Mendocino, hands down, is one of the cutest small towns on the Northern California coast, and it's one of the northernmost towns on this list as well! 488 reviews of El Matador State Beach "For my 100th review I decided to write about one of my all time favorite places to visit in Southern California. For better surfing, head southeast to Rincon Beach. Nature and culture meld in this uncrowded California beach town perched on the edge of Humboldt Bay. You can't drive directly north from Fort Bragg, nor can you drive directly south from Crescent City. Then there's downtown Santa Cruz, where . San Diego, considered one of the best places to live in the world, is truly a melting pot of cultures. The town is home to gorgeous beaches and state parks, including Pudding Creek Beach, Glass Beach, Seaside Beach, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, and MacKerricher State Park. Carpinteria. Avila Beach is an unincorporated community in San Luis Obispo County, California. The Cheapest Beach Towns in Northern California Crescent City's famed Battery Point Lighthouse is a California Historical Landmark and one of the town's many attractions. Answer: Don & Karlie have both given good answers. Kids and parents can enjoy the Balboa Fun Zone. What are the best places to visit in Southern California? San Simeon. There are basically three beaches to choose from. Millionaires love natural beauty and quaint, historic towns, and Telluride, Colorado, nestled in the San Juan Mountains, delivers on both counts . This sun-and-surf region is known for some of the best weather and warmest water in the state. My personal vote goes for Carlsbad. Eureka has one of the best old towns in the state. Because we like knowing our neighbors and not battling traffic to and from home. Let's have a look at the best small towns to visit in California: 1. Its rows of colorful Venetian inspired beach bungalows give it the kind of old world charm you'll rarely find here, and its lowkey but wonderful shops, restaurants and hotels make it a must-see. Key Biscayne, Florida. September, August and July are the most pleasant months in Carmel-by-the-Sea, while January and December are the least comfortable months. State: California. California is one of the most culturally diverse states in America, and few capture that better than San Diego. Santa Barbara. Arcata. Located 90mi (145km) north of Los Angeles, Ojai is the perfect spot to escape hectic city life and enjoy a relaxing retreat. Davenport is also one of those small beach towns in California where you feel like you already have been there, even if this is your first visit. It is also the most populated subnational entity in North America and the 34th most populous in the world. Ojai (pronounced oh-hi) is a small mountain town in Ventura County, California. The small-town appeal makes this Southern city a sure thing for those looking for a more relaxed way of life. To get there, you have to backtrack from Highway 101, then go along a winding 25 mile road. 8. Goleta 4. Palo Alto Pros and Cons: + Spotless and safe + Energetic downtown area - Eye-watering home prices - Extreme Bay Area congestion Boca Raton is a classic beach town. Stay along the seven miles of oceanfront in a resort like the Vespera on Ocean, or head just south of the town to visit one of the local wineries like Santa Rita Hills. South of San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara, like many of its neighboring coastal cities, boasts picturesque beaches along with an average of 300 days of sunshine. Capitola 11. Canva. 12. The Baja California Peninsula has clear blue waters, fresh design, and seriously good guacamole. How many of these delightful small towns in Southern California have you visited? It has a diverse population, is not particularly urban nor particularly rural, and has a varying climate and landscape. It is known for its beautiful scenery, mild weather, and proximity to the Redwood National Forest. Ojai, Ventura County. It's a popular Michigan. Pismo 5. 13. If you want a quiet hidden beach that is relaxing and breathtakingly beautiful then El Matador is the place to go. A well-rounded beach town located on the Space Coast, Melbourne has a bit of everything. Sitting at an elevation of 259 feet above sea level, Davenport is a small community of just under 400 residents. Photo courtesy of Hotel . Carson Mansion, one of the most famous Victorian homes, is in Eureka's Old Town. Carmel by the Sea Telluride, Colorado, population 2,484. Half Moon Bay 8. These small towns offer us what the big cities just can't: a huge helping of peace and quiet. But, let me tell you that 21st century San Pedro is much attractive and cheapest beach town in California. 20 Best Places to Live on the Coast. The median cost of a home in Kernville is just $270,832. Fort Bragg 10. San Diego, the state's second largest city, is home to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, one of the world's great urban parks. . Generally, Oceano has fewer amenities than Grover Beach. Related: Best Small Towns for Summer Vacation l America's Best Beaches. Encinitas has a lovely downtown area, and there are activities and attractions for everyone to enjoy. The 5 Most Affordable Cities in California 2. Cambria 7. Where to stay: George Brooks House B&B. Carlsbad 2. Huntington Beach Not exactly a small town (it has around 200,000 residents), "Huntington," as it's called, nonetheless has a chill vibe with its 9.5 miles of sandy flat beach, slammin' waves (thanks to the currents around Catalina) and healthy economy (thanks to a history of oil discovered nearby and the aerospace industry). With no two communities exactly alike, find the best places to escape the crowds with our list of the best small towns in California. 6 /15. 6. Stay close and hang out at locally-owned restaurants, boutiques, and museums that showcase St. Mary's spirit and soul. Punta Lobos beach. 