So whatever you find in Ojai will be unique. Youll also find some very small communities nestled in the mountains that offer a true escape from city life. Every so often, stand back and feel the whoosh of a passing train, as its rumbling wins over the roar of the waves crashing nearby. It is, of course, celebrated for the unusual rock formation that is the town's namesake- a huge stone thrust over the Johns River. A taste of the Wild West and apple pie in Julian (Photo: Julian Chamber of Commerce). Gold Country RV Parks - Top 10 Campgrounds in Gold Country, CA - RVshare To find out, TravelMag asked more than 300 locals, travel gurus, writers and photographers to name their top three most charming towns and small cities in California, with populations of more than 1,000 and less than 200,000. The town of Bishop in the Eastern Sierras is a great base camp for all kinds of mountain adventures in the region. Redding, a medium-sized city of 90,000 in Northern California, is underrated as a retirement destination. Its also close to the McCloud Waterfalls a short drive away. Placer County has the towns of Auburn Colfax Foresthill Meadow Vista Newcastle. Being only twenty minutes from the shores of big blue, this cozy town is usually lumped in as part of Tahoe, but it shouldnt be. In the summer, youre just steps away from fun. And in summer, the town feels equally classic, with July Fourth roping and barrel-racing contests at the rodeo grounds, old-timers debating the latest fishing report over prime rib at the 1877 Bridgeport Inn, and backpackers filing out of the mountains for a post-wilderness soft-serve at the Jolly Kone, easily spotted by its firehouse red paint. A taste of Arcatas unique culture: the Kinetic Grand Championship race (Photo: Bob Doran via Flickr). 5 Must-See California Gold Rush Towns | The Discoverer 18 Gold Mining Towns on California's Highway 49 Sierra Nevada National Park. The charming Santa Barbara wine country town of Solvang is located in the Santa Ynez Valley, amidst rolling hills and Figueroa Mountain in the background. Write if you have any specific questions. Sierra Foothills Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images . Below, in alphabetical order, we unveil the top 20. Cookies containing your personal data may be used for personalized and non-personalized advertising to you. Lone Pine is also the gateway to Mt. Spooning Carlsbad's southern border, Encinitas is one of the best beach towns in California, with miles of coveted coastline. And there you have it, yet another charming Californian oasis that has tempted many a big city visitor to convert to small-town living. 25 Most Amazing Ancient Ruins of the World. The adorable downtown is perfect for strolling, shopping and snacking at the array of unique shops, art galleries, local restaurants and coffee shops. The picture-postcard streets are lined with limestone cottages, built in the classic Cotswold style. A bouldering paradise. Exploring Ghost Towns in the Sierra Foothills: A Journey into These cookies do not store any personal information. Mammoth Mountain covers over 3,500 acres and often boasts some of the deepest annual snowpack in the country. In addition to the natural beauty you find in this part of the Sierra, what really makes it stand head and shoulders above the rest is its historic and vibrant downtown. An epic photo-op spot along your trek through the Sierras. No approach to the Sierra is unimpressive, but if you want to be hit over the head with the magnitude of the range, the eastern side is your best bet. 8. Keep an eye out for open house events that allow visitors to tour certain homes each year. The Best Places to Stay in the Sierra Nevada National Park The foothills of the Sierra Nevada National Park are sprinkled with charming little villages and hamlets, but the higher elevations are dramatic, snowcapped and a bit wild, craggy and exciting. Looking for lodging recommendations for the area? Stroll the main thoroughfare and pick up a gift for a friend or family. John Muir called the park a rival to Yosemite, and you can see why when you find yourself hiking under the towering sequoias, admiring the unspoiled valley, and searching for falls. 27 Most Charming Mountain Towns in California for Your Next Getaway Why not combine them both into one! Moreover, our partners, such as Google Adsense, will collect data and use cookies for ad personalization and measurement. Live Oak is a wonderful, quiet residential community. Ojai. Sierra Foothills Lodging - Wine Country Getaways Julian, California is another mountain town in Southern California known for its apple orchards! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Where to stay. Truckees mountain cuisine is just as elevated as its elevation. Netflix calls this town home, too. For a town of its small size, Nevada City offers more than youd expect, with great boutiques, a wide variety of restaurants, and little artisanal ice cream and chocolate shops. Gold Country in California: How to Plan Weekend Getaway - TripSavvy This historic city is full of charm, from its quaint downtown area to its picturesque Victorian homes. Thats just what Robert Luis Stevenson did long before he wrote the classic Treasure Island. