The Beach Boys sang, “Let’s go surfin now, everybody’s learnin how”.  That could very well be the theme song of the city of Santa Cruz, California.  Think beach, sun, fun, and perfect sunshine, and you’ll have a picture of Santa Cruz.

Located on Monterey Bay, south of San Francisco, Santa Cruz is in many ways the quintessential California town, combining a laid-back counterculture atmosphere with plenty of shore activities and, of course, surfing. The city is the proud home of the historic Boardwalk.  It contains one of the oldest amusement-park areas on the West Coast and one of its roller coasters is even a National Historic Landmark.  Don’t let that fool you as the park is truly state of the art with numerous other roller coasters, special effects and robotics as well.

This is surfing country. There are several places along the coast for the adventurous visitor to shoot the curls or just watch the experts show their stuff.  Whether you can hang 10 or not, you'll enjoy the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, contained in a lighthouse off West Cliff Drive, near Lighthouse Field State Beach. It covers the sport from its infancy in the 1930s, explaining changes in board technology and chronicling the stars of the surfing world.

Of course, the town's numerous beaches in addition to, or aside from surfing. You can just relax and get that perfect tan while sipping on a cool drink.  Or, if you prefer, fishing and swimming are fun sports for those who want to be active while they're hanging out.  A nice break is to experience a sailboat cruises for viewing the beach from the bay. With so many beaches to choose from, with miles of shoreline, you should be able find one to fit your activities and temperament.

When it comes to weather, Santa Cruz can’t be beat.  Each day can be better than the last.  The area is world known for beautiful, dry, and delightfully sunny weather being the norm…there are not enough words to describe the perfect weather in this magnificent city.  With the lowest temperatures of the year near 40 degrees F and the high temperatures rarely above 80 degrees F, there is no time that isn’t just right for taking part in any of the numerous and exciting outdoor activities. Winter is just cool enough to enjoy the Chili Cook-Off, held each February.  Spring is the perfect time for those long walks on the beach with your special someone.  Summer is made for visitors.  With perfect weather and a host of activities, sites, and attractions for everyone, who wouldn’t want to stay for as long as possible?  Whether to surf, watch the whales, watch the people, swim, fish, shop, eat, ride the roller coasters or just read a good book on one of the beautiful beaches, this California city has it all.

This is California at its finest.  The only missing ingredient to make it perfect is you!

Population:                  54,593

Elevation:                    20 feet above sea level

Land area:                   12.5 square miles

Location:                     77 miles Southeast of San Francisco, on Monterey Bay

Weather

Climate

Local Seasons:

Perfect, beautiful, dry, delightful…there are not enough words to describe the perfect weather in this magnificent California city.  Lowest (night) temperatures are near 40 degrees F and the high temperatures are rarely above 80 degrees F. Make no mistake about it; Santa Cruz is a place for visitors who enjoy outdoor activities.    The Boardwalk is California’s oldest amusement park but don’t let that deter you.  It is “state of the art”  and blends  old-time nostalgia with modern thrills. Winter is just cool enough for warming up with the Chili Cook-Off, held each February.  Spring is the perfect time for those long walks on the beach with your special someone.  Summer is made for visitors.  With perfect weather for any activity, you may want to consider a whale watching trip or just take a day at the beach for some “people watching”.  Whatever the season, this remarkable California city will leave you tan and smiling.

Getting There:

By Car

Santa Cruz is 77 miles southeast of San Francisco. The most scenic route to Santa Cruz is along Calif. Route 1 from San Francisco, which, aside from the "you fall, you die" stretch called Devil's Slide, it allows you to cruise at a steady 50 mph. Faster but far less romantic is Calif. 17, which is accessed near San Jose from I-280, I-880, or U.S. 101, and literally ends at the foot of the boardwalk. The exception to this rule is on weekend mornings, when Calif. 17 tends to logjam with Bay Area beachgoers while Calif. 1 remains relatively uncrowded.

By Air

The nearest major airport is

San Jose International Airport

2077 Airport Blvd., San Jose, CA 95110

408-277-4SKY

Located 30 miles northeast of Santa Cruz.

