2022 Best Counties for Outdoor Activities in California

• County in California

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  Rating 4.31 out of 5  194 reviews

Current Resident: Orange County is a beautiful city with many things to do throughout the day. Orange County has a few popular amusement parks Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm which are both family-friendly. Orange County also has many great public schools that take education as their first priority. Orange County is also near the middle bottom of Socal which makes it great to travel anywhere going towards Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Fransisco, and San Diego. Orange County is a great place to live at if you have a family or even live alone!... Read 194 reviews

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• Population 3,170,345

• County in California

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  Rating 4.06 out of 5  1,099 reviews

Current Resident: Thso much to do!...Museums, Attractions, Theaters, Restaurants, Beaches, Sports....Arts!...So Many Night Clubs froI am a Injured Worker, who needs to complete my BSN for eligibility for Management Positions and meet the new 80/20 requirements. I am a Injured Worker, who needs to complete my BSN for eligibility for Management Positions and meet the new 80/20 requirements. I have sacrificed my education to raise my children in which one was special needs and fostering my grandchildren.I have sacrificed my education to raise my children in which one was special needs and fostering my grandchildren.m Hollywood to Long beach, And Santa Monica to Riverside county! In our County, You can find some beautiful home, condos, and townhomes with amenities! There has been a surge in Healthy Living Choices. There are multiple Parks and Recreational centers that offer sports and extracurricular activities for families. Los Angeles County has... Read 1,099 reviews

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• Population 10,040,682

• County in California

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  Rating 4.18 out of 5  147 reviews

Current Resident: Everyone here is so incredibly kind! I cannot say enough good things about this place. The schools are great, the people are great, it is very diverse, and we are generally happy!... Read 147 reviews

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• Population 1,924,379

• County in California

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  Rating 4.29 out of 5  55 reviews

Current Resident: I have grown up in Alameda and go to school in Oakland. This is my home and I am very grateful to have lived here for the last 18 years. Although it is an extremely expensive place to live, it is filled with a diverse community of people and countless activities for all interests. We are said to be in a "liberal bubble" with most of the residents having progressive viewpoints surrounding governmental policy, diversity, gender equality, etc.... Read 55 reviews

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• Population 1,661,584

• County in California

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  Rating 3.98 out of 5  50 reviews

Current Resident: It a clean area with great neighborhoods. Great environment to be in!Contra Costa is filled with great leaders and try’s its best to make the community a safe place for all! There are multiple sports, arts, and extra curricular programs in the area.... Read 50 reviews

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• Population 1,147,788

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  Rating 4 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: Pleasant rural living. Safe. Scenic. Ideal weather. Clean mountain air and water. Best retirement place in California for outdoor lovers. Mid-county foothills offer both rural privacy and easy accessibility via Interstate 80. Senior friendly supports, services, and activities abound. Better public transportation would be nice.... Read 9 reviews

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• Population 391,799

• County in California

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  Rating 3.78 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: I grew up here, then, after living in many other places, I found that there really is no place like home. Rural and gorgeous, yet with Highway 50, it's easy to get to Sacramento or Tahoe. If you love the country life, this is the best. Our schools are top notch, especially Ponderosa, Union Mine and Oakridge. We love our sheriff and police and support them. If you are looking for an exciting place with lots of night life, stay in the city. If you love things natural and not picky about the condition of the roads, this is the place to be.... Read 9 reviews

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• Population 190,345

• County in California

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  Rating 4.09 out of 5  116 reviews

Current Resident: From Watsonville all the way to Davenport. The area is so diverse ecologically speaking. Rolling hills along the coast to gigantic Redwood trees. Lovely mountain towns of Felton, Ben Lomond, and Boulder Creek to oceanic sweet coastal towns of Capitola, Rio del Mar, Seacliff, Seascape and up to the city of Santa Cruz. The most beautiful of coastlines I have ever seen. The weather is unbeatable. Never too hot, never to cold. daytime to long sleeve shirts with a light sweater during the day. Summers are lovely as much of the coast gets fog to keep it cool. The water is cold, but swimmable 60-65 degrees in the summer, and the marine life is out of this world. Monterey Bay boasts some of the most diverse marine life in the country!... Read 116 reviews

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• Population 273,170

• County in California

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  Rating 4.48 out of 5  1,211 reviews

