Never created a password? Still, you don’t need to be rolling in it to enjoy a weekend here, but you will want to use your savings to stay at the luxe Resort at Pelican Hill, with its Insta-worthy round pool and Italianate architecture. Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii. If your ideal day includes a relaxing main street stroll, window shopping and indulging in a tasty meal at a charming restaurant, then these beach towns will make you swoon. It also has 20,000 acres of protected natural land for biking and hiking, and a charming shopping district you can reach by renting an electric bike. Look for a small trail to the left of the main lot off Torrey Pines Drive, and ignore the “no beach access” sign. The high cost of living has possibly contributed to the low population, but the residents would rather keep it that way. Sign up for PureWow to get more daily discoveries sent straight to your inbox. Love SoCal? 8 Of Southern California’s Best Beach Towns 1. It’s absolutely worth a stop if you’re anywhere in the Santa Cruz area—if for nothing else but to see its most striking feature: the row of … This ideal coastal city is small enough to … Oxnard, CA. Keep it low-key with a stay at the Holiday Inn Express Carpinteria or splash out and drive down from Santa Barbara’s Hotel Californian. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Readers who live in California and Florida will be unsurprised to learn 39 of the 50 towns featured here are in one of those two states. From California to Maine and every shoreline in between, each seaside locale melds small town glamour with the best coastal offerings. We all know that Southern California is home to many gorgeous beaches, but oftentimes the quaint towns associated with those beaches get overlooked. These 8 Southern California Beach Towns Are The Perfect Summertime Destinations 1. Perhaps the most beloved coastal community in all of SoCal is Avalon in Catalina Island. 2. This casual beachside community in San Diego county is a charming destination for anyone looking for a... 2. Picturesque Carpinteria is a small oceanside city in Santa Barbara County that boasts the “world’s safest beach,” which benefits from the absence of riptides. Angela is the staff writer for Only in Your State - Southern California. This ideal coastal city is small enough to feel remote and secluded while still offering all the amenities needed to satisfy all your shopping and dining cravings. This means you get to enjoy the unspoiled natural setting and … Wine festivals, farmers markets and outdoor cafés are just a few of the treasures you can find in La Jolla. Solvang. It’s a perfect destination... Laguna Beach. Though most of Southern California’s sleepy little beach towns have been torn down, built up, … For a real beach town treat, check out the Cave Store in La Jolla and take a land tour of one of the sea caves. Mendocino flies under the radar as one of California’s top coastal towns for a beach getaway. Malibu. The 10 Best Beach Towns in Southern California 1. Today, surfers look up at the site while catching waves at Trestles. This picturesque beach town is a quaint destination where you can soak up the sounds of the ocean while enjoying a peaceful afternoon exploring a bustling main street. flickr/tico. Eat seafood down at the 1,296-foot wooden pier, where you can catch the killer sunset. Here’s a look at the charming coastal communities that can be found along the coast of SoCal that deserve just as much attention. Manhattan Beach is a small town in Southern California with a population of about 35,000. Popular Local Beaches: Wadsworth Falls State Park, Harvey's Beach, Sound View Beach; This small city, part of the Hartford metro area, is about … The South's Best Beach Towns 2020. Around halfway between Santa Barbara and Ventura, you’ll find the small coastal town of Carpinteria. 3. The quiet beaches are the highlight, but the tasty local food (be sure … Santa Barbara, just 12 miles northwest, is gorgeous, but nearby Carpinteria is gorgeous and empty . RELATED: The Most Gorgeous Glamping Spots in California, I am not currently subscribed to PureWow.com, so please subscribe, I am already subscribed to PureWow.com, let me tell you the email address I used to subscribe, Please accept the terms and privacy statement by checking the box below. Conveniently located between Los Angeles and San Diego, it's a short drive for anyone looking for a rejuvenating getaway. Encinitas. However, what it does have is a smattering of international food, a great stock of contemporary Airbnb homes bang on the beach and an emerging wine industry—it’s a great starting point for the Ventura County Wine Trail. The cities ranged in population from 10,000 to 150,000, but they had to have at least one local beach listed on TripAdvisor. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. 5. It’s no small town, and it’s located just 20 miles from downtown L.A., but the allure of Long Beach escapes most Angelenos anyway. Nicole Antonio, Managing Editor. Known as the Spanish Village by the Sea, San Clemente is a sleepy hideaway where you will always be made to feel like a local. Sign up for PureWow to get more ideas like these (It’s free!). Get more stories delivered right to your email. Thank you! Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, Alabama. Locals here take in plenty of Vitamin D, especially on Wednesdays when the whole community meets at noon for a weekly walk down the Ventura Pier. The Beach Boys hit “Surfin’ USA” even gives a shout out to the now legendary surf spot Swami’s. Of course we must mention the quintessential Southern California beach town. In The Great Gatsby, socialite Daisy Buchanan’s laugh is said to sound like money. Kids aren’t the only ones who love building sandcastles at the beach. Wide flat beaches are made for long walks, as well as parasailing, windsurfing and boogie boarding. With over 20 miles of beautiful coastline, you'll find good surfing spots here, and the gorgeous sand dunes have appeared in numerous films. Oxnard may at first seem like any other medium-sized urban area, not worth exiting the Pacific Coast Highway to explore. Mapping out your next family vacation, or just dreaming of ocean breezes far, far away?Say hello to a handful of the most charming beach towns across America. For most parts of Southern California, it ranks as a positive bargain. 