18 Small California Towns with Notable Scenery and Relaxed Atmospheres

You know that moment you’re staring at your phone at 2AM (maybe with a half-eaten sleeve of Oreos), wondering if you’ll ever just chill? Like, really chill, the kind of chill where your shoulders drop, your brain softens, and you remember what being a person feels like. Welcome to my confession: I crave places that don’t demand, that just offer. Not empty, not lifeless; just slower and a little weird, in the best possible way. Here’s my (not at all secret) hit list of 18 California towns where the views slap, the people actually make eye contact, and you might remember how to breathe. Ready to swap existential dread for a deep exhale? Let’s get weirdly specific. Based on a combination of available data, expert insights, and the opinions of our editorial team: this list reflects what we know, love, and sometimes argue about over coffee. All facts, figures, and conversions are accurate when we hit “publish,” but as with any list of this nature, the selection, emotion and order are gloriously subjective.

1. Healdsburg

Imagine this: You’re sipping a glass of Pinot with the world’s best cheese plate under a tree that’s probably been there longer than you have. Healdsburg feels like the kind of place where people casually discuss barrel aging instead of weather, and no one rushes unless it’s harvest.

One time, I got lost in a lavender field here and didn’t even care. That’s the magic: calm but not boring, sophisticated without being uptight. Their farmers’ market smells like wildflowers and fresh bread, and the Russian River just sneaks up to remind you what green looks like.

Locals recommend the single scoop of wildberry at Noble Folk, but I say double it. This is the town you go to when “self-care” means more than a face mask. Every sunset here looks like it’s breaking up with you: gorgeous, a little dramatic, unforgettable.

2. Mendocino

You ever need to stand somewhere windy, just to be reminded you’re alive? Mendocino is that place besides being a National Historic Landmark District. The Pacific slams into cliff faces while you walk through neighborhoods straight out of a sepia photo.

Artists come here to get stuck and unstuck; it’s all weathered picket fences, salty air, and galleries that feel like living rooms. I once watched a gray whale breach while eating a scone; felt like both a miracle and a flex.

This town has a way of making you feel tiny, but not in a bad way. Take the Headlands trail, ramble until your hair’s a disaster, and buy yourself a print from a local artist. If you leave without salty jeans, you’re doing it wrong.

3. Julian

Julian is where I discovered the law of the universe: Everything tastes better when you’ve walked uphill for it. This little mountain town doles out homemade apple pie like it’s a love language.

The streets have that “stuck in time” vibe: antique stores, creaky boardwalks, and a school bell that rings just because. There’s a gold mine (literally) and, if you’re lucky, that rare snowfall that makes the whole place feel like a postcard.

My secret? Buy a second pie and eat it with your hands in the car. No judgment. Julian’s about nostalgia, calories, and not pretending you don’t want seconds.

4. Avalon

You know those movies where someone escapes to a Mediterranean island to find themselves? Avalon is California’s answer, minus the melodrama. Here, golf carts almost outnumber cars and the ocean is so blue, it feels Photoshopped.

I once spent a whole afternoon looking for dolphins and ended up talking to a pelican. Zero regrets. Snorkel in the morning, eat a fish taco for lunch, and take a glass-bottom boat ride just because you can.

The air smells like sunscreen and salt, and every night ends with someone strumming a guitar on the beach. If your soul feels fried, Avalon reboots you: slowly, with plenty of sea breeze.

5. Nevada City

Some places make you feel like you might overhear a ghost story at any moment. Nevada City does that, but with better coffee. Brick facades, lamplight, and the kind of bookstores where the owner remembers your name.

It’s tucked into the Sierra foothills, so you’ll catch the smell of pine and wood smoke if you wander long enough. I lost a whole afternoon here once, falling into a conversation about historic floods and handmade quilts.

There’s something grounding about standing where miners once gambled their futures. Stay for the live music, and remember: No one’s ever regretted buying a weird antique lamp on vacation.

6. Ojai

Ojai is the kind of town that makes you think, “Maybe I’ll try meditation again.” The valley feels sacred without being sanctimonious; the air is citrus and sage, and every second person is carrying a yoga mat or a paintbrush.

I once got my aura photographed by a woman in a linen dress who swore I needed more magnesium. The farmers’ market here offers more varieties of honey than I knew existed, and the bookstore handwrites staff recommendations.

If you need a reset, climb up to Meditation Mount at sunset and watch the valley turn pink. You’ll leave softer, even if you don’t buy the crystals.

7. St. Helena

Wine country doesn’t get more “main character energy” than St. Helena. Picture yourself tasting Cabernet in a 19th-century stone winery, then strolling to a bakery where the croissants sell out by ten.

I once spent $12 on a pastry and didn’t regret it for a second. The town is small enough to ditch your car, big enough to discover new corners every visit.

If you’re feeling fancy, book a spa treatment. Or just find a shady spot to people-watch and count Teslas. In St. Helena, indulgence is a lifestyle, not a special occasion.

8. Cambria

Have you ever found a place that feels like it’s keeping a secret just for you? Cambria’s got that locked-down. The ocean here feels wild, the pine forests cozy, and the shops are filled with things you didn’t know you needed.

