You may not have heard of these 5 beautiful and unusual places to visit in California
Whether you already live in the Golden State or are planning a trip from elsewhere, many hidden gems in California are worth a visit. While Hollywood and Los Angeles hold some of the best California vacation attractions, there are certainly secret spots and unique places to visit that will make for a memorable trip.
If you’re a curious traveler, an adventurer or just like discovering lesser-known wonders, this guide hits some of the unique spots that you’ll likely enjoy.
There’s a California outside the most famous attractions and those overlooked spots have a distinct allure that helps make a trip memorable and magical.
Morro Bay
The quaint fishing village of Morro Bay is off Highway 1 in San Luis Obispo County on California’s central coast. It’s an excellent stopover between LA and San Francisco.
One of the town’s main attractions is Morro Rock, a California State Historic Landmark. The massive rock is 576 feet tall and is situated along the edge of the Pacific Ocean. A variety of wildlife, including peregrine falcons, live near the ancient volcanic peak as well.
A saltwater marsh, lagoon and natural bay habitat surrounds Morro Bay State Park. Visitors can hike along Black Hill’s winding trail, go camping, kayaking, fishing and bird watching, take in the sweeping scenic views, and tour the Museum of Natural History.
Enjoy miles of pristine beaches, wine bars and quaint shops. Stay at one of Morro Bay’s many hotels, inns, B&Bs, or rental properties, which accommodate various budgets.
Be sure to sample some of the freshest ocean-to-table cuisine at popular Morro Bay restaurants. Enjoy a bar burger, grilled steak, cold craft beer, and decadent desserts.
The Wave Organ
Likely, you’ll never find — or hear — an instrument exactly like The Wave Organ anywhere else. The free-to-see, wave-activated acoustic sculpture resides on a San Francisco Bay Marina District jetty. The jetty is made of materials from a demolished cemetery, including marble and carved granite.
Twenty-five organ pipes made of PVC and concrete are located at various site elevations. The movement of water in and out of the pipes generates a subtle sound.
The setting offers an excellent view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Sausalito. You can also visit the Exploratorium at Pier 15, which hosts over 650 indoor and outdoor interactive exhibits. You can walk, take a bus, or take a taxi from Fisherman’s Wharf. There is also a bus from Union Square.
Multiple hotels and inns are located one or two miles from the Wave Organ.
The Last Bookstore
Diehard bibliophiles would travel across the country to visit a unique book haven like The Last Bookstore in Los Angeles. The one-of-a-kind indie bookshop is “the largest new and used bookstore in California.”
Browse through the 22,000 square-foot space that boasts a book tunnel, a mammoth head, a record store, an epic yarn shop and “unexpected nooks of funkiness.” Since it’s in a 100-year-old former bank building, the store has vaults full of books.
The sits store sits on the corner of 5th and Spring streets in downtown L.A. a block from Pershing Square Metro Station. You’ll pay about $10 for offsite parking in nearby lots. Lots of restaurants, cafes, and bars are nearby. It’s a book lover and foodie’s paradise.
You’ll find many lodging options in downtown L.A. and the surrounding areas. For example, the iconic Biltmore Los Angeles has hosted countless legendary guests, from President John F. Kennedy to The Beatles.
Bronson Canyon Bat Caves
Fans of the original Adam West “Batman” television series and film location buffs will enjoy a short hike to the Bronson Canyon Bat Caves that the Caped Crusader roared through in the Batmobile. It’s free to walk through the caves — and you’ll get a fantastic bonus on your visit — a beautiful view of the legendary Hollywood sign.
The caves were also featured in “Gunsmoke,” “Star Trek,” and “Fantasy Island.” They’re located in the Hollywood Studio District on the West Side of Griffith Park, with a parking lot at the end of Canyon Drive.
Multiple hotels are nearby, including the Cara Hotel, a 5-minute drive from Griffith Park, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The area offers various tasty food options, from burgers to sushi to vegan restaurants.
Glass Beach
Colorful pieces of sea glass shimmer miles along the shore at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. Decades ago, the site was a dumping ground. Years of wave action tumbled and polished the discarded bits of glass, now forming a kaleidoscope of colorful stones that look like jewels.
It’s incredible to consider how the passing of time transformed trash into treasure. To preserve the site, don’t remove any stones from the beach. But you can capture the scene with photos.
While in Fort Bragg, you can also stop by the world’s largest permanent sea glass display at The International Sea Glass Museum, which houses over 3,000 pieces. Also, stop by MacKerricher State Park, which offers a great whale-watching spot.
If you enjoy flora and fauna, you can add a stop at the beautiful Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens to your Fort Bragg visit. Explore the 47-acre Gardens’ Coastal bluff and marine zone, stroll through the Closed-cone Pine Forest and see the stunning rhododendron collection. General admission is $20 (18 and older), older adults $17 (65 and older), juniors $8 (6 to 17) children free (5 and younger).
You’ll find an excellent selection of hotels around Fort Bragg and an array of restaurants, including delicious seafood at local favorites like the Sea Pal Cove Restaurant, with 18 craft beers on tap.
These are just a few of California’s hidden gems to discover. Once you start exploring, who knows what else you’ll find?