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North America Chevron. United States Chevron. California Chevron. As the third-largest state by size and most populous 39 million residentsit's hard to most beautiful small town that there are small towns in California. From Napa Valley and San Francisco to Los Angeles and Joshua Treedown to San Diego, the big names tend to get all of the mpst, however the state's quieter areas hide away an embarrassment of riches when it comes to outdoor pursuits, laidback beaitiful, and foodie delights.
Below, we feature nine small towns in California—some unknown to Californians themselves—that deserve a visit and a moment in the spotlight. Kayak and spot sea otters in Moss Landing; tour a well-preserved Spanish mission in San Juan Capistrano; explore the dramatic beaches of Trinidad at the top of the state in Humboldt County; see wildflowers and life-size metal sculptures of mammoths, scorpions, and horses in Borrego Springs.
All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Often overshadowed by Most beautiful small town Franciscothis picturesque town north of the city is a jewel in its own right. The surrounding hiking trails in the Marin Headlands, including the acre old growth forest of Muir Woods, allow for plenty of opportunities to recharge in nature.
Along with its ship building history, Sausalito has long been an arts hub since the days of the beatniks. Tour towj legendary Heath Ceramics factory, started in by Edith Heath, and bring home gorgeous bud vases and serving platters. Established by Junipero Serra inthe mission served to convert the Indigenous Acjachemen people to Christianity.
With the scarcity of resources and diseases spreading, many native communities reluctantly joined. Dine on shakshuka and eggplant toast at newcomer Mayfieldor snag a table at Rancho Capistrano Winery and sample some terrific reds.
In Humboldt County, Trinidad is one most beautiful small town the least populated small towns in California. Hike Trinidad Head for beautiful ocean vistas and the occasional whale sighting during migratory months or launch a boat into the harbor to fish for Dungeness crabs and salmon. South of Trinidad pier is Most beautiful small town Beach, an ideal spot for ocean kayaking and visiting tidepools.
After some time exploring the coast, detour to toen the towering stands of redwood trees in Rockefeller Forest in Humboldt Redwoods State Park emall drive the Avenue of the Giants. Not to be confused with Palm SpringsBorrego Springs skall further south of the mid-century modern homes and fancy pools of L. The pint-size town has no traffic lights—all the better for seeing most beautiful small town and comets in the night sky. Though square mile State Park по этой ссылке largest state park most beautiful small town the 48 most beautiful small town states is growing in popularity for spring wildflower blooms and a collection of massive metal sculptures, including a foot long sea serpent, that dot the landscape, it still remains blissfully under the radar.
A stagecoach route from San Francisco through Los Olivos and then further south put the small wine country town on the map in Today, the walkable downtown with 27 wine most beautiful small town rooms, cafes, art galleries, and Victorian-style inns draws visitors from near and far. Blink and you may miss mostt small fishing village in northern Monterey County. The slough is also home to a high concentration of southern sea otters—over —that can be spotted while kayaking, whale watching, or hiking.
Since those days, Guerneville has been a welcoming and relaxed most beautiful small town for all. Rest your head at Dawn Ranch Resortwhich just partnered with Fender to supply guests with acoustic guitars to play around the properties many fire beauyiful.
Stefanie Waldek. Нажмите чтобы увидеть больше Editors. Chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. Once there, stroll small shops, cafes, and bars of quaint Avalon smqll hitting the water to snorkel, kayak, and dive among bright orange garibaldi fish, dolphins, angel sharks, bat rays, and beautiul eels. Families will love ziplining through the canyons, too. Fly-fish, mountain bike, and camp during the summer; come for leaf peeping during the crisp fall days. For an easy walk, do the 2.
Close Banner Most beautiful small town. See all the winners as voted by you! See the winners See all the winners as voted by you! Population: beatiful, Often overshadowed by San Franciscothis most beautiful small town town north of beautiiful city is a jewel in its own right. Population: In Humboldt County, Trinidad is one of the least populated small towns in California. Population: 3, Not to be confused with Palm SpringsBorrego Springs lies further south of the mid-century modern homes and fancy pools of L.
Sma,l Blink and you may miss this small fishing village in northern Monterey County. Trending Stories. Colony Palms Hotel. The american academy of dramatic arts reviews Now. The Palace Hotel perfectly blends history and modernity, and tosn in the middle of downtown San Francisco. Los Angeles does classic and grand. Freehand Los Angeles. A hostel that seems too mosr and comfortable to be one. The World Is Huge. Don't Miss Any Of Besutiful Sign up for our newsletters to receive the latest and greatest on all things travel.
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Most beautiful small town.25+ Beautiful Small Towns in the USA
Magnolia Springs is the epitome of Southern charm, with oak tree-lined streets, historical churches, and friendly locals. Located at the beginning of the Magnolia River, it also happens to be one of the only remaining towns in the U. Known for Haystack Rock, a foot monolith protruding out of the water best viewed from nearby Ecola State Park or the guest rooms at Stephanie Inn , the eponymous village on the shore was officially incorporated in It's popular today for its cute chocolate shops, art galleries, microbreweries, and cozy vacation rentals.
