California surprised me in ways I never expected. Everyone knows Hollywood and the Golden Gate Bridge, but my jaw actually dropped in places like Ojai, where the mountains literally turn pink at sunset while locals casually played guitar at a nearby winery like it’s no big deal. And Point Arena? I stood on coastal bluffs watching whales with nobody else around, seriously questioning why this spot wasn’t packed.
After exploring this massive state for years, I’ve found some of the best places in California that tourists usually miss. The Tufa Towers at Mono Lake made me feel like I’d landed on Mars, and hiking the Trinity Alps without seeing another person for hours felt almost illegal in a state with 40 million people. These 12 spots proved California has way more magic than those cheesy Hollywood tours ever hinted at.
Must-Visit Places in California
Looking to uncover California’s hidden gems? From the geothermal wonders of Lassen Volcanic National Park to the rugged beauty of the Alabama Hills, the Golden State offers a plethora of lesser-known destinations waiting to be explored.
Wander through the enchanting landscapes of Point Reyes National Seashore, marvel at the alien-like Tufa Towers of Mono Lake, or stroll the charming streets of Ojai. Explore the serene trails of the Trinity Alps Wilderness, the historic allure of Nevada City, or the pristine shores of Point Arena. Whether you’re into nature, history, or unique adventures, here are 12 of California’s most underrated destinations!
1. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
- 📍 Location: Borrego Springs, California
- 🏆 Best For: Desert explorers 🏜️, stargazers 🌌, sculpture hunters 🎨
- 📸 Top Experiences: Viewing metal sculptures, hiking Palm Canyon Trail, watching stars at Font’s Point
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: November to April for cooler temps and wildflower blooms 🌼
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Borrego Valley Inn – Southwestern-style inn with outdoor hot tubs and desert views
If you think deserts are boring, Anza-Borrego will change your mind. This place is massive, wild, and full of surprises. One minute you’re cruising through dry canyons, and the next you’re face-to-face with a giant metal dragon popping out of the sand.
More than 130 huge sculptures are scattered across the landscape, and it’s kind of a trip. Some people bike between them, but driving works just fine too. Hit up Font’s Point around sunset for panoramic views that feel straight out of a movie.
The Palm Canyon Trail is a chill hike with just enough adventure to find a hidden palm oasis. If you’re lucky, you might spot bighorn sheep in the distance. Nights here are insanely quiet, and the stars? Unreal. Bring layers, water, and curiosity as this spot is like nowhere else in California.
2. Lake Arrowhead
- 📍 Location: San Bernardino Mountains, California
- 🏆 Best For: Cabin getaways 🛶, cozy vibes 🧣, fall colors lovers 🍂
- 📸 Top Experiences: Riding the Arrowhead Queen, hiking Heart Rock Trail, shopping in the village
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: September to November for crisp air and autumn leaves 🍁
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Saddleback Inn – Charming lodge-style rooms just steps from the lake
Tucked into the San Bernardino Mountains, Lake Arrowhead feels like California’s best-kept secret. It has all the mountain charm without the Tahoe chaos or tourist overload. The lake itself is private, but you can still cruise it on the Arrowhead Queen, a narrated boat tour that shows off hidden mansions and quiet coves.
The nearby Heart Rock Trail is a low-effort, high-reward hike that leads to a heart-shaped pool and mini waterfall. It’s perfect for a quick photo stop or picnic. In town, the village has local boutiques, coffee spots, and just enough going on without feeling crowded.
Midweek is your best bet if you want it all to yourself. The air is fresh, the trees turn gold in fall, and the whole place feels like a peaceful escape without needing to go far.
3. Solvang
- 📍 Location: Santa Ynez Valley, California
- 🏆 Best For: European vibes 🇩🇰, wine lovers 🍷, pastry hunters 🥐
- 📸 Top Experiences: Eating aebleskivers, visiting Elverhøj Museum, wine tasting nearby
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: September to October for harvest season and festival energy 🎉
- 🏨 Where to Stay: The Landsby – Stylish boutique hotel with Scandinavian design in the center of town
Solvang is the kind of place that makes you do a double take. Windmills, cobblestone streets, and Danish bakeries sit in the middle of California’s wine country, and it’s not just for tourists.
Grab a table at Solvang Restaurant for a plate of aebleskivers, those fluffy Danish pancake balls that taste even better than they sound. After that, walk over to the Elverhøj Museum to get the backstory on how this Danish town ended up in the middle of the Santa Ynez Valley.
If wine is your thing, the surrounding area is packed with vineyards, and tastings are super laid-back compared to Napa. Visit during Danish Days in September when the whole town goes all in with costumes, music, and parades. It’s weird, wonderful, and honestly a great weekend escape.
