Posted in Southern California Attractions March 01, 2021 by

10 Fascinating Spots In Southern California That Are Straight Out Of A Fairy Tale

Southern California truly is a wonderful place to live. In addition to having some of the most beautiful places in the country, there’s also an enchanting element to SoCal that is downright magical. From secret gardens to charming cottages, our part of The Golden State is kind of like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow — it’s so full of splendor. So embrace your wanderlust; here are 10 magical places to visit in Southern California that are so magical, they almost don’t seem real. But they are, and you can visit and experience them for yourself:

1. Spadena House in Beverly Hills
flickr/Lori Branham
Also known as the "Witch House," this crooked-looking house definitely looks like it could be home to some wicked witch from a famous fairy tale or two.
2. Lotusland in Montecito
flickr/Gabriel Millos
Every which way you turn at Lotusland in Montecito, you'll find a magical wonderland of beauty that could be found inside a children's storybook.
3. South Coast Botanic Gardens
flickr/Tracie Hall
These charming cottages nestled among the lush greenery at South Coast Botanic Gardens will remind you of some of your favorite childhood fairytales.
4. Solvang
flickr/mikepmiller
The entire village of Solvang will make you feel like you've stumbled inside an imaginary European snow globe full of magic and wonder.
5. Getty Center in Los Angeles
flickr/Beatrice Murch
This stunning labyrinth at the Getty Center is a masterful centerpiece that looks like it's right out of a magical kingdom.
6. Victoria Beach Tower in Laguna Beach
flickr/Alik Griffin
This hidden tower at Victoria Beach is a fantastical sight to encounter in Laguna Beach.
7. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
flickr/vgm8383
There are so many enchanting sights to see at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, that it's hard to know where to start. When you visit The Huntington Botanical gardens you'll find close to 120-acres of pure perfection and 16 unique gardens each with their own theme.
8. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Flickr/Rob Bertholf
Have you ever seen such wild art in a state park? Throughout Galletta Meadows in Anza-Borrego Desert, you'll come across these massive desert sculptures that look like creatures you might find in a fantasy world. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park truly is wondrous.
9. San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas
Sim Br/Flickr
A 37-acre urban oasis in Encinitas, San Diego Botanic Garden is a glorious escape from the city. Featuring four miles of garden trails, restful vistas, flowering trees, majestic palms, the nation's largest bamboo collection, and the largest interactive children's garden on the West Coast, this epic garden is pure magic.
10. Kimberly Crest House and Gardens in Redlands
Wikimedia Commons
A castle in Southern California!? Now this definitely looks like it's right out of a fairy tale.

What do you think about these magical places to visit in Southern California? Don’t they seem straight out of a fairy tale? What other spots would you add to this list of enchanting SoCal destinations? Leave your picks in the comments below!

And if you’re into all things fairy tales, this castle road trip in SoCal is for you.

Address: Spadena House, 516 Walden Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
Address: Cold Spring Rd, Montecito, CA 93108, USA
Address: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274, USA
Address: Solvang, CA 93463, USA
Address: 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049, USA
Address: 2700 Victoria Dr, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, USA
Address: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108, USA
Address: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, 200 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, CA 92004, USA
Address: 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas, CA 92024, USA
Address: 1325 Prospect Dr, Redlands, CA 92373, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center

Magical Places To Visit In Southern California

March 05, 2021
Sarah

What are some fairy-tale like places in Southern California?

If you enjoyed the 10 magical places to visit in Southern California listed above, you’ll be delighted to take our SoCal Fairy Tale Road Trip! This epic road trip ventures to seven of the state’s most magical locations, including Pirate Tower, a mysterious place in Laguna Beach that looks like it’s part of an old medieval castle.. right on the sandy beach! The road trip also stops at the marvelous Magic Castle, a place filled with all sorts of mystery and intrigue. Originally built in 1909, and now home to the Academy of Magical Arts, this local treasure is a destination you truly must see to believe.

Where are some of the most beautiful places to visit in Southern California?

Picturesque lakeside settings, majestic mountain ranges, and hidden desert oases are all part of what makes this part of the country one of the most beautiful places on earth. Fairview Park is one of the most breathtaking places in SoCal; in addition to its splendid beauty, Costa Mesa’s largest park is also known for its multitude of trails — totaling seven miles — that makes for a perfect place to explore. Whether you’ve visited Fairview Park before or you’re planning to visit it for the first time, this slice of paradise inside SoCal packed with 195 acres is one spot that we’re looking forward to for some quality time outside in nature. Book lovers will swoon over Huntington Library and Gardens, a place that looks right out of a storybook. With 16-themed gardens that each capture the beauty of a specific region or type of climate, this local gem in SoCal is always worthy of a visit. And Chino Hills State Park is another SoCal paradise. When the time comes for biking, walking, hiking, and trail running, there’s nothing better than a day trip to this state park packed with rolling hills (dotted with the most spectacular wildflowers in the spring) and exceptional views that seem to go on for miles.

What are some unique places to visit in Southern California?

SoCal is beautiful and magical — and also unique and downright weird at times! Alien Fresh Jerky is one of the weirder spots in SoCal; it’s a jerky store that will literally make you think you’ve landed on another planet. With aliens on the store grounds both inside and out, this local gem is not to be missed. And in other food-related weirdness, there’s the International Banana Museum? Loaded with hundreds, if not thousands, of banana-related items, this is one weird and wacky SoCal spot that needs to be visited in person. And if a banana-themed museum doesn’t appeal (banana pun!) to you, then SoCal’s Bunny Museum surely will. With close to 30,000 bunny-related items on display, the Bunny Museum is one of the most unusually fun places to discover in Southern California.

Address: Spadena House, 516 Walden Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA
Address: Cold Spring Rd, Montecito, CA 93108, USA
Address: South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274, USA
Address: Solvang, CA 93463, USA
Address: 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049, USA
Address: 2700 Victoria Dr, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, USA
Address: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108, USA
Address: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, 200 Palm Canyon Dr, Borrego Springs, CA 92004, USA
Address: 300 Quail Gardens Dr, Encinitas, CA 92024, USA
Address: 1325 Prospect Dr, Redlands, CA 92373, USA