San Francisco International Airport is approximately 60 miles north of Santa Cruz

Located near the junction of Highways 101 and 380. 27

650-821-8211

Most car rental companies operate at or near the airports

Taxis are also available

By Bus

Greyhound

Sean & Sharon Love
425 Front Street, Santa Cruz CA 95062

831-423-1800

Local Bus Service

ABC Transportation (airport service)
3131 Porter Dr., Soque

831-464-8893

Santa Cruz Airporter (airport service)
131 Front St., Santa Cruz

831-423-1214 or 800-497-4997

Early Bird Airport Shuttle (airport service)
4525 Portola Dr., Santa Cruz

831-462-3933

By Train

Amtrak Bus Connector Service

800-USA-RAIL

The nearest train depot is located in San Jose.
From San Jose's Diridon Station, this service connects with Amtrak's Capitol, Coast Starlight, and San Joaquin service; Caltrain from San Francisco and the Peninsula; VTA routes 63, 64, 68, 11, and 180; the South Bay Flyer to Greyhound as well as the San Jose and San Francisco Airports.

Getting around:

With so many things to see and do in and around Santa Cruz, the best way to get around is by car.  However, other means of transportation are available as well.

By Bus:

Santa Cruz METRO operates 42 routes throughout Santa Cruz County. Bus Information - (831) 425-8600

Greyhound Lines
800-231-2222

By Water Taxi:

Free Santa Cruz Harbor water taxi operates weekends & holidays 10–6, Memorial Day through Labor Day.

831-475-6161

National Holidays:

New Year's Day: Jan. 1

Martin Luther King, Jr., Day: 3rd Mon. in Jan.

President's Day:  3rd Mon. in Feb.

Memorial Day: last Mon. in May

Independence Day: July 4

Labor Day: 1st Mon. in Sept.

Thanksgiving Day:  4th Thurs. in Nov.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Dec. 24 and 25

New Year's Eve: Dec. 31

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front Street

Santa Cruz, CA

831-429-964

Museum Hours: Tuesdays - Sundays 11am - 5pm

Admission Charged.  Free for children under 12.
This quaint little museum in downtown Santa Cruz focuses on contemporary and historical visual culture with a series of rotating exhibitions. The permanent collection displays historical artifacts that illustrate the unique history of Santa Cruz. The museum also offers docent-led tours of the historic Octagon building, the Evergreen Historic Cemetery, and the Davenport Jail Museum.

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
144 School Street, Mission Plaza

Santa Cruz, CA

831-425-5849

Call for days and hours of operation

Admission Charged

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is the site of a complex of buildings erected around the original Santa Cruz Mission. Part of the cluster, the Neary-Rodriguez Adobe, was built in 1791 and is the last of the mission’s many buildings to survive. The lovely, single-story adobe has been restored to its original appearance. Misión la Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz was the 12th mission built in California. It was completed during the 1790s. Damaged by several earthquakes, it collapsed in 1857.

 

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
400 Beach St.

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831-426-7433 or831-423-5590 (boardwalk calendar)

Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekends fall through spring.

Admission Free to boardwalk, Admission Charged for rides.
California's oldest amusement park is about as original--and memorable--as boardwalks come. The park has two national landmarks -- a 1924 wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster, a 1911 carousel with hand-carved wooden horses, and a 342-pipe organ band. The only major seaside amusement park on the Pacific Coast, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk blends old-time nostalgia with modern thrills. You can buy a bag of salt-water taffy, get your fortune told in the old-style arcade, take a road rage-releasing ride on the bumper cars, or test your mettle on the giant wood-framed roller coaster, The Giant Dipper, whose unforgettable dips rival any extreme adventure in new theme parks. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk features a carousel and little cars and airplanes for the kiddies as well. Bring a swimsuit and a towel, as you'll be steps from a sandy, beautiful Santa Cruz beach.

Neptune's Kingdom

400 Beach St. on the Boardwalk

Santa Cruz, CA

831-423-5590

Grand Arcades opens at 11am and stays open late every day except December 25th.

Admission Free, Charges apply for golf, arcade games and other activities.

Neptune’s Kingdom is a nautical-themed indoor family recreation and entertainment center
located on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk whose main feature is a two-story miniature golf course. Test your skills inside Smuggler's Arcade playing video games and pinball. Visit the Captain's Game Deck upstairs for more fun and games including eight pool tables, air hockey, fosse ball, snacks, and beer.

Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf

Intersection of West Cliff Dr. and Beach St.

Santa Cruz, CA

831-420-5273

Open daily 5 am–2 am

Admission Charged

Enjoy interpretive displays along this half-mile pier, including an aquarium.

