The Safest Small Towns In California
Residents in Ross have staged plays in the same barn since 1939, and in Belvedere the summer concerts are still run by the neighbors who started them. In Yountville, an open-air sculpture walk runs the length of main street, with a free town shuttle along it. In each of these towns, the best things are shared and kept going by the people who live there. That makes for an unhurried, neighborly kind of California. These nine small towns are some of the most livable in the state, and each is worth getting to know.
Solvang
During September's Danish Days festival in Solvang, folk dancers perform downtown and families join the children's parade, which ends at Solvang Park. The celebration also includes free concerts in Solvang Park and demonstrations at the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art. Community participation extends to the youngest visitors, with storytelling and LEGO activities among the festival's attractions.
On an ordinary visit, Copenhagen Drive is the place to begin exploring the village's half-timbered buildings and windmills. Stop at Solvang Restaurant for aebleskiver, the round Danish pancakes served as a local specialty, then visit the Hans Christian Andersen Museum at The Book Loft. Elverhøj supplies the background to the town's Danish-American identity. For a quieter visit, the tourism bureau recommends Monday through Wednesday, when the village's sidewalks and restaurants generally have fewer weekend visitors. The surrounding Santa Ynez Valley also puts wine tasting within reach of a stay downtown.
Tiburon
Tiburon's waterfront park occupies land once used by a railroad. The last train left in 1967, and the old depot now houses the Railroad & Ferry Depot Museum. Outside, the Shoreline Park path follows San Francisco Bay between the museum and Main Street, with views toward Angel Island and the city skyline.
Inside the depot, an operating model railroad reconstructs Tiburon as it looked around the beginning of the 20th century. The museum opens seasonally, so check its calendar before planning around a visit. A longer outing begins at the ferry dock: Angel Island Tiburon Ferry runs to the state park across the water, although service becomes more limited in winter. Visitors can also arrive in Tiburon itself by Golden Gate Ferry from San Francisco's Ferry Building, putting the waterfront within reach without a drive around the bay.
Clayton
Clayton's summer concert audience gathers downtown at The Grove, below Mount Diablo. The concerts begin at 6 p.m. on selected summer Saturdays. In 2026, the program included a line-dancing evening alongside bands playing on other dates.
The mountain is close enough for a separate morning outing. Mitchell Canyon's staging area sits at the end of Mitchell Canyon Road in Clayton and provides trail access into Mount Diablo State Park. Volunteers staff the visitor center on weekends, where displays cover the mountain's geology and wildlife. Trail maps are available for planning a walk. There is an important distinction for drivers: this entrance does not provide a road to the summit. Park here for a hike, or use the park's North Gate or South Gate entrance if the summit drive is the plan.
Yountville
Yountville has turned a walk through Napa Valley wine country into an outdoor art tour. Sculptures stand along the town's pedestrian-friendly main street, each with a plaque that connects visitors to information about the work and its artist. Pick up an Art Walk map at the Welcome Center or Community Center, then use the free audio tour to explore at your own pace.
Community events make use of the same compact setting. Art, Sip & Stroll allows people to browse without purchasing a wine-tasting package, so an afternoon with the artists need not revolve around drinking. The Yountville Bee provides free, on-demand rides within town and is wheelchair accessible. It also connects with Vine Transit Route 10. That makes it practical to walk one part of Washington Street and request a ride when the group is ready to stop.
Winters
Putah Creek runs beside downtown Winters, giving a visit to Main Street an easy extension into the trees. Winters Putah Creek Nature Park has a paved route suitable for bicycles and mobility devices, plus a separate trail closer to the creek. A native-plant pollinator garden grows beside the route. A salmon mural and educational signs add stops along the walk. Nearby Rotary Park supplies picnic tables and public restrooms, useful details when a short stroll becomes a longer family outing. Its gazebo also hosts free concerts on Thursday evenings in July. Beyond town, Lake Solano Park provides another place to spend time beside Putah Creek, with boat access for a canoe or kayak and accessible paths through the day-use area. The upper day-use area contains a native-plant demonstration garden, and the park has drinking-water refill facilities as well as shaded places to rest.
Ross
At the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross, a circle of magnolias grew from the roots of a tree that fell in 2006. The original had been planted in 1870. The center's self-guided tour continues through 11 acres of gardens and historic buildings. Entry to the grounds is free, and walkers are welcome daily between sunrise and sunset.
Ross Valley Players has staged community theater in the property's Barn since 1939, while the edible garden provides a teaching space for seasonal growing. The basketry garden introduces plants traditionally used by Native basket makers, including whiteroot sedge. For a longer walk nearby, head through Ross along Lagunitas Road to Natalie Coffin Greene Park and continue on foot toward Phoenix Lake. The reservoir sits west of the garden center, within the wooded Mount Tamalpais watershed.
Los Altos Hills
A community horse barn gives Los Altos Hills one of its most distinctive meeting places. The town owns Westwind Community Barn, which occupies 15 acres beside Byrne Preserve. It hosts year-round riding programs through the town's recreation department, along with local events. The annual Pathways Run/Walk starts here before heading into the preserve and the town's network of paths. In 2026, participants could choose a longer hill run or a one-mile fun run.
That network makes exploring the foothills possible beyond a single park boundary. The town's pathway map identifies public routes through neighborhoods and connections toward neighboring open space. At Byrne Preserve, grassland and woodland provide room for walking and horseback riding; bicycles are prohibited. Follow the mapped public paths, since an open-looking hillside can still be private property.
Belvedere
A ship's Victorian reception room survives beside the water in Belvedere. The China Cabin came from the China, an 1866 transpacific steamer, and was moved to Belvedere Cove after being salvaged. Its walnut woodwork and decorative gold finish remain an unusual sight in a predominantly residential community. Check the Belvedere-Tiburon Landmarks Society's visiting arrangements before making it the focus of an outing.
Elsewhere, public lanes and stairways offer a way to explore the steep neighborhood on foot. The city's parks map marks viewpoints and the routes between streets, including the Harry B. Allen Stairs.
Belvedere Community Park provides a more level gathering place beside City Hall. Its gazebo was built for the city's centennial in 1996, and residents organized the first summer concert series two years later. The free concerts continue to bring families together for music and picnics, supported by local contributions and the Belvedere Community Foundation.
Saratoga
Saratoga's old quarry supplied material for Santa Clara County roads before closing in 1967. Today, the 64-acre Quarry Park is open to walkers, with traces of its working past along the trails. It lies about two miles west of downtown on Highway 9, an accessible starting point for exploring the lower Santa Cruz Mountains.
Closer to the village, Wildwood Park has a wooded creekside setting with picnic facilities and a playground. Hakone Estate and Gardens provides a different kind of outdoor afternoon, with traditional Japanese gardens maintained on a historic estate. Admission is charged, although Saratoga residents can enter free on the first Tuesday of each month with proof of address.
Montalvo Arts Center adds gardens and woodland trails above town. The grounds are free to visit, and the Great Lawn is available for picnicking.
Many of the most inviting places in these towns depend on residents keeping them open and active. Belvedere's summer concerts began with a group of citizens and continue with support from local donors. In Ross, the Barn has accommodated community theater for generations, sharing the garden center with spaces for learning about plants and growing food. Los Altos Hills owns its community barn, giving organized rides and the annual run a common starting place beside open grassland. A visitor can attend a play in Ross or take a place beside local families at Belvedere's gazebo without needing an invitation from someone in town.
