Searching for the best Santa Cruz attractions & activities? In this post, a local shares what are the most fun things to do in Santa Cruz California.
The small beach town of Santa Cruz, California probably isn’t on your radar. It’s not known to many outside of California, but it absolutely should be.
Home to the oldest amusement park in California and incredible surfing spots, this small surf town serves up classic all-American fun year-round.
Santa Cruz is located in the heart of the Monterey Bay, just an hour and half south of San Francisco. The town is tucked away between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Cruz mountains, which makes for perfectly cool weather throughout the year.
There’s a ton of fun things to do in Santa Cruz, from experiencing the awe-inducing coastline and the giant redwood forests, to exploring the quirky downtown scene.
Whether you’re visiting Santa Cruz on a day trip from San Francisco, or coming to spend a few days in the town, you’ll be sure to fall in love with Santa Cruz.
Where to Stay in Santa Cruz
When figuring out where to stay in Santa Cruz, you should think about what you want to spend your time doing. The most popular option is the Dream Inn, which is the only hotel in town that will give you direct beach access.
The Dream Inn also puts you right next to the Wharf, the Boardwalk, and West Cliff Drive. It’s popular, so book a room in advance if you’re set on staying here.
The Hyatt Place Santa Cruz will put you closer to downtown Santa Cruz, and is a relatively new hotel. There are no real views here, but it’s a good option for those looking for a big brand name.
The east side of town is often overlooked, but there’s some amazing rentals here. We’ve had family stay at this gorgeous house walking distance to the beach, and would highly recommend it.
Booking.comBest Things to Do in Santa Cruz, California: Fun Santa Cruz Attractions & Activities
Santa Cruz is perfectly positioned to give you easy access to a wide variety of outdoor activities. I lived in Santa Cruz for several years and always found something new to explore.
Hike the Redwood Forests
The mountains that surround Santa Cruz are the perfect home for the giant redwood forests, home to the tallest trees in the world. Redwood trees can grow over 300 feet tall and be thousands of years old.
The redwood forests that surround Santa Cruz are majestic, and the crisp air makes hiking them really pleasant, even for beginners. Some of the best places to hike the redwood forests are at one of the many state parks in the area. At Big Basin State Park, take the redwood trail to see the Mother of the Forest and the Father of the Forest, two giant old growth redwood trees that stand tall towering over the park.
This is an easy half a mile hike that will have you surrounded by giant redwoods. From here you can branch off and take one of the many other trails, including the long skyline to the sea trail that takes you through the forest all the way to the ocean.
Another great option for seeing the giant redwoods is the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Take the Redwood Grove Loop trail for an easy hike to see trees that are over 1,000 years old.
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Explore Westcliff Drive
Westcliff Drive is one of the most well-known areas of Santa Cruz, and one of the most beautiful. Westcliff hugs the cliffs sitting over the Pacific Ocean and provides stunning views throughout.
The path through Westcliff is about a two-and-a-half-mile walk that begins right past the Santa Cruz wharf and stretches all the way down to Natural Bridges State Beach.
The walk is pretty flat, and will give you views of the Santa Cruz wharf and the boardwalk. There are several benches along the way where you can stop and take in the view. Keep an eye out for surfers, dolphins, sea otters, sea lions, and even whales in the ocean below.
Hint: If you are keen on learning how to surf, there is this fun how-to surf 2-day beginner’s course. Whether you’re a newbie or have tried surfing before, benefit from the experience of a lifeguard-certified professional coach in a safe and supportive environment.
Most people walk Westcliff beginning at the Wharf, so parking near this area is much more limited. To find better parking, start near Natural Bridges and do the walk “backwards”.
Local tip: there’s a set of stairs that takes you down to the rocks over the water (look for Chris’ Cove on Google Maps). Park on Westcliff and Fair Street, and look for the stairs to the left of the only house on the ocean side. Be careful, as the waves can be unpredictable!
Spend the Day at the Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk is the oldest amusement park in California, and sits right by the water.
The Boardwalk has everything you’d expect: rollercoasters, carnival games, an arcade, mini golf, and yummy funnel cakes! Every summer you’ll find both locals and tourists flocking to the Boardwalk for all-American fun in the sun.
My favorite ride is the sea swings – it’s fun and will give you great views of the ocean. For thrill seekers, the Giant Dipper is the red and white wooden roller coaster built in 1924 that’s an iconic ride towering over the Boardwalk.
There are also several events throughout the year at the Boardwalk that are worth going to. In February, the Clam Chowder Cook-Off brings crowds from throughout the state as professionals and amateurs battle for the best clam chowder award.
During summer, there’s movies at the beach – they show a free movie every Wednesday night right by the water and it’s a ton of fun!
On certain nights, there’s also free summer concerts at the beach. What else could you ask for?
Local tip: if you have to visit in the summer months, go on a weekday. Not only will you avoid weekend crowds, but you can also take advantage of specials such as unlimited rides for a low price!
Explore the Beaches
The best beaches in California are on the central coast, and Santa Cruz has its fair share of gorgeous beaches.
Natural Bridges State Beach is a popular beach with a natural sea arch. This is a great place from where to watch the sunset, and you’ll often find locals flocking to the parking lot above the sea arch for this reason.
In the fall and winter months, Natural Bridges becomes a sanctuary for monarch butterflies, and is also a great place to see migrating whales.
