13 Most Charming Small Beach Towns in California, According to Locals

California has a diverse and long coastline that stretches roughly 840 miles from the more wild and remote northern shores to the sun-soaked south. Having been born and raised in the Golden State, with family and friends still there, I’ve explored it extensively. The small beach towns are some of my favorite destinations.

If you’re looking for a beach getaway with small-town charms and a more laid-back vibe, instead of planning your vacation around one of the more popular cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, or San Francisco, consider one of these destinations. All are perfect for relaxation and outdoor activities that can be fueled by fresh, local seafood.

The seaside village of Trinidad lies about 30 minutes north of Eureka. While it has a tiny population of 321, it’s picture-perfect, set atop the cliffs where the crashing waves of the Pacific meet the Redwoods. Despite its size, there are shops, a gallery, a half-dozen restaurants, and an aquarium, although the main draw is the outdoors. The gateway to the California Coastal National Monument, visitors can enjoy leisurely hikes on Trinidad Head, admire the Memorial Lighthouse, and explore tidepools at Trinidad State Beach. 

Trinidad State Beach is not only a good place to look for colorful marine creatures, but it has unique sea stacks, arches, and caves, providing many photo-ops for filling your Instagram feed. Be sure to stick around for a sunset—some of the best on the West Coast can be admired right here. 

The most charming town on the Mendocino Coast, if not the entire California coast, is the village of the same name. An artist colony set atop a bluff overlooking the ocean, it was founded in the 1850s. The streets are lined with Victorian buildings and saltbox cottages, many of which are now home to bookshops, vintage and antique stores, art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. Mendocino Headlands State Park surrounds the village and includes Portuguese Beach, along with trails along the bluffs. The beach is popular for picnics and tidepooling, with the waves too powerful here for swimming. But nearby, Big River Beach is a sprawling sandy beach below the cliffs that’s ideal for splashing in the water and sunbathing. 

“Mendocino stands out among California coastal towns through authentic artistic heritage where working artists maintain studios in Victorian buildings overlooking dramatic Pacific cliffs, creating a living cultural community rather than a commercialized tourist destination,” says Yunna Takeuchi, Co-founder & CXO at City Unscripted.

Only a few miles south is Van Damme State Park. On its ocean side, there’s a picturesque beach where you can launch a kayak to paddle with the seals and explore sea caves. The inland side offers hiking trails, including the Fern Canyon Scenic Trail that winds through lush forest and leads to waterfalls.

If you’ve ever seen the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film “The Birds,” you probably noticed the charms of the town of Bodega Bay. Of course, the birds aren’t going around attacking people; in fact, it’s a great place for relaxation and outdoor adventures. You can see the historic school that was featured in the movie behind St. Theresa’s Church, just south, and enjoy Bodega Head, a large rocky point protecting the harbor with a sandy beach and picnic area. A network of trails looping around the headlands provides views of the harbor, bay, and the Pacific. It’s also the perfect vantage point for watching gray whales that migrate by between January and May. 

“Bodega Bay is a quiet, rustic, working fishing village, and the ideal spot for outdoor adventure to pure relaxation. The scenery is rugged and windswept, with dramatic cliffs and cold water, which sets it apart from Southern California,” says Birgitt “Biggi” Vaughan, Director Of Public Relations, Sonoma County Tourism.

Nearby, Doran Beach offers a two-mile stretch of sand on the crescent-shaped peninsula that separates the harbor from the bay. It’s ideal for tranquil strolls, crabbing and fishing from the jetty, and watersports, including kayaking, surfing, and bodyboarding. Golfers can play a round at The Links at Bodega Harbor, a Scottish-style course with spectacular views of the Pacific. In town, there are art galleries, shops, a spa at the Lodge at Bodega Bay (available to non-guests and guests alike), and multiple view eateries for dining on fresh seafood like oysters and crab.

