California is replete with beautiful places—think Palm Springs, Beverly Hills, and Laguna Beach. But when you have a sliver of time and only a handful of touristy towns pop into mind, see what some of the most eclectic towns can do for your next memorable getaway in the Golden State. From a guarded community of artists, fishermen, and surfers to a popular island escape, each keeps it real. La Jolla is an intriguing town to visit if you enjoy the Carmel-by-the-Sea vibe.

Guaranteeing the small-town charm and experiences you are after, dive into the local lifestyle to discover something offbeat like a local folk language. Culver City keeps its entertainment legacy close to heart while moving at light speed with innovations. Enjoy a romantic beachside picnic and camping by the shore in Two Harbors, where you can walk among bison on the wild side of the beautiful Santa Catalina Island. Set out on an adventure to the most eccentric towns in California.

Bolinas

Obscure doesn’t even begin to cover this hippie community’s remote feel. Just 30 miles northwest of San Francisco, on the Pacific coast, the journey often takes a good hour via the winding roads around Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It’s the kind of NorCal town that most people overlook, and the locals intentionally and repeatedly remove road signs, warning off visitors from the pristine beaches, a thriving organic farming scene, and a laid-back atmosphere. Bolinas has an indiscernible pull on the curious—plus the scenic drive along eucalyptus groves, letting the heavenly scent blast through your rolled-down windows. Turn down the music as you enter the village that values its peace and serenity.

The picturesquely shabby surf and fishing homes over Bolinas Lagoon frame your adventures, like kayaking in the calm waters of the lagoon. Bolinas Beach is great to watch the surfers on a stroll along the silky sands, where you can practice stand-up paddleboarding or surfing. Across town, Agate Beach County Park offers two miles of shoreline, with wildflowers and tide pools filled with fish. Pack a picnic from the local health food market for a hike to a hilltop overlook. You can also hike to the nearby Point Reyes National Seashore. Learn more about the area at the Bolinas Museum, and maybe a secret to befriend this secluded artist community, a lifetime reward.

Boonville

Home to an eclectic mix of some 1,000 residents, this NorCal town in the picturesque Anderson Valley showcases a fascinating cultural dynamic. Among longtime residents and new wine industry arrivals, Boonville is a retirement destination, thanks to its robust healthcare and temperate climate year-round. Tourists enjoy a reinvigorating escape in Mendocino County, some 65 miles north of Santa Rosa and 160 miles northwest of Sacramento. Calming yet offbeat, Boonville enchants you with its quirky vibe, scenic rural lifestyle, and an expensive taste in drinks. It is a fun change in pace from the city, just an hour from the coast, in the valleys and forests of California. The burgeoning wine scene encompasses many vineyards and tasting rooms accentuating Pinot Noir and Alsace varietals.

Seek shade on a picnic at Anderson Valley Wildlife Reserve with birdwatching trails. Right in town, the picturesque Pennyroyal Farm is next to Anderson Valley Brewing Co., a vibrant brewery and taproom crafting beers with picnic areas and tours. Indulge in local cuisine and hospitality at the Boonville Hotel, a modern roadhouse showcase of the thriving valley’s farm-to-table cuisine. From local festivals and cultural events to art galleries and music venues, stop by the Anderson Valley Historical Museum to learn about “Boontling,” in time for the annual Boonville Beer Festival to hear this local dialect come out.

Crockett

Overlooking San Pablo Bay and the Carquinez Strait, Crockett is a great day trip some 62 miles southwest of Sacramento. This one-of-a-kind Bay Area town boasts a historic downtown and mild weather with plenty of ways to soak up the sun year-round along the coast and through the hills of Northern California. Embark on a 2.4-mile hiking loop near the John Muir house, a historical site, with scenic mountain views. Crockett Historical Museum showcases artifacts from the early 20th century in the area. Just east, Eckley Pier is popular for fishing with access to Garden City Wreckage. Or head to Crockett Hills Regional Park, with picnicking and multiuse trails along grassy fields and ravines of a former ranchland.

Its recent burst in population to 3,654 today tells of an ideal spot for the outdoorsy tied with a homegrown vibe. Many enjoy the wildlife trails for hiking and biking through Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, plus fishing along the picturesque strait. Known for C&H Factory next to the Carquinez Bridge (Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge), the out-of-staters enjoy access to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, 11 minutes north, and 16 minutes south to the pastoral 6,255-acre Briones Regional Park over rolling hills with scenic trails, wildlife, and campgrounds. After admiring the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge, stop next door at the Dead Fish, a swanky seafood eatery. You can stroll along the coastal train track through the overgrown Alfred Zampa Trail to Vista Point at sunset, when the city lights take the main stage.

Culver City

Mirroring LA’s old Hollywood vibe, innovation, and trendy neighborhoods, Culver City is like a condensed version wrapped in small-town charm. Its proximity to downtown Los Angeles and adjacent to Beverly Hills appeals to out-of-state visitors. Originally inhabited by the Tongva (Gabrielino) Indians, the Spanish settled the area in the late 18th century upon dividing it into land grants. Formed in 1914 from parts of Rancho La Ballona and Rincón de Los Bueyes, the honorary Harry H. Culver cast a line in the LA area “waters” by promoting the city as a site for motion-picture production. The first catch was grand: Thomas Ince moved his studios, while his lucky hand prompted others to follow, like the iconic Goldwyn Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).