15 Best Small Towns in California - Small Towns to Live In or Visit in Northern and Southern California 1 Easy, Cheap, 30-Minute (or Faster!) Best Places to Live in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Encinitas is in San Diego, and it is one of the most popular places to live in California near the beach for families. Best CA Beach Towns To Live In 2019: List - Encinitas, CA - WalletHub ranked 192 beach towns by factors such as affordability, weather, safety, economy, education and health, and quality of life. Sun Pedro is one of the small beach towns in the south of Los Angeles. Eureka. 1. Some of you can argue with me saying that San Pedro has a bad name in terms of safety because it is under the control of Los Angeles rent people. Known for its enchanting old-world ambiance, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a scenic destination where you will certainly get away from the real world! Crescent City also has a lot to offer in terms of amenities and activities. What are the possible reasons for this? 7. The town of Eureka is on the coast of Northern California. 11 Small Beach Towns in California 1. Avila Beach. St. Helena is often referred to as Napa Valley 's Main Street and that's a good thing. Saint Michaels, Maryland. San Diego. 9. Carmel-by-the-Sea. Some of the best small towns in Southern California include Big Bear Lake, Ventura, San Clemente, Seal Beach, Carpinteria, Redlands, Green Valley Lake, Wrightwood, Oak Glen, and Claremont. Situated in Del Norte County, it is named after the crescent-shaped stretch of beach situated south of the city. San Diego County. The one that runs along the town is actually two, Carpinteria City Beach and Carpinteria State Beach. Saugatuck, Michigan Overlooking the shores of Lake Michigan, Saugatuck is home to several serene beaches that feature soft sand, rolling dunes and peaceful atmospheres. Why You'll Love It: Half Moon Bay is one of the best coastal small towns in California. The Ojai Valley View Preserve sits on 195 acres of "saved land" that now serves as a recreational park complete with hiking and waterfall trails. It is also the beach town that is farthest north of all the Northern California Beach towns. Photo courtesy of Montage Los Cabos. Beach town/Small city - Northern California, on the south end of Monterey Bay, 110 miles south of San Francisco. Median monthly rent: $1,500. St. Helena. This is the largest city in California after L.A., with a population of 1.35 million. With median property values just over $350,000 and an overall cost of living lower than the national average, Eureka is one of the cheapest beach towns in California to vacation and a perfect place to retire. 3. It has a great mix of historic elegance and wild West Coast scenery. McWay Falls near Carmel - a famous CA . Eureka. It's the heart of a fantastic and under-the-radar wine country, where you can sip tasty wines for a fraction of the price of either Napa and Sonoma. San Anselmo Sunny San Anselmo, a town of close to 13,000 people in Marin County, is revered by residents for its cafes, fine dining, and hiking and biking trails, while visitors are drawn in by the galleries, boutiques and San Anselmo's reputation as a great place to go antiquing. Montage Los Cabos. Capitola Capitola, the oldest seaside town in California, is about a 90 minute drive (south) from San Francisco. In the summer, there are also several small concerts by the beach. 48 / 50. The Carpinteria City Beach and Carpinteria State Beach run along the town, while the best surfing experience is at the southeast's Rincon Beach. With the beautiful Topatopa Mountains as a backdrop, the major Ojai attractions are centered around hiking and the outdoors. Crescent City is the best small beach town to retire in Northern California. Small beach towns don't get any better than this. Oceano is about 7% cheaper than Grover Beach, while its median home price is almost $70,000 lower. Kernville is located around 40 miles northeast of Bakersfield and around 120 miles from Los Angeles. Just some 14 kilometers from the city of Santa Cruz, this Pacific Ocean coastal town is full of wondrous cliffs, secluded beach areas, and great surfing waves. Shelter Cove's Black Sand Beach. Sausalito Situated on the northern side of the Golden Gate Bridge is the small community of Sausalito, a welcome breath of fresh air for those wanting to take a break from bustling San Francisco.. From a distance, the mansion on top of the hill looks like a fairy tale. The town itself is known as being an art haven, with plenty of galleries and boutiques to check out. Population: 855. Spotlight: Disneyland Resort. Mendocino 9. 3 Niche users give it an average review of 4.7 stars. Just south of Miami, Key Biscayne is an escape from the city life. Pismo Beach is one of the best-known beach towns in California, and it is located between San Francisco and Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast Highway. Yet the "The American Riviera" has a flavor of its own, with cooler evenings and characteristic Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast.With nearly 39.2 million residents across a total area of approximately 163,696 square miles (423,970 km 2), it is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. Crescent City Median home price: $276,000 One of the cheapest places to live in Northern California, Crescent City has something for everyone. 