Californias prettiest town crowned in new national rankings

This quaint California town has been crowned the fairest of them all…or at least the prettiest place in the Golden State.Architectural Digest recently published its list of the prettiest towns in every state.“We’ve focused on identifying one standout town—we were especially drawn to those that are both stunning and abundant in culture,” said the high-end design mag.In California, the winning laurels for culture and aesthetics were awarded to Carmel-by-the-Sea.“With its sugar-white sand beaches, the painstakingly restored Carmel Mission, and a quaint downtown with fairy-tale-like cottages and cobblestone alleys, this town hugging the Pacific Ocean is stunning,” reads the AD description of the beloved enclave on the Monterey PeninsulaAD notes that the winning assets of Carmel have made it a magnet for celebrity power couples of late, including Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce and Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid.

Past Carmel residents include Brad Pitt and Betty White.Meanwhile, nonagenarian actor and director Clint Eastwood who has long called the town home and even reigned as mayor from 1986-1988.

In 2024, Eastwood’s former Spanish-revival Carmel mansion was listed for sale for $21 million.Carmel-by-the-Sea, which counts only 3,000 permanent residents, is no stranger to actors or accolades.Earlier this year, the town was named the top spot to pop the question.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Carmel also made WorldAtlas’ list of the top weekend escapes on the West Coast due to its abundance of art galleries and fine dining and the stunning scenery of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and the pristine white sands of Carmel Beach.Last year, Carmel made HGTV’s list of the 50 Best Small Towns in America.

Earlier this summer, the�...