- More unique California experiences: 12 Things to Do in Berkeley at Night That’ll Blow Your Mind
4. Salvation Mountain
- 📍 Location: Niland, California
- 🏆 Best For: Road trippers 🚗, art lovers 🎨, alternative travelers ✝️
- 📸 Top Experiences: Exploring painted tunnels, snapping golden hour photos, visiting nearby Slab City
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: November to March to avoid extreme desert heat 🌞
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Calipatria Inn & Suites – Simple stay with easy access to both Salvation Mountain and the Salton Sea
You’ll find Salvation Mountain out in the California desert, but it’s unlike anything you’d expect from a quiet corner near the Salton Sea. It’s bold, colorful, and packed with Bible verses all hand-painted over decades by artist Leonard Knight.
The mountain is made of adobe, straw, and thousands of gallons of paint. Bright reds, blues, and greens cover every surface, from the 50-foot hill to the tiny tunnels and nooks built into its side. It feels a little surreal, like you’ve stepped into a painting.
Photographers love this place, especially at golden hour when the colors glow. It’s also the unofficial gateway to Slab City, an off-grid artist community just down the road. There’s no entrance fee, but donations help keep it maintained. Bring water, sun protection, and an open mind—this is desert creativity at its weirdest and most wonderful.
5. Channel Islands National Park
- 📍 Location: Ventura County Coast, California
- 🏆 Best For: Wildlife lovers 🦊, hikers ⛰️, ocean kayakers 🚣
- 📸 Top Experiences: Kayaking sea caves, hiking Montañon Ridge, spotting island foxes
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: March to May for wildflowers and whale migrations 🐋
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Amanzi Hotel Ventura – Laid-back hotel near the harbor with easy access to ferry departures
Channel Islands National Park feels like California’s best-kept coastal secret. Just about 12 miles off the coast from Ventura, these five rugged islands are wild, quiet, and completely untouched by chain restaurants or cell service.
Santa Cruz Island is the easiest to reach and offers an awesome mix of hiking, kayaking, and wildlife spotting. Sea caves around Scorpion Anchorage are perfect for paddle adventures, and you might even spot dolphins on your ferry ride over.
The islands are home to species you won’t find anywhere else, like the tiny island fox. If you’re up for a challenge, the hike to Montañon Ridge has sweeping views of the Pacific with zero crowds.
You’ll need to book ferry tickets through Island Packers, and packing your own food and water is essential. A day out here feels like visiting another planet even if it’s only an hour from LA.
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6. Julian
- 📍 Location: Cuyamaca Mountains, California
- 🏆 Best For: Apple pie lovers 🥧, history buffs ⛏️, weekend explorers 🚗
- 📸 Top Experiences: Eating at Julian Pie Company, touring Eagle Mining Co., picking apples at Volcan Valley
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: September to October for apple season and fall colors 🍎
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Julian Gold Rush Hotel – Cozy B&B with old-time charm in the heart of town
Julian is a small mountain town with a whole lot of character and some of the best apple pie you’ll ever try. Just an hour east of San Diego, it swaps beaches for crisp mountain air, orchards, and gold rush vibes.
Kick things off at Julian Pie Company, where the cinnamon ice cream on top is non-negotiable. Then wander into town to check out the shops or take a guided tour at Eagle Mining Co., a preserved mine with tunnels you can walk through.
Fall is when the town really comes alive with apple picking, changing leaves, and a cozy energy that feels straight out of a Hallmark movie. Even winter has its charm with occasional snow dusting the rooftops. Julian is the kind of place you come to slow down, snack often, and enjoy the simpler things.
7. Vasquez Rocks
- 📍 Location: Agua Dulce, California
- 🏆 Best For: Sci-fi fans 👽, casual hikers 🥾, LA locals looking for nature 🌄
- 📸 Top Experiences: Climbing the famous rock formation, hiking the Geology Trail, visiting the nature center
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: March to May for wildflowers and cooler hikes 🌸
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Hotel Lexen Newhall – Modern stay just 15 minutes from the rocks with great local dining nearby
Vasquez Rocks feels like another planet but sits less than an hour from downtown Los Angeles. Those sharp, tilted sandstone formations have starred in everything from Star Trek to Westworld, but somehow the crowds haven’t followed.
You can climb the iconic 150-foot rock that leans like a natural ramp or wander the Geology Trail, an easy loop with views, boulders, and plaques explaining how this landscape came to be. The Nature Center adds cool background on local history and the area’s Native American roots.
Weekdays are quiet, and you’ll probably have the trails mostly to yourself. Spring is ideal when the desert blooms start to pop. If you’re into hiking, movies, or just want to stand somewhere that feels completely different without going far, Vasquez Rocks delivers.
8. El Matador Beach
- 📍 Location: Malibu, California
- 🏆 Best For: Photographers 📷, beach explorers 🏖️, sunset lovers 🌅
- 📸 Top Experiences: Exploring sea caves, walking through tidepools, catching golden hour beneath the arches
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: October to April for cooler weather and fewer crowds 🌤️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Malibu Country Inn – Coastal hotel near the cliffs with ocean-view patios
El Matador Beach is one of those rare places that still feels like a secret. Tucked along a quieter stretch of Pacific Coast Highway, it’s a rocky cove filled with sea stacks, natural arches, and caves carved by the waves. Getting there means a steep staircase down from a small clifftop parking lot, which keeps it relatively uncrowded.