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 14 Places You Can Still Pan For Gold In California's Hills - TheTravel Do as the locals do here and get around by bike or on foot (or craft a mobile masterpiece for the annualKinetic Grand Championship race). Here, the California Sierra Nevada rises from Owens Valley in a sheer 3,000-foot wall that shouts, We are what mountains are all about. A view of the coastline from Heisler Park, a three-quarter mile stretch that runs alongside Cliff Drive in Laguna (Photo:www.VisitLagunaBeach.com). Dont believe us? Even the trails of Mt. Craft beer fans can sample the countys growing micro-brew scene at Pizza Port, a local brewer with crave-worthy pizza and a bounty of other celebrated local brews to boot. YouTube sets this cookie to store the video preferences of the user using embedded YouTube video. A sure highlight, though, are the unique house boat communities, where the floating homes range from upscale to creatively revamped to how is that still floating? vessels dating back to World War II. Its home to several great museums, a delicious cidery called Indigeny Reserve, beautiful hiking trails, and an excellent downtown shopping scene. Other ways to embrace being out in the wild include mountain biking, fishing, and rock climbing on Suicide Rock and Tahquitz Rock, the intimidating monolith that comes into view long before you exit the highway. . This peaceful escape in the San Jacinto Mountains, 100-miles east of Los Angeles, is yet another California gem that has retained its small-town character. Outdoor activities abound, but for something different, visit nearby ghost towns, like Cerro Gordo, to witness the remains of the areas mining past. A dreamy California sunset (Photo: Scott McCracken via Flickr). Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Wine grapes were introduced to the area in the nineteenth century during the California Gold Rush. Two right turns take you first over State 89s Monitor Pass, then south on U.S. 395 through the rugged Walker River canyon. The glacier-carved valley is the jumping-off point for hikes in meadows of wildflowers, along creeks that tumble through stands of aspen, up to alpine lakes. A cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. Towns in the Sierra Nevada foothills - Sierra Foothill Magazine The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Youll also find the Wawona Covered Bridge and the Swinging Bridge, as well as the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. Heading east, 4 curlicues up and over Ebbetts Passs 8,732-foot summit. The town of South Lake Tahoe is the largest in the Lake Tahoe area, but it still maintains its small California mountain town vibe. The Best Places To Live in the U.S. - msn.com A 5-mile round-trip hike leads to Wapama Falls. . Find it 13 mile south of Bridgeport. When the penniless writer brought his bride to St. Helena, they squatted in an abandoned shack on the mountain, a tale you can learn more about at his eponymous museum in town. 8 Hidden Towns in California That Should Be on Your Radar Not too far from the cozy town of Angels Camp is a quaint cabin that some of the GREATEST literature of the American West was written, by the likes of Bret Harte & Mark Twain. Here are a listing of 5 Sierra Foothills towns you should explore: 1. Best Hikes In The Sierra Nevada, California - Our Wanders Best small towns to visit in California. Once you exit 80 at Foresthill / Auburn Ravine . #1 Best Places to Live in Placer County Olympus Pointe Neighborhood in Roseville, CA 13 reviews Niche User: There are a few very isolated incidents, but this area is very safe and neighborhood watches are common.. Read 13 reviews A Overall Niche Grade A+ Public Schools Population 2,316 Fiddletown, 8 miles from Plymouth, remains off the beaten path, and a midweek visit will often present no competing tourists to admire the old city. Murphys Grammar School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places for Calaveras County, California (Photo: Jeffrey Beall via Flickr). World-renowned surf spots here T-street, Trestles, Church and San Onofre draw and produce top surf talent. Not all of the park is completely discovered and busy. Visit California's High Sierra - Where to Go and Things to Do Auburn This city is located in the heart of Placer County and is known for its charming downtown area. Sierra Nevada - Wikitravel Fittingly, the region is . They are fundamental to who we are: Without the foothills gold-festooned gravel, few would have crossed the continent to get here. The Most Beautiful Towns and Villages in Spain's Sierra Nevada The Fresno Yacht Club holds its High Sierra Regatta here, but Huntington sailors arent snobby. Victorian Christmas in Charming Nevada City (Photo: Nevada City Chamber). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The Best Places to Stay in the Sierra Nevada National Park Western Side: National Parks and Large Sequoias Vernal Falls The western side of the Sierra Nevada has 3 of the most famous national parks in all of California. Alex Silgalis is an outdoors travel writer who enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, or having a cold one from a local mountain brewery. The mountain town of Sonora on the western edge of the Sierra foothills, north of Yosemite, is yet another interesting Gold Country town worth a visit. You can also drive, but the more adventurous may prefer a bike ride over the Golden Gate Bridge before riding along the bay toward the waterfront or downtown. In Julian, you can even tour the underground tunnels at Eagle Mining Co. and practice gold panning. AUBURN, CA. These cookies will be stored in your browser. This pocket of paradise, once run by Hollywood-star-turned-Mayor Clint Eastwood (1986-88), along the Central Coast ranks as one of the best beach towns in the United States. No matter where you are, a mountain escape in California is never far from reach! During the summer, the ski area morphs into a mountain bike haven offering over 80 miles of lift-accessed singletrack, kids adventure center, a Via Ferrata and serves as the gateway to Devils Postpile National Park and the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park .