Santa Cruz CaliforniaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Santa Cruz, California.
1. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
HISTORIC SEASIDE AMUSEMENT PARK
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is an iconic and must-visit attraction for anyone exploring Santa Cruz, offering a vibrant and nostalgic amusement park experience along the coast. Visitors can enjoy classic rides like the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster and the Looff Carousel, both National Historic Landmarks. The boardwalk also features arcade games, food stands, and direct beach access, making it perfect for a full day of family entertainment.
2. Natural Bridges State Beach
SCENIC MARINE RESERVE
Natural Bridges State Beach is a picturesque state park featuring a natural bridge rock formation over the beach. The park is renowned for its Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve, where thousands of monarchs migrate annually from October through early February. Visitors can also explore tide pools teeming with sea life, making it an excellent location for nature photography and wildlife observation.
3. West Cliff Drive
STUNNING COASTAL PATH
West Cliff Drive offers a scenic walking and biking path that curves along classic California coastline with breathtaking ocean views. The three-mile paved trail passes by landmarks such as Lighthouse Field State Beach and the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Visitors can watch surfers at the world-famous Steamer Lane surf spot or simply enjoy the natural beauty of the rugged shoreline and crashing waves.
4. Santa Cruz Wharf
HISTORIC WATERFRONT PIER
The Santa Cruz Wharf is a beloved landmark and a bustling hub of activity, offering a delightful blend of seaside attractions and wildlife viewing opportunities. Visitors can watch playful sea lions that often gather near the pier while exploring a variety of shops and boutiques selling unique souvenirs. The Wharf is also a seafood lover's paradise, with several restaurants serving fresh catches of the day in a picturesque oceanfront setting.
5. Mystery Spot
PERPLEXING GRAVITATIONAL ANOMALY
The Mystery Spot is a popular tourist attraction where visitors experience what appears to be a gravitational anomaly within a circular area of redwood forest. Tour guides demonstrate seemingly impossible physical phenomena, such as water appearing to flow uphill and people appearing to stand at impossible angles. This quirky attraction has been drawing curious visitors since 1939 and provides great photo opportunities and mind-bending experiences.
6. Downtown Santa Cruz
VIBRANT CULTURAL HUB
Downtown Santa Cruz offers a lively pedestrian-friendly district filled with unique shops, diverse dining options, and cultural venues. Pacific Avenue, the main thoroughfare, features colorful murals, street performers, and a distinctly bohemian atmosphere reflective of the city's creative spirit. Visitors can enjoy the weekly farmers' market, browse independent bookstores and boutiques, or sample cuisine from around the world in this walkable urban center.
7. UC Santa Cruz Arboretum
DIVERSE BOTANICAL GARDENS
The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum showcases a remarkable collection of plants from Mediterranean climates around the world across its 135 acres. Visitors can wander through Australian, New Zealand, and South African gardens featuring unique plant species rarely seen elsewhere in the United States. The arboretum also offers breathtaking views of Monterey Bay and serves as an important center for conservation and research.
8. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
ANCIENT REDWOOD FOREST
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park protects a pristine stand of old-growth redwood trees, some of which are over 1,500 years old and exceed 300 feet in height. The park features over 15 miles of hiking trails through diverse habitats including redwood groves, mixed evergreen forests, and sunny sandhills. Visitors can also enjoy the scenic Garden of Eden swimming hole on the San Lorenzo River during summer months.
9. Santa Cruz Harbor
BUSTLING MARITIME CENTER
Santa Cruz Harbor is a working harbor with over 800 slip spaces for recreational and commercial vessels nestled along the northern shores of Monterey Bay. Visitors can rent kayaks or stand-up paddleboards to explore the harbor waters or watch fishing boats unload their fresh catches. The harbor area also features several excellent seafood restaurants with waterfront dining options and views of the colorful boats.
10. Roaring Camp Railroads
HISTORIC STEAM TRAIN EXPERIENCE
Roaring Camp Railroads offers vintage steam train rides through the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains on narrow-gauge tracks dating back to the 1880s. The historic steam locomotives climb Bear Mountain on a journey that showcases the region's natural beauty and logging history. Visitors can also take the Santa Cruz Beach Train, which connects the mountain town of Felton directly to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
11. Seymour Marine Discovery Center
INTERACTIVE OCEAN LEARNING
The Seymour Marine Discovery Center provides hands-on marine science education with touch pools, aquarium exhibits, and the complete skeleton of a blue whale. Visitors can observe research in progress at the adjacent Long Marine Laboratory, which is part of UC Santa Cruz's renowned marine science program. Guided tours offer insights into local marine ecosystems and ongoing conservation efforts along the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
12. Wilder Ranch State Park
HISTORIC COASTAL RANCH
Wilder Ranch State Park preserves a historic dairy ranch with buildings dating back to the 1870s alongside 35 miles of multi-use trails along the spectacular coastline. Visitors can tour the Victorian farmhouse, participate in living history demonstrations, or explore the stunning coastal bluffs with dramatic ocean views. The park's diverse trail system accommodates hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians through coastal terraces and inland redwood forests.
13. The Crow's Nest
ICONIC HARBOR RESTAURANT
The Crow's Nest is a beloved waterfront restaurant at the Santa Cruz Harbor offering fresh seafood and American cuisine with panoramic views of Monterey Bay. The two-story establishment features upstairs fine dining and a more casual downstairs beach market café, both with outdoor patios overlooking the harbor entrance. Live music performances, a lively bar scene, and the opportunity to watch boats navigate the harbor channel make this a popular destination for both locals and visitors.
14. Capitola Village
COLORFUL SEASIDE TOWN
Capitola Village is a charming beachfront community just east of Santa Cruz known for its Mediterranean-inspired architecture and colorful buildings along the shoreline. Visitors can explore boutique shops, art galleries, and diverse dining options in the pedestrian-friendly downtown area. The vibrant atmosphere, Capitola Beach, and the historic Capitola Wharf make this one of the most picturesque small beach towns in California.
15. Pleasure Point
PREMIER SURFING DESTINATION
Pleasure Point is a legendary surfing locale featuring multiple surf breaks catering to different skill levels along a scenic stretch of coastline. The neighborhood has a distinctive surf culture with laid-back coffee shops, surf shops, and casual eateries reflecting the local lifestyle. Visitors can watch surfers from the cliffside walking path or join them in the water at world-class breaks like The Hook, 38th Avenue, and First Peak.