9 Most Breathtaking Towns In California

Driving tip-to-tail on the Shoreline Highway or climbing high into the Sierras, chasing desert sunsets and redwood resets in between, California is an impossibly beautiful state. Get caught up in one of its big cities, and these sightlines become obscured, but float into some of The Sunshine State's small towns, and these natural assets reclaim center stage. Coastal towns like Shelter Cove and Mendocino offer clifftop refuge from the expressive ocean. The towns around Lake Tahoe offer comfortable places to acclimate while skiing and hiking in the surrounding mountains. And desert destinations like Joshua Tree turn inhospitable terrain into a paradisiacal getaway. These nine towns span different regions of California and are universally breathtaking.

Shelter Cove

Looking out from Mario's Marina Bar, over the thick ship-rope railing, the curved beach of Shelter Cove borders the steep, forested slopes of the King Range in one direction, and the immensity of the sparkling Pacific in the other. Opposite this Lost Coast settlement, another breathtaking site unites seasonal visitors: Black Sands Beach. Here, fog likes to settle over dark-hued sands, while the foaming white caps of crashing waves contrast like a Yin-Yang symbol (the offshore rock clusters being the little black dot amongst the white). In between, the green fields and fairways stand above crowds of resting seals, just out of reach from the splashes of larger swells. On a moody day, the latter are swell to watch from the tall-windowed, cozy interior of Surf Point Coffee House.

Mendocino

Another of California's Pacific Coast clifftop towns that effortlessly takes one's breath away is the mindful haven of Mendocino. Sitting atop the sheer Mendocino Headlands of Northern California, this unincorporated village, like Shelter Cove, is geographically isolated, and yet, because of its tranquil qualities, has grown into a niche destination. When the tides are low, take the long wooden staircase down to Portuguese Beach, or follow the perimeter nature trail of Mendocino Headlands State Park over to Big River Beach, where communal bonfires are sure to ignite come sunset. When the sands are washed over, take the opportunity to discover the countless cliffside viewpoints, where you're likely to meet photographers and painters using the innate beauty to hone their crafts. And at any time, retreat back into the handful of square blocks comprising Mendocino, all stocked with timeless wooden structures—homes and water towers alike—and the charming shops, history museums, and friendly locals they harbor.

Fort Bragg

Mendocino's coastal neighbor, Fort Bragg, was built along strikingly similar, and similarly striking, bluffs. Whether it's a nature walk through the morning mist, or a benchtop sunset muse, Noya Headlands Park is the place to be—just minutes away from the heart of town. Even though the Shoreline Highway cuts right downtown, Fort Bragg maintains a soft visual appeal thanks to murals, museums and indie shops adorned in beachy color palettes (think seafoam and custard). While train and marine enthusiasts will be well served by the official museums, it is the cross-section of the county's largest known redwood that is most immediately arresting. Standing there in the open air, between the Guest House Museum and Sea Glass Museum, with a ridiculously long crosscut saw marking its equator, passersby gain a fresh perspective on the planet's tallest trees.

Joshua Tree

I'm going to cheat a bit on this one by leaning on the breathtaking national park for which the town of Joshua Tree is so synonymous. Indeed, what percentage of motorists come this deep into the desert, on a minor highway no less, to not visit Joshua Tree National Park? Uniting two of America's four major deserts at ecologically unique altitudes, Joshua Tree is a camper's delight, a climbing mecca, a hippie haven, and a stargazer's dream. It is the higher and cooler Mojave Desert in which the town in question and titular trees have sprouted. Hike amongst these yuccas in the soft rays of late afternoon, then watch them pop against the pastel evening backdrop and fade into the light-pollutionless cosmos come nightfall. Once you've lost yourself in the spiritual landscape, be sure to poke around town a bit. Joshua Tree's quirky sculptures, flea market, and tumbleweed vibes make for an intriguing destination.