1. You'll find quaint local shops and tasty restaurants dotted along the main street only a few short blocks from the beach. Fittingly, Carpinteria is also an exceptionally safe city, with low crime rates and high home values (the median sale price is $705,000). Home to some of the best beaches in the United States, Southern California is well-known for its warm weather throughout the year and a variety of vacation destinations to choose from. Yes, there are many more beach towns to explore in SoCal, but these 8 coastal communities are a great place to start. Keep it casual by staying right across the street from the ocean at the Capistrano Surfside Inn and renting a bike for the weekend without ever once getting behind the wheel of your car. San Clemente is notable for its gorgeous Spanish architecture, so enjoy the red tile roofs and stucco as you’re shopping on Avenida Del Mar. Get the true taste of SoCal in this "brand name" beach community of Los Angeles County that’s world famous... 2. 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Located between San Diego and Los Angeles, this coastal Orange County beach town is … Encinitas. Laguna Beach is the kind of place that feels like you could only dream up in your mind, but it actually exists. Spend the day swimming at the beach, then take a leisurely stroll through town for pure weekend bliss. Median listing price: $109,000 Small-town appeal makes this Southern city a sure thing for those looking for a more relaxed way of life. And take a trip to A’maree’s, a soaring modernist designer boutique right on the water that’s set up more like an heiress’s home than a store. 12 Best Small Beach Towns in California (And Where to Stay) All rights reserved. You’ll find Manhattan Beach in the southwest corner of Los Angeles County. Naples, Florida, landed at the top of the list of best ocean towns. Dana Point is all about the sailing—there are slips for more than 2,500 boats as well as a romantic, craggy coast including Headlands, the signature promontory that overlooks Dana Point Harbor. Solana Beach may not be a secret anymore, but if you have a chance to visit you'll feel like you have stumbled on a hidden hideaway. It’s no wonder why the area made the National Geographic’s list of the top 20 surf towns in the country. Located in San Diego County, Julian provides a tranquil respite from the city where you can soak up the beauty of the countryside and fill … Stay close and hang out at locally owned restaurants, boutiques, and museums that showcase St. Marys spirit and soul. The... 2. Picking the best beaches in Orange County isn’t easy. Carpinteria. Think: downright delicious seafood, outstanding local shopping and boutiques, and … Its 70-acre Henry T. Oxnard Historic District is included in the National Register of Historic Places. This place is heavenly! 1. Black’s Beach has some of the best surfing in the area and never has loads of tourists or families. Capitola. Destin, Florida. There are 2 new beautiful hotels that opened up near the shoreline. San Clemente. The small seaside village has a walkable main street called Linden Avenue and mom-and-pop establishments including little surf shops, antique stores and cafés. Spooning Carlsbad’s southern border, Encinitas is one of the best beach towns in California, with miles of coveted coastline. Ojai. 4. Here are 10 coastal towns to visit on your drive north along Highway 1. Lined with antique stores and historic buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Arroyo Grande is as charming as small towns get—and it’s close to some of Southern California… Not exactly a small town (it has around 200,000 residents), “Huntington,” as it’s called, nonetheless has a chill vibe with its 9.5 miles of sandy flat beach, slammin’ waves (thanks to the currents around Catalina) and healthy economy (thanks to a history of oil discovered nearby and the aerospace industry). The oldest seaside town in all of California, Capitola retains every ounce of charm that you’d expect and more. Situated along the Southern California coast in Ventura County, Oxnard is a seaside city with a lot of character. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! If you know of a local business that could use some extra support during these times, please nominate them here: This casual beachside community in San Diego county is a charming destination for anyone looking for a beach getaway. At the southern end, a secluded spit of land called Black’s Beach is a must-see but notoriously difficult to reach. The biggest draw here is probably Carpinteria State Beach, which has a moderate swell that makes it perfect for swimming, though it is also popular with surfers. Avoiding the hustle and bustle of California's larger cities, the best small towns in California deliver on the gleaming attributes of California without the crowds. © 2010-2020 Wow Media Products, Inc doing business as PureWow. By Brie Dyas This town was brought to national attention in the 1970s when President Richard Nixon hosted world... 3. It’s regarded as the new Malibu by entertainment bigwigs who want beautiful wide beaches at prices that aren’t quite as hefty as the more well-known communities. From those rankings, we selected the top 50. This town was brought to national attention in the 1970s when President Richard Nixon hosted world leaders at his seaside home here. 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