Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Parks & Nature
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdA beautiful hike along the cliffs on Highway one.
One of the closest trails to our house, you can catch it 1/2 mile from our driveway and walk the 10 miles to Felton, or drive down and explore the bottom from the parking lot.
36 locals recommend
Fall Creek Unit Trailhead
Felton Empire RoadOne of the closest trails to our house, you can catch it 1/2 mile from our driveway and walk the 10 miles to Felton, or drive down and explore the bottom from the parking lot.
Many sweet trails, including a paved 1-mile loop showcasing some beautiful redwoods.
335 locals recommend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park RdMany sweet trails, including a paved 1-mile loop showcasing some beautiful redwoods.
This is a very special swimming hole. Park on Hwy 9 just south of Henry Cowell and hike about a mile in. You won't regret it.
17 locals recommend
Garden of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwood State Park
California 9This is a very special swimming hole. Park on Hwy 9 just south of Henry Cowell and hike about a mile in. You won't regret it.
About an hour from the cabin towards Monterey, this is one of the most amazing hikes you will take in the area. Along the ocean for most of it, we go every year.
309 locals recommend
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
62 CA-1About an hour from the cabin towards Monterey, this is one of the most amazing hikes you will take in the area. Along the ocean for most of it, we go every year.
amazing tour of the elephant seals. you can also hike a mile North at the Cascade Creek trail head. pair with a stop at the pie ranch or coastanoa restaurant.
88 locals recommend
Ano Nuevo State Park
amazing tour of the elephant seals. you can also hike a mile North at the Cascade Creek trail head. pair with a stop at the pie ranch or coastanoa restaurant.
lovely camping spot with a nice restaurant and amazing coastal hikes across the street.
8 locals recommend
Costanoa
2001 Rossi Rdlovely camping spot with a nice restaurant and amazing coastal hikes across the street.
Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Pigeon Point Roadgreat place to tour. eat at the highway one brewery.
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek Roadone of the favorite local hiking spots.
Food Scene
Food is okay, but the view is great and right by the harbor and two fantastic beaches.
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrFood is okay, but the view is great and right by the harbor and two fantastic beaches.
Delicious food, great beer selection, in the Swift Street corridor next to wineries and shops.
125 locals recommend
West End Tap and Kitchen
334 Ingalls StDelicious food, great beer selection, in the Swift Street corridor next to wineries and shops.
Beer tasting amid the wineries. Super fun place, great brew.
94 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
334 Ingalls StBeer tasting amid the wineries. Super fun place, great brew.
My favorite restaurant in the area. In Felton close to the Fall Creek Unit. An easy drive for dinner. A must if you like farm fresh food and good beer & wine.
62 locals recommend
The Cremer House
6256 CA-9My favorite restaurant in the area. In Felton close to the Fall Creek Unit. An easy drive for dinner. A must if you like farm fresh food and good beer & wine.
Best pizza joint in town. Good beer and wine as well. Pairs well with a day at Henry Cowell and a train ride at Roaring Camp down the road.
20 locals recommend
Redwood Pizzeria
6205 CA-9Best pizza joint in town. Good beer and wine as well. Pairs well with a day at Henry Cowell and a train ride at Roaring Camp down the road.
Pretty good food, service is sometimes slow. But the location is perfect, the wine and beer choices wonderful and only about 10 minutes from the cabin. Nice place for lunch and dinner.
28 locals recommend
Davenport Roadhouse
1 Davenport AvePretty good food, service is sometimes slow. But the location is perfect, the wine and beer choices wonderful and only about 10 minutes from the cabin. Nice place for lunch and dinner.
Fantastic little place. Great for breakfast and coffee before a day at one of the Davenport beaches. Also nice for lunch and dinner. This place is wonderful.
21 locals recommend
Whale City Bakery
490 CA-1Fantastic little place. Great for breakfast and coffee before a day at one of the Davenport beaches. Also nice for lunch and dinner. This place is wonderful.
Not far from all the Swift Street wineries, this is a super cute and fun restaurant. They don't take reservations so expect to wait, but they have a nice bar.
94 locals recommend
Bantam
1010 Fair AveNot far from all the Swift Street wineries, this is a super cute and fun restaurant. They don't take reservations so expect to wait, but they have a nice bar.
Great restaurant. Best hot chocolate ever. Wonderful place to rest while shopping Pacific Avenue.
28 locals recommend
Chocolate the Restaurant
1522 Pacific AveGreat restaurant. Best hot chocolate ever. Wonderful place to rest while shopping Pacific Avenue.
Great late-night menu, kitchen closes around 10:30 pm or so. Late night dancing.
43 locals recommend
515 Kitchen & Cocktails
515 Cedar StGreat late-night menu, kitchen closes around 10:30 pm or so. Late night dancing.
Great for everyone, especially dog lovers. Take your dog for a walk on West Cliff first, then grab a treat at the Westside Feed across the street before heading here for some of the best beer in town. Dog friendly establishment for sure.
50 locals recommend
Humble Sea Brewing Co.
820 Swift StGreat for everyone, especially dog lovers. Take your dog for a walk on West Cliff first, then grab a treat at the Westside Feed across the street before heading here for some of the best beer in town. Dog friendly establishment for sure.
Soif
105 Walnut AveDelicious, high end food for a special occasion.
Betty's Eat Inn
1222 Pacific AveMy kids' favorite place to eat.
Scopazzi's
13300 Big Basin Waylovely dining room. great place to stop after a hike in big basin.
stop here before or after a trip to ano Nuevo. great gifts, produce, and 🥧.
9 locals recommend
Pie Ranch
2080 CA-1stop here before or after a trip to ano Nuevo. great gifts, produce, and 🥧.
White Raven
6253 Hwy 9Best little pour house in Felton. Great local coffee shop.
The Penny Ice Creamery
913 Cedar Stthe best place in town to get ice cream.
fun place to eat if going to pigeon point or Ano Nuevo. good local beer. has a gas station as well.