Morro Bay

At first glance, SloCal's Morro Bay might look like a slightly industrialized RV enclave. But settle in, and take a walk, and you'll see what makes the "Gibraltar of the Pacific" so enthralling. There is a moment while walking along the wide, tide-smoothed, seaweed-speckled Morro Strand State Beach that the Frisco-esque fog lifts and the 23-million-year-old formation reveals itself with pantheistic confidence. This show-stopping volcanic plug known as Morro Rock catalyzed not only the creation of the Morro Rock Ecological Preserve, but also neighboring Morro Bay State Park and additional conservation areas. I enjoyed the restful sleep at Morro Dunes RV Park, and dining at the seafood restaurants along Embarcadero, but the image of Morro Rock commanding the seas left an indelible impression. I even wrote a poem about it:

Between defunct smokestacksAnd a household hazardous waste facility:Paradise

Before an RV park And the capricious Pacific:Morro Rock

MonolithicMonotheisticKubrickian rock

Shrouded in fog,Save for holy occasions,WhenIn a quiet flashIt asserts itself onto the skylineAs if to say (quoth):I AM HERE

Tahoe City

We've been spending a lot of time hopping along oceanside towns. But as stunning as the Pacific undeniably is, what's more breathtaking than the Sierra Nevada Mountains? Answer: the largest alpine lake on the continent, situated in the High Sierra. Lake Tahoe is so huge that both Northeastern California and Northwestern Nevada were able to erect multiple towns, state parks, and ski resorts around her shore. A scenic perimeter road trip affords jaw-dropping vistas, but for a grounded, community-centric experience of the lake, Tahoe City is happy to oblige. Rolling in from either direction, Lake Boulevard sprinkles in parking lot teases of the water in between stands of lean evergreens. Eventually, Commons Beach invites all wanderers to sprawl out on the sand (that's right, a proper beach at 6,250 feet), marvel at the white-capped mountains reflecting in the pristine freshwaters, and brave a brisk swim (or paddleboard) at your behest. Otherwise, Tahoe City settled on a Goldilocks level of commercialization, offering just enough amenities to support a relaxing vacation without detracting from its natural focal points.

San Juan Bautista

A few years ago, I took part in the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage across Spain. So it was with great delight that I found myself gazing out over a similar terrain, breathing in that familiar sun-scorched smell, and absorbing the same Franciscan fervor while stateside. San Juan Bautista stands as one of 21 Spanish missions along modern-day California's El Camino Real ("The Royal Road"). This Central Coast enclave centers around the sprawling mission—now enshrined by the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. Martyr statues stand before the late-18th century complex, while the gravel pilgrim path skirts between it and the rolling ranchos to the east. Turn the corner and the town instantly strikes a fresh cultural chord: now highlighting the ranchero aesthetic of old Mexico. Boardwalks pass weathered adobes, and the blocks are broken up by whisky barrels. If, somehow, your appetite for arid beauty persists, make the short drive south to Pinnacles National Park to marvel at the spires, caves, and building-sized boulders of this ancient landscape.

Sausalito

Everyone knows the spellbinding effect of San Francisco, but keeping the focus on small towns, its Golden Gate Bridge neighbor deserves just as much attention. Sausalito treats visitors to views of the rusty-red icon from above its northern terminus while also swapping in San Francisco's skyline. Drop down from those hills of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and you'll enter a relaxed and enchanting town along the softer-spoken Richardson Bay. Sausalito's boardwalk looks up to the colorful homes in the hills ahead, out to Alcatraz and Angel Island, and into the sailboat-lined marinas. As we move further into town, the cute ice cream shops and sidewalk sales emerge, all the more quaintly accented by the dinging of bicycle commuters. From here, you may wish to sink ever deeper into downtown Sausalito, or plunge back into the lush Marin Headlands for more bird's-eye perspectives on the Bay Area.

Muir Beach

Named after California's conservation hero, John Muir, it makes sense that Muir Beach would be a humble, captivating place. Primarily a collection of private residences, Muir Beach's main public asset is its namesake beach. And boy, is it a special place. Modest in length, curving with the cove, and intentionally unperfected, Muir Beach feels wild, yet welcoming. Beach day in the bag, head toward another natural treasure bearing the same name: Muir Woods National Monument. This stand of old-growth redwoods is delicately networked by soothing nature trails. Those intimidated by the giant forest can stick to the boardwalk loop, while those wrapped up in the adventure can delve ever deeper via single-track dirt trails. Day now done, return to Muir Beach for hot food, cold drinks, and a deep sleep within the English-style Pelican Inn.

California Dreams

As the sun dips prematurely behind a 14,000-foot peak, dissolves into a desert pastel painting, or sets at the last possible minute over the Pacific Ocean, the preceding day can feel like a dream. These nine towns bust out all of the breathtaking viewpoints and creative architecture a West Coast tourist could ever hope for, plus a few community oddities to cement a well-rounded Sunshine State experience. Looking back on my photos sent me into a series of nostalgia reveries. I remember having to pinch myself while in these locations. And I had to pinch myself several times just to finish this article.