On weekends, watch the sea lions, and stop by the Sanctuary office at 55-D, Upper Level.

You can also crab and fish from the wharf. 

Santa Cruz Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot Rd., off Branciforte Dr.

Santa Cruz, CA

831-423-8897

Hours: Summer: 9:00am to last tour @7:00 pm, Winter: 9:00am to last tour @ 5:00pm, (After Labor Day up to Memorial Day)

Admission Charged.

The Mystery Spot is an area about 150 feet in diameter located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz, California. Within the Mystery Spot you will be baffled as the laws of physics and gravity cease to exist; balls roll uphill, chairs sit on walls and people lean over so far they can't see their shoes, yet they don't fall down. Discovered in 1939 and opened to the public in 1940, the Mystery Spot has amazed and perplexed hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. Many return again to experience the puzzling variations in gravity, perspective, height and more.

Pacific Garden Mall
Pacific Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA

831-429-8433

Call for days and hours of operation

Admission Free
This outdoor mall is the heart of downtown Santa Cruz. Filled with eclectic shops selling one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothes and art, as well as plenty of books, music and a dearth of quirky thrift stores. Street performers lend the mall its unique bohemian character, and a wide variety of restaurants, bars, clubs and movie theaters keep visitors entertained into the wee hours.

L. H. Selman Ltd. Glass Gallery
103 & 123 Locust Street

Santa Cruz, CA

800-538-0766 or 831-427-1177

Monday - Friday 9:00 - 5:00, Saturday - 10:00 - 4:00, Sunday - by appointment

Admission Free, donations accepted.
In addition to some of the finest glassware, sculptures and jewelry around, the Glass Gallery features one of the only museums in the country devoted entirely to paperweights. The gallery is on a mission to educate the world about these glorious relics, and to see that paperweights receive the recognition and representation they deserve in the art world.

Pasatiempo Golf Club (public)
20 Clubhouse Road

Santa Cruz, CA

831-459-9169

Open daily, call for hours of operation

Admission Charged.
Designed by world-renowned golf architect Alister MacKenzie (who also designed Augusta and Cypress Point), this 6,439 yard, par 70 course was rated as one of the top 100 courses by Golf Digest. The course is nestled in the rolling hills above Santa Cruz, offering scenic vistas of the beautiful Monterey Bay. Enjoy breakfast and lunch at the MacKenzie Bar & Grill, and relax into the evening with fine Santa Cruz dining at the elegant and historic Hollins House.

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
1305 East Cliff Drive

Santa Cruz CA;

831-420-6115

Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am to 5pm

Admission Charged, Youth under 18 free
Tour the many habitats of Santa Cruz simply with a stroll through the exhibit area; visit woodlands, chaparral, grasslands, and a variety of marine environments. Pound acorns the Ohlone way, excavate sand dollars, tickle a sea star, or get up close and personal with a living bee hive. Great for all ages, although the children particularly enjoy climbing on the cement whale which is located on the front lawn.

 

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum
West Cliff Drive

Santa Cruz CA

831-420-6289

Winter Hours: Thursday through Monday, noon – 4:00pm, Summer Hours: Wednesday through Monday, noon – 4:00pm

Admission Charged

The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is housed in the small, brick Mark Abbon Memorial Lighthouse overlooking Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz's internationally renowned surf spot, as well as Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. Focusing on Santa Cruz's surfing history, the Surfing Museum displays Antique surfboards, videos, photographs, and other memorabilia depict the history and evolution of surfing around the world.

University of California at Santa Cruz
1156 High Street

Santa Cruz, CA

831-459-0111

Call for additional information

Admission Free to Visit
Since 1965, UCSC has been expanding into what is now a sprawling campus amongst the majestic redwoods above Santa Cruz. Enrollment now exceeds 14,000 students (comprised mostly of undergraduates), giving Santa Cruz a decidedly college-town flavor. UCSC hosts many events throughout the year, adding a diverse range of music, dance and theater from countries around the world to Santa Cruz's cultural mix.

Center's Farm and Alan Chadwick Garden

Santa Cruz, CA

UCSC Farm and Garden Tour

831-459-3240 to schedule

Open to the public daily from 8 am to 6 pm, with a self-guided tour brochure available at the Farm entrance.

