Guidebook for the Santa Cruz area
Arts & Culture
Delaveaga Park Golf Course
401 Upper Park RdOne of the best Muni courses you'll ever play.
Delaveaga Park Golf Course
401 Upper Park RdRenowned Disc golf course, beautiful setting.
Lots of shops, boutiques, bars, restaurants and galleries. A great place to spend the day wandering while your golfers are busy playing Pebble Beach or Spyglass.
354 locals recommend
Carmel by the sea
San Antonio AvenueLots of shops, boutiques, bars, restaurants and galleries. A great place to spend the day wandering while your golfers are busy playing Pebble Beach or Spyglass.
A great gallery, stop in and check out the local artists work. This gallery is the best way to find where to watch California Condors. They soar off the cliffs about 200 yards north of the gallery.
8 locals recommend
Coast Gallery Big Sur
49901 CA-1A great gallery, stop in and check out the local artists work. This gallery is the best way to find where to watch California Condors. They soar off the cliffs about 200 yards north of the gallery.
4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way
4900 Centennial BlvdIt's where Super Bowl 50 is.
Everything Else
Great hiking and mtn biking in a spectacular Redwood forest.
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadGreat hiking and mtn biking in a spectacular Redwood forest.
Take a leisurely stroll along the cliffs above the Pacific ocean or hike/ bike into the surrounding hills. Great hiking and mtn biking.
219 locals recommend
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdTake a leisurely stroll along the cliffs above the Pacific ocean or hike/ bike into the surrounding hills. Great hiking and mtn biking.
Wonderful wines, great hosts, and beautiful views.
15 locals recommend
Burrell School Vineyard and Winery
24060 Summit RdWonderful wines, great hosts, and beautiful views.
Loma Prieta Winery
26985 Loma Prieta WayGood wines, wonderful views.
David Bruce Winery
21439 Bear Creek RdSome of the best Pinots to be found anywhere.
Love their wines and its only a few steps from Capitola beach and village.
Armida Winery Tasting Room
103 Stockton AveLove their wines and its only a few steps from Capitola beach and village.
What can I say, one of the best motorsports venues there is.
WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca Ticket Office
1021 Monterey Salinas HwyWhat can I say, one of the best motorsports venues there is.
Pebble Beach Golf Academy & Practice Facility
3260 Stevenson DrIt's Pebble Beach!
One of the most beautiful and challenging courses in Northern California.
27 locals recommend
Pasatiempo Golf Course
20 Clubhouse RdOne of the most beautiful and challenging courses in Northern California.
When in Santa Cruz, you simply must take a stroll on Pacific Ave. Shops, Restaurants, Theaters and people watching. Always entertaining. Learn why they say "Keep Santa Cruz Weird".
88 locals recommend
Pacific Avenue
Pacific AvenueWhen in Santa Cruz, you simply must take a stroll on Pacific Ave. Shops, Restaurants, Theaters and people watching. Always entertaining. Learn why they say "Keep Santa Cruz Weird".
Chardonnay Sailing Charters
790 Mariner Park WayGreat way to see the Monterey Bay and enjoy a sunset.
GoJump Santa Cruz Skydiving
160 Aviation WayAdventure, adrenalin, and incredible scenery
Pleasure Point
Good surfing
Point break, good waves. World renowned surf spot, home of the O'Neil Cold Water Classic.
81 locals recommend
Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff DrPoint break, good waves. World renowned surf spot, home of the O'Neil Cold Water Classic.
Shopping
Convenient to our house, great butcher counter, lots of prepared foods to go, yummy sushi, a great place to get provisions for your days adventure.
24 locals recommend
Summit Store Inc.
24197 N Summit RdConvenient to our house, great butcher counter, lots of prepared foods to go, yummy sushi, a great place to get provisions for your days adventure.
Sightseeing
Great hiking and climbing. Spend as couple of days and backpack through the Saratoga Gap all the way to the coast.
64 locals recommend
Castle Rock State Park
15451 CA-35Great hiking and climbing. Spend as couple of days and backpack through the Saratoga Gap all the way to the coast.
If you go to the Big Sur area and don't stop at Nepenthe you've missed the point. Nepenthe is the quintessential California spot with breathtaking sunset views.
94 locals recommend
Nepenthe
48510 CA-1If you go to the Big Sur area and don't stop at Nepenthe you've missed the point. Nepenthe is the quintessential California spot with breathtaking sunset views.
17 Mile Dr
17 Mile DriveOne of the most beautiful (and expensive) neighborhoods in the world.
If you want to see how"the other half" lived don't miss this. Hearst Castle is an amazing place to visit. Check their website for reservations.
