Geography & Travel

9 Underrated Places in California You Should Know About

The Golden State has more to offer than just beaches.

Image source: Dreamstime

Don’t rag on California if you don’t live there. And especially don’t rag on it if you’ve never been there. Despite what the media says, with homelessness being rampant (which it can be in certain areas), California is still a state to behold. But everyone knows about places like Los Angeles and San Francisco, so today, we will be looking in the nooks and crannies of the Golden State to find some destinations that few are familiar with. For this list, we will include places ranging from small attractions to entire towns that deserve a proper spot on the map. And, just noting, no one is paying anything to have these places put onto this list.

The Skunk Train

Found in the northern part of the state (referred to by locals as NorCal), you will certainly find things like giant redwood trees and whatnot. But you will also find the Skunk Train (yes, that's its name. I'll explain why later). This train route dates back to 1885 and is pet friendly. Not only that, but the same journey can be accomplished on rail bikes that seat two people. The Skunk Train also runs the Glen Blair Bar, which is a cozy establishment hidden in the woods. And as for the Skunk Train's name, that dates back to 1925, when the rail line introduced railbuses. These railbuses were gasoline-powered and crude oil stoves for heat, which made a pungent odor that many locals at the time said you could smell before you saw the railbus coming.

Cabazon Dinosaurs

Found in the Palm Desert, less than 20 miles from Palm Springs, you may have come across these fiberglass statues on the internet at some point. These life-size fiberglass structures are hollow, and you can walk inside them (and sit inside the T-Rex's mouth). Founded in the 1960s, these statues have been featured in movies such as Pee-wee Herman's Big Adventure (1985) and The Wizard (1989). This park is open every day of the year except for Christmas Day.

Black Chasm Cavern

Those who appreciate caves and the like will likely know about Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. But if you want one closer to the Golden State, you won't have to look much farther beyond here. Located in the hamlet of Volcano (yes, that's the town's name), in Amador County, these vertical caves are only open for tours, not self-guided visits. And please be advised, these caves feature very steep stairs, meaning these caves are not accessible to all.

Winchester Mystery House

House museums might not mean a lot to you, but this one has a twist. This eclectic mansion has been a museum since 1922, and it took 36 years to build, beginning in 1886. Designed by architect Sarah Winchester, the mansion now stands as a testament to intrigue and mystery. And be sure to wear your walking shoes, as the full tour of the 160-room mansion is so long that you will walk about a mile while touring.

Trees of Mystery

Image source: California Through My Lens

Roadside attractions might not be high on everyone's list, and that's fine. But this one might get your attention because of the 60-foot-tall statue of Paul Bunyan and his ox Babe. And if that weren't enough, maybe it's worth noting that the trees in the vicinity are connected by treehouses and rope bridges, which is only accessible by aerial tram. And let's not forget the views of the redwoods below that this one offers.

Castello di Amorosa

This one is for the fans of wine and/or castles, because this one is both. California is the top US state for wine production, and given the Italian influence that comes with wine, some sort of European aesthetic was bound to come out of that. Opened in April of 2007 after 13 years of construction, the Castello di Amorosa sits on 171 acres in Napa Valley. It hosts 107 rooms (90 of which are dedicated to winemaking and wine storage), a drawbridge, 8 floors (4 above ground and 4 below), a 500-year-old fireplace, and even a torture chamber (of sorts). That won't be elaborated on any further, so maybe stick with the wine.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

For history buffs and fans of ancient Egypt, this one is a huge must. Located in Rosicrucian Park, in the Rose Garden neighborhood of San Jose, you will find several real human and animal mummies, among other artifacts like jars and art. There's even a full-size replica of an ancient Egyptian tomb that you can enter. Be sure to have some extra time, because it can take up to three hours to see the full museum.

Sonoma TrainTown Railroad

Train enthusiasts won't be disappointed with this one, as this amusement park is home to a 15 in-gauge miniature railway, which is around a 1/4 scale model of a real train. Not toy trains, but smaller replicas of trains that you can ride, just a note. While the main attraction is a 20-minute rail ride on the aforementioned miniature railway, there certainly is more to uncover. Transportation-themed rides are the staple, but a train stop at a miniature town, and a petting zoo are also on offer.

California's Great America

And now, last but not least, an amusement park owned by Six Flags that opened the year of the American bicentennial, 1976. This park hosts the Gold Striker, the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in Northern California, not to mention the Flight Deck, a jet coaster that includes zero-gravity barrel rolls. During the summer months, the park offers South Bay Shores, a water park with a swimming lagoon, lazy river, and a water slide complex.