Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveBest coffee buzz in the WEST
The owners are great, the beer is good and the atmosphere is perfect.
42 locals recommend
New Bohemia Brewing Co.
1030 41st AveThe owners are great, the beer is good and the atmosphere is perfect.
Süda
3910 Portola DrThe cocktails are amazing, the food is good and it's great atmosphere.
It's the best West Coast Taco and Burrito in Santa Cruz. Cash only but cheap and good. Great breakfast burritos too.
28 locals recommend
Tacos Moreno
1053 Water StIt's the best West Coast Taco and Burrito in Santa Cruz. Cash only but cheap and good. Great breakfast burritos too.
It's a ranch and they sell pie! It's a ways out of town (25mn on Route 1) but if you are up for a good drive and a stop at the famous Swanton Berry Farm shop, cute postcard town, Davenport, keep going to get amazing Pie in the cutest barn, farm across from the ocean.
9 locals recommend
Pie Ranch
2080 CA-1It's a ranch and they sell pie! It's a ways out of town (25mn on Route 1) but if you are up for a good drive and a stop at the famous Swanton Berry Farm shop, cute postcard town, Davenport, keep going to get amazing Pie in the cutest barn, farm across from the ocean.
Sightseeing
It's a beautiful spot to check out surfers, take pics and walk the dog.
116 locals recommend
Pleasure Point
It's a beautiful spot to check out surfers, take pics and walk the dog.
You can drive or bike up and down this and if you are out there long enough, you'll most likely see Whales, sea otters, seals and sea lions. It's gorgeous cliff views on the West Side of Santa Cruz.
193 locals recommend
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff DriveYou can drive or bike up and down this and if you are out there long enough, you'll most likely see Whales, sea otters, seals and sea lions. It's gorgeous cliff views on the West Side of Santa Cruz.
You'll see the best surfers here. If you aren't local to Steamers, step out of the way- these guys will bark at you if you even try to surf there. Great vantage point above to watch. Bonus Lighthouse park with a Surf Museum!
81 locals recommend
Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff DrYou'll see the best surfers here. If you aren't local to Steamers, step out of the way- these guys will bark at you if you even try to surf there. Great vantage point above to watch. Bonus Lighthouse park with a Surf Museum!
Parks & Nature
It's a really special spot where anytime the Dalai Llama is in Cali, he stays here. Hikes include 8 Verses of Thought Transformation, a saying from Dalai Lama for each stop point. Huge Gongs, and a beautiful peaceful setting. Short but cool hikes including one to the temple at the top.
68 locals recommend
Land of Medicine Buddha
5800 Prescott RdIt's a really special spot where anytime the Dalai Llama is in Cali, he stays here. Hikes include 8 Verses of Thought Transformation, a saying from Dalai Lama for each stop point. Huge Gongs, and a beautiful peaceful setting. Short but cool hikes including one to the temple at the top.
It's a great day since it's only 1 hr south of Santa Cruz. You can go for a drive, short hike then to Henry Miller Library, ending with a drink and fries at Nepenthe!
Big Sur Coastline
It's a great day since it's only 1 hr south of Santa Cruz. You can go for a drive, short hike then to Henry Miller Library, ending with a drink and fries at Nepenthe!
This is our favorite beach. We take our dog, surfboard and beach chairs to make a day of it. Even in the height of beach weather, you'll have plenty of space to yourself.
55 locals recommend
Manresa State Beach
1445 San Andreas RdThis is our favorite beach. We take our dog, surfboard and beach chairs to make a day of it. Even in the height of beach weather, you'll have plenty of space to yourself.
Arts & Culture
They have their finger on the pulse for what makes a great community museum. They include local artists, history of the area and have many, many events that welcome all families of different interests.
133 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StThey have their finger on the pulse for what makes a great community museum. They include local artists, history of the area and have many, many events that welcome all families of different interests.
Shopping
It's a shop in an Airstream trailer, it's cute and cool with great goods from local makers of re-burbished flannels, jam, goat cheese and SlowCoast T-shirts.
SLOWCOAST
450 CA-1It's a shop in an Airstream trailer, it's cute and cool with great goods from local makers of re-burbished flannels, jam, goat cheese and SlowCoast T-shirts.
Bookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific AveThey have new/used and many talks from Authors there.
Modern, cool and fun. This could be in Brooklyn. They not only have gorgeous clothing but plenty of household goods, beautiful accessories and a Men's shop two doors down. Great for baby and gifts for anyone!
19 locals recommend
Stripe Design Group LLC
107 Walnut AveModern, cool and fun. This could be in Brooklyn. They not only have gorgeous clothing but plenty of household goods, beautiful accessories and a Men's shop two doors down. Great for baby and gifts for anyone!
Who wouldn't want the coolest in camping, surfing and hiking. Along with awesome local art. The owner knows her stuff and you will walk around drooling and trying not to take the entire store home.
8 locals recommend
SAWYER LAND + SEA SUPPLY
402 Ingalls StWho wouldn't want the coolest in camping, surfing and hiking. Along with awesome local art. The owner knows her stuff and you will walk around drooling and trying not to take the entire store home.
If you don't have a wetsuit or board, they will rent all to you for the day for $50 I think? If not, you will just want to buy stuff here anyway.
36 locals recommend
O'Neill Surf Shop
110 Cooper StIf you don't have a wetsuit or board, they will rent all to you for the day for $50 I think? If not, you will just want to buy stuff here anyway.
Essentials
Trader Joe's
700 Front StSuper close to our house. So close, I visit almost every day.
They don't call this place Whole Paycheck for nothing! It's easy to overspend here but I try to go for choice ingredients like produce, fish, the hot food bar, burrito maker. Oh and I pick up local Verve coffee beans here.
157 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
911 Soquel AveThey don't call this place Whole Paycheck for nothing! It's easy to overspend here but I try to go for choice ingredients like produce, fish, the hot food bar, burrito maker. Oh and I pick up local Verve coffee beans here.
BevMo!
1820 41st AveFor beer, wine, ice and everything nice.
Getting Around
On the corner of 30th Ave and Capitola, you can catch a bus into town. You can bring a bike too. They take cash or you can get a buscard. Schedules are posted at bus stops and it's very easy to take.
East Remote Bus Stop
On the corner of 30th Ave and Capitola, you can catch a bus into town. You can bring a bike too. They take cash or you can get a buscard. Schedules are posted at bus stops and it's very easy to take.