In a state renowned for its iconic attractions, California has an equal amount of lesser-known hidden gems that deserve a spot on your bucket list. From tranquil seaside retreats and sprawling badlands to bubbling geothermal pools and untouched forests, we’ve ranked California’s 25 most underrated attractions that locals would rather keep secret.

Click through this gallery to discover our ranking of California's underrated gems... 

Once primarily recognised for its oil and agricultural industries, Bakersfield has transformed into a hub of arts and culture. The downtown area features numerous galleries and public art installations, while food enthusiasts can explore the city's rich Basque heritage by dining at establishments like Wool Growers, Pyrenees and Benji's, which offer traditional Basque cuisine.

Music aficionados shouldn't miss Buck Owens' Crystal Palace, a unique venue that serves as a restaurant, museum and live music hall. It stands as the spiritual home of the 'Bakersfield Sound', a distinctive style of country music that emerged in the mid-20th century.

Located near Lincoln Park, these neglected steps built in the early 19th century were given a new lease of life in 2015, when local artist Aileen Barr was commissioned by Friends of Lincoln Park to give them a facelift.

Together with a team of architects and builders, Barr transformed the steps into a magnificent Beaux Arts-inspired public art installation made up of dazzling and vibrant colours. Head to the top of the stairs to enjoy sweeping views of the Salesforce Tower and Golden Gate Bridge.

Located in the heart of Shasta County, Redding is renowned as California's 'waterfall mecca', boasting numerous cascading falls, including the majestic Burney Falls – once referred to as the 'eighth wonder of the world' by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Follow the Redding Waterfall loop for a weekend of rushing waters and cooling mists, making your way from Redding to Burney then to Mount Shasta and back. After a day of nature's splendour, unwind with a performance at Redding's historic Cascade Theatre, built in 1935 and meticulously restored to its Art Deco glory.

The charming city of Gilroy, just 40 miles (64km) inland from Santa Cruz, loves garlic. The self-proclaimed ‘Garlic Capital of the World’ grows it, processes it and serves it with pretty much everything – from calamari and pasta with pesto to ice cream.

Gilroy Gardens, an agriculturally-themed amusement park, even features a ride called ‘The Garlic Twirl’. Beyond the garlic, Gilroy boasts lively farmers' markets, award-winning wineries and a taco trail that recognises the city’s strong Mexican heritage.

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Nestled at the base of the towering San Gabriel Mountains and only 10 miles (16km) northeast of downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena is probably best known for its annual Rose Bowl football match and Tournament of Roses parade.

But look beyond the marching bands and rose-covered coats and you’ll discover a city of architectural gems and world-class museums, stylish shopping and red-hot restaurants. More and more people are discovering Pasadena’s secret charm, either as a base for visiting LA or to enjoy the city as a destination itself.

With its historic town square, rolling hills and farm-to-table dining, Temecula Valley is one of California’s most underrated wine regions. Nearly 50 wineries dot the area, producing high-quality wines from Italian, Spanish and French grape varieties that thrive in the region’s unique soil.

Small-batch production is a hallmark here, with many wines only available locally. Follow the Temecula Valley Wine Country trail to visit the vineyards, or take it up a notch by enjoying a sunrise hot air balloon ride while sampling one of the region’s standout wines.

Sacramentans would like to keep this to themselves, but California’s capital is undergoing something of a renaissance. Microbreweries, gastropubs and trendy boutiques are popping up on every corner and the city’s award-winning chefs are embracing the farm-to-table philosophy with gusto.

Throw in world-class museums and galleries, a jam-packed calendar of cultural events and the city’s intriguing Gold Rush history and Sacramento is a tempting alternative to its more visited sisters, San Francisco and LA.

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Welcome to California’s Volcano Alley, a hissing, spitting wonderland that is home to all four types of volcanoes – shield, composite, cinder cone and plug dome. Serene Manzanita Lake serves as the ideal base for exploring the area, offering a campground, cabins, a museum and stunning views of the 10,457-foot (3,187m) Lassen Peak.

Spend your nights beneath a canopy of stars and your days exploring a landscape of rugged badlands, winding slot canyons, serene palm oases and cactus-covered slopes. Just two hours northeast of San Diego, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park spans over 600,000 acres, making it California’s largest state park. Designated as an International Dark Sky Park in 2018, it’s a top destination for stargazing.

The park offers stunning sunsets, vibrant wildflower blooms in the spring and a collection of over 130 metal sculptures by visual artist Ricardo Breceda. These towering works of art, depicting prehistoric creatures and other subjects, bring a unique element to the already breathtaking desert landscape.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest high in the White Mountains is home to the oldest trees in the world. Here you’ll find the famous 4,848-year-old Methuselah tree as well as another, the Patriarch, that is an incredible 5,067 years old.

They stand twisted and contorted, the very definition of the word ‘weathered’, scattered across an eerie landscape looking towards the Great Basin in Nevada. Walking among these venerable sentinels is humbling and awe-inspiring.

