9 Standout Main Streets In California

One of the best ways to get a sense of a new community is to make a beeline to its main street. This is where heritage buildings tip their hat to the past, where unique shops strut their stuff, and where noteworthy events tend to take place (be it a big annual festival or a weekly farmers market). In the case of California, there are coastal communities whose commercial cores incorporate the salty breeze, mountain towns whose crisp surroundings accent frontier facades, and desert hotspots whose sunny skies illuminate luxurious layouts. These are nine such Californian main streets that stand above the crowd.

Fort Bragg

Our first of two Mendocino Coast destinations forms its main street out of a reduced-speed portion of the north-south Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1). Every lot of Fort Bragg's two blocks between Pine Street and Redwood Avenue is perfectly utilized, offering a blend of one-off shops, coffee, grub, libations, and museums. Kick off the day with breakfast at Egghead's Restaurant, and then pop around the corner to Headlands Coffeehouse for an added caffeine boost. Now it's time to decide which of the niche exhibits appeals to you most. Train enthusiasts will get a kick out of the Mendocino Railway Roundhouse Depot, the Depot Mall & Museum, the Mendocino Coast Model Railroad, and, most of all, riding the Skunk Train through the surrounding redwood forests.

Speaking of those giant timbers, Fort Bragg's main street boasts a cross-section of the largest redwood tree known to have grown in this region (making for quite the photo-op). Next, those yearning for a deeper appreciation of the adjacent Pacific Ocean can pop next door to the Sea Glass Museum, or head across the street to the Noyo Center for Marine Science. Appetite now restored, hit up North Coast Brewing for a bit of craft beer and pub grub, and then wash the day down with a beautiful sunset at Noyo Headlands Park (accessed off the south end of the main drag).

Mendocino

Just ten miles south of Fort Bragg, the titular town of Mendocino Coast showcases a seaside strip that marries nature with cozy boutiques. Mendocino's Main Street runs perpendicular to the highway, following the cliffs and beaches of Mendocino Bay toward the grassy trails of Mendocino Headlands State Park. Along the way, it passes the elegant, sheet-white Presbyterian Church, the circa-1854 Ford House Visitor Center and Museum, and the Kelley House Museum (with its anachronistic wooden water tower out front). Also peppering this scenic street are two bookshops, two wine bars, and rooms and restaurants with a view. Mendocino's Main Street is predominantly built up on its north side, leaving south-facing pedestrians with an uninterrupted view of the seaside.

Monterey

Heading down to California's Central Coast, we find a string of standout main streets at each side of the Monterey Peninsula. Let's start with the eclectic city of Monterey, more specifically, Old Monterey. Several parallel thoroughfares showcase this part of the city's blend of historic Spanish adobes and modern California commercialism, but Alvarado Street is where we'll set our sights. At the north end, where it intersects with Del Monte Avenue, cars are no longer permitted. But for those on foot, this is perhaps the most compelling section of the entire street for this is where Alvarado flows into the collection of 17 structures comprising Monterey State Historic Park. From here, you can either continue on to the Old Fisherman's Wharf, where you'll find all sorts of seafood restaurants, candy or gift shops, and whale watching tours, or you can double back and embrace the social and culinary assets of Alvarado's south side.

If you happen to roll through town on a Tuesday evening, then you'll get to see Alvarado at its liveliest thanks to the weekly Farmers Market. Along with a plethora of local produce, this open-air affair includes pop-up concerts and arts dealers.

Pacific Grove

At the apex of the Monterey Peninsula stands a lesser-known gem by the name of Pacific Grove. Its main street, Lighthouse Avenue, begins at the Victorian-era Point Pinos Lighthouse (which just so happens to be the oldest continually-operating beacon on the Pacific Coast), but hits its commercial stride about a mile to the east. Here, in the immaculate core of Pacific Grove, you will find a host of inviting cafes, galleries, antique shops, and international restaurants. Personally, I felt right at home (or should I say write at home), working remotely at The Bookworks - a spacious café that doubles as a bookstore. If you're more in the mood for a brunch and coffee spot, then look no further than Red House Cafe, right across the street.

Those looking to fuel their inspiration will find it well at the Pacific Grove Art Center or the Artisana Gallery. And those on the hunt for forgotten or overlooked treasures should try their hand at Vintage Finds or The Grove Emporium. Lastly, if you can time your trip for the first weekend in May, then you'll get to experience Pacific Grove's premier event, the Good Old Days Street Festival, which sets up five stages, carnival rides, a petting zoo, and more all along Lighthouse Avenue.

Carmel-By-The-Sea

Before exiting the Monterey Peninsula from the south side, be sure to pay Carmel-By-The-Sea a visit. This historic Spanish mission preserves its formative past, but has also embraced the luxurious lifestyle so commonly associated with Southern California. A stroll down Ocean Avenue might not be the most wallet-friendly of undertakings, but how can you put a price on this main street's timeless beauty, irresistible indulgences, and sunset beach payoff? For starters, there are six winery tasting rooms either on or immediately adjacent to Ocean Avenue, and that figure doubles when expanding the search by another block.

