Key Takeaways
- Santa Cruz is a laid-back beach town for all travelers, including families and couples.
- It’s easy to get around by walking and biking.
- Some of the best things to do include the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk, West Cliff bike path, and the many museums.
- Santa Cruz has all types of accommodations, including luxury and affordable options.
Best Things to Do in Santa Cruz
1. Beaches
Santa Cruz has many different beaches with different vibes. My two favorites are Main Beach and Twin Lakes Beach.
Main Beach
Main Beach is where all the action is. This is the beach that the beach boardwalk is on. It’s also within walking distance of the wharf. Completely family friendly, there are all kinds of food options, volleyball nets, big public bathrooms, showers, bike racks, and water fountains available.
Twin Lakes Beach
Twin Lakes Beach is another popular area. This is also one of the only beaches that allows bonfires, so you’ll usually see a couple happening in the cooler morning or evening hours.
Natural Bridges State Beach
National Bridges State Beach is a beautiful beach and state park in Santa Cruz county. It requires an entrance fee of $9 per person (or $6 for kids 12 and under), and it’s well worth the price. It’s a great beach for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, and flying a kite. Its most iconic sites include a wave-carved sea arch and a habitat for monarch butterflies.
Pleasure Point Beach
Pleasure Point Beach is a great spot for surfing in Santa Cruz. It’s also home to incredible wildlife, such as whales, dolphins, sea otters, harbor seals, and sea lions, which you can observe from a safe distance. This beach has limited free parking, along with plenty of surf shops, restaurants, and other attractions nearby.
Cowell’s Beach
Cowell’s Beach is another destination to swim and surf at, but the waves are tamer, making it ideal for beginners. If you prefer relaxing, you can sunbathe, float on the water, or watch the sunset. This beach has public restrooms, fresh water showers, lifeguards, and various spots for paid and free parking nearby.
2. Beach Boardwalk
The biggest draw to Santa Cruz is the legendary Beach Boardwalk—this place is like right out of a movie.
Rides like huge roller coasters to baby approved carousels, all types of games, a variety of foods from funnel cakes to craft beers, the casino arcade, mini golf, bowling, all with perfect beach views.
To top it off, during summer there are nightly family events.
Firework shows, yes. Live music, yes. Drive-in movies, yes. Should you go there, yes!
3. Santa Cruz Wharf
Another old school classic is the Santa Cruz Wharf.
Wear comfy shoes because it stretches for half a mile—it’s the longest wooden pier in the country!
It’s within walking distance of the boardwalk and there are plenty of restaurants, beach ware and souvenir shops, and beautiful views of beaches and open sea for as long as you can see (there are telescopes too!)
While you’re strolling you can make friends with the sea lions that like to chill there, and sometimes you can even spot whales or dolphins.
4. Ride bikes on West Cliff Bike Path
A bike is a must to get around Santa Cruz, it’s how you can really discover the town.
And the most popular bike (and walking) path is West Cliff Drive.
It’s a wide path, very easy to navigate, and almost all flat.
It starts at the wharf and goes about three miles where you’ll ride past cliff views, Steamer Lane (where you can watch the gnarly surfers), the famous surfer statue, an open grassy area to run around, Its Beach, Mitchell’s Cove Beach (which is the best spot to stop for some beach fun!), then end at Natural Bridges Beach.
You’ll get the best views in town from this path!
5. Downtown Santa Cruz
I love how charming but still trendy Downtown Santa Cruz is.
It’s full of restaurants, shops, bars, music venues, a movie theater, even street performers!
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History and various art galleries are also there.
The charming aspect of it is that unlike many outdoor shopping malls, Downtown Santa Cruz is full of local shops, bookstores, and family-owned restaurants.
Some of the cool events are Wednesday Farmer’s Markets, First Fridays (when the area turns into a art gallery with live music and wine), the Greek Festival in May, Pride in June, and the Chocolate Festival in January (yum!)
6. Roaring Camp Railroad
If your kid in any way likes trains, this is the thing to do. Seriously, this is IT.
A real deal steam train ride through the Redwood Forest and up to the summit of Bear Mountain. It’s a little over an hour, and it departs from Felton so you’ll need a car for this excursion.
The little town in Felton is adorable, like an old timey western town. There are a couple of spots to eat and get some snacks. My kids loved it there.
There are a couple of rides a day and adults are $33pp while children over 2 are $24 each.
7. Visit a Museum
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
You can explore everything the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History has to offer in about two hours. It has a wide range of changing exhibits, including niche history displays, areas about animals and fossils, and art galleries. This destination often hosts events and festivals, so the wide variety of this museum is perfect for people of all ages and interests.
Surfing Museum
Surfing is a big attraction in Santa Cruz, so if you love to surf, check out the local surfing museum. It’s filled with photographs, artifacts, surfboards, and other interesting displays about the history of surfing. It also has a gift shop with various surfing related items. It’s a small museum that you’ll likely spend less than an hour in, so it’s easy to fit into an afternoon on your itinerary.