Surrounded by towering peaks and lined with Ponderosa pine forests, Big Bear Lake serves as an ideal hub for outdoor enthusiasts. In winter, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain ski resorts offer a combined 438 acres of skiable terrain, featuring over 55 runs suitable for various skill levels.

When the snow melts, the area transforms into a haven for biking, hiking and camping. The lake itself becomes a centre for activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, water skiing and fishing. Located just two hours from Los Angeles and San Diego, this jewel of the San Bernardino Mountains provides a refreshing, pine-scented escape from city life.

Sitting high in the Eastern Sierra mountains of Mono County, the abandoned Gold Rush settlement of Bodie is the archetypal American ghost town. Between 1877 and 1882, Bodie was a bustling town with close to 8,000 residents, producing more than $38 million (£30.5m) in gold and silver.

Today, over 200 abandoned wooden buildings lie in a state of 'arrested decay', waiting to be photographed and explored. Shutters clap in the breeze, buildings creak and groan under the high-altitude sun, and drays and carts lie long abandoned.

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No visit to Mammoth Lakes is complete without a detour to Hot Creek. The waterway flows through a small canyon in the shadow of the Eastern Sierra mountains and is punctuated by a series of startlingly blue geothermal springs.

The pools bubble, hiss and steam, heated by a chamber of hot magma three miles (4.8km) below. It is ethereally beautiful, but don’t be tempted to take a dip. Water temperatures fluctuate rapidly here, rising to over 93°C (200°F) in a matter of seconds.

The former military post of Fort Bragg is perhaps more famous for its Glass Beach. Once a dump site, it now glitters with beautiful sea glass, cleansed and smoothed by Mother Nature. Search for rare ruby reds from car tail lights or sapphire gems from apothecary bottles (though collecting is discouraged to preserve the site). 

The beach is part of sprawling MacKerricher State Park, which supports varied birdlife and harbour seals. Ride the Skunk Train, a steam locomotive that weaves through the redwood forests of the Noyo River Canyon. Or, call into the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens to see spectacular native plants.

Colourful Capitola is California’s original beachside resort. What began as a humble tent camp along the shore of Monterey Bay in 1874, soon blossomed into one of America’s most romantic seaside destinations.

That charm can still be seen in the brightly-painted seaside shops and restaurants tucked into a hillside along Soquel Creek and experienced strolling along the esplanade as the sun sets over the Pacific. Perch yourself on the sea wall and watch the world go by or dive right in for a swim, surf or paddleboard.

Located on California’s Central Coast, Pismo Beach is famous for its long wide beaches, historic 1,200-foot-long (366m) pier and the natural playground at Dinosaur Caves Park, popular with kids. But it's also one of a handful of places in the state where you can see Monarch butterflies as they migrate along the coast between October and February each year.

Millions of these colourful beauties congregate in the city’s aptly named Monarch Butterfly Grove, gathering in clumps in the eucalyptus groves and producing one of nature’s most unforgettable spectacles.

Solvang is a slice of Scandinavia in the Santa Ynez Valley, built by Danish immigrants in 1911 to remind them of home. The main street is lined with traditional Danish buildings painted in terracotta and mustard hues, while bakeries serve up Danish treats.

Every September the town’s heritage is celebrated with a colourful parade, Viking re-enactments and old-fashioned storytelling by a local 'Hans Christian Anderson'. The local wine is excellent too, celebrated in the 2004 movie Sideways, which was filmed in the town.

Sitting 140 miles (225km) north of San Francisco, the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands are the only land-based part of the California Coastal National Monument. It’s a cinematic landscape of coastal bluffs, sea arches, estuaries and sandy beaches, best viewed from Point Arena’s historic 115-foot (35m) lighthouse.

It’s the tallest of its kind on the Pacific Coast and depending on the time of year, you could catch a glimpse of humpback, blue and gray whales as they migrate between Mexico and Alaska.

Located seven miles (11.3km) north of San Simeon on Highway 1, the Piedras Blancas rookery is arguably the most accessible in the world, with elephant seals hauling out on beaches only yards from the road.

The best time of year to see these magnificent marine mammals in action is October to May, although the birthing and breeding season in January and February is spectacular too. Bear in mind the seals are (understandably) more aggressive at this time.

Once a thriving desert resort, Calipatria has evolved into one of California’s most eccentric and fascinating destinations – and it tops our ranking of the state’s most underrated attractions. The city’s abandoned World War II army base has transformed into Slab City, an off-grid community celebrated for its unique character.

The city’s most iconic attraction, however, is Salvation Mountain. This 50-foot-high (15m) mound of colourful folk art was created by local artist Leonard Knight as a vibrant expression of his Christian faith. Covered in painted murals, Bible verses and bright imagery, it’s a must-see for those exploring California’s quirkiest landmarks.

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