Then there are the endless boutiques housed within adobes and thatched cottages, with some sweet shops and bakeries spliced in for good measure. Of course, Camel-by-the-Sea is no slouch when it comes to accommodations either. The Lamp Lighter Inn, Monte Verde Inn, and Normandy Inn all invoke nostalgia while placing you within easy walking distance of Carmel Sunset Beach. Ocean Avenue, as the name suggests, flows right into the fluffy white sands of this latter attraction.

Truckee

Let's now shift from the shimmering Pacific Coast to the breathtaking slopes of the Sierra Nevada. Originally known for the Donner Party tragedy, Truckee has long since morphed into a tourist destination thanks to its pioneering heritage and abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities. Get a lay of the historical landscape by touring the Museum of Truckee History and the Truckee Railroad Museum (housed within the train depot and adjacent railcar, respectively) before fanning out to the rest of Donner Pass Road.

Walking beneath the string of second-story balconies that are so essential to the Old West aesthetic, main street pedestrians are confronted by a litany of appealing businesses. Classic saloons are still around, joined now by classy wine bars and craft taprooms. The sartorial selections are just as diverse, with gear shops, casual clothes, and bespoke outfits all finding their niche along Donner Pass Road. Best of all, as you're exploring this unique strip, you get to breathe that fresh mountain air and glimpse the distant peaks from over 5,500 feet above sea level.

Nevada City

Another of the Sierra Nevada's standout main streets can be found in Nevada City. This part of the western foothills is known as the Gold Country, and a glance at Nevada City (which was founded as a mining camp in 1849) is enough to see why. This boom era produced opulent hotels and theatres, as well as lovely Victorian homes, all on display across the Downtown Historic District. In terms of Nevada City's main street, there are a few candidates. Main Street itself is more of a residential strip, so we'll skip this one for today. Then there's the slim but appealing Commercial Street that branches off of Main's east side like a wishbone. But the biggest, boldest, and most centralized of all the thoroughfares is Broad Street.

Beginning with the National Exchange Hotel (i.e. one of the oldest continuously-operating hotels west of the Rockies), passing the red-bricked Speakeasy Suites (also built in 1856 and signalling the more licentious aspects of the Wild West), and nearing its commercial conclusion with the Nevada Theatre (i.e. the oldest continually-operating performance venue in California), Broad Street's preserved past is instantly transfixing. At the same time, as was the case in Truckee, beneath those wooden balconies, proprietors of all sorts of treats and treasures are eager to keep present-day travelers engaged.

Palm Springs

Dropping down to the desert, Palm Springs is a veritable oasis for snowbirds seeking sunny skies, world-class golf, luxury shopping, and spirited nightlife. Downtown once again boasts multiple main thoroughfares, but the crown goes to Palm Canyon Drive. This is where the Villagefest, also called the Palm Springs Street Fair, unfurls every Thursday evening, where jovial groups pedal their Sunny Cycle limousine bikes, where the air-conditioned shopping malls and designer stores fill by day, and the restaurant patios flood by night. Other popular standouts include the Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center, the Rock Gallery Comedy Club, and the Walk of the Stars shrine at the corner of Tahquitz Canyon Way.

Personally, my favorite find along Palm Canyon Drive was Koffi North. The cafe features a shared garden area in the back, complete with tables overlooking the San Jacinto Mountains as they catch their first rays of sunlight in the morning. It's a great place to start the day, regardless of whether you plan to hit the links afterwards or peruse the shops.

Arroyo Grande

Bringing it back to the coast for one last hurrah - this time, the San Luis Obispo Coast - the village portion of Arroyo Grande harbors an attractive and well-rounded main street. Casual yet classy in parts, modern yet with hints of weathered brick here and there, consumer-friendly yet not overly commercialized, Branch Street is sure to welcome all sensibilities. Entering from West Branch, you'll first spot Palo Mesa Wood Fired Pizza (the first of many highly-rated restaurants along this strip), with a little men's boutique shop called Annex Supply Co in its shadow (don't worry, ladies, there are many subsequent shops explicitly designed for you). Next up, you might be beckoned by the communal chuckles reverberating from the streetside patio at Humdinger Brewing.

If you're in the mood for libations but prefer to sample some Californian grapes, then you can choose from the Verdad & Lindquist or Timbre Winery tasting rooms (located on opposite corners of the same block). The rest of Arroyo Grande's Branch Street is delightfully random, be it the guitar shop with the Elvis statue out front, the neighboring sweet and meat shops, one-off gift and collectible dealers - you name it.

Parting Thoughts

From sea to summit, redwoods to tumbleweeds, California's small towns happily utilize the various appealing environments that they've been dealt. These nine standout main streets slice right through such scenic settings, adding historical accents, inviting shops, and a bit of cultural flair. Where else but The Golden State?