Hidden gems: 5 Norcal towns with $500K vacation homes

If you live in Northern California, you typically hear of three main locations people take long weekend trips to: Wine Country, Tahoe, and Santa Cruz. While they are beautiful destinations, they also come with hefty price tags if you are looking to buy a vacation home. In the shadows of these regions lies equally as beautiful locations with homes at a fraction of the price—perfect locations to consider co-buying a vacation home.

Come along as we unveil five Norcal hidden gem towns with $500,000 vacation homes.

1. Twain Harte, CA

Overview:

Twain Harte is a community named after famed authors Mark Twain and Bret Harte. With big names and big shoes to fill, Twain Harte doesn’t disappoint. Twain Harte is a majestic mountain town located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Located at 4,000 feet, when it comes to weather, you get the best of both worlds: temperate summers yet also mild winters.

The community is perfect-sized—small enough to walk around but large enough to offer plenty of shops, restaurants, and stores. As a perfect getaway, it is no wonder Twain Harte is a popular year-round vacation destination.

Attractions:

There are plenty of things to do in town, such as golfing at the public 9-hole course, miniature golf, swimming, and an outdoor theater. Also be sure to visit Eproson Park, near downtown, which offers a trail, bocce ball, garden, and many more amenities.

Distance from San Francisco:

• 143 miles
• 2.5 hours

Listings:

2. Arnold, CA

Overview:

Are you a nature lover or an outdoor enthusiast? If so, then you’ll love Arnold. At 4,000 feet and the largest town in the upper elevation, Arnold is a beautiful mountain town surrounded by the Stanislaus National Forest. With the forest in its backyard, Arnold offers a trail system for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. When you’re tired from all the outdoor activity, you can unwind at one of the many superior restaurants, boutiques, or entertainment options.

Arnold is literally and figuratively a breath of fresh air.

Attractions:

Attractions are aplenty in and near Arnold. You’ll have plenty of natural wonders, such as mountains, valleys, lakes, caves, and rivers. There is also a wealth of activities in the nearby towns of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

Some top picks of must-see attractions include Calaveras Big Trees State Park, home to giant sequoias, the world’s largest trees. You’ll also find the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek, volcanic formations, and natural meadows.

Distance from San Francisco:

• 155 miles
• 2.5 hours

Listings:

3. Clearlake, CA

Overview:

What area of California offers the largest natural freshwater lake in the state and the oldest in the USA? It is Clearlake. The lake stretches 68 square miles and has a maximum depth of 60 feet. Clearlake is located north of Napa and east of Mendocino counties. Although people usually make a beeline for Lake Tahoe, you’d be remiss to sprint past Clearlake.

Attractions:

Clearlake is a popular destination for people looking for sports activities without crowds. Options include kayaking, waterskiing, swimming, jet skiing, and paddle boarding. Fishing is also uber popular, and Clear Lake is the “Bass Capital” of the west. Outside of water activities, the area is reemerging as a wine-tasting hotspot, with its rolling vineyards known for the grapes of cabernet and chardonnay. The area is certainly an underrated gem in California’s wine country.

Distance from San Francisco:

• 110 miles
• 2 hours and 10 minutes
  

Listings:

4. Shasta, CA

Overview:

One of Northern California’s fastest-growing new locations for destination vacationing is Shasta.

Why? Because Shasta has plenty of recreational opportunities suitable for all, from retirees to family vacationers to extreme sports enthusiasts. Options include hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, rock climbing, boating, camping, caving, and off-roading. For those who are into more tame activities, you’ll be delighted too, with bird watching, golfing, fishing, tennis, and visiting one of the many parks.

After a long way of activity, enjoy one of the many delicious dining options or boutiques.

Attractions:

The main attraction is the 14,163-foot Mount Shasta, which many argue is the most gorgeous in the Cascade Range. Additionally, the state of California’s largest national forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, surrounds the city. The 2.2-million-acre forest includes hidden gems like the Trinity Alps and rushing waterfalls.

Distance from San Francisco:

• 223 miles
• 3.5 hours

Listings:

5. Nevada City, CA

Overview:

Nevada City is located at a 2,500-foot elevation on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada in Northern California. The friendly and lively town allows you to feel like you’re stepping into the past. The entire downtown district is a national historic landmark. More on that shortly.

Nevada City is at the gateway to the Tahoe National Forest and is just minutes from the Sierra Nevada lakes, rivers, and trails. Thus, outdoor lovers rejoice. You’ll find plenty of activities, like whitewater rafting, boating, fishing, mountain biking, cycling, skilling, snowboarding, climbing, and more.

Attractions:

In Nevada City, you won’t find any chain restaurants. Instead, you’ll find an amazing selection of fresh and local cuisine in the town’s well-preserved downtown historic district. Additionally, you’ll find plenty of downtown shops for clothing, handmade local jewelry, home and garden products, housewares, furniture, wine, and more.

Distance from San Francisco:

• 147 miles
• 2.5 hours

Listings:

When it comes to finding and co-buying a vacation home in Northern California, there is much more than the usual suspects of Sonoma, Lake Tahoe, and Santa Cruz. You can find equally as beautiful surroundings at a much more affordable price point in any of these five hidden gems.

Nestment, Inc. does not guarantee and is in no way responsible for the accuracy of information provided in this blog post. All information is provided “AS IS” and with all faults. Data presented here may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.  While the information on this site is about legal and tax issues, it is not intended as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for the particularized advice of your own attorney and tax professional.