Guidebook for Aptos

Mj
Guidebook for Aptos

Walking Distance Dining Options

There are so many things to do here. Some have costs associated with them, but some of the best are free.
Literally a ten minute walk from my house.
71 locals recommend
Bittersweet Bistro
787 Rio Del Mar Blvd
71 locals recommend
Literally a ten minute walk from my house.
Awesome, hand made Chinese food that is to die for!
13 locals recommend
Panda Inn
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd
13 locals recommend
Awesome, hand made Chinese food that is to die for!
Ten minutes walk from my house, budget friendly, by the slice, or have it delivered and eat in my kitchen!
9 locals recommend
Mangiamo Pizza
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd
9 locals recommend
Ten minutes walk from my house, budget friendly, by the slice, or have it delivered and eat in my kitchen!
Only place in town with a better breakfast than I will make you. However, you can eat at my house in your pajamas!
42 locals recommend
Red Apple Café
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd
42 locals recommend
Only place in town with a better breakfast than I will make you. However, you can eat at my house in your pajamas!
If you want to provision yourself for a longer stay, this is a bit pricey, but they have good grab and go options.
78 locals recommend
Deluxe Foods of Aptos
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd
78 locals recommend
If you want to provision yourself for a longer stay, this is a bit pricey, but they have good grab and go options.
Nice seafood restaurant and bar. $$$$
48 locals recommend
Café Rio Aptos
131 Esplanade
48 locals recommend
Nice seafood restaurant and bar. $$$$
Across the highway from us, good deli style breakfast place.
9 locals recommend
The Palm Deli
3000 Valencia Ave
9 locals recommend
Across the highway from us, good deli style breakfast place.
The most awesome array of sandwiches and soups that a few dollars can buy.
10 locals recommend
Erik's DeliCafé | Aptos
102 Rancho Del Mar
10 locals recommend
The most awesome array of sandwiches and soups that a few dollars can buy.

Sundries and Necessities

If you forgot something, this is the spot for you. Ten minutes walk from my place.
CVS Pharmacy
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd
If you forgot something, this is the spot for you. Ten minutes walk from my place.
18 locals recommend
Rite Aid
80 Rancho Del Mar
18 locals recommend

Hiking in A Redwood Cathedral

Not only is it home to the epicenter of the Loma Prieta Earthquake--its a very spiritual, quiet place, filled with arboreal creatures, towering redwoods, gentle laughing creeks, and breathtaking vistas.
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek Road
272 locals recommend
Not only is it home to the epicenter of the Loma Prieta Earthquake--its a very spiritual, quiet place, filled with arboreal creatures, towering redwoods, gentle laughing creeks, and breathtaking vistas.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park Rd
335 locals recommend

Sightseeing

81 locals recommend
Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff Dr
81 locals recommend
27 locals recommend
Mission San Juan Bautista
406 2nd St
27 locals recommend
If you are even slightly into plants, this is a sculpture and demonstration garden full of California native plants, and art by locals who show there intermittently.
6 locals recommend
Sierra Azul Nursery-Garden
2660 E Lake Ave
6 locals recommend
If you are even slightly into plants, this is a sculpture and demonstration garden full of California native plants, and art by locals who show there intermittently.
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
22 locals recommend
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum Road
67 locals recommend
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
668 locals recommend
Specialized Helicopters (Santa Cruz)
150 Aviation Way
Crystal Bay Farm
40 Zils Rd
219 locals recommend
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast Rd
219 locals recommend
It's very cool at low tide to explore (gently) the tide pools.
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff Dr
261 locals recommend
It's very cool at low tide to explore (gently) the tide pools.
It's cool if you are into the spiritual, secular world.
68 locals recommend
Land of Medicine Buddha
5800 Prescott Rd
68 locals recommend
It's cool if you are into the spiritual, secular world.
You could rent a kayak and go up the slough. You could take a ride on Whisper Charters and let the boat do the work...it's really an awesome preserve.
22 locals recommend
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
22 locals recommend
You could rent a kayak and go up the slough. You could take a ride on Whisper Charters and let the boat do the work...it's really an awesome preserve.
This is a great outing for a family. You can eat there too sometimes.
150 locals recommend
Roaring Camp
5401 Graham Hill Rd
150 locals recommend
This is a great outing for a family. You can eat there too sometimes.
Very romantic way to see the sunset on the bay....
20 locals recommend
O'Neill Yacht Charters
275 Lake Ave
20 locals recommend
Very romantic way to see the sunset on the bay....
Something for everyone. Very family friendly.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach St
745 locals recommend
Something for everyone. Very family friendly.
Winter breeding grounds of hundreds of elephant seals.
88 locals recommend
Ano Nuevo State Park
88 locals recommend
Winter breeding grounds of hundreds of elephant seals.
Whale watching on steroids!
27 locals recommend
Sanctuary Cruises
27 locals recommend
Whale watching on steroids!
Whale watching on steroids!
27 locals recommend
Sanctuary Cruises
27 locals recommend
Whale watching on steroids!
This is a very cool facility, educational, forward thinking, and well funded. Get a free tour of the dolphin pool, and touch swell sharks.
80 locals recommend
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
100 McAllister Way
80 locals recommend
This is a very cool facility, educational, forward thinking, and well funded. Get a free tour of the dolphin pool, and touch swell sharks.