Current Resident: San Diego is my home, and I never plan to leave. We are known for our perfect weather, but there is so much more to us. Our culture is like none other. The people are so diverse and friendly. The mix of cultures result in incredible food, with many restaurants open late! If you’re craving great Turkish food—head to Main Street in National City. Great Italian? Villa Capri in Rancho Bernardo! As if those weren’t enough options to live here, we have even more. Skydiving, hot air balloon rides, the Del Mar Fair, designer stores and outlet malls, kayaking, the list is endless. You can even swim with dolphins at SeaWorld. San Diego is family friendly, young adult friendly with the nightlife, business friendly, and dog friendly too. It is not only my city, but like all the other residents here, it is my home.... Read 1,211 reviews

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• Population 3,323,970

• County in California

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  Rating 4.23 out of 5  64 reviews

Current Resident: I love how close this county is to the beach. No matter where you live it is a short/semi-short drive to the beach. The city Ventura has a very homey feel, and is kind of like a beach town out of the movies. Downtown is so fun, and is great at night because of the lights, restaurants and you can see the sunset. Ojai, is a great city to escape your crazy life. They have lots of great little restaurants, such as bocallis, and also they have lots of beautiful wineries. Their downtown is very fancy, and really beautiful with lots of neat stores and boutiques. Oxnard has established a great outdoor mall, called the Collection where people can shop, eat, paint, bowl, and watch movies. It's somewhat new and all the buildings and the overall area looks very nice and inviting. I was born and raised in Ventura, and I am so happy. I have loved growing up here because I can always go to the beach, go shopping, and my family especially loves to go camping at the different spots along the coast!... Read 64 reviews

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• Population 845,599

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  Rating 4.56 out of 5  133 reviews

Current Resident: I am 17 years old, and have lived in Goleta and Santa Barbara my whole life. The weather is phenomenal, and commuting is not bad in the slightest compared to larger cities, and everyone is fairly nice! The drawbacks are serious though. It is not diverse, mostly made up of wealthy and middle class white people. There is a very low Africa American population, and there is unintentional segregation. There are clearly more cramped areas that are filled with people of color, and other areas that are more spread out and have no people of color. I believe this is part of the ongoing problem of gentrification in Santa Barbara. It is a serious problem, and continues to afflict the Santa Barbara County.... Read 133 reviews

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• Population 444,895

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  Rating 4.42 out of 5  81 reviews

Visitor: I visited San Mateo multiple times and loved the environment, weather, and everything about it! There are a lot of fun places to visit and great restaurants as well.... Read 81 reviews

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• Population 765,623

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  Rating 4.27 out of 5  73 reviews

Current Resident: This is a pleasant area with many exciting tourist activities! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the number one place to go, it won't disappoint. There is bowling, mini-golf, a mirror maze, and restaurants galore. This is a pleasant area with many exciting tourist activities! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the number one place to go, it won't disappoint. There is bowling, mini-golf, a mirror maze, and restaurants galore. This is a pleasant area with many exciting tourist activities! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the number one place to go, it won't disappoint. There is bowling, mini-golf, a mirror maze, and restaurants galore. This is a pleasant area with many exciting tourist activities! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the number one place to go, it won't disappoint. There is bowling, mini-golf, a mirror maze, and restaurants galore. This is a pleasant area with many exciting tourist activities! The Monterey Bay Aquarium is the number one place to go, it won't disappoint.... Read 73 reviews

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• Population 432,977

• County in California

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  Rating 4.37 out of 5  67 reviews

Current Resident: San Luis Obispo County is one of the most beautiful places in this country. It boasts of amazing weather, beautiful beaches, low crime and is home to California Polytechnic State University. Living in this piece of paradise does come with a price tag. Taxes are high, real estate is expensive and job opportunities are not as prevalent as big cities. Overall, It doesn’t get better than living in San Luis Obispo county!... Read 67 reviews

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• Population 282,517

• County in California

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  Rating 3.84 out of 5  50 reviews

Current Resident: It is absolutely beautiful and every part of Sonoma County has something different to offer. There is the beach, the mountains, wine tasting, and lots of hiking. It is a very expensive county though!... Read 50 reviews

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• Population 496,801

• County in California

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  Rating 4.3 out of 5  33 reviews

