Last updated: 12/14/2021
See all the details to get to know the best of the city of Santa Cruz, located on the northern coast of California. The city is cute, with many beaches, historic center and much more!
THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ
Santa Cruz is a city of just over 60,000 inhabitants located in the county of the same name, about 120 km south of San Francisco. With a pleasant climate, redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains and beaches, the city is popular with tourists. In 1791, it was formed from a Spanish settlement that included the Santa Cruz Mission, which still exists in the city. At the end of the 19th century, the city concentrated important industrial activities that included agriculture, gunpowder production and wood extraction. In addition, it has established itself as an important coastal city in Northern California.
Currently, the city's economy remains focused on agriculture, tourism and education, as it is home to one of the units of the University of California. Santa Cruz is a hub of the organic farming movement and many specialty products, as well as home to the headquarters of California Certified Organic Farmers. In addition, the city is an important location for surfing on the northern coast of California and claims to be home to the first museum dedicated to the topic in the world. It is very common to find many surfers facing the waves in the region. Although small, the city is cute, full of life and hosts a number of events throughout the year. To stay connected to the program, visit this link.
Curiosities:
- The city houses the Santa Cruz Film Festival, an annual independent film product event. The festival usually takes place annually during the month of October.
- The city hosts events of triathlon and ironman, which bring together athletes from all over the world. The events usually take place annually during the month of September.
- Santa Cruz has a big fight with the city of Huntington Beach (near Los Angeles) over the nickname of “Surf City”, American surfing city. Although it is very common to see T-shirts printed with the phrase, the southern neighbor won, in court, the rights to use this nomenclature.
WHAT TO DO IN SANTA CRUZ
We've put our top suggestions on the interactive map below. This way, it will be much easier for you to organize yourself to get to know the city. In addition, there are tips for restaurants, places to shop, accommodation and tips for tours, tours or activities in Santa Cruz and surroundings.
1. SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk It is one of the liveliest places in Santa Cruz. The place consists of a large boardwalk with fast food restaurants and an amusement park with several different rides. It was founded in 1907 and It's California's oldest amusement park still in operation..
The place is the joy of children and where most tourists are concentrated! At the west end of the park is a large building originally known as The Plunge, now Neptune's Kingdom, a pirate-themed recreation center that contains a video gallery and an indoor mini-golf course. Next to it is the Casino Fun Center, which includes a laser tag area.
East of the Casino, the boardwalk portion of the park stretches along a wide sandy beach, visitors can easily access from the park. The eastern end of the boardwalk is dominated by Giant Dipper roller coaster, one of the most recognizable wooden coasters in the world and one of Santa Cruz's most visible landmarks. One of the highlights of the area is the Boardwalk's Cocoanut Grove, the largest ocean-view event space in Santa Cruz County, used for corporate events, graduations and parties. On the Boardwalk there is also a game area and even a bowling alley in a nearby location.
- Address: 400 W Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Schedules: varies - check the timetable in this link
- Entrance: free access to the park area | 1 Day Unlimited Toy Ticket – US$ 29.95 | check other prices here
2. SANTA CRUZ WHARF
Santa Cruz Wharf It is, without a doubt, one of the hottest places in town! Wharf means pier in English and this place is one of those you can't miss. The place is known for fishing, watching marine mammals and other recreational activities. There is Shops of varied and delicious items restaurants With sea view! We had dinner on site at a restaurant and had the pleasure of watching the sunset from the venue. On the pier, there are also many sea lions and you will quickly understand their location due to the noise they emit. There are benches to sit and enjoy the beautiful view of the city and the boats that pass by. From there it is possible to have a beautiful view of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
- Address: 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Schedules: daily from 5 am to 2 am
- Entrance: free if done on foot | by car, follow the parking rules
- Parking: summer (April to September) – US$ 1 per car every 20 minutes, maximum US$ 24 per day | in winter (October to March) – US$ 1 per hour per car, maximum US$ 12 per day | there is a limited number of vacancies
3. CENTER OF SANTA CRUZ
The main shopping streets in Santa Cruz are the Cedar Street, a Pacific Avenue and the front street. In them and in the streets that cross them you can find many very nice shops and restaurants. If you are willing to take a walk around the region, you will find the Ladmark's Del Mar Theater (4415, 1124 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060), a very famous movie theater in the city and the Town Clock (Intersection of Water Street and N Pacific Avenue), a clock symbol of the city that was built in the 19th century.
To finish the tour through the center, go to the Mission Santa Cruz (120 Emmett St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060). This is a small church built at the time of the Missions, which were religious initiatives designed to spread the principles of Christianity to non-Christian people. In the case of Santa Cruz, this is a spanish mission of the Franciscan order founded in 1791. The church is tiny and admission is free.
