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  • More Of The Most Beautiful Coastal Towns In California

California's coastline is dotted with beautiful towns, each with its own unique charm and picturesque views. Each year, millions of visitors flock to the sandy beaches, busy art-filled streets, and surf-side restaurants of the West Coast. Not only are they greeted with pristine weather and glamorous shopping opportunities, but they also keep their cameras at the ready-to-spot A-list celebrities and iconic landmarks.

California isn't all Hollywood and movie stars, though. Its small communities offer a rare glimpse back in time to a simpler state that was just beginning to make its mark on the world's stage. The history and majesty of California's beautiful coastal towns continue to attract travelers from around the world who dream of one day finding their own piece of Heaven along the Golden Coast.

UPDATE: 2023/01/22 10:32 EST BY AARON SPRAY

More Of The Most Beautiful Coastal Towns In California

California is famous for its stunning beaches and picturesque coastal towns. Most of the famous towns are in the center and south, but there are also plenty of beautiful coastal towns in the far north that resemble more of the Pacific Northwest than the rest of the state. This list was expanded to include more of California's northern towns.

Related: Discover Northern California With The Great Shasta Rail Trail

14 Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a beach town located on the central coast of California. Visitors can enjoy the town's many beaches, including Cowell's Beach, which is perfect for surfing, and Main Beach, which is ideal for swimming and sunbathing.

The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is also a popular attraction, offering a variety of shops, restaurants, and carnival rides. For those interested in history, the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is a must-see. The park includes the remains of the original mission, as well as a museum with exhibits on the area's history.

13 Venice Beach

There's no place quite like Venice Beach. Deriving its name from the famed Italian city, Venice Beach – or simply Venice – is host to some of the most iconic landmarks in the state. From historic Muscle Beach to the world-famous Boardwalk and the stunning scenery along Venice Beach, it remains a beloved treasure of the West Coast.

Looking to do some shopping? There are dozens of unique stores lining the Boardwalk, selling everything from beachwear to souvenirs. Shoppers would be doing themselves a disservice if they passed up an opportunity to shop along the ultra-posh Abbot Kinney. Cap off the day with a stroll along the famed Venice Canals or experience the action at the world-famous Venice Skate Park.

12 Laguna Beach

Located just south of Los Angeles, Laguna Beach is a popular destination with locals and tourists. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center offers free admission and a chance to get up close with sea lions and other injured marine life that has been rescued and will one day be released back into the wild. Nearby Crystal Cove State Park offers outdoor adventurers over three miles of beachfront and 2,400 acres of public land for hiking and exploring.

The Top of the World hike, located at Alta Laguna Park, gives visitors incredible views of the area, while Thousand Steps Beach offers surfing, volleyball, and sunbathing (if you can conquer the stunning staircase). The hotels, without question, offer some of the most stunning views along the coast and offer explorers a chance to be pampered without ever leaving their rooms.

11 Malibu

Malibu is one of the most iconic beach towns in California, and its 30 miles of coastline are dotted with beautiful beaches, stunning cliffside views, and luxurious beachfront homes.

Grab a board and hit Surfrider Beach, or stroll along Malibu Pier before heading to Zuma Beach to soak up the sun. Restaurants such as The Getty Villa, Duke’s Malibu, and Malibu Seafood are ready to serve up delicious meals to hungry visitors like only California can. But be sure to leave plenty of time to experience the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Malibu’s rich surf art scene at Pepperdine University’s Surf Museum.

10 Cambria

Cambria is a beautiful seaside town located on the central coast of California. Visitors can enjoy many activities, such as exploring the area's many hiking trails, visiting the local wineries, or simply relaxing on the beach.

There are also plenty of shops and restaurants to explore in Cambria, making it an ideal place to spend a weekend getaway. And for those interested in history, the town is home to several unique landmarks, including the Fiscalini Ranch House and the Kneeland-Walker House.

Related: 10 Roadside Attractions In California You Need To See To Believe

9 San Clemente

San Clemente is a beautiful city in Orange County, California. Visitors can enjoy the quaint downtown area, which features a variety of shops and restaurants. The pier is also a popular spot for fishing, sunbathing, and watching the waves crash against the rocks. For those interested in history, the San Juan Capistrano Mission is nearby and definitely worth a visit. Nature lovers will enjoy hiking through the hills or taking a stroll along one of the city's many sandy beaches.

