Santa Cruz…the classic California surf town The Beach Boys sung about in the tune Surfin’ USA is one of our very favorite destinations for a weekend getaway.
This beach community of 65,000 on California’s central coast entices with a broad array of activities and experiences. We think Santa Cruz is the perfect place for:
- Romantic weekends enjoying a couples massage, touring the open art weekend, seeing a play, and having wonderful food in beautiful surroundings.
- Playful weekends that focus on fun beach time with adult kids and grandkids, hanging out on the Boardwalk and wharf…
- Restorative weekends to re-center and escape day-to-day pressures
Getting There –
The 2-1/2 hour drive from Sacramento to Santa Cruz threads through Silicon Valley. If you go Friday afternoon you will likely get snarled in the crush of folks heading for home or out of town. For this reason, we make every effort to be on the road no later than noon.
After you pass through the congestion of Silicon Valley and San Jose you transition to California State Route 17 a smaller highway which cuts through the Santa Cruz Mountains along wineries, Lexington Reservoir, and Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve. The road narrows and becomes windy as you pass through the Redwoods and drop into Scott’s Valley. With each mile that is the feeling of release from the compression of work and city life. At this point, one of us will comment we can feel and smell the cooler fresh sea air and we both say ‘ahhhh’ in happy anticipation that fun, sun and tranquility is just ahead.
Before long you emerge onto Ocean Street, the main drag in Santa Cruz that traverses the commercial and residential areas and intersects with Beach Street, the municipal wharf, the Boardwalk, and the charm and of Surf City USA.
Arriving on Friday evening, the first two priorities are a place to stay and dinner. Here are our recommendations for places we like. You certainly will need reservations because Santa Cruz is popular year round.
Things to Do in Santa Cruz
There are so many things to do in Santa Cruz, you could easily fill many weekends as we have done. Instead of telling you how to spend 48 hours in Santa Cruz, we are going to lay out all of our favorite things to do with the idea of allowing you to piece together your ideal experience.
Couples Massage –
Nothing is as relaxing for a getaway weekend as having a couples massage. A chance for you to spent quiet, reflective time as a couple nurturing your spirit, strengthening your relationship and rejuvenating your body. We like Well Within Spa which has private couples spa rooms with private Jacuzzis styled like a Japanese Tea house with shoji screen windows opening to the outside private waterfall and koi pond. After tea and relaxation time, you are escorted into your private tranquil massage room to emerge 60 minutes later refreshed and renewed.
Shopping –
Strolling Pacific Street and popping in and out of the shops offers both some retail therapy time and will expose you to an eclectic assortment of people, shops and merchandise. On a recent visit we started a stroll with brunch at Zachary’s Restaurant which has a full menu and some very tasty breakfast options, everything was delicious. I especially enjoyed the sourdough pancakes which were excellent. From there walking to the end of Pacific Street and back is anywhere from a 45 minute to 3 hour diversion depending on the amount of time you spend in the shops. Besides a number of restaurants, there are clothing stores, surf shops, costume shops, Zen and other types of art galleries, book shops, street performers, and an assortment of anything-you-could-want places. We also enjoy grabbing a cup of coffee and a seat on one of the many benches and people watching.
Surf Museum –
The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is situated at Point Santa Cruz in a small converted lighthouse building. Inside you will explore the timeline of surfing in Santa Cruz told through pictures and artifacts. The story begins in the late 1800s when three Hawaiian princes introduced surfing here, through the innovation of the wetsuit by Jack O’Neill on to modern times. There are also t-shirts, books and memorabilia available for sale. Outside, Point Santa Cruz is well worth the stop simply to enjoy the breathtaking views looking south at Monterey Bay and west out into the Pacific Ocean. Find a bench or walk along the promenade and watch the surfers catch a wave in the area below the point known as Steamers Lane. The museum is 701 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 and adjacent to Lighthouse Point and Seal Rock.