9 locals recommend
Highway 1 Brewing Company
5720 CA-1fun place to eat if going to pigeon point or Ano Nuevo. good local beer. has a gas station as well.
Entertainment & Activities
One of the best aquariums in the country. Spend the day in Monterey and enjoy the beaches and restaurants.
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowOne of the best aquariums in the country. Spend the day in Monterey and enjoy the beaches and restaurants.
Great rides up into virgin redwood forests.
58 locals recommend
Roaring Camp, Big Trees and Pacific Railroad Station
North Big Trees Park RoadGreat rides up into virgin redwood forests.
A trip isn't complete without a stop here.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StA trip isn't complete without a stop here.
Mount Hermon Adventures
17 Conference DrThe canopy zip line is so much fun!!!!
Santa Cruz Whale Watching
1718 Brommer StWhale trips leaving from the Santa Cruz harbor.
SUP Shack Santa Cruz
2214 E Cliff DrFun activity in the Santa Cruz harbor.
If you'd rather go down to Monterey to depart, this is a good one.
29 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Whale Watch
84 Fishermans WharfIf you'd rather go down to Monterey to depart, this is a good one.
This is a fantastic tour of the slough down in Moss Landing. Worth the drive and catch some good food while in Moss Landing such as the Whole Enchilada or Phil's Fish Market.
9 locals recommend
Whisper Charters
2370 CA-1This is a fantastic tour of the slough down in Moss Landing. Worth the drive and catch some good food while in Moss Landing such as the Whole Enchilada or Phil's Fish Market.
a great time if you're here during the summer. pick strawberries on the California coast.
35 locals recommend
Swanton Berry Farm
25 Swanton Rda great time if you're here during the summer. pick strawberries on the California coast.
The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot Rdfunky tourist trap that never fails to entertain.
what a fun day trip up the coast. this place is a store and entertainment. lots of beaches and hiking on the way. can stop at pie ranch, costanoa, or highway one brewery for food.
32 locals recommend
San Gregorio General Store
7615 Stage Rdwhat a fun day trip up the coast. this place is a store and entertainment. lots of beaches and hiking on the way. can stop at pie ranch, costanoa, or highway one brewery for food.
beautiful sunset cruise with great wine. owned by Beauregard vineyards.
45 locals recommend
Chardonnay Sailing Charters
790 Mariner Park Waybeautiful sunset cruise with great wine. owned by Beauregard vineyards.
Spas and Wellness
In case you want to be pampered while here. Book ahead of time!
A lovely spa with hot tubs and tea. Spend time being pampered and then head on to Pacific Avenue. Pair with dinner at Chocolate or Soif for a romantic date.
26 locals recommend
Well Within Spa
417 Cedar StA lovely spa with hot tubs and tea. Spend time being pampered and then head on to Pacific Avenue. Pair with dinner at Chocolate or Soif for a romantic date.
I just found this and love it. She offers spa parties as well as couples massage in a lovely space. Also has sauna and hot tub offerings, zen garden, a great place for friends to pamper themselves, or couples to relax and enjoy the weekend.
Spa Santangelo
912 Lakeside DrI just found this and love it. She offers spa parties as well as couples massage in a lovely space. Also has sauna and hot tub offerings, zen garden, a great place for friends to pamper themselves, or couples to relax and enjoy the weekend.
Land of Medicine Buddha
5800 Prescott Rdmany people enjoy visiting this serene location.
Arts & Culture
Sweet little museum will funky exhibits. Now features the Abbot Square dining area, which I highly recommend. Go for a drink and a tour!
133 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StSweet little museum will funky exhibits. Now features the Abbot Square dining area, which I highly recommend. Go for a drink and a tour!
Beaches
Right across from the Whale City bakery, you can bring your dogs to breakfast, then to this lovely beach.
20 locals recommend
Davenport beach
446 CA-1Right across from the Whale City bakery, you can bring your dogs to breakfast, then to this lovely beach.
A local's hideout, your furry friends are welcome here. Also a big surfing spot and there are grills if you want to make a day of it.
Davenport Landing Beach
335 Davenport Landing RdA local's hideout, your furry friends are welcome here. Also a big surfing spot and there are grills if you want to make a day of it.
Super amazing beach, some of the best views on the Pacific Ocean. Can't bring dogs, but the hike down the cliff is thrilling.
13 locals recommend
Panther Beach
Super amazing beach, some of the best views on the Pacific Ocean. Can't bring dogs, but the hike down the cliff is thrilling.
Amazing westside beach. Great place to park and then walk West Cliff all the way to the lighthouse.
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrAmazing westside beach. Great place to park and then walk West Cliff all the way to the lighthouse.
Another really great beach in Santa Cruz. Close to the harbor and the Boardwalk.
59 locals recommend
Seabright State Beach
Another really great beach in Santa Cruz. Close to the harbor and the Boardwalk.
This is a drive south, but so worth it. Almost like being in Florida, miles and miles of uninterrupted sand and calmer waves than other beaches.
55 locals recommend
Manresa State Beach
1445 San Andreas RdThis is a drive south, but so worth it. Almost like being in Florida, miles and miles of uninterrupted sand and calmer waves than other beaches.
Town Adventures
Various sweet towns along the ocean worth visiting.
Adorable little town along the sea, close to Santa Cruz. Great food, a wharf, ice cream and beach.
151 locals recommend
Capitola
Adorable little town along the sea, close to Santa Cruz. Great food, a wharf, ice cream and beach.
Seascape Beach Resort
1 Seascape Resort DrHigher end resort, nice restaurant.