The city of Mackinac Island encompasses the entire island, though most of the protected land is managed by the Mackinac Island State Park Commission. It's a long-beloved vacation spot for midwesterners, thanks to its famous fudge shops, horse-drawn carriages, and gorgeous natural surroundings. The town is perhaps most famous, however, for the iconic Grand Hotel , with its sprawling, foot front porch looking out to the water.
This classic New England seaside town is so picture-perfect, it was the primary filming location for the movie Peyton Place a film about—surprise!
The tiny peninsula also offers some of the best birdwatching in the country—and, from March to December, fantastic whale watching. When it comes to accommodations, The Virginia Hotel is a favorite of our readers, thanks to super comfortable beds and a great in-house restaurant. Stefanie Waldek. CNT Editors. Here, there are 16 galleries—one for every residents of this isolated town—in addition to the Chinati Foundation , which holds hundreds of works by Dan Flavin, John Chamberlain, Donald Judd, and more.
The town received its first full service hotel in , the Hotel Saint George, though budget-conscious and adventurous travelers should look into spending the night in a teepee at El Cosmico. This beautiful hamlet sits in the farthest northwest reaches of Washington , with a marina at Roche Harbor that serves as a jumping off point for cruising around small, uninhabited islands.
Friday Harbor was once a major produce provider for the state, but these days, the economy is centered around tourism—sea kayaking and orca-watching are the biggest draws. Year-round ferries from Anacortes on the mainland make it easy to visit in every season. About 40 miles north of Boston, Rockport is a lovely coastal town favorited by lobster fishermen and artists. You can find both industries along Bearskin Neck, a peninsula of old fishing shacks that has been turned into a stretch of shops and galleries.
The residents are famous for their witchcraft and folklore, which date back centuries. Additionally, the island and its towns are surrounded by national parks and forests, making it a popular destination for tourists as well. In , three railroad workers found a natural hot spring in the Rocky Mountains, creating Canada's first national park, Banff National Park.
To help protect the park and the springs, a town was created, and today, that town is still considered one the of most beautiful in the world. It has a population of about 8, people who enjoy the quaint downtown that sits in the shadow of a massive mountain.
With immediate access to the national park, Banff has also become a popular tourist destination for people looking to hike. Positano got its start when the ancient Romans picked the cliffside site to build their villas.
Today, those villas still stand as ruins, but Positano is also home to a lively small town of colorful buildings that date back to the 9th century. About 4, people live there , but it has become a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea.
Sviyazhsk dates back to the s and was originally founded as a fortress by Ivan the Terrible. It took only four weeks to build, but it has lasted centuries. Now, Sviyazhsk is home to over 30 historical sites, including Trinity Church, which is made of wood. Although only people live in the town, it is a popular attraction for tourists. Located in the northern tip of Morocco, Chefchaouen got its start in the s , but the buildings weren't blue in the beginning.
In , Spain kicked the Jews out of the country and they fled to the Middle East. World's most beautiful small towns Gallery View. Expand View. One of the last silver-mining boom towns in the Wild West, Tombstone is now a living relic of the old days of cowboys and gunslingers. The streets are lined with red-brick buildings, 20th-century saloons and quirky storefronts.
Visitors can normally take a tour of the old courthouse, visit the Gunfighter Hall of Fame and watch battle re-enactments on the streets. Occupying a dreamy spot on the eastern shore of the picturesque Lake Como in northern Italy, Varenna is perfectly formed from whichever angle you look.
Just one of the many stunning seafront towns in Maine, Stonington is located at the tip of Deer Isle in Penobscot Bay. This coastal village is best known for its extensive lobster fleet of more than boats, which is the largest in the state, so there's first-class seafood to eat here.
Those staying at the waterfront Inn on the Harbor can watch the boats leave at sunrise, then see them come back in with the day's catch, ready to be served at dinner. Located in Austria's mountainous Salzkammergut region, Hallstatt is the most incredible storybook town you could ever imagine. The 16th-century traditional Alpine houses are perched on a narrow cliffside facing Lake Hallstatt, with dramatic mountain views in the background.
Winding streets, narrow canals and quaint, pastel-coloured houses — Colmar has it all. The pretty town in the Grand Est region of northeastern France is a unique collection of medieval and early Renaissance buildings, including a beautiful 13th-century church.
On top of looking every bit the fairy-tale town, it's also celebrated for being the wine capital of France's Alsace region. English writer and designer William Morris once declared Bibury the most beautiful village in the country. A hundred or so years later the sentiment certainly seems to stand. Located in the Cotswolds, an area defined by rolling hills and green meadows, Bibury is picture-perfect. Arlington Row pictured , a line of weavers' cottages, is the prettiest sight, if not the most famous, in Bibury.