Conzelman Road
Conzelman RoadIf you want to see how"the other half" lived don't miss this. Hearst Castle is an amazing place to visit. Check their website for reservations.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
21600 Big Basin WayEnjoy a walk through an ld growth Redwood forest.
Ano Nuevo State Park
Sea elephant rookery
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
Fantastic birdwatching
Lick Observatory
7281 Mt Hamilton RdLook through a high powered telescope at a working observatory
Incredible scenery! Best place to see the Big Sur Coastal environment. Great place for a day hike and picnic.
309 locals recommend
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
62 CA-1Incredible scenery! Best place to see the Big Sur Coastal environment. Great place for a day hike and picnic.
Entertainment & Activities
One of the last remaining wooden roller coasters and lots of other rides and attractions to keep the family busy all day.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StOne of the last remaining wooden roller coasters and lots of other rides and attractions to keep the family busy all day.
Take a scenic train ride in an open car through the Redwoods to the beach and/or take a thrilling zip-line tour of the Redwood canopy.
150 locals recommend
Roaring Camp
5401 Graham Hill RdTake a scenic train ride in an open car through the Redwoods to the beach and/or take a thrilling zip-line tour of the Redwood canopy.
Optical illusions and mysterious happenings, your kids will be amazed.
208 locals recommend
The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot RdOptical illusions and mysterious happenings, your kids will be amazed.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
100 McAllister WayThe kids will love it.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowOne of the premier aquariums in the world.
A great place to spend the day with the kids. Ours always loved to go here.
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrA great place to spend the day with the kids. Ours always loved to go here.
Great place for learning about and seeing technology applied in meaningful ways. Excellent learning experience for the kids too.
267 locals recommend
The Tech Interactive
201 S Market StGreat place for learning about and seeing technology applied in meaningful ways. Excellent learning experience for the kids too.
Perfect place to bring the kids to play in the surf. Enjoy lunch at a beach cafe. Shop at lots of local boutiques. Very easy to get to from our house.
167 locals recommend
Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey AvePerfect place to bring the kids to play in the surf. Enjoy lunch at a beach cafe. Shop at lots of local boutiques. Very easy to get to from our house.
Lots of seafood restaurants, sightseeing, and ocean wildlife viewing and a great candy/ice cream shop at the end.
143 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Wharf
21 Municipal WharfLots of seafood restaurants, sightseeing, and ocean wildlife viewing and a great candy/ice cream shop at the end.
Food Scene
Lots of choices from casual to elegant, you find a restaurant to your liking in this great little downtown area.
79 locals recommend
Los Gatos
Lots of choices from casual to elegant, you find a restaurant to your liking in this great little downtown area.
One of our favorite "watering holes" in the Big Sur area. Sit down in a chair in the Big Sur river, cool off and sip a Fine Stone IPA, then enjoy a great lunch before continuing your Big Sur adventure
29 locals recommend
Big Sur River Inn
46800 CA-1One of our favorite "watering holes" in the Big Sur area. Sit down in a chair in the Big Sur river, cool off and sip a Fine Stone IPA, then enjoy a great lunch before continuing your Big Sur adventure
After a great day at the beach what better way to end it than marguerita's and great mexican food. Manuel's is our reference level mexican food restaurant. Must try the Chili Reanos. I like the #3!
91 locals recommend
Manuel's Mexican Restaurant
261 Center AveAfter a great day at the beach what better way to end it than marguerita's and great mexican food. Manuel's is our reference level mexican food restaurant. Must try the Chili Reanos. I like the #3!
Enjoying the beach in Capitola and the kids are hungry? Great NY style thin crust pizza by the slice. Mmmm! And while you are at it don't forget to take them up on the Slice and a Tee-shirt deal $5!
141 locals recommend
Pizza My Heart
209 EsplanadeEnjoying the beach in Capitola and the kids are hungry? Great NY style thin crust pizza by the slice. Mmmm! And while you are at it don't forget to take them up on the Slice and a Tee-shirt deal $5!
The best Stromboli and Pizza to be found in North Beach (and that's saying a lot!). Try the Cal Italia pizza, its to die for!
177 locals recommend
Tony's Pizza Napoletana
1570 Stockton StThe best Stromboli and Pizza to be found in North Beach (and that's saying a lot!). Try the Cal Italia pizza, its to die for!
Phil's Fish Market & Eatery
10700 Merritt StreetGreat fresh seafood from the Monterey Bay
La Posta
538 Seabright AveGreat handmade Italian food
Discretion Brewing
2703 41st AveGood local micro-brewery
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrThe place for views of the sunset in Santa Cruz.
Taqueria La Cabaña
2332 Mission StGreat Tacos, cheap!
burger. Aptos
7941 Soquel DrExcellent burgers and great bar. Many beers on tap. Casual
Drinks & Nightlife
30 beers on-tap, hundreds in bottles. Nice Beer garden with games to play.
82 locals recommend
Beer 30
2504 S Main St30 beers on-tap, hundreds in bottles. Nice Beer garden with games to play.