Santa Cruz Children’s Museum
Technically in Capitola, but close enough.
In the Capitola Mall (which is random, but at least parking is easy), it’s a little over a mile from the center of town but WELL worth the drive.
There are multiple rooms jam packed with a range of hands-on activities. A play pizza shop, train area, rock climbing wall, a playhouse with a garden, musical instrument area, kinetic sand box, a race car track…the list goes on. There’s also a gated baby area too.
This place is incredible and definitely a must see! An added bonus is that there are a ton of different dining options next door including a Starbucks if you want to go early when it opens.
8. Parks & Playgrounds
Ocean View Park
A good sized neighborhood park with multiple play structures, swings, slides, a half basketball court, and amazing views of the ocean and Boardwalk. My kids loved it here, they didn’t want to leave!
Riverside Gardens Park
Within walking distance of the Boardwalk, Riverside Gardens is a small park with a community garden. There’s a playground, picnic tables, and plenty of grass to run around on. This is more suited for toddlers.
9. Seymour Marine Discovery Center
A small aquarium right on the water, this is a real treat for toddlers. Just the whale skeleton at the entrance will get them excited!
Inside, there are about 20 tanks with different types of species from Monterey Bay and touch tanks for sharks, sea stars, and hermit crabs. There are also tours and special exhibits to sign up for.
We walked outside to view the ocean and there were more whale skeletons plus employees teaching everyone about whale teeth! My kids had such a great time there!
10. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
As the name implies, the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is known for its massive redwood trees. The tallest tree in the park is about 1,500 years old, towering about 277 feet high and measuring about 16 feet wide. Crazy!
If you love hiking and exploring, this park is full of trails for every type of hiker. Plus there are also opportunities for biking, bird watching, geocaching, and fishing. It’s the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
There’s a park entrance fee of $10, and restrooms are available in some areas.
11. Mystery Spot
The Mystery Spot is definitely as magical as it sounds. It’s located in redwood forests outside of Santa Cruz, where demonstrations appear to defy gravity. Tourists should definitely check it out once because it’s a very shocking experience that can be explained by optical illusions.
Each ticket to this unique experience is $10 (but children under 3 are free). The parking lot outside the experience charges $5 per vehicle. There are several tours every hour, and it’s best to buy your tickets in advance to ensure you can get in.
12. Wine Tasting in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz is known for having amazing wine tasting experiences, so if the adults can get away, you should check out one of these spots!
Regale Winery
Regale Winery transports you to another world with its Italian landscapes and old-world villas. The tasting room opens every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. You can experience their wines by the bottle, glass, or flight.
MJA Vineyards
MJA Vineyards makes wines using grapes from esteemed vineyards in Napa, St. Helena, and Howell Mountain. They offer these spectacular wines at affordable prices for the Santa Cruz area. This vineyard also regularly hosts live music events so you can have an exciting atmosphere while you sip your wine.
Beauregard Vineyards
Beauregard Vineyards opens from 10 am to 5 pm daily, and the last tasting flight is served at 4:30. Your wine tasting experience includes highly-rated samples of Estate Grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. There are beautiful views of Redwood trees from this location.
Best Places to Eat in Santa Cruz
I haven’t been to a restaurant I didn’t like in Santa Cruz, but here’s a list of THE places to eat. I have been to each and can vouch for how good they are!
Breakfast
Zachary’s
Zachary’s has offered homemade breakfast and lunch since 1985. They serve customizable classic breakfast dishes with indoor and outdoor seating from 7 am to 2:30 pm (Tuesday – Sunday).
Seabreeze Cafe
Seabreeze Cafe is open from 8 am to 2 pm (Monday – Saturday) and 8 am to 1 pm (Sunday). It offers a friendly, neighborhood atmosphere with many vegetarian and vegan choices.
Harbor Cafe
Harbor Cafe makes savory breakfast foods using local produce. It’s open Thursday through Monday from 9 am to 1:30 pm, and there’s patio seating for warm weather days.
Seafood
Riva Fish House
Riva Fish House was voted Santa Cruz’s Best Seafood Restaurant. From 11 am to 8 pm (Sunday – Thursday) and 11 am to 9 pm (Friday – Saturday) you can get delicious seafood meals with a great view.
The Water Street Grill
The Water Street Grill is a local, family-owned restaurant. From 5 pm to 9 pm daily, you can get fresh fish and steak meals at this quaint dining option.
American & Burgers
Crow’s Nest
The Crow’s Nest is located right on the water, so it has amazing views while you enjoy classic American breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes. Stop by from 8 am to 9 pm (Monday – Thursday), 8 am to 11 pm (Friday – Saturday), or 8 am to 9:30 pm (Sunday).
Betty’s Burgers
If you love burgers and other juicy sandwiches, try Betty’s Burgers. There are three Santa Cruz locations open from 11 am to 8pm daily.
