," Dana Point celebrates their migration annually during the Festival of Whales in early March.
Ferndale
Just five miles from the coastal sunsets, this Victorian city comes across as friendly, trendy, and artistic, welcoming you with a sense of familiarity along Francis Creek, where rows of unique architecture, colorful buildings, and art venues line the streets. Ferndale Repertory Theatre occupies the 1920 Hart Theatre building in the Victorian Village of Ferndale. The creekside Russ Park offers steeper sections and leisurely trails on the edge of town, with local fauna and flora and a little loop down to a pond and views of Ferndale.
Travelers enjoy top-choice shopping, good food, and lodgings to unwind. There's no other in the state quite like Ferndale's Gingerbread Mansion Inn. Straight from a storybook, this elegant landmark B&B occupies a restored Victorian-era mansion with opulent, individually appointed rooms, minutes from the commercial district. If you follow the winding Eel River inland, the Avenue of the Giants extends for 31 miles along the old Highway 101 corridor through Humboldt Redwoods State Park.
Idyllwild
Idyllwild is the epitome of those artsy mountain enclaves we all crave. An hour southeast of Palm Springs, the town breeds creativity in the scenic surroundings of the San Jacinto Mountains. Trails thread deep into the Mount San Jacinto State Park to dip your foot along the steep, forested slopes. Towering at 10,834 feet, Mount San Jacinto offers multiple trail approaches and an aerial tram—from the valley floor, along the cliffs of Chino Canyon—to the expansive Coachella Valley views from the summit.
Granite domes add layers to the vertical scenery, like Tahquitz Rock, favored for climbing. There's room for both adventure and the arts in this pine-studded community at over 5,000 feet. Idyllwild Regional Park features a popular campground within its boundaries. Save the mild spring and fall to browse the Funky Bazaar for oddities, art, and fashion. The historic Rustic Theatre screens films, plus jazz concerts and comedy shows. You can pick a cozy cabin on a snowy winter getaway.
Julian
Poised at 4,226 feet between the desert and the coast, Julian is home to artists and those who've sought a getaway that sticks. Just over an hour east of San Diego, the town is full of surprises, enticing travelers in the Cuyamaca Mountains with timeless charm and scenic nature. In addition to the colorful Desert View Trail, the 6,512-foot Cuyamaca Peak lures rugged hikers for a challenging ascent at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park to tremendous ocean views and the Anza-Borrego Desert.
Surrounded by orchards with roots deep in gold mining, those who've never been are in for a real treat, from caving and wineries to summertime u-pick orchards and the apple harvest events in the fall. It is always a thrill to rediscover your favorite spots along the vibrant Main Street, like the crumb-topped Dutch apple pie at Julian Pie Company, and unwind in friendly company at the local brewery haunt. Menghini Winery hosts the annual Julian Grape Stomp Festa early in September.
Monterey
Monterey was incorporated in 1850 around the historic waterfront district, Cannery Row, immortalized in John Steinbeck's 1945 novel by the same name. Just two hours south of San Francisco, the Central Coast town along Highway 1 offers a whimsical time-machine experience to the once “Sardine Capital of the World,” with 19th-century architecture along these picturesque blocks, booming in the 19th century with fishermen. Many of the sardine canneries house hotels, restaurants, pubs, and shops.
Even the acclaimed Monterey Bay Aquarium was built around preserved cannery boilers, adapting the space with its enormous indoor aquarium, 28-foot windows, and outdoor decks into the marine sanctuary known as the “Serengeti of the Sea.” The nearby Old Fisherman’s Wharf offers saltwater taffy and shops. You can take a fishing and whale-watching tour from this historic pier, rent a kayak, or soak in the views with your pup, biking along the 18-mile Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail.
Sausalito
Sausalito is filled with historic sites, boutiques, and cafes overlooking the yacht-filled harbor, and activities like biking, hiking, and water sports. The family-centered Bay Area Discovery Museum offers play space and art classes, spilling onto the waterfront with interactive exhibits in scenic views. Lime Point Historic Lighthouse is a superb viewing spot of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. The town meets you across the bridge for seafood, galleries, floating homes, and unreal sunrises.
With a choice of lodgings and nearby camping, wake up for the morning show along the downtown-adjacent Sausalito Boardwalk in search of a pick-me-up or an early hike along the Morning Sun Trailhead. Just inland, the trail begins steeply from Highway 101, connecting to the larger Marin trail system and extending all the way to the Pacific. You can rent a boat to explore Richardson Bay or take a fishing charter for a different perspective of Sausalito and unmatched views of the San Francisco skyline.
Solana Beach
Don't miss this alluring slice of the SoCal coast between the popular Encinitas to the north and Del Mar to the south. Solana Beach boasts blufftop homes and beaches backed by cliffs, featuring surfable tides, tide pools, and ample space for sunbathing. Just north, the dog-friendly Annie's Canyon Trail takes you on a wild journey through the sheer rock faces of a slot canyon and other trails at the ecological reserve with sweeping ocean and lagoon views.
Starting at Claire's on Cedros for breakfast, you can explore the town before hitting the beach from surf shops and farmers' markets. The popular Fletcher Cove Beach Park has chill vibes and friendly peeps to enjoy the views, watersports, and sports courts. Enjoy coastal adventures by land, water, and even balloon rides, ending the day over a play at the professional, critically acclaimed North Coast Repertory Theater, in the intimate space of a beautiful venue.
An Adorable Trip Through California
From Ferndale's Victorian charm to the timeless scenery in Monterey, there's no rush along the ocean coast, vertical peaks, and architecture reminding you to slow down to the steady pulse and savor each moment, wine tasting, surfing, sailing, or simply relaxing with a view. California feels different in the small towns from the state you know and love, where people are friendly, everything is accessible by foot or bike, and there are fewer tourists. Each brims with character as an alternative to crowded beach towns, and truly, you can't imagine being anywhere else.