4. The Best Beach Towns to Visit This Winter. I love this place as a choice for scenic small towns in California. McCloud. It has a population (1,443 people) that's smaller than its elevation (2,667 feet). Davenport Conclusions on Small Beach Towns in California 11 Small Beach Towns in California Below you'll find a list of some of the best small beach towns across California. Source: humboldtlistings. Dinner Recipes 2 The Best Small Towns for Halloween 3 Apple Cider Donut Bundt Cake 4 12 Best Bathrobes for Women in 2022 5 Dad Jokes To Keep the Whole Family Laughing Country Life Travel First settled in the mid-1860s, Davenport was once a bustling whaling . Carpinteria, California Known for having the world's safest beach, Carpinteria is west of Los Angeles, and about 10 miles east of Santa Barbara. The town is known for its pristine Carmel Beach, historic Spanish Carmel Mission, quaint artisan boutiques, courtyards, art galleries, etc. 1. Though real estate isn't cheap, Balboa Island is a great place for locals and tourists to visit. 12 Best Small Beach Towns in California (And Where to Stay) Laguna Beach Located in Orange County, halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, Laguna Beach is seven miles of coves and beaches that lay claim to tide pools, boardwalks, and bluffs. According to WalletHub, Marco Island is known for its warm ocean water. The median home price is $338,913, which is much lower than prices in other beach towns. I have held off on reviewing it for fear that I could not do it justice but here goes.. Paso Robles is located inland, about a 40-minute drive from the coast, but it is a must-visit destination on the Central California Coast. California Welcome Centres in Orange County. Best thing: Pay a visit to Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. One of the most mesmerizing Golden State landmarksBattery Point Lightis found here. Located on the northern side of the Golden Gate Bridge, Sausalito is one of the most scenic small towns in California. Shelter Cove Shelter Cove is by far, the most out of the way coastal town in Northern California. First, there's family fun at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a yesteryear-style esplanade lined with arcade games, a wooden roller coaster, and a historic carousel. The cost of living here is roughly 30% lower than the rest of California. Avila beach is one of the best coastal beaches in California to live. This coastal town is located just a few miles from the Oregon Border. Arcata. 6. Some 10 miles east of Santa Barbara, Carpinteria is known to have one of the world's most safe beaches, with three to choose from. Further south, San Diego has the Dunes, (Dunes Park )and plenty of kid (and adult) interesting things to do, such as Sea World and the San Diego zoo.. 8 Secluded Gulf Coast Beaches . Carmel-by-the-Sea The Lone Cypress near Carmel-by-the-Sea Carmel-by-the-Sea is a romantic, seaside destination on a stunning section of the Central California coast. Visit California 12. The two main reasons for this are that the schools are highly-rated, and there are multiple family-oriented activities to enjoy. This is located on San Luis Obispo Bay. Tucked into a cove just south of San Francisco, this tiny town is named for it's crescent, a.k.a. Residents and tourists alike enjoy the white water rapids of its namesake Kern River. Best Small Beach Towns in California Fort Bragg Fort Bragg is a small coastal town in California that has plenty of picturesque ocean views and attractions. It is a "beachy" town with cute shops and restaurants and an overall feel of relaxation. "half-moon" shape hugging along the coast. California Highway 46, which runs east and west of Paso Robles, is lined with picturesque wineries you can tour. San Simeon is a small town of under 500 people, but there are three attractions in the area worth stopping for: Hearst Castle, Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery, and Piedras Blancas Lightstation. Featured Review: Current Resident says Ok, this is actually Pebble Beach, and I've lived here for 24 years.Pluses are the best golf in the world, super low density living in a forest with Pacific Ocean views, proximity to Carmel,. Southern California beaches in general are all kid-friendly. 1. County: Monterey County. 1. Crescent City is one of the cheaper beach towns to live in California. Avila beach is about 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles, and about 200 miles south of San Francisco. Charleston, South Carolina. #1 Best Places to Retire in California.. Del Monte Forest. Marco Island, Florida. Also, make sure to visit some local wineries too that serve some of the state's best wine! Located about 20 miles north of the city of Napa, St. Helena is big on charm and small on . Meanwhile, homes here are priced at an average of around $350,000 to $400,000, which is an absolute steal in California. Its historic downtown features quaint shops and restaurants while the miles of pristine beaches draw sunbathers, surfers, and snorkelers. Oceano is a small little town that is right next to Grover Beach, which was #10 on this list of the cheapest beach towns in California. Population: 1,108. Crescent City is a small town located on the north coast of California. Hermosa Beach 3. 3 /15. Here are a few of the best small towns in Northern California that will remind you to put your feet up and stay awhile. With a small population of residents that barely tops 7,000, Sausalito is the perfect place to kick back and relax. Crescent City - Median Home Price: $338,913. Population: 82,826. Median home price: $232,575. Santa Cruz. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. While Rehoboth Beach has a permanent population of just 1,488, come summer 25,000 tourists descend on the resort town, drawn by its temperate weather and action . The ultra-mellow beach town of Santa Cruz along Highway One has a decidedly split personality, and both sides are cool. Settled in the 1800s, the town features wonderful Spanish mission revival architecture, as seen in the Arcade Plaza, which is filled with shops, restaurants and art. The bluffs of Carpinteria, California. The perfect microcosm of California as a whole is Arcata. Paso Robles: Laid-Back Wine Country. . 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