12 BEST Small Beach Towns in California (And Where to Stay)

This guide to the 12 best small beach towns in California covers where to stay in each town, the top things to see and more!

With over 800 miles of beautiful coastline, California has its fair share of quintessential sun-soaked beach towns. Having lived in California for all of my life, I’ve had the pleasure to travel up and down this magnificent coast, visiting many of these cute towns along the way.

Most California beach towns are similar in that they have warm, inviting spirits, with friendly locals and great ocean views, but they’re all different in things to do and general atmosphere. Here are the 12 best beach towns in The Golden State!

12 Best Small Beach Towns in California (And Where to Stay)

Laguna Beach

Located in Orange County, halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, Laguna Beach is seven miles of coves and beaches that lay claim to tide pools, boardwalks, and bluffs. The town itself is known as being an art haven, with plenty of galleries and boutiques to check…