Admission Charged

Specialized tours for professional groups, visiting farmers and researchers are available by arrangement.  The Farm and Garden offer thriving examples of organic agriculture and horticulture on both a hand-worked garden scale and medium-sized farm scale. Whether you're a gardener interested in what plants do well in the Central Coast region, a farmer looking for production information, or you just want to take a walk and enjoy the views, the Farm & Garden have something to offer. 

During their tours, visitors can see first-hand how to build fertile soil and control pests, recycle yard and kitchen waste, conserve water, and encourage biodiversity.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center

Long Marine Laboratory, 100 Shaffer Rd., at the northwest end of Delaware Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA

831-459-3800

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from noon to 5pm

Admission Charged.

Visit a working marine laboratory. Exhibit halls, aquarium, touch tanks, tours to marine mammal research overlook, Ocean Discovery Shop, and unsurpassed vistas of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Hold a sea star - marvel at the world's largest whale skeleton - think like a scientist!

Surfing/Beaches/Parks

Beaches with Lifeguard Service in summer:

(Hours vary from beach to beach.)

Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz

Cowell Beach, Santa Cruz

Main Beach, Santa Cruz

Seabright State Beach, Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Harbor Beach, Santa Cruz

Twin Lakes State Beach, Santa Cruz

For further information on beach or ocean conditions contact:

State Beaches

831-427-4868

Santa Cruz City Beaches

831-420-6015

Steamer Lane

West Cliff Drive

Santa Cruz, CA

A favorite surfing spot where you can watch pro surfers shredding the waves. A classic name for a classic California surf spot, Steamer Lane is geo-strategically placed to sweep up just about everything moving within or just above the surface of the Pacific Ocean and put it to some use. Because Santa Cruz faces straight south, Lighthouse Point points almost directly south, and that geography is the secret to Steamer Lane's success. Swells from the west and northwest that ravage the coast north of Santa Cruz are evened out and groomed as they bend into Monterey Bay.

Steamer Lane is maybe a little too irresistible, because it is now one of the most crowded surf spots in California. At any given hour, there is probably a wider range of people surfing Steamer Lane than anywhere else in the world.

Natural Bridges State Beach

2531 W. Cliff Dr.

Santa Cruz, CA

831-423-4609

Park open daily 8am-sunset, Visitor Center open Fri–Sun 10–4 in summer, more in winter & spring.  Call for exact hours.

Parking Fee

A large sandy beach with nearby tide pools and hiking trails. It's also home to a large colony of monarch butterflies that cluster and mate in the nearby eucalyptus grove. 

Bonny Doon

Bonny Doon Road and Calif. 1

Santa Cruz, CA

An uncrowded sandy beach and a major surfing spot accessible by a steep walkway.

Pleasure Point Beach

East Cliff Drive at Pleasure Point Drive

Santa Cruz, CA

Twin Lakes State Beach: 

Ideal for sunning and also provides access to Schwann Lagoon, a bird sanctuary.

Wilder Ranch State Park

2 miles north of Santa Cruz, immediately west of Highway 1, just a mile or so past the Western Drive stoplight.

831-423-9703

Park open daily 8 a.m. to sunset, Interpretive Center open Thurs–Sun 10–4

Parking Fee

The park has 4,505 acres, with 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian rails winding through coastal terraces and valleys. Several restored buildings once belonging to the Wilder family are preserved. The park has tours and living history demonstrations to help visitors explore the history of early ranchers and farmers along the Central Coast. The site was originally the main rancho supplying Santa Cruz Mission. It later became a successful and innovative dairy ranch. Surrounding grounds include Victorian homes, gardens, and historic adobe.

Surfing Lessons & Surfboard Rental

Arrow Surf Shop

2324 Mission St.

Santa Cruz, CA.

831-423-8286

Call for days and hours of operation

Surfboard rentals & sales.

Club Ed Surf School & Camps, Inc.

On Cowell Beach

Santa Cruz, CA

800-287-SURF (7873)

Call for additional information

Surfing lessons private & group, surfboard & wetsuit rentals, 7-day surf camps.

Open year round

Cowell’s Beach ‘n Bikini Surf Shop

30 Front St.

Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-2355

Call for additional information

Complete surf rentals, lessons.

Shoreline Surf Shop

125 Beach St.

Santa Cruz, CA

831-458-1380,

Call for additional information

Surfboard rentals.

Whale Watching, Boating, & Fishing

Santa Cruz Sportfishing

Santa Cruz, CA

831-426-4690

Call for additional information

Ocean fishing trips for salmon, rock cod, albacore. Whale watching & Sanctuary tours.

