Travel + Leisure

9 Best California Beach Towns for Surfing, Seafood, and Storybook Coastal Charm, According to a Local

A local writer picks the best California beach towns for fun on and off the sand, from surfer-chic Malibu to idyllic Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Travel Off Path on MSN

This little-known town is California's best kept secret for a sunny beach vacation

They say “secrets, secrets are no fun”, but that just so happens to be Travel Off Path's bread and butter. Call us ...

California Destination Wins 'Best Small Coastal Town,' and It Has a Legendary Pier, Monarch Butterflies, and Unique Boutiques

For something different, head inland to a nearby wine country. San Luis Obispo County is home to a growing number of wineries ...

Pismo Beach, California, Named #1 "Best Small Coastal Town" by USA TODAY 10Best -- For the Second Year in a Row

PISMO BEACH, Calif., April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, the votes are in, and Pismo Beach, California, has claimed the top spot in USA TODAY 10Best's Readers' Choice Award ...
Only In Your State

A Hidden Stretch of California’s Sonoma Coast Is Finally Open to the Public

A newly opened Sonoma Coast preserve near Bodega Bay offers rare access to wild coastal trails, estuary views, wildlife, and ...

Pismo Beach tops USA TODAY 10BEST list. See the other CA winners

Pismo Beach tops USA TODAY 10BEST small coastal towns. Morro Bay, Avalon and Carmel-by-the-Sea also land in the 2026 top 10.
Hosted on MSN

This coastal California town is a hidden gem with a sea glass beach and a historic train through the redwoods

Fort Bragg, California, offers scenic hiking trails, locally caught seafood, and an off-the-beaten path getaway. Trash has become sea glass at Glass Beach, which was long used as a dump site by ...

Best Food & Wine Festivals Along California’s Highway 1

Nine food & wine festivals, 656 miles, one epic coastal drive. Pebble Beach to Big Sur—chef dinners, trophy wines, ocean ...