The Best Small Towns and Villages

St. Helena: In the heart of the Napa Valley, St. Helena is known for its Main Street, lined with Victorian storefronts featuring intriguing wares. In a horse and buggy, Robert Louis Stevenson and his bride once made their way down this street. Come for the old-timey, tranquil mood and the food.

Arcata: Arcata has it all: its own redwood forest and bird marsh, a charming town square, great family-owned restaurants, and even its own minor-league baseball team, which draws the whole town together for an afternoon of pure camaraderie.

Nevada City: The whole town is a National Historic Landmark and the best place to understand gold fever. Settled in 1849, it offers fine dining and shopping and a stock of Victorian frame houses. Relics of the cannibalistic Donner Party are on display at the 1861 Firehouse No. 1.

Pacific Grove: You can escape the Monterey crowds by heading 2 miles west to Pacific Grove, known for its tranquil waterfront and unspoiled air. Thousands of monarch butterflies flock here between October and March.

Cambria: Near Hearst Castle, Cambria benefits from a stream of visitors, who bring the right amount of sophistication to this coastal town. Moonstone Beach holds a string of seaside lodges; farther north are dozens of sunbathing elephant seals, while the village is filled with B&Bs, artists' studios and galleries, and shops.

Santa Catalina Island: Taking a day trip to the small town of Catalina makes for a most adventurous day: a scenic boat ride, shopping, snorkeling and diving, golfing, hiking, ice cream, sunburns, and DUI-free barhopping. Tip: The helicopter taxi is cheaper than you'd expect.

Julian: This old mining town in the Cuyamaca Mountains near San Diego has long been known for its wildflower fields, the apple harvest, and charming bed-and-breakfasts. Julian and the surrounding communities were shaken by forest fires in October 2003, but -- from a touring standpoint -- most of the community is back to normal. There's plenty of pioneer history here, including a local-history museum, an 1888 schoolhouse, and mining demonstrations.

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