California's Best Small Towns to Visit

While California boasts some of the most popular cities in the nation to visit, its small towns offer diversity, fun, and charm nestled in beautiful natural settings. These six small towns offer a sampling of the many gems that lie outside of California's metropolitan areas.

Amador City

Amador City is an historic Gold Rush town whose main street consists of original, mining-era buildings that now house boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. Other activities in Amador City include underground gold mine tours, hilly creek-and-oak tree-lined back roads for car or bike rides, an historical museum, and an outdoor miniature railroad that kids will love. There are also several wineries and golf courses in the surrounding areas.

Avalon

Take a ferry from Long Beach to reach Avalon, the only town on Catalina Island. Once there, a day of adventures awaits: boat rides, snorkeling, golf, shopping, dining, beach bathing, and hiking are all within walking distance of the dock. In fact, you'd have a hard time hailing a traditional cab as most residents and businesses use golf carts to navigate the island.

Calistoga

Located at the northernmost tip of Napa Valley, Calistoga may be the one town in the area known more for its spas than its wines. Over two dozen spas tap into Calistoga's natural hot springs in order to lavishly indulge guests. The rest of the town is filled with art galleries, book shops, boutiques, and great dining. Just a short drive out of town, there are several wineries and Safari West, a drive through African safari.

Mendocino

The artist's colony of Mendocino is set on a bluff overlooking the beautiful and moody Pacific Ocean. Visitors would be hard pressed to find any chain stores or restaurants. What they will find are an abundance of unique shops, art galleries, organic restaurants, general stores, and a local live theater. Miles of trails follow the bluff line just outside the town and several nearby state parks offer adventures on land and sea for outdoor enthusiasts.

St. Helena

Located in the heart of Napa Valley, St. Helena boasts some of the best that the wine country has to offer. St. Helena is best known for its Victorian-era main street that is the home of elegant shopping and fine dining. Visitors can take cooking classes, ride bikes through the vineyards, take a hot air balloon ride, and be pampered in a world class spa. And of course, there are plenty of wineries to visit, too.

Truckee

Originally a bustling logging town, this relaxed High Sierra is now best known as a gateway to Lake Tahoe's North Shore and as an outdoor recreation capital year round. Several major ski resorts are just outside of town, fishing is abundant in the Truckee River, the Pacific Crest Trail passes nearby, and Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake are just a short drive away.