Ideal Bar & Grill
You can find Ideal Bar by the historic Santa Cruz wharf. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner with hours varying based on the day of the week.
More Cuisine Options
Mediterranean & Afghan: Laili
Laili serves rich Mediterranean dishes with a special Afghan twist to give you a one-of-a-kind dining experience. On Tuesday through Saturday, they serve lunch from 12 pm to 2:30 pm and dinner from 5 pm to 8:30 pm.
Vegetarian: Pretty Good Advice
Pretty Good Advice offers vegetarian and vegan meals, including black bean burgers, meat-free sandwiches, and salads. They’re open every day from 9 am to 6 pm.
Mexican: Copal
Copal serves Oaxacan cuisine, and everything is made from scratch using local ingredients. It’s open Wednesday through Monday, and it has varying hours depending on the day.
Sample Itinerary for Santa Cruz
Day 1: Get to Santa Cruz
- Start by exploring a park, such as the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
- Drive to the Harbor and put your name down at Crow’s Nest.
- While you wait for your table, get your feet in the sand on Harbor Beach and walk over to the Lighthouse for some great pictures.
Day 2: Ride your bike to the Boardwalk
- Go downtown and get breakfast at Zachary’s.
- Head over to the bike rental shop and ride the West Cliff bike path. Make stops for plenty of pictures, and cool off at Natural Bridges Beach.
- Stop by a short attraction, such as the Surfing Museum or Mystery spot.
- Don’t forget to try some delicious lunch and dinner options.
- Hit the Beach Boardwalk for the rest of the day.
Day 3: Take a train in the forest
- Walk the wharf and get breakfast and do some shopping.
- Get in the car and head over to the Roaring Camp railroad.
- Get some delicious local lunch and dinner whenever you’re feeling hungry.
- Take a break to do some wine tasting at a local vineyard.
Best Places to Stay in Santa Cruz
There are all types of places you can stay in Santa Cruz—from bed and breakfasts to beachfront hotels. Note that there aren’t the high rises and luxury resorts you’re used to around big beach areas.
There are a lot more 2-and 3-star inns and hotels.
Here are a few family-friendly options for hotels around the Boardwalk area:
Luxury
Dream Inn
I LOVE THE Dream Inn. It has a fun, retro vibe. It’s the only hotel in Santa Cruz that is actually on the beach and ALL rooms have a beach view.
It has a fabulous outdoor area too, with a heated pool, hot tub, food and drink service, and fire pit. It also has a small coffee shop in the lobby for coffee, pastries, and breakfast items.
There are no options for suites with separate rooms, but every room has a big, furnished patio for you to escape to after the kids go to sleep. Cribs or pack-and-plays are offered at no extra charge.
✅ Check prices and book your stay at the Dream Inn here!
Mid-Range
Beach Street Inn
Beach Street Inn‘s fun and bright design gives it an old time California feel. Across the street from the boardwalk and the wharf, it is in the prime location.
In addition to standard rooms, there are many options for 1- or 2-bedroom suites with kitchens. The outdoor area features a heated pool, hot tub, and fire pit. They also have free washer and dryers available!
✅ Check prices and book your stay at Beach Street Inn here!
Sea and Sand Inn
Every room at the Sea and Sand Inn has a peaceful ocean view. Guests can experience daily refreshments, complimentary hot breakfast, and private hot tubs for a luxury experience at a reasonable price.
Plus, this accommodation is within walking distance of the boardwalk, shops, and restaurants, so you can easily experience what Santa Cruz has to offer.
✅ Check prices and book your stay at Sea and Sand Inn here!
Value
Carousel Beach Inn
The brightly decorated Carousel Beach Inn is steps away from the beach boardwalk. A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily and a fridge and microwave are in every room. Only standard rooms are offered, but each has a private patio.
✅ Check prices and book your stay at the Carousel Beach Inn here!
How to Get Around Santa Cruz
Walk or Bike
If you stay near the Wharf or the Boardwalk (which I recommend), you can easily get around by walking or biking. It’s very common to see a lot of people biking around town. I even overheard a local say to someone that “biking is a part of our DNA.”
Car
If you want to explore the whole area or check out neighboring cities, then rent a car. Check for rental cars here.
How to Get to Santa Cruz
San Jose International Airport (SJC)
The closest airport to Santa Cruz is San Jose International Airport, it’s a little over 30 miles away and about 45 minutes without traffic. SJC is a small-ish, easily manageable airport.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Francisco International Airport is roughly 60 miles north of Santa Cruz and about an hour away without traffic. SFO is a beast of an airport. You’ll most likely find more direct options for flights at a cheaper price, but you’ll have to deal with the craziness.
Oakland International Airport (OAK)
Oakland International Airport is about 65 miles away from Santa Cruz. Unless you’re starting your trip in the Bay Area and then heading to Santa Cruz, I wouldn’t recommend flying into Oakland for a Santa Cruz trip. But if you’re staying in the Bay first, I prefer it because it’s smaller than SFO.
