A Tour of California's Most Beautiful Towns

The central coast of California is all about fusing the laid-back surfer vibes of Southern California with the rustic, wine country feel of Northern California. Pismo Beach, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, delivers on that fusion. It’s a relaxed California beach town that’s adjacent to Paso Robles, an inland central coast wine hub. In addition to their gorgeous beach and the bluffs that jut into the Pacific, Pismo Beach is known for its Monarch Butterfly Grove. The butterflies that nestle into the eucalyptus trees at Pismo State Beach from late October to February are an integral part of visiting this town.

Where to stay: The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, which offers beautiful oceanfront views.

With a population of fewer than 3,500, Borrego Springs is California’s only International Dark Sky Community. The town is also surrounded entirely by Anza-Borrego State Park. Between the dark sky and the expansive state park, the entire town is a stargazing destination. And in true desert fashion, you’ll encounter stunning flora and fauna throughout Borrego Springs, including vibrant desert wildflowers that bloom in the spring.

Where to stay: Borrego Valley Inn, an adults-only retreat.

Southeast of Santa Barbara is an eclectic hideaway, and arguably one of California’s best kept secrets: Ojai. Between Lake Casitas, Los Padres National Forest, and the Topatopa Mountains, the scenery is calming and sets an air of pure relaxation. The weather is gorgeous for hiking, fishing, or golfing year-round in Ojai. There’s also a strong wellness and spirituality culture in Ojai that encourages visitors to treat their body well, eat clean, spend time outdoors, say yes to the second spa treatment, and meditate in full view of the mountains. The downtown area is small but charming—stop by Osteria Monte Grappa for fine Italian in the town center.

Where to stay: Ojai Valley Inn, an American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts property.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a town you’ll typically hit on the way up to San Francisco if you take the Pacific Coast Highway route through Big Sur. As the name suggests, it’s right on the water and the village is just one square mile. Nonetheless, that square mile is packed with California goodness: the famed Carmel Beach, cozy wine tasting rooms, outdoor malls, nice restaurants, and boutique art galleries. Visit the beautiful Carmel Mission, taste the brews at Yeast of Eden, Monterey County’s own brewery, and dine at Carmel Bouchée—their moules-frites are exceptional.

Where to stay: Carmel Cottage Inn, a collection of five beautiful cottages just a block from the beach.

Known as the sleeper town of Napa Valley, St. Helena is where the Napa locals often end up. It is home to some of the region’s best wineries, and Main Street has a hyper-local feel and little commercialization. Culinary Institute of America at Greystone is set in St. Helena, as are vineyards like Freemark Abbey and Brasswood Cellars. St. Helena feels very much like a community, even while offering visitors the high-end experience and sheer stature that’s promised in Napa Valley. They host a farmer’s market every Friday from May through October and have a Holiday Winter Trolley when the weather gets colder.

Where to stay: Harvest Inn, where you can stay in the midst of vineyards and redwood groves.

Solvang is a Danish village that makes you feel remarkably like you’re in Europe, despite the southern California heat. Considered the “Danish capital of America,” Solvang is having a high fashion moment as Bella Hadid posed for Vogue in Solvang earlier this year. Strolling through the streets—in the footsteps of Bella Hadid, if you will—reveals old-world classic Scandinavian architecture and delicious Danish bakeries. In addition to the boutique shopping that awaits in Solvang, it’s also a gateway to the Santa Ynez Valley wineries, a scenic Santa Barbara-adjacent central coast wine country known for their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah.

Where to stay: Atterdag Inn, a newly renovated hotel with eight rooms that shows off the village’s Danish flair.

Nevada City, a perfect Lake Tahoe alternative, was established in 1849—originally as a mining camp. One hundred and seventy years later, the town still works to preserve their historic buildings. The buildings and houses look straight out of the Victorian-era, and Nevada City is just an hour and a half from Lake Tahoe (to the east) and the same distance from Sacramento (to the southwest). The oldest performance space in California is still in use here, the Nevada Theatre, and the town center features darling antique shops, restaurants, and wine tasting rooms. For more of the smaller-scale northern California wine scene, Grass Valley, the adjacent town, has several tasting rooms serving vino from the Sierra foothills.

Where to stay: Broad Street Inn, which was built in 1870.

Up in Mendocino County, Fort Bragg is an overwhelmingly beautiful spot on the Pacific Ocean. The northern California coast is the underdog of CA-1 compared to Big Sur, but it shouldn’t be. It’s every bit as surreally picturesque. And while those who consider San Francisco to be northern California may think Fort Bragg is far up the state, but it’s still nearly 250 miles from the California-Oregon border. Fort Bragg is home to coastal forests and serves as a gateway to The Redwood Route, which can be explored on the Skunk Train that follows what was once the 19th-century Fort Bragg Railroad. In Fort Bragg, you can also see the colorful array of sea glass at Glass Beach, on the southern end of MacKerricher State Park.

Where to stay: The Inn at Newport Ranch, where you’ll find coastal views and redwoods.

Across the San Diego Bay sits the island of Coronado. The idyllic beaches are lined by oceanfront mansions and perfectly blue waves crashing into the pristine sand. Their main drag, Orange Street, has a lovely display of local shops and well-kept gardens. While in Coronado, see all four of their main beaches: Central Beach, South Beach, Silver Strand State Beach, and North Beach.

Where to stay: Hotel del Coronado, Curio Collection by Hilton, a famous shooting location for Some Like It Hot.

A town in Marin County, San Anselmo is about 20 miles north of San Francisco, across the Golden Gate Bridge. The town is just over two-and-a-half square miles with 12,000 residents and is lined with beautiful mountains on seemingly all sides: Mount Tamalpais to the south, Moore Hill to the east, Grove Hill to the south, and so on. San Anselmo offers some of the best antiquing in the country and has long since been sought out as a prime shopping destination. 

Where to stay: Inn Above Tide, which is in Sausalito on the waterfront—about 20 minutes away.