In general, small towns hold a certain kind of charm. However, if you’ve spent any time exploring Northern California, then you know small towns in the Golden State are something special. It’s impossible to list all of the great little communities you should consider visiting across your NorCal adventures, but these seven make for a pretty great place to start. From their lively downtown areas to their proximity to nature, you’ll want to plan on making a trip to one of the best Northern California towns sometime soon!
- Ferndale
Thank You (22.5 Millions+) views/Flickr If you’re looking for charm, you can’t do much better than Ferndale. This quaint Victorian village is nestled between California Redwoods and the rugged Lost Coast, making it a spectacular basecamp for your next outdoor adventure. However, those who opt to spend their time in-town will find that it has much to offer, including a historic main street that’s filled with Victorian buildings, boutique shops, and awesome restaurants. Ferndale, CA 95536, USA
- Fort Bragg
Wayne Hsieh/Flickr The town of Fort Bragg is nestled along the scenic Mendocino Coast and is filled with character and things to do. Established as a military garrison and then a lumber town, Fort Bragg is now a bustling coastal destination with lots to offer. Spend your time exploring the downtown area where you’ll find an abundance of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Then, plan an adventure at the nearby Glass Beach, Noyo River, or on the world-famous Skunk Train! Fort Bragg, CA 95437, USA
- Dunsmuir
Wayne Hsieh/Flickr Located along the upper Sacramento River, Dunsmuir is a charming mountain town that’s a popular tourist hub for its scenic setting and opportunities for adventure. After a day of hiking, biking, or fishing, nothing beats spending the evening exploring Dunsmuir’s historic downtown. Looking like something straight out of a time capsule, you’ll find that the Downtown Historic District is filled with shops, antique stores, eateries, and unique destinations (like a hardware store that doubles as a museum!) Spend some time in Dunsmuir where small-town charm and natural beauty collide.
- Truckee
Jasperdo/Flickr The mountain town of Truckee is a hotspot of outdoor activities, particularly winter recreation. However, it’s not just a scenic setting and proximity to Tahoe that Truckee has going for it! In town, you’ll find numerous restaurants ranging from breweries to trendy eats. You could spend an entire day exploring the town’s shops which feature locally-made goods including art, clothing, and so much more. Simply put, there’s never a dull moment in this lively mountain town. Truckee, CA 96161, USA
- Sonora
Jasperdo/Flickr Tucked away in the heart of California’s Gold Country is where you’ll find the hidden gem of Sonora. An old mining town that was founded during the Gold Rush, there’s plenty to love about this lovely little town. Sonora’s historic downtown is home to shops, restaurants, fascinating museums, and an authentic Gold Rush vibe. We recommend taking on the Downtown Sonora Walking Tour to make sure you don’t miss a single highlight about this treasure of a downtown area!
- Willits
Film Mendocino/Flickr Heralded as a “Gateway to the Redwoods”, there are many reasons to consider paying a visit to the town of Willits. You’ll find the town’s downtown area, located just north of Highway 20, is filled with gems including cozy restaurants, award-winning wineries, and the type of hospitality you’ll only find in a small town. Whether you spend a day or a week, you’ll be enamored with this awesome town where you can shop, dine, and explore. Willits, CA 95490, USA
- Nevada City
wikiphotographer/Flickr Nevada City is another town that combines natural beauty with historic charm. Are you sensing a pattern? This exuberant city is known for its Victorian structures and proximity to the Sierra Nevada. Its downtown area alone is worth the visit, filled with friendly merchants, wine tasting rooms, and tranquil inns and lodges. You can’t help but feel like you’re in a living postcard while walking down these streets! Nevada City, CA 95959, USA
Have you visited any of these fantastic small towns in Northern California? What’s your favorite small-town destination in NorCal? Let us know in the comments section!
Thank You (22.5 Millions+) views/Flickr
If you’re looking for charm, you can’t do much better than Ferndale. This quaint Victorian village is nestled between California Redwoods and the rugged Lost Coast, making it a spectacular basecamp for your next outdoor adventure. However, those who opt to spend their time in-town will find that it has much to offer, including a historic main street that’s filled with Victorian buildings, boutique shops, and awesome restaurants.
Ferndale, CA 95536, USA
Wayne Hsieh/Flickr
The town of Fort Bragg is nestled along the scenic Mendocino Coast and is filled with character and things to do. Established as a military garrison and then a lumber town, Fort Bragg is now a bustling coastal destination with lots to offer. Spend your time exploring the downtown area where you’ll find an abundance of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. Then, plan an adventure at the nearby Glass Beach, Noyo River, or on the world-famous Skunk Train!
Fort Bragg, CA 95437, USA
Located along the upper Sacramento River, Dunsmuir is a charming mountain town that’s a popular tourist hub for its scenic setting and opportunities for adventure. After a day of hiking, biking, or fishing, nothing beats spending the evening exploring Dunsmuir’s historic downtown. Looking like something straight out of a time capsule, you’ll find that the Downtown Historic District is filled with shops, antique stores, eateries, and unique destinations (like a hardware store that doubles as a museum!) Spend some time in Dunsmuir where small-town charm and natural beauty collide.
Jasperdo/Flickr
The mountain town of Truckee is a hotspot of outdoor activities, particularly winter recreation. However, it’s not just a scenic setting and proximity to Tahoe that Truckee has going for it! In town, you’ll find numerous restaurants ranging from breweries to trendy eats. You could spend an entire day exploring the town’s shops which feature locally-made goods including art, clothing, and so much more. Simply put, there’s never a dull moment in this lively mountain town.