Neighborhoods

242 locals recommend
Santa Cruz
242 locals recommend

Food scene

123 locals recommend
Phil's Fish Market & Eatery
10700 Merritt Street
123 locals recommend
Sanderlings Restaurant at Seascape Resort
1 Seascape Resort Dr
40 locals recommend
91 locals recommend
Manuel's Mexican Restaurant
261 Center Ave
91 locals recommend
16 locals recommend
Ella's At The Airport
100 Aviation Way
16 locals recommend
46 locals recommend
Gizdich Ranch
55 Peckham Rd
46 locals recommend
9 locals recommend
Martinelli's Company Store
345 Harvest Dr
9 locals recommend
22 locals recommend
Sandbar & Grill
Municipal Wharf 2
22 locals recommend
20 locals recommend
Pacific Thai Cuisine
663 Lighthouse Ave
20 locals recommend
Ambrosia India Bistro - Aptos
207 Sea Ridge Rd
24 locals recommend
94 locals recommend
Nepenthe
48510 CA-1
94 locals recommend
13 locals recommend
Pono Hawaiian Grill
120 Union Street
13 locals recommend
125 locals recommend
Lillian's Italian Kitchen
1148 Soquel Ave
125 locals recommend
22 locals recommend
Windy Oaks Winery
550 Hazel Dell Rd
22 locals recommend
Well, there are a lot of reasons--tri tip sandwiches for one, a short walk to the Padres Hall at Corralitos community center where you can sit at a picnic table and eat that sandwich...just sayin'
26 locals recommend
Corralitos Market & Sausage Co
569 Corralitos Rd
26 locals recommend
Well, there are a lot of reasons--tri tip sandwiches for one, a short walk to the Padres Hall at Corralitos community center where you can sit at a picnic table and eat that sandwich...just sayin'
Best pulled pork in town. Not a bad tap room either.
95 locals recommend
Aptos St. BBQ
8059 Aptos St
95 locals recommend
Best pulled pork in town. Not a bad tap room either.
Yucatan peninsula style Mexican food.
59 locals recommend
Palapas Restaurant & Cantina
21 Seascape Village
59 locals recommend
Yucatan peninsula style Mexican food.
Killer Burritos!
10 locals recommend
Taqueria Los Gordos
7488 Soquel Dr
10 locals recommend
Killer Burritos!
Spectacular views of our bay, great food, sometimes live music. Go on a Wednesday and watch the regatta!
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff Dr
276 locals recommend
Spectacular views of our bay, great food, sometimes live music. Go on a Wednesday and watch the regatta!
Soup and Pie! Garlic bread for days!
59 locals recommend
Duarte's Tavern
202 Stage Rd
59 locals recommend
Soup and Pie! Garlic bread for days!
Local, hand made ice cream.
45 locals recommend
Marianne’s Ice Cream
218 State Park Dr
45 locals recommend
Local, hand made ice cream.

Rest and Relaxation

Call for reservations--yes, it's that good. 831-464-0168
China Foot Massage
4140 Capitola Rd
Call for reservations--yes, it's that good. 831-464-0168