Time your visit for low tide so you can explore the caves and walk between rock formations. Every corner looks like it was made for a magazine cover, especially when the golden hour light hits just right.
Bring snacks, wear shoes with grip, and be ready to get a little sandy. This isn’t a sunbathing beach, it’s a place to explore, take photos, and just enjoy the raw beauty of the California coast without the usual crowds.
- For more reading: 12 AWESOME Things to Do in Fresno at Night
9. The Integratron
- 📍 Location: Landers, California
- 🏆 Best For: Sound bath lovers 🎶, spiritual seekers ✨, desert adventurers 🌵
- 📸 Top Experiences: Experiencing a sound bath, visiting Giant Rock, road-tripping through the high desert
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: October to March for cool desert days and clear skies 🌞
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Pioneertown Motel – Rustic desert escape just 20 minutes from The Integratron
The Integratron looks like something from a sci-fi movie but holds one of the most unique wellness experiences in the state. This bright white dome in the Mojave Desert was originally built with input from extraterrestrials—according to its creator, anyway.
Today it’s all about the sound baths. Quartz crystal singing bowls are played while you lie under the dome’s perfect acoustics, creating a full-body experience that’s more than just relaxing. The sound feels like it moves through you in waves, leaving you feeling refreshed, calm, and slightly buzzed in the best way.
Before or after your session, check out Giant Rock, a massive boulder nearby with its own strange history, or swing through Pioneertown for dinner and desert vibes. You’ll need to book tickets months ahead since space is limited and demand is high. It’s weird in the best way and absolutely worth the trip.
- Explore more California experiences: 12 After Dark Attractions in Berkeley, CA
10. Lotusland
- 📍 Location: Montecito, California
- 🏆 Best For: Garden lovers 🌿, design fans 🎭, day trippers 🧺
- 📸 Top Experiences: Touring the Blue Garden, walking the Topiary Garden, seeing rare cycads
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: March to May for full blooms and sunny skies 🌸
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Montecito Inn – Stylish historic stay just a short drive from the garden entrance
Lotusland is not your average botanical garden. Built by eccentric opera singer Madame Ganna Walska, this 37-acre estate in Montecito feels more like a living art exhibit than a plant collection. Each section is designed with its own dramatic flair, from silver-blue themed gardens to a cactus zone that looks straight out of a sci-fi film.
The Topiary Garden is a personal favorite with its hedges shaped into animals, spirals, and other whimsical forms. Guided tours are required, so you’ll need to book ahead, especially in spring when things start blooming.
Even if you’re not a plant person, you’ll probably leave inspired. Everything here feels intentional, creative, and just a little strange in the best way. It’s quiet, beautifully maintained, and perfect for a calm half-day adventure just outside Santa Barbara.
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11. Slab City
- 📍 Location: Niland, California
- 🏆 Best For: Off-grid explorers 🏕️, artists 🎨, alternative travelers 🧢
- 📸 Top Experiences: Visiting East Jesus art garden, exploring Salvation Mountain, attending The Range on Saturdays
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: December to February to avoid triple-digit temperatures ☀️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Calipatria Inn & Suites – Basic, convenient option near the entrance to Slab City
Slab City feels like a world that’s made up its own rules, and then broke them. Sitting in the desert near the Salton Sea, this off-grid community of artists, wanderers, and nomads exists on the concrete slabs of a former Marine base.
You’ll enter through Salvation Mountain, then find yourself in a town without electricity, water hookups, or law enforcement. The art installations at East Jesus are wild and thought-provoking, made entirely from scrap and recycled junk. It’s part Burning Man, part ghost town, and completely one-of-a-kind.
Weekends at The Range, Slab City’s open-air stage, offer live performances under string lights and stars. Be respectful when visiting as it’s not a tourist attraction, it’s also home for many. If you’re craving something raw, weird, and unforgettable, this is the place to be.
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12. Catalina Island
- 📍 Location: Channel Islands, California
- 🏆 Best For: Island adventurers 🚤, snorkelers 🤿, small-town vibes 🏘️
- 📸 Top Experiences: Taking the Bison Tour, snorkeling at Casino Point, hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: September to November for warm water and fewer day-trippers 🌊
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Bellanca Hotel – Bright, modern rooms steps from Avalon’s waterfront and dining
Just an hour from Los Angeles by ferry, Catalina Island feels like stepping into a Mediterranean vacation without ever leaving California. The main town of Avalon is walkable and charming, full of golf carts, colorful tile work, boutique shops, and seaside cafes that stay lively well into the evening.
Adventure options are everywhere. Take a guided Bison Tour to see the island’s famous roaming herd, hike a section of the Trans-Catalina Trail, or snorkel the kelp forests at Casino Point, one of the best shore dives in Southern California. Kayaking and paddleboarding are also popular for exploring hidden coves.
Day trips are doable, but staying overnight lets you experience the quieter side of the island after the last ferry leaves. Sunset from the harbor feels peaceful and cinematic. Whether you want beach time, hiking, wildlife, or just a coastal escape, Catalina delivers all of it in one trip.
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