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Santa Cruz (Spanish for "Holy Cross") is the largest city and the county seat of Santa Cruz County, in Northern California.
- Hike Among Redwoods in the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, nestled in the majestic Santa Cruz Mountains, is a nature lover’s paradise and a vital addition to the list of things to do in Santa Cruz.
- Wander the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an iconic and must-visit attraction for anyone exploring Santa Cruz, offering a vibrant and nostalgic atmosphere that captures the essence of the California beach experience.
- Catch a Wave at Any Number of Surf Spots. Santa Cruz is renowned as a premier surfing destination, and learning to surf here is an exhilarating experience for both beginners and experienced riders.
- Cruise into the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is a beloved institution that celebrates the rich history and culture of surfing in Santa Cruz, earning its place among the top things to do in the city for surf enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk delivers classic summertime fun, complete with amusement park rides, games, and tourist attractions.
- Main Beach & Cowell Beach. Besides the boardwalk, the main reason to visit Santa Cruz is the beach. The sunny Mediterranean weather, sandy shores, and safe waters make Santa Cruz one of the best beach destinations in California.
- Santa Cruz Wharf. The Santa Cruz Wharf was built in 1914 to serve deep-water vessels, however today it is used as a fishing pier and sightseeing vantage point.
- West Cliff Drive & the Surfing Museum. A six-mile pathway on West Cliff Drive hugs the coastline and provides a scenic route for walking and cycling. Along the way, the views of the Pacific Ocean are truly breathtaking.
- 101 Things to Do in Santa Cruz, California
- Best Free Things to Do in Santa Cruz
- Local Attractions in Santa Cruz
- Outdoor Activities & Hikes
- Best Beaches in Santa Cruz
- Best Museums in Santa Cruz
- Food & Coffee
- Nightlife & Live Music Venues
- Best Santa Cruz Tours
- Best Day Trips from Santa Cruz
I broke down this Santa Cruz bucket list by tourist sights, best beaches, local attractions, outdoor activities and hikes, museums, food and drinks, tours, day trips, and events. Feel free to navigate from the table of contents above.
Pacific Avenue Mall
I love walking around Pacific Avenue, basically the street that makes up most of our downtown area. There are various locally owned boutiques and coffee shops that you can spend whole afternoons in. Walking down Pacific Avenue is one of those fun things to do in Santa Cruz for free because it’s the beating heart of our city. It really gives you an idea of how weird and lovable Santa Cruz is. Browse through a few of my favorite downtown Santa Cruz stores, including Bookshop Santa Cruz and Bunn...
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff Driveis one of my favorite places in Santa Cruz and by far one of the top things to do in Santa Cruz. It’s a gorgeous spot to walk or just sit and watch the ocean. In my opinion, this is the best place to watch the sunset and the surfers down below the cliffs at Steamer Lane. It’s also a pretty drive at night, listening to good music with the windows rolled down (or heater full blast depending on the season) with the twinkling lights across the Monterey Bay as your background. I ha...
East Cliff Drive
East Cliff Drive is the slightly more local sister of West Cliff Drive. It’s not quite as stunning and doesn’t get as much traffic as West Cliff Drive, but it’s still a beautiful area of Santa Cruz to drive or walk around. East Cliff is less touristy and has a less developed feel to it if you’re looking to check out quieter cliffside ocean views. If you’re looking for free stuff to do in Santa Cruzthat’s quintessential to this beachy town, driving along both West Cliff Drive and East Cliff Dr...
Santa Cruz Roller Palladium
If you want to step back in time to the 1950s, head over to the Santa Cruz Roller Palladium. The rink probably hasn’t been updated since the 1950s when it first opened, but if you’re okay with a retro no-frills atmosphere, lace up some skates and take them to the wooden floor. They have a disco ball and they’re known to play cheesy classics from the 70s, 80s, and 90s like any good roller rink should. On weekends, they also usually include the limbo and hokey pokey at random times throughout t...
Bookshop Santa Cruz
Beloved Bookshop Santa Cruzhas been a local staple in the city since 1966 and it’s easily one of my favorite bookstores in the world. At over 20,000 square feet, they have a good variety of all kinds of books, a decent travel section (yes, please), and new and used books for sale. They also have a gift section where I’ve found many eccentric Christmas giftsover the years. It’s also one of the best things to do in Santa Cruz when it’s raining because you don’t get cozier than Bookshop Santa Cr...
