These 12 Towns In Southern California Have The Best Main Streets You Gotta Visit

A vibrant main street in the center of town really shows off the heart and soul of a city. Here are 12 towns in Southern California that have truly captured that Main Street charm that we love to seek out when exploring a new place. Perhaps you’ve visited these SoCal locations before or maybe they are still on your wish list. Either way, take some time to really get to know each of these places by lingering on these main streets that show off the unique personality of each location. If you want to brag about living in the most awesome state, number 5 was picked by Fodor’s Travel as having one of “America’s best main streets.” Now that’s definitely brag-worthy!

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/

1. San Clemente San Clemente Downtown Business Association/Facebook The quaint strip along Avenida Del Mar in San Clemente shows off the heart of this quaint SoCal city that is called the Spanish Village by the Sea. 2. Santa Barbara TripAdvisor/Robogator0 State Street in Santa Barbara has all the flair of a small town without being "small" at all. This strip is the perfect destination for shopping, dining, and exploring. 3. Solvang Wikimedia Commons The main street in Solvang on Alisal Road is dotted with cute shops and local flavor that captures the charm of this Danish village in SoCal. 4. Solana Beach TripAdvisor/Yuliaerofeeva The bustling main strip of the Cedros Avenue Design District in Solana Beach is very hip and trendy with over 85 local shops and restaurants across a two and a half block stretch. Some may argue that this isn't the true "main street" of Solana Beach, but it definitley sets the tone for this quaint seaside community so it deserves to be represented on this list. 5. San Luis Obispo Flickr/Sandra Foyt Vibrant Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo recently received the honor of being identified by Fodor's Travel as having one of "America's Best Main Streets." 6. Julian flickr/Perttu Raivio This mountain town outside of San Diego has a bustling main street in the heart of town called Main Street. Imagine that! 7. Seal Beach Welcome to Seal Beach A short stroll from the beach you will find a ton of local shops on Main Street in Seal Beach that will make you feel like you stumbled upon a magical little small-town hideaway. 8. Del Mar 6. Del Mar Village Association/facebook The historic Del Mar Village located on Camino Del Mar captures the local flavor of this seaside destination. With over 60 shops and restaurants, there is something new to see on every block. 9. Redlands flickr/Don Graham The main drag in downtown Redlands is State Street. Strolling down this stretch of town will take you back to a simpler time when things moved at a much slower and more peaceful pace. 10. Encinitas Facebook/Encinitas 101 Main Street Association Main streets right by the beach offer a little something extra as you can dip your toes in the water after a fun day of exploration. 11. Old Town Temecula flickr/The City of Temecula It's delightful to stroll down Main Street and Front Street in Old Town Temecula as it's a nice escape from the rest of the world. You will find antiques, art galleries, local eateries and wine shops all tucked inside historic storefronts that capture the original look and feel from the 1800s. 12. Balboa Island flickr/Ken Lund There's something about the main street on Balboa Island that will make you feel like a kid again. Maybe it's the ice cream shops and the candy stores. Or maybe it's just because it's always buzzing with life and energy day and night. No matter what, this is a great main street to visit that will make you feel like you have escaped to a very special getaway.

Southern California is pretty lucky to have so many cool main drags to check out across the state. Do you have a favorite main street you like to visit in SoCal that captures that picture-perfect small town feel? Let us know what other spots should make the list as it’s always fun to go explore new areas in and around Southern California.