10 Best Hidden Gems in California

A snapshot of California’s gold-mining history, Sutter Creek was once a bustling mining town and has preserved many of the buildings from that era, over 100 years ago. Spanning just 3 square miles, today the town is home to around 2 thousand residents but also receives a regular stream of visitors keen to immerse themselves in the history of the former mining town.

Head to the Miners' Bend Historic Gold Mining Park to discover historical artefacts and photos from the Sutter Creek gold mines. Other attractions here include the Knight Foundry museum, Sutter Creek Theatre, and the Fine Eye art gallery – along with many restaurants and shops. Plus, there are plenty of vineyards to visit as the town is located in Amador Wine Country.

Located close to Yosemite National Park in California’s Mono County, the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve was set up to help preserve the ‘tufa towers’ of Mono Lake. These limestone towers are an incredible sight – rising out of the water and reaching up to 12 feet – and are also a habitat for birds and underwater flies.

If you love natural swimming, taking a dip in Mono Lake offers a truly memorable experience. One of the oldest lakes in North America, Mono Lake’s salty, mineral-enriched water allows you to easily float and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains reflected in the water make it breathtakingly beautiful. It’s also a unique ecosystem, home to millions of brine shrimp and birds.

With spectacular coastline, wildlife, and marine life, the Channel Islands National Park is brimming with Californian natural beauty but is a lesser-known national park to visit in the Sunshine State. Located in Southern California, the national park is the perfect place to shake off the crowds – with almost 250,000 acres of incredible beaches and hiking trails.

Comprised of five islands: San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara – the Channel Islands National Park offers a rare opportunity to get up close with incredible marine life such as fish, sea lions, dolphins, and mammoth whales. There are also plenty of activities to try here – from hiking and birdwatching to diving, snorkelling, or kayaking.

Located to the east of California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, Bodie Ghost Town is a must-see for history lovers. It’s the best-preserved ghost town from the California Gold Rush – booming in the late 19th century and left abandoned in the early 1940s with many of the objects and furnishings left untouched inside the buildings.

From the schoolhouse and church to the barbershop, saloon, and prison; Bodie offers a fascinating look at California’s Wild West and is now a National Historic Landmark. It’s believed that Bodie could be haunted with many visitors claiming there is an eerie feeling – but this could also be due to the altitude as Bodie is located at a high elevation.

A one-of-a-kind experience in West Los Angeles, the Museum of Jurassic Technology is a museum like no other. Founded in 1988, the museum offers an eclectic mix of interesting and astounding exhibits, presented in a classic museum set-up. The authenticity of the exhibits is questionable – but many visitors say you have to experience it for yourself to understand.

With permanent exhibits such as ‘stink ant of the Cameroon’ and ‘the horn of Mary Davis of Saughall’, this could be the most unusual attraction you visit on your next trip to LA. The museum has caused a fair amount of controversy with some visitors feeling generally confused, while others claim it’s their favourite place in the city. Why not give it a go and make up your own mind?

If you head over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, you’ll discover the picturesque city of Sausalito, California. As well as offering stunning views of San Francisco and the Bay from Vista Point, the city is home to colourful seaside houses, floating houseboats, and a vibrant waterfront community with quirky shops, galleries, and cafes.

Be sure to take a stroll along Sausalito boardwalk first to get a feel for the place and take photos of the colourful houses. Head on to explore the many boutiques and art galleries such as the Gallery Sausalito & Working Art Studio. You’ll also find plenty of dining options – from Lighthouse Breakfast & Lunch to Scoma’s for some delicious seafood.

If you’re looking for a beautiful beach without tonnes of tourists, head to Schooner Gulch State Beach, north of San Francisco and close to Point Arena in Mendocino County. Also known as ‘bowling ball beach’, the unusual beach features concretions that have eroded over millions of years leaving rows of ‘bowling balls’ along the shoreline.

The secluded beach is accessible from a mile-long trail from the car park, which is fairly steep and includes steps. Be sure to check the tides information before you visit as you can only see the rock formations at low tide. Your efforts will be rewarded with an incredible natural wonder on a peaceful, crowd-free beach.

One of California’s most iconic and quirky roadside attractions, the Cabazon Dinosaurs are a colourful roadside attraction found off the interstate in Cabazon, close to Palm Springs. The main dinosaurs are ‘Dinny’ and ‘Mr Rex’- who have featured in films, TV shows, and commercials – but there are many more dinosaur replicas to see here.

You can climb inside the 150-foot Brontosaurus for free and visit the souvenir shop inside – or there is an entrance fee to see the T Rex and visit the little dinosaur museum. There are also kid-friendly activities such as a dino dig and fossil panning, making this a great stop-off point on a family trip to Palm Springs or Joshua Tree National Park.

If you’re interested in all things interplanetary, the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex in Fort Irwin has to be included in your California trip itinerary. Also known as the Goldstone Observatory, the satellite ground station was built in 1958 and features several giant radio antennas.

Part of the global deep space network, the complex is operated by NASA to track and communicate with space missions billions of miles away. Guided tours of Goldstone have to be arranged in advance with special permission and include the mission control room. However, the visitor centre in Barstow is free to visit with no booking required from Monday to Saturday (excluding Wednesdays).

A Californian landmark that has to be seen to be believed, Salvation Mountain is one of the most significant outsider artworks in the US. It was created by Leonard Knight in 1984 – made from adobe clay and paint – as a technicolour tribute to God and it took over 30 years to complete.

Located in the South California Desert, the folk artwork is hard to get to but receives a steady stream of visitors – and can be seen on a day trip from Palm Springs. It’s free to visit and open year-round – plus, you can climb it as long as you stay on the yellow brick road. It’s 50 feet high and you’ll find some great views from the top.