The Del Mar
The Del Maris the most famous downtown Santa Cruz movie theater with oodles of character and history. Once called the “crown jewel of Pacific Avenue,” the Del Mar was built in 1936 and has been another local Santa Cruz attraction for decades. Although the theater was originally built to be a vaudeville theater, today it is the best theater in Santa Cruz for independent films (along with its sister theater, the Nickelodeon) and midnight showings. If you’re going to see a movie here, make sure...
Kayaking the Monterey Bay
If you’re up for an adventure activity in Santa Cruz, Kayaking the Monterey Bayis one of the best things to do in Santa Cruz to get closer to the bustling sea life around the shore. Whether you rent a kayakor go on a guided tour with a local company, this is one of the best ways to explore all that the Monterey Bay has to offer. When kayakingaround the Bay, it’s not uncommon to come across otters, seals, sea lions, pelicans, dolphins, whales, and a variety of other marine life that call the M...
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
One of the best places to visit in Santa Cruz to get lost in the towering redwoods, The Forest of Nisene Marksis nestled in Aptos and features 28 hiking trails that span 40 miles and 10,000 acres of nature. It’s one of the best spots in Santa Cruz to go hikingand trail running. A few moderate trails to tackle at Nisene Marks include Bridge Creek Trail to Maple Falls, Aptos Creek and West Ridge Trail Loop, and Loma Prieta and Bridge Loop Trail.
Wilder Ranch State Park
One of the most beautiful places in Santa Cruz for coastal hikes, Wilder Ranch State Parkis such a stunning park that it might feel like you’re walking through a postcard on some of its trails. A fun fact about Wilder Ranch State Park is that it used to be a dairy ranch in the 1800s. The original ranch buildings have since been restored and turned into a museum that showcases the history of Wilder Ranch State Park and California’s ranching past. Wilder Ranch State Park spans 7,000 acres and m...
One of the top things to do in Santa Cruz is to spend the day at the beach, but Santa Cruz has so many good beaches it’s hard to know where to start sometimes. These are a few of my favorites, from the popular to the more local spots. 1. Seabright State Beach– A local favorite that’s located in a residential neighborhood and not too touristy. It’s ...
Coffee& Tea 1. Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company 2. Verve 3. Cat & Cloud Coffee Shop 4. Hidden Peak Tea House (the best Santa Cruz tea house) Breakfast 1. Walnut Avenue Cafe 2. Linda’s Seabreeze Cafe 3. Cafe Brasil 4. Aldo’s Lunch 1. Taqueria Vallarta 2. Tacos Moreno 3. Betty Burgers 4. Saturn Cafe 5. Cafe Gratitude 6. Dharma’s 7. Planet Fresh Din...
One of the best things to do in Santa Cruz at night is to check out the many bars and live music venues around town. 1. Red Room 2. Rosie McCann’s 3. Abbott Square 4. Rio Theatre 5. Kuumbwa Jazz Center 6. Moe’s Alley Related: Best Things to do in San Francisco at Night
Once you’ve had enough time to check out the many fun things to do around Santa Cruz, make sure to go on at least one of these day trips to experience more of the Central Coast or Bay Area. 1. Año Nuevo State Park (30 minutes) – one of the best places to see sea lions in their natural habitat in California. 2. 17 Mile Drive and Carmel-by-the-Sea(1 ...
- Have Fun at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a must-visit, especially if it’s your first time in Santa Cruz. The amusement park on the beach has been operating since 1907, and two of the rides here are National Historic Landmarks.
- Enjoy the Santa Cruz Main Beach. Extending from the Municipal Wharf to the mouth of the San Lorenzo River, Main Beach is a hugely popular Santa Cruz beach, right in front of the Boardwalk.
- Take in the Views from West Cliff Drive. For spectacular views of the Monterey Bay, walk or bike West Cliff Drive, which hugs the Pacific Ocean for its length.
- Stroll East Cliff Drive. A beautiful waterfront walkway in Pleasure Point, East Cliff Drive is part of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail, and stretches from Pleasure Point to The Hook.
May 24, 2023 · Santa Cruz, California, is a coastal city located in Northern California. Known for its beautiful beaches, laid-back atmosphere, and vibrant culture, Santa Cruz is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
Jan 16, 2024 · 1. Spend a Day at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. 2. Stroll Along the Santa Cruz Wharf. 3. Learn About Local Surfing Culture. 4. Watch the Sunset at Natural Bridges. 5. Surf With the Pros at Steamer Lane and The Hook. 6. Defy Gravity at The Mystery Spot. 7. Visit Roaring Camp Railroad. 8. Sample the Best of Pacific Avenue. 9.
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