The city’s cultural life expanded to the Rollerdrome skate park (Tellefson Park), horse tracks, and auto racing. Turning to a more serious petroleum and technology industry after these closed, the legacy persists through tourism: packing LA’s film history and modern tech industry into a walkable urban center is an attraction in itself. At only some 5.1 square miles, Culver City is home to Sony Pictures Studios since the 1990s, operating on the former MGM lot, a community college founded in 1969, and emerging tech companies. Strolling along the revitalized downtown area, see what catches your eyes between the restaurants and galleries. From Robert Frost Auditorium to Culver City Stairs, the nearby Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area boasts a Japanese garden, a workout course, and scenic trails.

La Jolla

La Jolla’s beauty and style inspired artists and world travelers for decades with easy access in San Diego County. A pretty name comes with a cute face and an angelic soul in a picturesque frame of a rugged coast to explore under SoCal sunrays along the crashing waves, a hop from charming villages filled with galleries, shops, and cafes along the Pacific coast. The Village of La Jolla is surrounded by La Jolla Shores to the north and La Jolla Alta to the south. Although infused with an upscale feel, this smart seaside area offers many free experiences in the outdoors, like the sprawling Kate Sessions Memorial Park, perfect to play with your pet or catch up over a picnic along the grassy recreation area with sweeping hillside views, sports fields, and a playground.

Afterwards, experience its hospitality with an award-winning culinary scene that tastes like casual luxury and a number of signature seaside hotels perfect for a romantic escape, like the revamped, historic La Valencia, aka “The Pink Lady.” The adventurous couples can soak up the bliss on a stroll along seven breathtaking miles of SoCal coastline, guaranteeing dramatic views and pockets of intimacy. From surfing in the cove to the rugged terrain of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, its trails wind past pine trees and sandstone canyons. La Jolla Underwater Park is one of the world’s best snorkeling spots. Families enjoy tidepooling among seals and sea lions at Children’s Pool Beach. Birch Aquarium is minutes north with interactive tide pools and exhibits of all things under the sea.

San Juan Capistrano

This larger town in coastal Orange County has an uncanny ability to transport you into the past. Dating back to the 18th century, San Juan Capistrano boasts one of the state’s most well-preserved Spanish missions, established by Junipero Serra in 1776 that served to convert the Indigenous Acjachemen people to Christianity. These vulnerable native communities, left helpless from disease and scarcity of resources, had no choice but to oblige.

As a stop on Amtrak’s Surfliner, it is easy to get here for a weekend getaway, where you can stay at the gorgeous 125-room Inn at the Mission, Marriott’s Autograph Collection, designed hacienda-style, and snag a bottle of their handcrafted olive oil. After a shakshuka, an egg dish for breakfast, or an eggplant toast at Mayfield, tag along on an engaging guided tour. The missionaries’ quarters, called padres, retain dozens of fascinating historic artifacts, while kiichas are traditional dome-shaped dwellings made with willow branches of the Acjachemen people. Rancho Capistrano Winery promises a relaxing evening over some terrific reds to share your impressions on the iconic Mission San Juan Capistrano, a testament to its Spanish colonial roots in one of the Golden State’s most casual towns.

Two Harbors

West of center on an isthmus along beautiful Santa Catalina Island, Two Harbors is reachable by a high-speed boat, a one-hour ferry, or a helicopter. Like an odd brother to the world-famous port town of Avalon, on the island’s easternmost edge, there’s undeniable charm to this rustic town of 298 locals tucked into Cat Harbor, a State Marine Conservation Area, where bison roam free on the wild side along the seaside bluffs. Take the reinvigorating Cat Harbor Overlook Trail in the morning, since there’s no shade, to the rewarding views of the magnificent turquoise harbor. To the north, the top-rated Camp Cherry Valley offers views of the cobalt blue waters in the cove with white boats in the marina and access to kayaking and snorkeling in paradisiacal scenery.

Comfort creatures enjoy the craftsman style of Banning House Lodge just south of Harbor Reef Restaurant & Bar, serving surf-n-turf, plus brews on a patio over harbor views next to the visitor center. Before embarking on a 6-mile one-way trek west to a remote beach, stop for picnic provisions at Two Harbors General Store, which also sells camping gear. You will be soaking up the coastline views along the way and have a luxurious spread of gourmet cheeses to enjoy at the pebbled Frankie’s Beach. From ziplining to kayaking the calm waters, the remote vibe, void of tourists, is perfect to pick up a new skill like stand-up paddleboarding or scuba diving with rentals from Two Harbors Dive Shop.

While larger cities and more popular destinations may have lost the intrigue in a whirlwind of tourism, these seven preserve a sense of authenticity and charm that you can only comprehend on a local level. Whether it’s the unique history and peculiar architecture of San Juan Capistrano or the extraordinary coastline, each offers something you won’t forget.

Boonville boasts a quirky cultural dynamic in a rich wine country, while Crockett’s one-of-a-kind attractions are framed with ideal geography. Showcasing California’s rich history and diverse landscapes, these lesser-known places let you dive deep into the region’s treasures, indulging along the way and bonding over truly memorable experiences.