Truckee, CA 96161, USA
Tucked away in the heart of California’s Gold Country is where you’ll find the hidden gem of Sonora. An old mining town that was founded during the Gold Rush, there’s plenty to love about this lovely little town. Sonora’s historic downtown is home to shops, restaurants, fascinating museums, and an authentic Gold Rush vibe. We recommend taking on the Downtown Sonora Walking Tour to make sure you don’t miss a single highlight about this treasure of a downtown area!
Film Mendocino/Flickr
Heralded as a “Gateway to the Redwoods”, there are many reasons to consider paying a visit to the town of Willits. You’ll find the town’s downtown area, located just north of Highway 20, is filled with gems including cozy restaurants, award-winning wineries, and the type of hospitality you’ll only find in a small town. Whether you spend a day or a week, you’ll be enamored with this awesome town where you can shop, dine, and explore.
Willits, CA 95490, USA
wikiphotographer/Flickr
Nevada City is another town that combines natural beauty with historic charm. Are you sensing a pattern? This exuberant city is known for its Victorian structures and proximity to the Sierra Nevada. Its downtown area alone is worth the visit, filled with friendly merchants, wine tasting rooms, and tranquil inns and lodges. You can’t help but feel like you’re in a living postcard while walking down these streets!
Nevada City, CA 95959, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Northern California Towns September 20, 2022 Tori Jane What are some of the best Northern California towns to visit? There are plenty of amazing small towns in Northern California to go around – so many, in fact, that it might feel a little overwhelming when trying to decide which ones to visit. We do have a handful of favorite Northern California small towns, like the little gem known as Sausalito. It’s a small town that’s so pretty it ought to be its own postcard, and best of all, you can even get a houseboat on the water! Another amazing small town in Northern California is Mariposa, which is excellent for those who love the natural wonders of Northern California but don’t want to meander too far away to experience them. Where are the Northern California towns with cute shopping areas? With small towns comes another perk: delightful shops and eateries! We have some Northern California towns with cute shopping areas galore, and it’s almost impossible to name them all in one short paragraph. Among our favorite places to go shopping in Northern California are towns like Mendocino, Grass Valley, Tahoe City, and even Fort Bragg! No matter what you’re looking for, you’re likely to find it in just a day or two of browsing the excellent shops and stores in Northern California. It turns out there are also some top-notch antique shops in Northern California, and you cannot pass up an opportunity to check out some of the best flea markets in Northern California while you’re at it. What are the best small towns in Northern California? Ah, the list of amazing small towns in Northern California does indeed go on. Petaluma is an astonishingly beautiful place with picturesque surroundings; we also love places like Dunsmuir, which is the northernmost town in NorCal before you enter southern Oregon. We’re also huge fans of places like Bodega Bay and Nevada City. Life in Northern California is nothing short of thrilling, and our small towns make that obvious.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Northern California Towns
September 20, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some of the best Northern California towns to visit? There are plenty of amazing small towns in Northern California to go around – so many, in fact, that it might feel a little overwhelming when trying to decide which ones to visit. We do have a handful of favorite Northern California small towns, like the little gem known as Sausalito. It’s a small town that’s so pretty it ought to be its own postcard, and best of all, you can even get a houseboat on the water! Another amazing small town in Northern California is Mariposa, which is excellent for those who love the natural wonders of Northern California but don’t want to meander too far away to experience them. Where are the Northern California towns with cute shopping areas? With small towns comes another perk: delightful shops and eateries! We have some Northern California towns with cute shopping areas galore, and it’s almost impossible to name them all in one short paragraph. Among our favorite places to go shopping in Northern California are towns like Mendocino, Grass Valley, Tahoe City, and even Fort Bragg! No matter what you’re looking for, you’re likely to find it in just a day or two of browsing the excellent shops and stores in Northern California. It turns out there are also some top-notch antique shops in Northern California, and you cannot pass up an opportunity to check out some of the best flea markets in Northern California while you’re at it. What are the best small towns in Northern California? Ah, the list of amazing small towns in Northern California does indeed go on. Petaluma is an astonishingly beautiful place with picturesque surroundings; we also love places like Dunsmuir, which is the northernmost town in NorCal before you enter southern Oregon. We’re also huge fans of places like Bodega Bay and Nevada City. Life in Northern California is nothing short of thrilling, and our small towns make that obvious.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are plenty of amazing small towns in Northern California to go around – so many, in fact, that it might feel a little overwhelming when trying to decide which ones to visit. We do have a handful of favorite Northern California small towns, like the little gem known as Sausalito. It’s a small town that’s so pretty it ought to be its own postcard, and best of all, you can even get a houseboat on the water! Another amazing small town in Northern California is Mariposa, which is excellent for those who love the natural wonders of Northern California but don’t want to meander too far away to experience them.
Where are the Northern California towns with cute shopping areas?
With small towns comes another perk: delightful shops and eateries! We have some Northern California towns with cute shopping areas galore, and it’s almost impossible to name them all in one short paragraph. Among our favorite places to go shopping in Northern California are towns like Mendocino, Grass Valley, Tahoe City, and even Fort Bragg! No matter what you’re looking for, you’re likely to find it in just a day or two of browsing the excellent shops and stores in Northern California. It turns out there are also some top-notch antique shops in Northern California, and you cannot pass up an opportunity to check out some of the best flea markets in Northern California while you’re at it.
What are the best small towns in Northern California?
Ah, the list of amazing small towns in Northern California does indeed go on. Petaluma is an astonishingly beautiful place with picturesque surroundings; we also love places like Dunsmuir, which is the northernmost town in NorCal before you enter southern Oregon. We’re also huge fans of places like Bodega Bay and Nevada City. Life in Northern California is nothing short of thrilling, and our small towns make that obvious.