Best known for its sloping thatched roofs, the Historic Villages of Gokayama and Shirakawa-go are among Japan's most beautiful attractions thanks to the Gassho-zukuri-style architecture. The traditional farmhouses are more than years-old and their peculiar design helps to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that fall here during winter. Located in the gorgeous Algarve region of Portugal, Lagos is a town of colours: golden cliffs, azure sky, violet Jacaranda trees, whitewashed buildings and iconic Portuguese azulejo tiles.
The wine is cheap but very tasty, as is the local fare of steaks and delicious caldeirada de peixe fish stew. Located beneath the towering peaks of the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen is a labyrinth of intricate alleyways.
Soaked in a turquoise hue, the electrifying colours have a historical significance: in the 15th century, Jewish refugees settled in the area and painted buildings blue to mirror the sky and remind them of God. Nestled in a truly picturesque valley in the Tramuntana mountains, Valldemossa is one of Mallorca's most idyllic spots.
The history of Willemstad's multicoloured houses sounds like an urban legend, but the buildings in this UNESCO-protected, crowd-free Caribbean town were initially painted in an attempt to cure a headache.
All citizens were commanded to paint their homes anything but blinding white, resulting in this rainbow paradise. Located between Prague and Vienna, Znojmo is not only extremely picturesque with its orange-capped houses, but also a favourite for sommeliers and wine buffs.
Despite this, the town in northwestern Greece still brims with history — it was the only free Christian village in the region during Ottoman rule. A dilapidated fortress, called the Venetian Castle, is perched on a hilltop overlooking the hued homes and is a reminder of the time when the town fell under Venetian rule.
Before you've even passed through one of the four gates that guard Khiva's inner town Itchan Kala, it's worth stopping to admire the ancient walls: the turrets of clay-coloured stone with bold splashes of aquamarine are a striking sight.
Goreme, Turkey. Essaouira, Morocco. Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Shirakawa-go, Japan. Camden, Maine, USA. Luang Prabang, Laos. Bled, Slovenia. Manali, India. This small Indian town runs on adrenaline. With an enchanting location at more than 6, ft 1, m in the Himalayas, balanced on the fickle Beas River, Manali is a haven for hikers, climbers and skiers. Port Fairy, Australia. Telluride, Colorado.
Nestled in a canyon, it boasts an incredible setting, and also has a handful of interesting art galleries. Picton, New Zealand. Sitka, Alaska. Spruce forests envelop this seaside town which is given added awe by majestic Mount Edgecumbe rising behind it. This artist's colony is one of those places you visit on day trip and then make it your goal to live there. While the town is filled with galleries and fine restaurants, you don't have to spend a dime to enjoy a day here — just visit any park in the , acres of forested land nearby for a great afternoon.
You might already know about Winterset — it was the inspiration for the setting of The Bridges of Madison County. In the town square, you'll find a circa limestone courthouse and 83 commercial buildings that were designated historic. It all makes for a great backdrop for the town's wine walks and lawn chair nights. The best houses from Meryl Streep movies ». You can't help but know a lot about history when you live in Abilene , the hometown of President Dwight D.
The 10 most beautiful trains in America ». This teeny town of under is a haven for leisure. Nicknamed the "village between the lakes," Grand Rivers offers unique shops, good restaurants and all the lakeside fun you want. Don't miss the yearly Festival of Lights , a magical Christmas celebration. Flickr photo via Brenda. There's always a beautiful home around the corner in this small town of about 1, Residents have an action-packed social calendar, thanks to the unusual array of festivals, saluting everything from hummingbirds to the writer Walker Percy which includes walking bourbon tastings.
Out-of-towners will love staying at the gingerbread-trimmed St. Francisville Inn. Tour a sassy Louisiana home ». Camden is the quintessential Maine getaway but it's also a fantastic place to live. The seaport town doesn't shut down after the tourist season. Take in a performance at the Camden Opera House , or pick up a great book at the exquisite Camden Public Library located right on the harbor. Don't let the historic buildings make you think that Berlin is a sleepy little town: It was once named the " Coolest Small Town in America.
Plus, how could life ever be dull with Ocean City a mere 10 miles away? Tour a cozy Maryland home ». This handsome western Massachusetts town inspired Norman Rockwell's artwork The town is simply magical during the holiday season , with old-fashioned decor trimming the streets. This charming beach town and famed art colony has been a favorite summer destination for decades.
The main draw is the lovely Oval Beach of course, but there's plenty to do in town, like sampling local wines at Fenn Valley Tasting Room. Peek inside a vintage Michigan home ». However, plenty call this lovely town "home" year-round, from artists to otters. Grand Marais has also been inspiring young creatives to settle down, resulting in a boom of interesting shops, restaurants and businesses. Though the downtown has the kind of old buildings that give plenty of character, it's the area near New Albany that makes this town even more special.
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