8 Santa Monica

There's plenty to do in Santa Monica, making it a perfect stop for curious travelers. The Santa Monica State Beach is a popular draw and remains one of the most prominent in California. With its wide expanse of sand, gentle waves, and gorgeous views, it's the perfect place to relax and soak up the sun. If you're looking for something more active, there's also the Santa Monica Pier, one of the best boardwalks in America, which is home to an amusement park, a historic carousel, and plenty of shops and restaurants.

Visitors will also be delighted to take a stroll down Ocean Front Walk, an iconic boardwalk that runs along the beach. For some history and culture, visit the Santa Monica Promenade, a pedestrian-only zone with theaters, music venues, and art galleries.

7 Santa Barbara

Roughly 90 miles north of Los Angeles, road trippers will find the charming coastal town of Santa Barbara. Visitors can feel free to park their car and head out on foot to enjoy the city's Mediterranean climate, stunning ocean views, and many shops, restaurants, and bars in the Funk Zone neighborhood. Travelers will also want to make a point to visit the city’s landmark, Stearns Wharf, to grab beautiful photos in the golden hours of sunset.

Santa Barbara's proximity to Los Angeles means that there are plenty of things to do in the city, making it a great destination for a quick weekend getaway. Visitors can go sightseeing, hiking, biking, or enjoying the surf of Butterfly Beach near the ritzy Montecito area, where many A-list stars have estates.

6 Mendocino

Mendocino is a charming town located on the California coast. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of the ocean, as well as the many shops and restaurants lining the streets. There are also several art galleries and museums to explore.

One of the best ways to experience Mendocino is to take a scenic drive down Highway 1. This winding road offers breathtaking vistas of the rocky coastline. Another popular activity is hiking through MacKerricher State Park, where you can see various wildlife, including seals, sea lions, and dolphins. Mendocino is also the gateway to other extraordinary parts of California, such as Ukiah, which remains at the top of yearly lists of the best places to visit in the United States.

5 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Nestled on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Carmel-by-the-Sea, or simply Carmel, is often described as one of the most beautiful towns in America. Incorporated in the early 20th century, Carmel is known for its quaint streets, charming shops, and beautiful beaches. Visitors will enjoy hours strolling through town, browsing galleries and boutiques, or enjoying tea at Tuck Box.

For those looking for some adventure, a ride down the world-famous 17-Mile Drive on a bicycle, stopping along the way to admire the beautiful vistas, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that shouldn’t be ignored. Travelers will want to leave plenty of time to play a round at legendary Pebble Beach Golf Links, snap a photo of the Lone Cypress, and admire the harbor seals at Point Lobos State Reserve.

4 Eureka

Eureka is one of the most stunning coastal towns of California and is located in the far north of the state, not so far from Oregon. It is in the Redwood Empire region of California on U.S. Route 101. The population of the city itself is only around 27,000 (making it the largest coastal town between San Francisco and Portland), and it has a very nice coastal charm - the sort of coastal charm one feels in towns in New Zealand. The city continues to preserve its Old Town and its stunning 19th-century Victorian homes and businesses.

3 Fort Bragg

Another northern town to explore is Fort Bragg. It is a sleepy town of around 7,000 inhabitants and is a noted tourist destination on account of its stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. But perhaps its most notable attraction is Glass Beach - here, one can see beaches covered in pieces of worn glass. Another local attraction is the heritage California Western Railroad, otherwise known as the "Skunk Train."

2 Crescent City

Crescent City is the northernmost coastal town in California (around 20 miles south of Oregon) and has a population of under 7,000. It offers stunning views of the ocean in a very green setting with other attractions in the area - like the historic Battery Point Light. It is a fishing town with plenty of commercial fishing vessels. Nearby visitors can also enjoy redwoods, including redwoods in the Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park and the Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

1 Brookings, Oregon

Brookings is not in California, but it gets an honorable mention as it is just over the state line. If one is going this far north in California, it is not so much more to continue on to southern Oregon. Brookings is a stunning Oregon coastal town of around 6,700 people. One of the notable things about the history of Brookings is that it was the only site in mainland America during World War Two to be aerial bombed by the Japanese (a Japanese floatplane was launched by a Japanese submarine). The Japanese had hoped to start massive wildfires in the forests of the Pacific Northwest.