Princeton-by-the-Sea isn’t a familiar name to most, yet it’s just north of the more well-known Half Moon Bay. In fact, Mavericks, the massive surf break and annual surfing competition, is usually attributed to Half Moon Bay, but it’s actually located here. Watch the big waves, and perhaps a daring surfer taking them on from Mavericks Beach just off Pillar Point. Pillar Point Harbor serves as a hub for watersports rentals like kayaks and paddleboards, deep-sea fishing excursions, and whale-watching tours. You can also purchase fresh-caught seafood here, but if you don’t want to do any cooking, there are several restaurants available too.

Just a short drive north of Santa Cruz, Davenport offers beaches without the crowds, even in the summertime, as they can’t be seen from the road. Just a few minutes south is Davenport Cove, also referred to as Shark Fin Cove, named for the huge rock that looks like a shark fin rising from the waves just offshore. It’s similar to Greyhound Rock Beach, a short drive north, but you can climb the big monolith there and watch for passing whales and dolphins. As both beaches require descending a short but steep trail, many people pass them over for more easily accessible options. Of course, that just means you’ll enjoy a more tranquil atmosphere. 

While there isn’t a ton in the 19th-century town itself, you will find the U-Pick Swanton Berry Farm and the historic Davenport Roadhouse. It’s an icon here as a popular gathering place for locals since 1906. On Friday through Sunday nights, free live music is hosted here. There’s also an inn just above with ocean-view rooms. 

Capitola is just six miles south of Santa Cruz and has a laid-back, artsy vibe with colorful buildings and a picturesque beach, reminiscent of towns along Italy’s Amalfi Coast. As the state’s first beach resort, opened in 1874, it also has a historic seaside village feel. Located on Monterey Bay, the wharf serves as a vibrant center with unique shops, boutiques, and eateries, many offering views of the water, while Capitola City Beach is a popular spot for sunbathing, kite-flying, swimming, and surfing. 

There are some fun annual events hosted in Capitola that are worth planning a trip around, particularly in September. The Capitola Art & Wine Festival takes place around the middle of the month, while the last full weekend of September features the Capitola Beach Festival, which includes a fishing derby, paddleboard race, boat parade, and more. 

Pacific Grove sits at the tip of the Monterey Peninsula. While it’s close to Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea, it’s a lot less busy. The walkable downtown area is centered around Lighthouse Avenue, offering a charming atmosphere with a mix of Victorian- and Edwardian-style architecture that houses shops, art galleries, and cafes. At the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, visitors can learn about the cultural history, geology, flora and fauna along the California Central Coast. 

Point Pinos Lighthouse is open for public tours, and if you’re here in October, the Monarch Sanctuary will be filled with thousands of monarch butterflies. One of the top draws of Pacific Grove is Lovers Point Park and Beach. It’s a popular spot for picnics, photography, painting, and outdoor activities like kayaking and swimming during the warmer months. As it faces east, it’s one of the few places on the entire West Coast where you can watch the sun come up over the ocean. 

A seaside village tucked among Monterey pines in San Luis Obispo County, Cambria is renowned for its charming downtown with shops, art galleries, and a local playhouse, while Hearst Castle, one of the country’s few true castles, is just a 15-minute drive north. Moonstone Beach is one of Cambria’s most popular spots as a postcard-perfect stretch with polished pebbles and driftwood-strewn sands. There’s a freshwater creek at the south end where kids can safely play, along with tidepools where you can see colorful marine creatures and perhaps even find the “moonstones” that the beach was named after.

“Cambria stands out from other California beach towns for its rare blend of rich history and unspoiled natural beauty,” says Ashley Cary of Highway 1 Road Trip. “Visitors can explore 19th-century architecture on a self-guided historic walking tour through the East Village before heading to Moonstone Beach to search for wave-worn “moonstones” and spot whales, dolphins, and sea otters.”

Morro Bay is easily recognized by Morro Rock, a huge volcanic plug that was used by mariners as a navigational aid for centuries. Today, it’s part of a bird sanctuary for many different species, including cormorants and pelicans. It’s also a nesting site for peregrine falcons, great and snowy egrets, and great blue herons. But what attracts many is the sea otters floating right along the promenade with the iconic rock in the backdrop, providing the opportunity to see the animals up close and capture photos. Kayak rentals are available for paddling in the calm waters of the bay, often right alongside them. 

