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Dec 24, 2023 · This quintessential California beach town is synonymous with sun, sand, and summer fun. Most tourists head straight for the boardwalk and don't get much farther than the nearby sandy beaches and fishing pier. However, Santa Cruz has so much more to offer.
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- 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.
- 101 Things to Do in Santa Cruz, California
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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 ...
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an old timey amusement park with arcade games, rides, and fried foods. They have rides at all thrill levels and the park is conveniently located on an expansive beach.
- Spot Sea Lions at Santa Cruz Wharf. Take a stroll from the boardwalk down to the wharf and check out the resident population of sea lions. While there, be sure to spend some time scanning the ocean.
- Go Sea Kayaking. If you would like to get closer to sea lions and otters, take a kayak tour with Venture Coast Santa Cruz. They offer two hour paddle tours that includes a guide and all of the necessary equipment.
- Visit Ano Nuevo State Park. If you are really into marine mammals, then Ano Nuevo should top your list of things to do in Santa Cruz. The park is located 20 miles north of Santa Cruz.
- Experience easygoing luxury at the Dream Inn. Staying near the beach is never a bad idea—and you can’t get much closer than the Dream Inn. Built on the site of Jack O’Neill’s first shop, this 1960s-era hotel sits just steps from Cowell Beach.
- Take an at-sea animal adventure. For a completely new perspective on Monterey Bay’s marine life, rent a vessel from Venture Quest Kayaking and paddle out from shore.
- Get a sense of surfer history. Legend has it that surfing first arrived in the United States when a trio of traveling Hawaiian princes paddled out in Santa Cruz.
- Get your kicks on a wooden roller coaster. Built in 1907 as the “Coney Island of the West,” the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is proof that a seaside amusement park never goes out of style.
Aug 20, 2024 · Nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz offers a perfect mix of outdoor adventures and laid-back culture. You can start your day catching waves at world-famous surf spots, hike among towering redwoods in the afternoon, and end with fresh seafood and locally brewed craft beer as the sun sets over the ocean.
Santa Cruz (Spanish for "Holy Cross") is the largest city and the county seat of Santa Cruz County, in Northern California. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 62,956. [10] Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a popular tourist destination, owing to its beaches, surf culture, and historic landmarks.
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