Shamrock Charters & Fisherman’s Supply

In the Santa Cruz Harbor

Santa Cruz, CA

831-476-2648

Call for additional information 

Monterey Bay Sanctuary tours, sport fishing, whale watching, charters, fishing gear.

Stagnaro’s

On the Santa Cruz Wharf

Santa Cruz, CA

831-427-2334

Call for additional information

Fishing trips, whale watching, scenic bay cruises, private charters.

Events

February

Clam Chowder Cook Off

Beach Boardwalk

831-420-5273

Admission Free; Admission Charged for tasting kits

Teams vie for the title of best Manhattan (red) and Boston (white) chowder chefs in Northern California. Teams decorate booths and themselves as they show off their clammy culinary skills.

Call for exact date and time

April

Celebrate Spring Break

Beach Boardwalk

831-426-7433.

Daily operation! Rides open at 11 a.m. each day; closing times vary

Call for additional information

May

Santa Cruz Blues Festival

Aptos Village Park

100 Aptos Creek Rd. Aptos CA 95003

831-479-9814 or 831-479-1854

Admission Charged.

The Blues Festival advertises  a stellar roster of talent that showcases the very best of the blues.

Gates open at 10:00am; Show starts at 11:00am and ends approximately 7:00pm

May-October

Sunny, dry weather is perfect for sea kayaking, SCUBA diving, boating and surfing.

Humpback whales and blue whales visit the Marine Sanctuary, May through October.

Guided tide pool field trips at Natural Bridges State Park, weekends through

September, call for times.

831-423-4609

 

Summer

The Boardwalk’s weeknight wonders
Every Monday and Tuesday night after 5 p.m., all Boardwalk ride prices are reduced dramatically. Hot dogs, Pepsi, and cotton candy are also at a substantial savings these nights.


 

Late June – Early September

The Pepsi Presents: Free Friday Night Bands

831-423-5590

Brings exciting free Friday night concerts to the Boardwalk’s Beach Bandstand.  

Two shows each Friday, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Look for classic bands from the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s

Shakespeare Santa Cruz

Festival Glen and Main Stage Theatre.

Theater Arts Center, UCSC

1156 High Street, Santa Cruz

831-459-2159

Admission Charged.
Experience lively, innovative theatre performed in the spectacular outdoor Festival Glen and the intimate indoor Main stage Theatre. Under the majestic redwoods of coastal California, see one of the top ten Shakespeare Festivals in the country.

Call for ticket and additional information

August

Aloha Races & Polynesian Festival

831-420-5273

Admission Charged

At the Santa Cruz Wharf.

Novice outrigger canoe races in the morning, followed by a Polynesian cultural festival at 11:00am. Get a taste of the tropics.

With food, dance, music and more

Call for additional information

September

Big Kahuna Triathlon

Beach Boardwalk

831-477-0965

Admission to Participate
Nearly 1,000 entrants participate in the annual event, which starts and finishes at the Boardwalk.

Call to register and for additional information

USA/Boardwalk Youth Cheerleading Competition

Beach Boardwalk Bandstand

831-426-7433

Give us a ‘B’ for Boardwalk during annual Youth Cheerleading competition. Cheerleaders from throughout the state compete during this annual spirit day.

Call for additional information

October


 

Santa Cruz Birthday Fireworks Spectacular!

Main Beach, Boardwalk & Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz

831-423-5590

Admission Free.

Celebrate Santa Cruz's birthday with the breathtaking Fireworks Spectacular.  Watch from the Boardwalk as the skies light up with a dazzling display of pyrotechnics.

Call for exact date and time

Hot Rods at the Beach

Beach Street parking lot opposite Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz.

831-423-3720

Admission Free
This event is a local non-profit car show benefiting the Santa Cruz Police Officers Association. A family-oriented event featuring 500 classic/hot rod vehicles 1973 and older. Raffle, food, music and more!

Call for additional information

 

Santa Cruz Youth Band Review

831-423-5590
Admission Free.

The Youth Band Review marches from downtown Santa Cruz to the Boardwalk. Watch high school bands from all over California.

Call for additional information

Halloween on the Wharf

Santa Cruz Wharf
831-420-5273  
Little witches, goblins, and ghosts and their parents can enjoy safe and sane trick-or-treating at the Parks and Recreation Department’s Halloween celebration on the wharf. Treats for kids provided at wharf businesses. A costume contest from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and a photo booth at the wharf stage are all part of the fun.