Scenic Drive –
West Cliff Drive will wow you with spectacular views of the coast line and eclectic multi-million dollar homes. Begin the 3 mile walk, bike or drive near the wharf and end at Natural Bridges State Park. Savor West Cliff Drive slowly while enjoying the scenery and some of the best picture spots around. Points and stops along the way include the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum (see above), Lighthouse Field State Beach, Mitchell Cove State Beach, Whale Point (picture stop), Pyramid Nude State Beach with dramatic cliffs (picture stop), and ending at Natural Bridges State Park.
Beaches –
Natural Bridges State Beach at the end of West Cliff Drive offers an unlimited potential for activities depending on your desire. Everything from hiking and bike trails, to beaches, vista points for photos, natural and wildlife watching, wind and water surfing, including tours, historical and cultural sites, and a visitor center with exhibits and programs. The monarch butterflies are here in the eucalyptus Monarch Grove between mid-October and mid-February. Cars pay $10 to park, or walk in for no charge. Much of the facilities are wheelchair accessible and kid friendly. This is a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch while taking in some on the best views on the Central Coast.
Santa Cruz Beaches – There is plenty of space to spread out. If you have kids, building sand castles with moats, or just burying dad under the sand is a lot of fun. But let’s be real, the reason to be on the beach is to bask in the sun and play in the surf. Santa Cruz surf is a natural place to play and there are a lot of other people around. Be careful as the ocean can be dangerous regardless of any level of athletic capability and life guards are not always right there. Be safe and always read the posted warning signs. There are lots of other fun beach activities including, boogie boards, body surfing, kayaks, paddle boarding and surfing. The City of Santa Cruz hosts free surf clinics during the summer. There are also a number of surf schools and instructors that provide year round instruction.
Memorial Day, Surfs Up –
Each Memorial Day weekend over 200 competitive longboard surfers compete in what has been described as ‘the best longboard competition in the US’. The Santa Cruz Longboard Union has hosted the Longboard Surfing Competition for 33 years making it the longest running longboard competition on the West Coast.
The Wharf –
The Santa Cruz Wharf is a definite must see when in town. A stroll out to the end of the wharf is relaxing, but also offers lots of opportunities for food and shopping. There are always a lot of folks fishing from the wharf and a number score with some pretty big catches. You’ll meet some interesting characters by opening the conversation with “How’s the fishing?” There is parking on the wharf, but we prefer to walk out especially if we’re staying at the Dream Inn next to the entrance.
The wharf has various other services and facilities available including public restrooms, and a serious number of picture spots with amazing ocean backdrops, lots of wildlife including humpback whales from December through April. Be sure to say ‘Hi’ and check out the seals under the wharf from the viewing areas. The ‘Santa Cruz’ boat on the wharf below the management office makes a great picture spot. A major event each year is Woodies on the Wharf in June (see below).
Live Performances –
Theater Playhouses – We regularly go to live playhouse performances at home. One weekend visit in Santa Cruz we were treated to an exceptionally well performed play about a stranger who finds a dead man’s cell phone in a coffee shop and what happens when they begin taking all of the dead man’s calls. The acting, play and script were all well done and entertaining. The Jewel Theater offers an annual season of shows. The Actors Theater does a festival every January and UC Santa Cruz Theater Arts stages productions at various times throughout the year.
Woodies on the Wharf is one of many special events throughout the year in Santa Cruz. In its 23rd year, it occurs every June featuring more than 200 wood bodied classic woodies and restored cars. These legendary cars are the classic endless summer surfing vehicle so it seems natural for this weekend event on the wharf to showcase these cars from the past. Admission is free and there are many ‘woodie-goodies’ along with all of the food, restaurants and stores located on the wharf.
Capitola –
Fifteen minutes south of Santa Cruz is Capitola, a quaint beach town known for its iconic brightly colored homes on the waterfront. The downtown has a loop through the shops, restaurants and beach area. Parking is metered and can be very challenging to find a spot so it is important to bring your parking angel with you. Usually we find a parking place, but during our most recent trip we were unable to, so we enjoyed a slow cruise twice around the enclave before giving up and moving on. It might be best to come early or late. This tiny three square block town has some very interesting shops and places to poke around. One of our favorite restaurants in the area is the Paradise Beach Grille which has great food and patio seating on the beach with ocean views and live music late afternoons on weekends.