If you’re looking for a place to have a beach bonfire, head over to the east side of town to Seabright beach where you’ll find designated fire rings.
To find more secluded beaches, head a little bit north outside of Santa Cruz towards the small town of Davenport where you’ll find Shark Cove Beach, Waddell Beach and Greyhound Rock Beach. These beaches are usually empty, even in the busy summer months.
Local Tip: the beaches in Santa Cruz can get really cold, so dress in layers! Here’s a free printable California packing list to ensure you don’t forget anything!
Go Searching for Mushrooms
You won’t find a lot of tourists going mushroom hunting in Santa Cruz, but it’s definitely a pastime for the locals!
The redwood forests that surround Santa Cruz have the perfect conditions for all kinds of gorgeous mushrooms. You’ll often find mushrooms without looking when hiking through the forest, but there’s a lot of interesting varieties hiding throughout the forest.
If you’re new to foraging for mushrooms, check out the Fungus Federation of Santa Cruz. They put on a mushroom fair every January in Santa Cruz and provide a lot of resources for learning.
To find mushrooms, head over to one of the many redwood areas in town. Some of my favorite spots for mushroom foraging are the forests up by the University of Santa Cruz, Big Basin State Park, and The Forests of Nisene Marks State Park.
Go Surfing or Kayaking – Top Santa Cruz Activities!
Santa Cruz is first and foremost a surf town, so water sports reign king here. There are many places in town to go surfing, with some of the most popular being Steamer Lane, Cowell’s Beach, and Pleasure Point.
Open ocean kayaking is also popular, and is a great way to see the town straight from the water. The water off of Santa Cruz is full of sea otters, sea lions, elephant seals, dolphins and whales. Taking a surfboard or kayak out is a great way to see the rich marine life in Santa Cruz.
For kayak rentals, Kayak Connection is the best way to go. They have a location in town where you can go open ocean kayaking, as well as another location about 20 minutes south of Santa Cruz in the Elkhorn Slough for more gentle kayaking conditions.
Beginner surfers can take surfing lessons with Surf School Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Surf Lessons, and the Capitola Beach Company.
For surfing gear (and California beachwear in general), check out one of the O’Neill’s Surf Shops. Jack O’Neill popularized the wetsuit, and is a local legend.
Check Out the Museums
There’s a large artistic community in Santa Cruz, and even though the town is small, there’s a couple of museums worth visiting. The Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH) is a great place to learn about local history and experience local artists.
There are beautiful outdoor spaces, and a sculpture garden. The MAH is located in downtown Santa Cruz in close proximity to many restaurants, making it the perfect date night spot.
To learn about the Santa Cruz surfing history, head over to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. This small space celebrates and showcases the history of Santa Cruz’s beginning as a popular surfing spot.
Local tip: there’s a beautiful green space in front of the Surfing Museum. During the summer months, it’s common to find impromptu gatherings of locals fire dancing in a drum circle. Everyone’s welcome to hang out and enjoy the show!
Eat All the Ice Cream
I might be biased, but I’ve yet to find better ice cream anywhere outside of Santa Cruz! The best ice cream spots in Santa Cruz include Marianne’s, The Penny Ice Creamery, and Mission Hill.
Marianne’s is my favorite: they have a large selection of flavors, both normal and more adventurous ones. The Penny is known for their more innovative flavors, all made with fresh local ingredients. Mission Hill is located in downtown Santa Cruz, and has classic flavors that never disappoint.
Where to Eat in Santa Cruz
For being a small town, Santa Cruz has a ton of restaurants that are AMAZING. The town probably shines best in its breakfast scene (surfing town means many of us are morning people!)
Breakfast & Brunch
My absolute favorite brunch spot in town is Walnut Avenue Café, located in downtown Santa Cruz. Everything here is delightful, but the shrimp tostadas and the huevos rancheros are what I usually order. Walnut Avenue Café is very popular, so be prepared to wait in line, especially on weekends.
You’ll find fewer tourists at the Silver Spur and Sunrise Café. Get the waffles at Silver Spur and any of the scrambles at Sunrise.
For some of the best breakfast burritos around, head over to Chill Out Café in Capitola (cash only!) Their breakfast burritos are GIANT and cheap, perfect for fueling up after an early morning surfing session.
Lunch & Dinner
For cheap, filling lunch options, head on over to the east side of town, to Charlie Hong Kong’s. Their bowls are amazing, and they have delicious vegan and vegetarian options.
The best Thai food in the area is in Capitola, at Thai Basil. This is home cooking at its finest, and is absolutely worth the wait.
For Mexican food, you can’t go wrong with El Palomar. There are two El Palomar locations, one in downtown Santa Cruz and one by Seabright Beach. The margaritas here are to die for, and I spend many happy hours here!
For a date night option, check out Sesame or Lillian’s for trendy Korean and Italian food respectively, or head over to Shadowbrook in Capitola for a fancy night out.
Escape to the Ocean and Mountains
Santa Cruz is a special place that everyone should visit at least once in their lives. If you love the ocean and the mountains, the town is for you.
It’s not uncommon for people to visit and fall in love with the town, so don’t be surprised if you end up daydreaming of this beautiful little paradise.
This is a post by Guest Contributor Ale Leon from the blog Sea Salt & Fog