The town is also home to six miles of continuous sandy beach popular for sunbathing, picnics, surfing, fishing, and more. Whale watching boat tours depart from here too, with humpbacks commonly spotted from April through October. In the winter, you’re likely to see gray whales, while blue whales are occasionally seen in the spring. There are plenty of local shops for browsing or buying, including vintage and antique stores, while multiple restaurants offer oceanfront dining with menus featuring fresh fish and seafood.

Only about 40 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Malibu is one of the most famous places in California, home to many of the rich and famous. Despite that, it’s managed to retain small-town charms, away from the typical hustle and bustle. While Surfrider Beach is well-known and often crowded, you can find tranquility at Leo Carrillo State Park and El Matador Beach. El Matador has an especially romantic atmosphere with rock formations creating intimate spots for cozying up with the one you love, enjoying the scenery practically all to yourself. 

“Malibu has such a special feel to it. It’s calm, beautiful, and gives you that classic California beach vibe without feeling crowded or busy. The cliffs, ocean views, and laid-back atmosphere make it a great place to just slow down and enjoy being by the water,” says Kim Swanson, Travel Expert, Travel with Kim.

The open-air Theatricum Botanicum is an enchanting venue for watching Shakespeare plays, and there are endless hiking trails in the Santa Monica Mountains nearby. If you’re hoping to do some celebrity spotting, head to the upscale boutique mall known as Malibu Country Mart. Jennifer Aniston, Kate Beckinsale, and Miley Cyrus are just a few of the well-knowns who have been seen working out their wallets here. When it comes to dining, you’ll have no shortage of options, including the renowned Nobu, where you can enjoy a high-end meal with views of Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Pier.

A resort town on Santa Catalina Island, Avalon can be reached by ferry departing from Long Beach, San Pedro, Dana Point, or Newport Beach on the Southern California coast. It offers a picturesque and relaxed waterfront setting with a wealth of things to see and do, including spending time on idyllic beaches with soft sand and easy access to swimming, snorkeling, diving, and other watersports. In fact, this is one of the best places to explore the underwater world in the continental U.S., with everything from bat rays and moray eels to colorful fish like the bright orange Garibaldi, California’s state fish. 

“What I love about Avalon is that it feels like you’ve traveled to a Mediterranean island but it’s just an hour from the California coast,” says Caroline Teel, Executive Editor of SmarterTravel. “The pastel houses, the turquoise water, even the golf carts zipping around — instantly you feel like you’re on vacation.”

Just a few of the attractions on land include the historic Catalina Casino with its hand-painted murals and Art Deco furnishings, the Catalina Museum For Art and History, the Catalina Island Golf Course with stunning views of Avalon Bay, and numerous shops and eateries. 

Located between L.A. and San Diego, Dana Point is a surfing hub with spots for everyone from beginners to experts. Instructors are available at many of the beaches, including Doheny State Beach, which is also great for tidepooling. But it’s the whale watching that draws many, with some calling Dana Point the Whale Watching Capital of the World. Humpback, gray, and blue whales are just a few of the species that can be seen in the area, along with many types of dolphins. Dana Point Harbor is the place to go for SUP, jet ski, kayak, and sailboat rentals. It also offers a variety of restaurants and cafes for dining with a harbor view. 

There are several popular attractions that can be explored very close by as well, including Mission San Juan Capistrano and the Surf Heritage and Culture Center, documenting the history of surfing.

The village of Del Mar has a rich history as the former retreat of some of the biggest names in Hollywood during the Golden Age. Many were drawn here for the tranquil ambiance, unspoiled beaches, and thoroughbred horse racing, which can still be enjoyed today. You’ll find two miles of beautiful sandy beach for barefoot strolls, picnicking, sunbathing, and surfing, with good swimming conditions in certain areas like 15th Street and River Mouth/Dog Beach. In between time on the sand, there are lots of independent shops to explore along with a good range of casual and upscale eateries. 

If you’re interested in horse racing, or just need an excuse to buy one of those over-the-top hats, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is where Seabiscuit ran in 1938, and it still offers the glamorous excitement of betting on fast horses. There are many annual events to enjoy too, including the Twilight Summer Concerts and Taste of Del Mar in September.