Railroads and Redwoods –
Roaring Camp Railroads is a fun way to spend a few hours riding the rails in an open air car pulled by a vintage 1890 steam engine. There are two ways to enjoy this, you can board the beach train in town near the Boardwalk and ride it through Henry Cowell Redwood State Park and along the San Lorenzo River Gorge, over a 1909 truss bridge and through an 1875 tunnel ending at Roaring Camp near the base of Bear Mountain.
Optionally, you drive directly to Roaring Camp and board the train for a one hour trip through towering California redwood trees to the summit of Bear Mountain. This is fun for both kids and adults (you don’t even need a kid to do this). Roaring Camp is a gold rush era themed town with a number of activities that are educational, recreational and fun. Be sure to check their website for seasonal schedules and fares.
Fun For All Ages –
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is fun, fun, fun for all ages. The Boardwalk has been operating since 1907 and is recognized as the best seaside amusement park in the world. The 1927 wood roller coaster – The Big Dipper is very old-school and full of surprises. Be sure to check out the Looff Carousel, this is not your father’s carousel – it has a unique ‘grab the brass ring’ feature where tossing the ring to score is very challenging, and fun. Both of these rides have a long and storied history and are listed in the register of National Historic Landmarks.
There are also a lot of modern rides to thrill any level of ride aficionado. The Boardwalk also has bowling, black-light mini golf, laser tag, and an arcade. Oh yes, and don’t forget the food at every turn. After dark, the Boardwalk lights up so the fun continues into the night. Be sure to take a sweatshirt for the evening.
Beach Blanket Bingo –
Friday Night Bands on the Beach during the summer is a free beach party with bands performing from 6:30 to 8:30. If you can start your weekend adventure early and play hooky from work and school to get into town early on Friday, you are in for a treat with some big named bands of the past performing for free including this year, Eddie Money, Blue Oyster Cult, Pablo Cruise, Papa Doo Run Run, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Brian Howe of Bad Company and Los Lobos
Art Lovers –
Art Galleries abound in Santa Cruz and the surrounding areas. If you love art and all methods of creative expression, then you’ll enjoy this bustling artist community. There are more than 40 galleries in Santa Cruz, and dozens more in the neighboring towns. The community organizes a series of art events, check local resources for dates. On one of our weekends in Santa Cruz we enjoyed the Open Studios Art Tours which occurs the second and third weekends in October. This is a self-guided tour of local artist’s studios and workshops often located in their homes. A wonderful way to meet and talk with the artist’s and get a glimpse into the artist’s creative spaces and see their works. Some of the artists and galleries provided nibbles and beverages making this a very fun and memorable day exploring parts of the town and art community that usually are not available.
Getting Close to Nature –
Seymour Marine Discovery Center – Located just past Natural Bridges State Beach is the University of California Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Ms. Blue, a blue whale skeleton measuring 87 feet long and 18 feet high greets and immediately awes visitors. The Center’s exhibits will fascinate and inspire everyone from kids to seniors. The aquarium has a touch pool with sea stars, hermit crabs, sea anemones and urchins. There is even a shark pool offering a close up view of sharks. You can even touch a friendly swell shark – how cool is that? There are other tanks with rockfish, eels, crabs and jellies –something for everyone. Unlike a regular aquarium, the Marine Research Center takes you behind the scenes to discover and learn about scientific research in the oceans. Admission is $8 for adults and discounts for kids and seniors.
Monterey Bay Exploration –
Monterey Bay Sanctuary Exploration Center (not to be confused with the Monterey Bay Aquarium) located on the main traffic circle near the entrance to the wharf. Families and kids will enjoy the tidal pool (touching encouraged!) and interactive exhibits celebrating one of the nation’s largest marine sanctuaries. The mini submarine simulator allows visitors to pilot a submarine through a deep underwater canyon. There are also video kiosks to conduct exploration and research of the watershed, rocky shore, and kelp forests. The life-sized humpback whale fluke sculpture in the courtyard at the entrance make a great photo spot. Admission is free.