Read more: The 21 Spanish Missions in California
READ MORE: California Coast: San Francisco to San Diego Roadmap
4. SURFERS MEMORIAL & SANTA CRUZ SURFING MUSEUM
Take the car and head north towards the city centre. The best way to get to know the region is to follow the W Cliff Drive. This is the waterfront street that provides incredible views! There is a sidewalk for walking or cycling along the entire stretch, as well as benches to sit and enjoy the view. Some stopping points are the Surfing Moment (647 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060), statue installed in 1992 in honor of all surfers in the world and the Surf Memorial, an informal memorial honoring the surfers who died. Also, take the opportunity to visit the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, considered the world's first surf museum!
- Address: 701 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Schedules: 4th of July to the first Monday of September: Tuesday to Monday from 10:00 to 17:00 | other dates: noon to 4 pm
- Entrance: free
5. BEACHES
Santa Cruz has several very charming beaches with beautiful views. They are very frequented by surfers who wear rubberized clothes to protect themselves from the icy waters. There is a whole myth, perhaps created by Hollywood, about California. Even in summer, the waters of the Pacific Ocean that bathe the beaches in the north of the state are extremely cold. Be prepared when you decide to put your little foot in the water, right? At the center from the city, opposite the Boardwalk and next to the Santa Cruz Wharf is Main Beach. It is a wide strip of sand where you can spread a yoke and admire the sea. From this beach it is possible to see many birds and marine animals.
To north from downtown, take W Cliff Drive. This is the waterfront street that provides incredible views! There is a sidewalk for walking or cycling along the entire stretch, as well as benches to sit, relax and enjoy the view. Don't miss out on the Mitchell's Cove Beach, which provides beautiful views of the coast, and the Natural Bridges State Beach.
> HIGHLIGHT: NATURAL BRIDGES STATE BEACH
Natural Bridges State Beach is an incredible paid beach (and park). The site is an excellent vantage point for spotting coastal birds, whales, seals and sea otters. When the tide is low, you can find starfish, shore crabs, sea anemones and other colorful marine life. In addition to the beach, the site is a park with space for picnics and has a monarch butterfly conservation area, with native wildflowers, freshwater wetlands and a salt marsh. More information about the park in this link.
- Address: 2320 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Schedules: daily from 8 am to sunset | Visitor Center daily from 10 am to 4 pm
- Entrance: US$ 10 per car
considered the area south in relation to the center, the city of Santa Cruz ends at the beach of seabright (where the lighthouse known as the Walton Lighthouse is located). Continuing along the coast to the right are the small towns of Twin Lakes, Opal Cliffs, Capitola, apts and Watsonville which belong to Santa Cruz County. The best way to get to know the region is to drive along E Cliff Drive, a seaside street. The city of Capitola is cute, with houses with charming architecture, with shops, restaurants and is a very popular place for surfers.
TIP! DOG-FRIENDLY BEACHES
Several of the beaches in and around Santa Cruz are pet friendly. Some allow the puppy to be free, others have specific rules and schedules for the furry ones. Check the list below of beaches that allow bigeyes and confirm the rules of each before leaving!
- In Santa Cruz: Its Beach, Seabright State Beach, Twin Lakes State Beach, Mitchell's Cove Beach and Sunny Cove Beach
- In Capitola: New Brighton State Beach
- In Apartments: Seacliff and Rio del Mar State Beaches
- In Watsonville: Manresa State Beach and Palm State Beach
TOURS IN SANTA CRUZ AND SURROUNDINGS
> ACTIVITIES IN SANTA CRUZ
- Surf Lesson for Beginners in Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz bike tour
- Two-Day Tour: California Route 1 by E-Bike
WHERE TO EAT IN SANTA CRUZ
- Santa Cruz Wharf: There are many dining options on the Pier, usually with dishes focused on seafood, but the menus are quite varied and you can find a little bit of everything. Check out: FireFish Grill, Riva Fish House, Olitas Cantina & Grille, Stagnaro Bros., and dolphin.
- Saturn Cafe (vegetarian food)
- Mozaic (Mediterranean food)
- Kiantis Pizza & Pasta Bar (Italian food)
- Betty's Eat Inn (cafeteria)
- The Crêpe Place (crepes and American food)
- Cafe Brasil (Brazilian dishes)
- Betty Burgers (burger)
- Johnny's Harborside (Seafood)
- Crow's Nest Restaurant (American food)
- Lake Como (Italian food)
WHERE TO BUY IN SANTA CRUZ
If you want to take advantage of your time in the city to do some shopping, the main shopping centers are:
- San Lorenzo Park Plaza Shopping Center (mall located in downtown Santa Cruz)
- Capitola Mall (shopping center located in the nearby town of Capitola)
WHERE TO STAY IN SANTA CRUZ
In case you decide to make a stop on your itinerary along the California Coast, here are some suggestions for well-reviewed and well-located hotels in the city.
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4 stars
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Read more about the California Coast:
- Tips for where to stay on the California Coast
- California Coast: San Francisco to San Diego Roadmap
- California Coast: McWay Falls, the Big Sur waterfall
- California Coast: Big Sur
- Northern California Tour