Call for exact time

December

Lighted Boat Parade At the Santa Cruz Harbor 

831-475-6161

Admission Free

Kick off the holiday season with the festive sight of brightly lit boats parading through the harbor.

1st Saturday in December, 5:30 pm, rain or shine.

December 31

A First Night

Downtown Santa Cruz

831-425-7277

Admission Charged.

A First Night is a community celebration of the New Year through the arts. It is an alcohol-free, public festival that marks the passage from the old year to the new with art, ritual and festivity. All First Night Celebrations are licensed by First Night International and adhere to a set of standards.

Santa Cruz, nearly 20,000 people celebrate New Year's together by enjoying a variety of entertainment including theatre, music, dance, visual arts, and community art installations.

Call for additional information

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
400 Beach St.

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831-426-7433 or831-423-5590 (boardwalk calendar)

Open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekends fall through spring.

Admission Free to boardwalk, Admission Charged for rides.
California's oldest amusement park is about as original--and memorable--as boardwalks come. The park has two national landmarks -- a 1924 wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster, a 1911 carousel with hand-carved wooden horses, and a 342-pipe organ band. The only major seaside amusement park on the Pacific Coast, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk blends old-time nostalgia with modern thrills. You can buy a bag of salt-water taffy, get your fortune told in the old-style arcade, take a road rage-releasing ride on the bumper cars, or test your mettle on the giant wood-framed roller coaster, The Giant Dipper, whose unforgettable dips rival any extreme adventure in new theme parks. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk features a carousel and little cars and airplanes for the kiddies as well. Bring a swimsuit and a towel, as you'll be steps from a sandy, beautiful Santa Cruz beach.

Neptune's Kingdom

400 Beach St. on the Boardwalk

Santa Cruz, CA

831-423-5590

Grand Arcades opens at 11am and stays open late every day except December 25th.

Admission Free, Charges apply for golf, arcade games and other activities.

Neptune’s Kingdom is a nautical-themed indoor family recreation and entertainment center
located on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk whose main feature is a two-story miniature golf course. Test your skills inside Smuggler's Arcade playing video games and pinball. Visit the Captain's Game Deck upstairs for more fun and games including eight pool tables, air hockey, fosse ball, snacks, and beer.

Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf

Intersection of West Cliff Dr. and Beach St.

Santa Cruz, CA

831-420-5273

Open daily 5 am–2 am

Admission Charged

Enjoy interpretive displays along this half-mile pier, including an aquarium.

On weekends, watch the sea lions, and stop by the Sanctuary office at 55-D, Upper Level.

You can also crab and fish from the wharf. 

Santa Cruz Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot Rd., off Branciforte Dr.

Santa Cruz, CA

831-423-8897

Hours: Summer: 9:00am to last tour @7:00 pm, Winter: 9:00am to last tour @ 5:00pm, (After Labor Day up to Memorial Day)

Admission Charged.

The Mystery Spot is an area about 150 feet in diameter located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz, California. Within the Mystery Spot you will be baffled as the laws of physics and gravity cease to exist; balls roll uphill, chairs sit on walls and people lean over so far they can't see their shoes, yet they don't fall down. Discovered in 1939 and opened to the public in 1940, the Mystery Spot has amazed and perplexed hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. Many return again to experience the puzzling variations in gravity, perspective, height and more.

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
1305 East Cliff Drive

Santa Cruz CA;

831-420-6115

Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am to 5pm

Admission Charged, Youth under 18 free
Tour the many habitats of Santa Cruz simply with a stroll through the exhibit area; visit woodlands, chaparral, grasslands, and a variety of marine environments. Pound acorns the Ohlone way, excavate sand dollars, tickle a sea star, or get up close and personal with a living bee hive. Great for all ages, although the children particularly enjoy climbing on the cement whale which is located on the front lawn.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center

Long Marine Laboratory, 100 Shaffer Rd., at the northwest end of Delaware Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA

831-459-3800

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday from noon to 5pm

Admission Charged.

Visit a working marine laboratory. Exhibit halls, aquarium, touch tanks, tours to marine mammal research overlook, Ocean Discovery Shop, and unsurpassed vistas of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Hold a sea star - marvel at the world's largest whale skeleton - think like a scientist!