Unsolved Mysteries –
The Mystery Spot can easily be described as a tourist trap, but if you are traveling with kids, or are a kid at heart, it is worth the stop. The Mystery Spot is self-described as “a gravitational anomaly located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz, California.” The rules of gravity are suspended as water and balls appear to run uphill, children and parents stand at opposite ends of a room and are transformed making the kids appear much taller than their parents, and objects stand on their own while people stand at 30 degree angles to the floor. Words can’t describe the phenomena, (wink wink), it is something you will have to see for yourself.
Year-Round Events
Santa Cruz offers many annual events in addition to the Woodies on the Wharf. There is also a Polynesian Festival & Aloha Outrigger Races in August, a Clam Chowder Cook-off in February, free paddleboard and surf lesson clinics, Bands on the Beach at the Boardwalk during the summer, Open Studios Art Tours occurring the second and third weekends in October. Santa Cruz is home to First Friday each month where thousands of visitors celebrate and enjoy art, music, food and wine. Antique and bargain hunters will both enjoy the antique faire held downtown on the first Sunday of each month.
Places to Stay
On The Beach –
The Dream Inn 175 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Has sweeping views of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Wharf and Cowell’s Beach. All rooms are ocean front with a balcony or patio. The property has a great pool and Jacuzzi area overlooking the beach with towel, food, and drink service. Ahhh, what a way to relax. There is direct access to the beach from the pool. This stretch of Cowell’s Beach is not as heavily used as others giving it more of a private beach feel. After playing in the waves, we like to return to the pool area, shower the sand off and enjoy the fire pits, food, drink and the warmer waters of the heated pool and Jacuzzi. The Dream Inn also has a wonderful restaurant with some of the best views in Santa Cruz, but more about Aquarius later.
Trendy & Chic –
Recently, we discovered the Hotel Paradox, a Marriott boutique hotel. The Paradox has a trendy urban modern design. The recently redecorated guest rooms feature in-room espresso makers, comfy beds and big flat screen TVs and all the comforts. We appreciated the cozy spaces to settle in by the pool and enjoy its full service food and drink offering. Towels provided. A nice way to cap the evening is to enjoy a drink in front of the large fireplace and nicely appointed lounge under the twinkling stars in the ceiling. These are all things for the in between times when we’re hangin’ at the hotel. After all, we’re in Santa Cruz and there is so much to do. The weekends need to be much longer.
Laid Back –
We have also stayed in a really nice Airbnb right at the mouth of the Santa Cruz small craft harbor in the Twin Lakes Beach area. This residence is nicely updated with wonderful views from both the living room and private deck of the lighthouse and the boats coming and going from the harbor. The 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms make it a great option to stay with a couple of adult kids as we did, or another couple. It features a full kitchen which is nice for breakfast and snacks, but with all of the dining experiences nearby, why eat in? A three minute walk takes you to The Crow’s Nest offering an excellent salad bar, great food, wrap-around ocean views and a lounge upstairs with live music many nights.
Places to Eat
No weekend getaway is complete without some amazing and memorable dining experiences. While we have favorites we go back to again and again, we nearly always try a new restaurant on each trip. Below are some of our favorites that we think you’ll enjoy.
Favorites –
Aquarius is our # 1 pick, located in the Dream Inn right at West Cliff Drive and Beach Street near the foot of the Wharf. Aquarius makes for both a fantastic breakfast, and dinner spot. It has by far the best views of the ocean from your table. The food is outstanding, offering traditional steak and seafood along with plant-based options. The environment is a little more classic while there are still many folks wearing comfortable and laid back clothes. Be sure to call ahead and make reservations at peak times. The adjacent Jack O’Neill Lounge is also a relaxing spot for a quick bites and a cold brew with live music on weekends.
