Reporting by Daniella Segura, USA Today Network
Dreams of a summer getaway in one of countless California small towns may be fading as the season begins to wind down. Even so, residents still have plenty to explore thanks to the state’s scenic coastline.
Just in time, World Atlas has released a list of the best Pacific Coast small towns for a weekend escape, including six destinations in the Golden State.
“The best Pacific Coast weekend hides in the towns too small to make the highway signs,” World Atlas says. “Elephant seals bark on the sand just north of Cambria. … In Ojai, the mountains flush pink at sundown and stop the whole town in its tracks. Two days in any one of these towns beats a week almost anywhere else.”
Here’s a closer look at the California towns featured in World Atlas’ roundup.
Cambria
“Cambria hides in a pocket of Monterey pines on the Central Coast, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, about 6,000 people and in no hurry,” World Atlas says.
The biggest draw in town is Moonstone Beach, “a boardwalk along the bluffs where gray whales pass offshore,” according to the publication.
“Just north, thousands of elephant seals haul out on the sand at the Piedras Blancas rookery, close enough to hear them bark,” World Atlas says.
The “seaside gem” hosts a variety of things to do, including hiking, shopping, strolling through art galleries, and more, according to Visit Cambria.
“It’s the perfect place for a moment of pause, whether you want to escape and explore the great outdoors or slow down and slip into a state of relaxation,” Visit Cambria says.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
“Carmel-by-the-Sea packs galleries, courtyards, and a Michelin-starred kitchen into one square mile with no street addresses,” World Atlas says.
While the beach is a main draw, there is much more to the quaint town.
“It’s an ensemble cast of charms that make Carmel-by-the-Sea such an enchanting destination,” Visit California says.
The city features restaurants, art galleries and more, and “Carmel Village is stocked with charming boutiques and even boasts a historic mission and a state-of-the-art performing arts center,” Visit California says.
Solvang
“Solvang is Denmark dropped into the Santa Ynez Valley, a town of about 6,000 that Danish immigrants built and never stopped celebrating,” World Atlas says. The street names give it away, Atterdag and Copenhagen and Kronborg. The bakeries turn out real Danish pastry.
The town still boasts authentic architecture, thatched roofs, old-world craftsmanship and traditional windmills, Visit Solvang says.
“It goes by the Danish Capital of America and earns the title, with the traditions of Denmark alive downtown,” World Atlas says.
No trip would be complete without a pretzel and sausage from Copenhagen Sausage Garden, according to World Atlas.
To round out a slow afternoon, World Atlas recommends stopping by the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum and Hans Christian Andersen Park.
Carpinteria
“Carpinteria calls its beach the world’s safest, with the gentle surf and offshore reef to back the claim up,” World Atlas says. “The town is an easy drive down the coast from Santa Barbara, low-key and largely overlooked.”
The coastal town has a “small town charm valued by visitors and residents alike,” according to the city, which says it offers “beautiful beaches, breathtaking mountain views, and a diverse economy.”
The small downtown features a few family kitchens a short walk from the sand, according to World Atlas. The beach and shops are just blocks apart.
“A weekend here asks for nothing more than a towel and an appetite,” World Atlas says.
Ojai
“At sunset, the Topatopa Mountains above Ojai turn pink, a few minutes of alpenglow the locals call the Pink Moment,” World Atlas says.
The town is about an 80-mile drive from Los Angeles, with a downtown chock full of independent shops and galleries, according to the publication.
“Rose Valley Falls Trail climbs to a two-tier waterfall in the Los Padres backcountry nearby,” World Atlas says.
The city features a plethora of activities, including horseback riding, biking, and hiking, according to the Ojai Visitor Center.
Just west of the town, Lake Casitas offers campsites and quiet water, World Atlas says. Visitors can stop by the Ojai Valley Museum to get the lay of the valley’s history.
“The whole place is built for doing very little, well,” World Atlas says.
Morro Bay
“Morro Rock owns the skyline here, a 576-foot volcanic plug that has steered sailors into the harbor for more than three centuries,” according to World Atlas. “It rises at the mouth of the bay as its own protected preserve.”
The “legendary coastal escape” is located on scenic Highway 1 in California’s Central Coast, Visit Morro Bay says.
“From kayaking in the harbor and hiking coastal trails to browsing local shops, visiting small museums, and catching live music after sunset, Morro Bay makes it easy to shape your day around the coast,” Visit Morro Bay says.
Visitors can also explore Morro Bay State Park, which includes “a marina, a natural history museum, and an estuary where otters and seals turn up in the eelgrass,” World Atlas says.
“The Elfin Forest boardwalk loops through a pocket of pygmy oaks just outside town,” the publication says.”Two days here fill themselves.”
Other Pacific Coast small towns that made World Atlas’ list
Four additional Pacific Coast small towns outside of California were included on World Atlas’ roundup:
- Astoria, Oregon
- Friday Harbor, Washington
- Port Townsend, Washington
- Poulsbo, Washington
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun.