I spent a whole afternoon stone-hunting on Moonstone Beach, shoes in hand, hair salty and tangled. There’s a bakery where the cinnamon rolls are almost spiritual.

You could get lost in the Fiscalini Ranch trails or just watch the waves crash for hours. Cambria wants nothing from you, except maybe a little wonder.

9. San Clemente

San Clemente has major “wish I lived here” energy. The beaches actually deliver on their hype; find the locals at the pier or catching the early surf. The Spanish architecture gives the whole place a sun-washed, never-in-a-hurry vibe.

Once, I watched a family carry a birthday cake to the end of the pier, candles fighting the ocean breeze. The farmers’ market is a Technicolor parade of fresh produce and musicians who might be famous later.

If you need to remember what fun feels like, try tacos at a surf shack and watch the sunset. It scolds you for taking life too seriously.

10. Capitola

If you’ve ever wanted to live inside a candy-colored postcard, Capitola is your spot. Picture Venice meets surf town, with the houses along the beach painted like gelato flavors. The wharf buzzes with laughter, fishing lines, and seagulls plotting their next snack.

I lost my flip-flop here once and didn’t mind. Everyone’s barefoot or pretending to be, and the mornings smell like coffee and sunscreen.

The boardwalk lights twinkle at night. Buy taffy, build a sandcastle, and let the saltwater sort out your mood. Capitola is proof that whimsy doesn’t have an age limit.

11. Idyllwild

Some towns feel like a warm hug. Idyllwild wraps you in pine needles, art, and fresh coffee. The air has that mountain sharpness, and the local dog is probably named something like “Bark Twain.”

I bought a hand-painted mug here and ended up talking to the artist for half an hour. There’s no rush; just trails, music, and a sense that everyone is making it up as they go.

Hike early, nap late, and spend your evenings listening to music at a tiny bar. Idyllwild reminds you that simple doesn’t mean boring.

12. Morro Bay

Standing in Morro Bay at sunset, you understand why people write songs about the ocean. Morro Rock is the sort of landmark that makes you want to take too many selfies. Otters float by like they’re on paid vacation.

I once ate clam chowder on the pier and watched pelicans squabble over a fish like siblings. The air tastes salty and faintly like fries, the shops are all run by people with opinions about kelp.

Rent a kayak, walk the Embarcadero, or just sit with your thoughts by the water. Morro Bay lets you exhale, finally.

13. Coronado

You want old-school glam? Coronado delivers. The Hotel del Coronado looks like it should have its own movie score: sprawling, red-turreted, impossible to ignore.

I once watched a sandcastle contest here that got so competitive, I was worried someone would bring blueprints. The island’s wide beaches are perfect for pretending you’re in a black-and-white film, minus the corset.

Hop on a rental bike, eat an ice cream cone, and let your hair get messier than you planned. Even the air feels fancier here, but no one’s judging your sandy feet.

14. Arcata

Arcata is where quirky meets green, and somehow it just works. The college energy means there’s always someone playing guitar on the plaza or selling heirloom tomatoes out of a backpack.

I once bought a hand-knitted octopus here and felt like I’d joined a club. The redwoods loom on the horizon, and every café has oat milk and opinions about composting.

Catch the annual Kinetic Grand Championship if you can: it’s bikes, costumes, and pure chaos. Arcata makes you want to save the world with a smile and a reusable cup.

15. Dunsmuir

If peace had a ZIP code, it’d be Dunsmuir. Tucked under Mount Shasta, this railroad town feels like a secret handshake. Trains still thunder through, and the river is cold enough to reset your entire nervous system.

I tried fly-fishing once and failed spectacularly, but the locals just laughed and handed me a hot chocolate. The historic downtown is pocket-sized and full of stories.

Stroll the river trail, wave at every stranger, and remember what quiet sounds like. Dunsmuir teaches you that stillness is an art form.

16. Los Olivos

Some towns are built for wandering. Los Olivos is one of them. The main street is lined with tasting rooms in old Victorian houses, and every porch has a story (or a dog sleeping on it).

I had the best olive oil of my life here, sipped from a tiny cup while watching cyclists roll past. The town is small but never sleepy; there’s always live music, art, or a festival brewing.

Horse pastures and vineyards hug the edges. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch the jacarandas blooming. Los Olivos feels like the best parts of summer, all year.

17. Ferndale

Ever wanted to time travel? Ferndale is your ticket. The whole town looks like it fell out of a storybook, with gingerbread-trimmed houses and a main street that smells like butter and fresh coffee.

I watched a Fourth of July parade here once that lasted exactly twenty minutes and ended with cows. The locals take pride in their gardens, and everyone waves even if they don’t know you.

Visit the cemetery on the hill for the best view, and buy a pastry at the corner bakery. Ferndale makes nostalgia feel brand new.

18. Sausalito

Sausalito is where salt air and city light finally call a truce. Take a ferry from San Francisco and land in a world where houseboats bob in pastel rows and the water makes everything feel possible.

I once got caught in a rainstorm here, ducked into an art gallery, and emerged with a tiny sculpture and a sense of hope. The food is best eaten outside, with boats drifting by and gulls pretending to ignore you.

Stroll along the water, lose count of the art studios, and watch the city fade into mist. Sausalito is proof that you can slow down without letting go.