The Crow’s Nest is another favorite located where the harbor meets the sea near Walton’s Lighthouse and Twin Lakes State Beach. Crow’s Nest serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. A major attraction is the old school salad bar. It features more toppings that you could wish for – definitely a reason to go back for seconds. Known for their meat, seafood and pasta, they also accommodate plant-based options. Upstairs in the Breakwater Bar & Grill there is a pub menu and relaxed atmosphere with live music and dancing most evenings and stand-up comedy on Sundays.
Lillian’s Italian Kitchen this is considered one of the best Italian restaurants by locals. Reservations needed. Lillian’s is a tiny restaurant with intimate seating that specializes in Sicilian style cooking. Very romantic.
Ocean View –
Ideal Bar & Grill is another favorite of ours and located on the other side of the entrance to the wharf from Aquarius. Ideal has an authentic tiki island feel – think Polynesia or Hawaii. They have both indoor and patio (on the beach) seating, and again like many of our favorite restaurants, amazing views of the beach and ocean. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and have an extensive kid menu with lots of favorites to satisfy everyone.
Stagnaro Bros on the Wharf boasts the best seafood in Santa Cruz and is appropriately located on the wharf. Many family members are active in the day-to-day operations of this family run restaurant that dates back to 1937. The history and story is worth the visit combined with excellent food. Located on the end of the wharf, it also has million dollar views of Monterey Bay and the ocean.
Woodies Café on the Wharf is great for families with kids and has a full menu with lots of kid friendly treats and killer views of the water and surfers alley.We enjoyed it with kids and grandkids and the wide variety of food was good and especially satisfied the little ones. They were very accommodating in creating a veggie sandwich that was good.
Paradise Beach Grille in Capitola has a bit of a Margaritaville vibe going on but offers excellent food and drink options, music at times and we recommend sitting on the patio which offers views of the beach and bay.
Breakfast –
Zachary’s Restaurant – Located on Pacific street, is one of those local favorite spots for breakfast. Has any number of breakfast combos including a few tofu scrambles for the veg eaters and bottomless coffee. The sourdough pancakes mentioned earlier are to die for.
Bagelry has 3 locations. What to say about the Bagelry – Yum ! They have a mind-boggling selection of bagels and spreads including a number of non-dairy and fat-free options. Besides the bagels, there are also breakfast and lunch bagel sandwiches and a number of tasty sides. Plus – the coffee is great. A day without bagels – is well – a day without bagels. The Cedar street location is easy to get to and located downtown.
Vegan –
Saturn Café is unlike any restaurant we’ve ever been to with a very eclectic motif that is outta this world. Besides the fun and funky atmosphere, Saturn serves a vegetarian menu that will satisfy any appetite, plant-based or not. Whatever you choose, be sure to add French fries and a milkshake. You won’t regret it and the portion sizes are large. Saturn is downtown at Beach and Pacific Streets and has a sister location in Berkeley.
Heading Home –
California Coast CA-1. We like to head out after breakfast and take the long way home. Following CA-1 north offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and coast. A leisurely drive up the coast is just what the spirit needs after a fantastic weekend in Santa Cruz. Roll the car windows down, get your endless summer on, get lost in conversation and sightseeing and enjoy every minute of the slower and longer trip.
There are many stops along the way back that are memorable on their own. These include many small towns, lighthouses, interesting little roads to explore, lots of scenery and more food. Exploring Pigeon Point Lighthouse is a fun stop with hiking trails, photo spots, cliffs, beaches, and rest facilities. They even have a hostel there. A favorite food stop of ours a little bit further north on CA-1 is Gherkins Sandwich Shop on 7th street in Montara. It is about the right distance both to have worked up an appetite and time to stretch your legs.
Visiting Santa Cruz is more than just relaxing, romantic, and a getaway. Your perspective shifts at the beach. Time moves a little slower, the breeze is a bit saltier, flip flops are your dress shoes, and you’ll be ready to catch a wave and be sitting on top of the world. Cowabunga!
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