"It's Criminally Underrated": Travelers Are Sharing The Most Beautiful And Unique Hidden Gems They've Encountered In The Golden State
One of my favorite things about living in California is how easy it is to roadtrip around and explore tons of diverse and interesting places. Recently, I asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share some of their favorite hidden gem destinations in my home state, and they had so many great suggestions. Here's what they had to say, plus a few of my own personal favorites:
1."CRIMINALLY Underrated: Half Moon Bay/Pacifica area. The entire drive is absolutely STUNNING, especially if you take the Skyline route. The woods and the fresh air, and the absolute vibe of a pit stop at Alice's Restaurant is a MUST."
Half Moon Bay is south of San Francisco on the California coast. It has an annual pumpkin festival, beautiful beaches, hiking, and big-wave surfing at Mavericks.
2."Crestline is very cool. It’s near Lake Arrowhead, just before Big Bear. Similar vibe, but it's nowhere near as crowded."
3."Monterey! Such an amazingly beautiful place, and the aquarium there is top-notch and right on the water."
4."Solvang. It's a gorgeous drive and a great town."
—Sara, Santa Barbara
Solvang is a little Danish town nestled in Santa Barbara County in southern California. From windmills to wineries, this place has tons of charm.
5."Pacific Coast Highway. I know it is fairly popular, but it is hard to describe just how beautiful the drive is. A lot of neat small towns tucked away along the way, too."
The Pacific Coast Highway runs along, you guessed it, the Pacific coast from San Diego to San Francisco, and it's truly delightful the whole way up and back. I learned to drive on the stretch along San Diego, so it'll always have a special place in my heart.
6."Death Valley! It's so surreal and beautiful in its own way — Badwater basin, Artists Palette, sand dunes, super clear skies for stargazing! It really feels like you're on a different planet. Most people make the mistake of visiting when it's too hot, but November–February is *perfect*, and there are a bunch of ghost towns if you're road-tripping!"
Death Valley is a national park in central California near the Nevada border. It's known for record-breaking high temps in the summer, but you should also know that it's an incredible place for stargazing at night.
7."Point Lobos. It's very popular among locals and California natives, but not many people from out of state have heard of it. It’s amazing."
Point Lobos State Nature Reserve in Monterey County is often called "the crown jewel of the California State Park System."
8."The most underrated places to visit in California are the California Missions. There are over 20 from San Diego to Sonoma. By visiting you get to see beautiful architecture and learn about their rich history."
In fact, there are exactly 21 missions in California. They were a big part of Spain's colonial project in California, so the history behind them does have a darker side. Still, they are interesting places to visit and definitely worth checking out if you happen to be near one.
9.The Salton Sea, found in the Southern California desert, is technically an ecological disaster. But if you want to feel like you're visiting another planet, I can't recommend it enough. It can be very stinky and you'll be walking on sun-bleached fish bones, so wear shoes you don't care about and get ready to have a surreal experience.
10.If you're visiting the Salton Sea, it's a short drive to one of my other favorite quirky destinations in California. Salvation Mountain is a one-of-a-kind piece of art created by Leonard Knight. Knight died in 2014, but a team of dedicated volunteers continues to maintain his work so future generations can enjoy it.
11."The Redwoods, specifically the Grove of Titans which is right outside Crescent City. Some of the tallest trees in the world are there, and it is absolutely breathtaking to stand among them."
"Redwoods. There are trees, and then there are Redwoods."
Just thinking about the Redwoods makes my heart feel a little fluttery. There are several parks and places where you can see these incredible tall trees. If you've never been, start planning your trip now.
12."Balboa Island, Crystal Cove, and Newport Beach each allow you to see the beautiful California coast."
"Being from Canada, I am not sure if everyone knows about Crystal Cove State Park. What an amazing place. I wasn’t lucky enough to rent a cottage, but I did visit for breakfast and a walk on the beach. I tell everyone I can about this unique spot because it made such an impression on me."
—Anonymous
Balboa Island, Crystal Cove, and Newport Beach are in Orange County (aka the OC), located in Southern California between San Diego and Los Angeles.
13."Pinnacles National Park is so underrated. Although people are starting to catch on and it’s getting busy."
—Becky, San Jose
Pinnacles National Park is southeast of San Jose in central California. It's unique rocky landscape formed after an ancient volcano eruption. If you go here to hike, you just might spot a California condor.
14."The Mission Inn in Downtown Riverside. It’s a gorgeous Spanish-style hotel built in the early 1900s. There are so many great photo ops amongst the Gothic architecture. They have an amazing Festival of Lights during the holiday season and even the prettiest gold-gilded chapel for weddings. I recommend Sunday brunch there as well!"
Riverside is in southern California, located east of Los Angeles. The city grew up around its citrus farms and it's especially lovely when all the orange trees are blooming.
15."Hubby surprised me with a quick trip with a few days in Sausalito. We stayed at Inn Over Tides and our balcony hung over the water. Muir Woods walk early in the a.m. Vodka tasting at the Hanson Gallery. Great dining. Safe. Not too crowded in the spring. Great views right on the Bay. Then a few days in Carmel by the Sea. Had never even heard of it before but it was incredible. Lunch at Pebble Beach — impressive. Then the cute little town of Carmel. Cool shops, great dining. Beach is stellar. Carmel has a sense of calm. And no addresses. Check it out; it's only by street names!!!"
"Carmel by the Sea is by far my favorite place in California. The water is a perfect shade of blue. There are charming shops and a lot of art galleries."
—Anonymous
Sausalito is in Marin County, just across the Golden Gate strait from San Francisco. Carmel by the Sea is on the central coast, on the Monterey peninsula.
16."I’ve lived up and down the California coast and inland as well. But Thousand Steps Beach in Laguna Beach and the country towns like Jamul are things no one seems to talk about."
To get to Thousand Steps Beach in Orange County, you have to hike down the face of a beach cliff, but visitors say it's well worth the trip. Jamul is a rural community in east San Diego County.
17."I think downtown Fullerton is super underrated since it’s so cute there and there’s [sic] so many options for bar hopping, comedy clubs, and more. I would also really recommend coming to see the super bloom in the spring if you are around town — it’s absolutely gorgeous. Tips from a born and raised SoCal girly."
—Vivi, Southern California
Fullerton is located in Orange County and it's mostly known as a college town. It's home to Cal State Fullerton, Fullerton University, and more.
18.Julian is a mountain town in San Diego County known for its apple orchards. It's an easy day trip out of San Diego proper, and I always feel like I'm living my Star's Hollow fantasy whenever I sit down in one of their cute little restaurants to order a cup of coffee and a slice of apple pie.
19."Sonoma County. I lived in Santa Rosa during high school and college. It’s so beautiful and there’s lots to do. It’s a great food and wine spot, and there are lots of hiking and biking opportunities and cool arts and culture events. It’s a good location because it’s also close to Bodega Bay, Napa, and San Francisco if you want to hit a couple of spots."
Sonoma County is a short drive from the Bay Area and it really is a gorgeous place to visit. I went to a friend's wedding in a vineyard there and it was so dreamy!
Is there anything we missed? Tell me about your favorite California gems in the comments!
