Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay Aveeverything is scrumptious
Lago di Como
21490 E Cliff Drauthentic, delicious Italian cuisine
Ugly Mug CoffeeHouse
4640 Soquel Drgreat spot to linger over a beverage
Located at Santa Cruz Harbor, look for the food truck in the parking lot. Great little hike nearby to the lighthouse and beach. This is on the opposite side of the harbor from the Crow's Nest Restaurant
56 locals recommend
Aldo's Harbor Restaurant
790 Mariner Park WayLocated at Santa Cruz Harbor, look for the food truck in the parking lot. Great little hike nearby to the lighthouse and beach. This is on the opposite side of the harbor from the Crow's Nest Restaurant
in the Crows Nest Beach Plaza. Have your coffee out on the beach, watching volleyball players, the boats coming in and out of the harbor, or fellow travelers in the know...
26 locals recommend
Java Junction
519 Seabright Avein the Crows Nest Beach Plaza. Have your coffee out on the beach, watching volleyball players, the boats coming in and out of the harbor, or fellow travelers in the know...
burger joint! there are at least three of these now in town. best burgers ever.
65 locals recommend
Betty Burgers
505 Seabright Aveburger joint! there are at least three of these now in town. best burgers ever.
super popular noodle house. you will see why if you stop in for a bowl. economical, too.
80 locals recommend
Charlie Hong Kong
1141 Soquel Avesuper popular noodle house. you will see why if you stop in for a bowl. economical, too.
excellent place to start a walk on East Cliff. that part of 41st Ave is fun to wander around in....surf shops, sushi places, taquerias, bike shops, all your usual Santa Cruz stuff :^]
220 locals recommend
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st Aveexcellent place to start a walk on East Cliff. that part of 41st Ave is fun to wander around in....surf shops, sushi places, taquerias, bike shops, all your usual Santa Cruz stuff :^]
Drinks & Nightlife
some amazing performers in this comfortable space. can purchase food and beverages to enjoy while hearing great musical talent
52 locals recommend
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar Stsome amazing performers in this comfortable space. can purchase food and beverages to enjoy while hearing great musical talent
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial WayFor dancing, catching some great live music, having a night out.
Location is everything! This resort is good for a spectacular Sunday brunch, having a drink on the terrace and enjoying the view in the evening, getting a massage in the spa or just walking the trails which are accessible from our house.
30 locals recommend
The Spa at Chaminade
1 Chaminade LnLocation is everything! This resort is good for a spectacular Sunday brunch, having a drink on the terrace and enjoying the view in the evening, getting a massage in the spa or just walking the trails which are accessible from our house.
Sightseeing
join locals in a leisurely promenade that goes for miles along the beautiful coastline. find walkers, runners, pet owners, bicyclists, skaters and benches for taking in the surroundings
193 locals recommend
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff Drivejoin locals in a leisurely promenade that goes for miles along the beautiful coastline. find walkers, runners, pet owners, bicyclists, skaters and benches for taking in the surroundings
Shorter than West Cliff Drive, but good place to watch a lot of surfing and the spectacular coastline.
20 locals recommend
East Cliff Drive
East Cliff DriveShorter than West Cliff Drive, but good place to watch a lot of surfing and the spectacular coastline.
"City on a Hill" is how the campus is described. Situated in some of the most lovely forest and pasture land in the area. Views of the bay are unrivaled.
67 locals recommend
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum Road"City on a Hill" is how the campus is described. Situated in some of the most lovely forest and pasture land in the area. Views of the bay are unrivaled.
see the sea lions hanging out under the wharf at the very end. lots of good seafood restaurants, wine bars, gift shops, places to rent kayaks, etc. nice view of the boardwalk, the lighthouse and the bay
143 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Wharf
21 Municipal Wharfsee the sea lions hanging out under the wharf at the very end. lots of good seafood restaurants, wine bars, gift shops, places to rent kayaks, etc. nice view of the boardwalk, the lighthouse and the bay
beach, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, quaint buildings, local color
167 locals recommend
Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey Avebeach, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, quaint buildings, local color
Parks & Nature
a variety of trails through the awe-inspiring redwoods
335 locals recommend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park Rda variety of trails through the awe-inspiring redwoods
trails from beach to redwoods and everything in-between for hikers and mountain bikers
219 locals recommend
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast Rdtrails from beach to redwoods and everything in-between for hikers and mountain bikers
New Brighton State Beach
1500 Park Aveone of many great beaches in the area.
Essentials
Trader Joe's
700 Front StShopper's Corner
622 Soquel Avehas butchers on staff at the meat counter
Staff of Life
1266 Soquel Avelocal comprehensive health food store with deli counter
Entertainment & Activities
This together with the Rio Theatre around the corner make up our art house theater offerings. Great places!
63 locals recommend
Landmark's Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln StThis together with the Rio Theatre around the corner make up our art house theater offerings. Great places!
Look for this free newspaper that comes out on Wednesdays for a complete line-up of what is happening in the area for any given week. Most all businesses carry stacks of this publication. No need to go to their Pacific Ave headquarters....
Good Times
107 Dakota AveLook for this free newspaper that comes out on Wednesdays for a complete line-up of what is happening in the area for any given week. Most all businesses carry stacks of this publication. No need to go to their Pacific Ave headquarters....
has been around since the early 1900's, admission free, can buy a day pass or single tickets for rides, also lots of arcade games. Can be crowded....
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach Sthas been around since the early 1900's, admission free, can buy a day pass or single tickets for rides, also lots of arcade games. Can be crowded....
Shopping
Santa Cruz's iconic pedestrian mall is a great place for people watching, window shopping, restaurants, coffee shops and street musicians.
88 locals recommend
Pacific Avenue
Pacific AvenueSanta Cruz's iconic pedestrian mall is a great place for people watching, window shopping, restaurants, coffee shops and street musicians.