Summary
There are tons of epic small-town California weekend trips for fall. For example, Blythe offers outdoor activities such as camping and boating, including a chance to see Native American geoglyphs. Bishop provides access to stunning natural landscapes and is a climbing hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts. Explore Carmel-by-the-Sea for a beautiful coastal town experience with tide pools, museums, and historic sites.
For tourists in the US who want to take a fall road trip, California offers many of the most perfect warm-weather destinations in North America for a fall vacation. Miles and miles of coastline, great museums, historic charm, bustling cities, and adorable small towns all await those who head to the Golden State this fall.
While big and iconic cities like San Francisco and San Diego are enticing, those who want the charm of a small town or village will have no shortage of amazing destinations to choose from in California. Those preferring to escape the hustle and bustle of the state's world-famous cities this autumn can take a fall weekend trip to any of these adorable small towns in California instead, each offering community, culture, arts, scenery, outdoor activities, and history.
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7 Blythe
Excellent for a weekend of outdoor recreation and exploring ancient Native American geoglyphs
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Out in the Colorado Desert of California lies the perfect fall road trip destination in the Golden State: the charming town of Blythe. Famous for its golf course, Blythe is a great place to visit for tourists who love outdoor recreation. Camping, fishing, and river boating are all great activities here.
The biggest draw for tourists here has to be the Blythe Intaglios. These massive geoglyphs made by prehistoric Native Americans offer the chance to connect with California's distant past. Seeing these intaglios easily makes a getaway to Blythe one of the many great weekend trips to take in the fall in California!
Population:
17,358 people
Fall temperatures:
50-100 degrees
Things to do:
Blythe Golf Course, Blythe Intaglios, Hidden Beaches Resort, Hauser Geode Beds, Mayflower County Park
6 Bishop
This cute California mountain town is surrounded by stunning natural environments and is also a fantastic climbing destination
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Located near the border of Nevada, the town of Bishop in Owens Valley is an adorable California mountain town. Known for its incredible landscapes, this town provides easy access for those looking to see some of California's best natural environments, from Inyo National Forest to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.
Rock climbers will fall in love with this area, as it's quickly becoming a hotspot for mountain climbing. The nearby Volcanic Tablelands are a great place for hiking, climbing, and viewing petroglyphs.
Population:
3,771 people
Fall temperatures:
40-70 degrees
Things to do:
Volcanic Tablelands, Inyo National Forest, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
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5 Carmel-by-the-Sea
California's cutest small town on the coast with a wealth of outdoor adventures on its doorstep
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Carmel-by-the-Sea is one of the most beautiful and scenic small towns along California's coast. Pacific views, tide pools, great museums, and more all await tourists who choose to make Carmel-by-the-Sea their base for the perfect fall weekend trip in California.
At Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, tourists can enjoy gorgeous California beaches that offer more than just swimming. Tide pools and great SCUBA diving opportunities are both waiting for those who choose to visit this natural reserve.
Visitors should also head to Carmel Mission Basilica Museum, where they can see a historic religious building and learn about California's religious history.
Population:
3,146 people
Fall temperatures:
50-70 degrees
Things to do:
Carmel Mission Basilica Museum, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, Carmel River State Beach, Garrapata State Park, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Lone Cypress
4 Solvang
Get a taste of Scandinavia without leaving the country
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Who would have thought that a trip to California could give a taste of Scandinavia? In the town of Solvang near Santa Barbara, tourists can see incredible architecture inspired by Denmark. Originally founded in 1911 by Danish Americans who wanted to escape the harsh winters of the Midwest, the town of Solvang (meaning sunny field) has held onto its unique cultural heritage even decades later.
Visitors who want to get the most out of their trip to Solvang can head to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, see the 1804 historic Santa Ines, visit the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art, or take a trolley tour. The town even has a local ostrich farm to check out!
Population:
5,986 people
Fall temperatures:
50-90 degrees
Things to do:
Elverhøj Museum of History & Art, Ostrichland USA, Hans Christian Andersen Museum, Santa Ines, trolley tour
3 Avalon
The "Santorini of California" with stunning beaches that are still inviting in the fall
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Those craving French Riviera-style islands in the US can head to this gem along California's coast: the island city of Avalon, known as the "Santorini of California". Located on the gorgeous Catalina Island, the town of Avalon is known for its great climate and warm year-round temperatures.
With an environment that looks unusually like the cliffsides of the Mediterranean, tourists from all around the world flock to this town for a fall escape. Descanso Beach, South Beach, Middle Beach, and Step Beach all offer the chance to enjoy the best of California's Pacific coastline.
Population:
3,313 people
Fall temperatures:
55-70 degrees
Things to do:
Descanso Beach, South Beach, Middle Beach, and Step Beach
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2 Pismo Beach
Boasts a unique combination of gorgeous Pacific beaches, Monarch butterflies, and dinosaurs!
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What could be better than Pacific beach views, Monarch Butterflies, and dinosaurs? At Pismo Beach, tourists will get to experience this unusual combination.
Home to a beautiful beach and fishing pier, visitors can enjoy the vast wealth of the Pacific, from swimming and shells to seafood. When tourists are done with the beach, they can head to Monarch Butterfly Grove, a nature preserve where thousands of Monarch Butterflies make their winter home from November to February.
Visitors can also learn about the hubris of man at Dinosaur Caves Park. Decades ago, a man named H. Douglas Brown built a 50-foot statue of a brontosaurus at this park. Tourists could also take a walk through a cave here, where they'd see skylights and artifacts placed there by Brown himself.
Despite his whimsical vision of the park almost being finished, nearby neighbors hated the dinosaur and beheaded it in 1950. Today, the massive beast is no more, being possibly destroyed by fire in the 1960s. Today, visitors can explore the park and enjoy the ocean views it provides.
Population:
8,044 people
Fall temperatures:
50-70 degrees
Things to do:
Dinosaur Caves Park, Monarch Butterfly Grove, Pismo Beach
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1 Morro Bay
A scenic seaside town famous for the enormous Morro Rock, as well as great beaches and a state park
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The small town of Morro Bay is a geology lover's paradise. Towering over the city is the massive Morro Rock, which stands tall against the crashing waves of the Pacific. You can get excellent views of the imposing rock at Morro Strand State Beach.
Those who love natural history will have a blast at the Museum of Natural History located in Morro Bay State Park, where they can learn about California's environment and human past. While at Morro Bay State Park, visitors can enjoy an 18-hole public golf course, can camp, and can explore the marina.
Population:
10,696 people
Fall temperatures:
50-70 degrees
Things to do:
Morro Strand State Beach, Morro Bay State Park, Morro Strand State Beach