Current Resident: There are good public schools and a lot of protected habitat. There's a lot of local businesses and the county is fairly close to both San Francisco and the East Bay while maintaining a mostly small town atmosphere. There are cons to the small town atmosphere though, like very few establishments being open 24/7. The county lacks diversity; it's a predominately and historically white county. It is very safe though. There are many police and fire stations and hospitals, all very responsive. Cost of living is incredibly high and nightlife is mostly non existent because most establishments close before 9. It's a good location for families with lots of parks, good schools, and low crime rates.... Read 33 reviews

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• Population 259,441

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: Nevada County is one of the most beautiful areas I've ever visited, the trees, lakes, people community feeling. You can walk down the street and strike up a conversation with anyone at anytime 😊. People out here are so friendly and welcoming we all feel like one big family, which in our world today i feel isn't as easy to come by anymore. If i was to say if I wanted anything to change here... it would be more activities for younger kids and adults to participate in together park events, communiry parties or gatherings.... Read 4 reviews

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• Population 99,417

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: Mendocino is beautiful. The living here is much slower than the Bay Area. Mendocino does not have a very big population and feels less congested than other areas. Although there is not a big nightlife, there are many beaches and trails you can find!... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 87,110

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  Rating 3.8 out of 5  586 reviews

Current Resident: Sacramento is a great mid sized city. Commutes around the city are doable, not very congested. There are lots of trees and parks around Sacramento. As the Farm-to-fork capitol, there is lots of fresh produce and diverse food options. There are plenty of farmer markets daily. It’s perfectly located close to beautiful nature. Only two hours away from Lake Tahoe and the Bay Area. One hour away from Napa Valley. The Sacramento Airport is international and not too busy for an easy travel experience. Sacramento is a nice place to be a young professional. There are lots of opportunities to connect with state government. There is a fun nightlife, which includes bars and clubs. The concerts and shows that come to town are great! I have had pleasant experiences with locals. It can be difficult to find affordable places to live. But I think what I like most about Sacramento is that you can always find something to enjoy, but you are not spending a ridiculous amount of money to enjoy yourself.... Read 586 reviews

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• Population 1,537,948

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  Rating 4.08 out of 5  38 reviews

Current Resident: Napa is a great small town, but with a lot of growth over my life. When I was a child it was very small and not a whole lot to enjoy, but as an adult I've seen the county evolve into a major attraction with lots of business. Wine, food, shopping, nature- it's got it all!... Read 38 reviews

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• Population 138,572

• County in California

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  Rating 3.1 out of 5  42 reviews

Current Resident: It's the heart of the valley. Very agricultural area. Beautiful weather. Lots of pollen in the air during spring. A couple hours to the nearest beach on the pacific coast. A couple hours from the mountains and national parks.... Read 42 reviews

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• Population 546,235

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  Rating 3.08 out of 5  25 reviews

Current Resident: Great place to visit! Lodi is the place to go, for a fun time. Lots of winery’s to choose from, great restaurants and lovely ambiance.... Read 25 reviews

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• Population 751,615

• County in California

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  Rating 4 out of 5  6 reviews

Current Resident: Humboldt has unsurpassed beauty in its environment. Everywhere you look there are so many things to do if you are a lover of the great outdoors. I have lived all over California and this is my favorite place to enjoy the great out doors and get closer to nature. The homes are mostly older Victorian homes which do add to the charm.The night life is not much but on the other hand, there are a variety of Out door festivals and other happening that more than make up for lack of night life... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 136,101

• County in California

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  Rating 3.18 out of 5  22 reviews

Current Resident: Solano county is a great place to live. It’s is very diverse and has very kind and social people. There’s also annually events such as fair and contest, which are found for all ages. It’s a great location to be because it close to Sacramento and the Bay Area. It’s also not to far away from Tahoe or Reno. The weather is perfect in fall and spring, hot in the summer and low 60’s to 50’s in the winter. Solano county also has a lot of great schools with awesome sports programs. A large amount of solan teams are know to be annually playoff contenders.... Read 22 reviews

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• Population 444,538

• County in California

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  Rating 3.83 out of 5  6 reviews

Current Resident: Moved to Amador County 7 years ago. At first it felt a bit isolated, now it feels like home. The air is clean, houses are not on top of each other and the people are friendly. You can have pets and meander through the woods. You can sit on your deck and see deer, squirrels and birds. There are a few bears but honestly never been bothered by one. If you are looking for a peaceful, quiet enjoyable life, Amador County is amazing. Doubt I will ever leave as I love living in the Pines.... Read 6 reviews

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• Population 39,023