Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Jennifer
Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Food Scene

Best coffee buzz in the WEST
220 personas locales recomiendan
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st Ave
220 personas locales recomiendan
Best coffee buzz in the WEST
The owners are great, the beer is good and the atmosphere is perfect.
42 personas locales recomiendan
New Bohemia Brewing Co.
1030 41st Ave
42 personas locales recomiendan
The owners are great, the beer is good and the atmosphere is perfect.
The cocktails are amazing, the food is good and it's great atmosphere.
59 personas locales recomiendan
Süda
3910 Portola Dr
59 personas locales recomiendan
The cocktails are amazing, the food is good and it's great atmosphere.
It's the best West Coast Taco and Burrito in Santa Cruz. Cash only but cheap and good. Great breakfast burritos too.
28 personas locales recomiendan
Tacos Moreno
1053 Water St
28 personas locales recomiendan
It's the best West Coast Taco and Burrito in Santa Cruz. Cash only but cheap and good. Great breakfast burritos too.
It's a ranch and they sell pie! It's a ways out of town (25mn on Route 1) but if you are up for a good drive and a stop at the famous Swanton Berry Farm shop, cute postcard town, Davenport, keep going to get amazing Pie in the cutest barn, farm across from the ocean.
9 personas locales recomiendan
Pie Ranch
2080 CA-1
9 personas locales recomiendan
It's a ranch and they sell pie! It's a ways out of town (25mn on Route 1) but if you are up for a good drive and a stop at the famous Swanton Berry Farm shop, cute postcard town, Davenport, keep going to get amazing Pie in the cutest barn, farm across from the ocean.

Sightseeing

It's a beautiful spot to check out surfers, take pics and walk the dog.
116 personas locales recomiendan
Pleasure Point
116 personas locales recomiendan
It's a beautiful spot to check out surfers, take pics and walk the dog.
You can drive or bike up and down this and if you are out there long enough, you'll most likely see Whales, sea otters, seals and sea lions. It's gorgeous cliff views on the West Side of Santa Cruz.
193 personas locales recomiendan
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff Drive
193 personas locales recomiendan
You can drive or bike up and down this and if you are out there long enough, you'll most likely see Whales, sea otters, seals and sea lions. It's gorgeous cliff views on the West Side of Santa Cruz.
You'll see the best surfers here. If you aren't local to Steamers, step out of the way- these guys will bark at you if you even try to surf there. Great vantage point above to watch. Bonus Lighthouse park with a Surf Museum!
81 personas locales recomiendan
Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff Dr
81 personas locales recomiendan
You'll see the best surfers here. If you aren't local to Steamers, step out of the way- these guys will bark at you if you even try to surf there. Great vantage point above to watch. Bonus Lighthouse park with a Surf Museum!

Parks & Nature

It's a really special spot where anytime the Dalai Llama is in Cali, he stays here. Hikes include 8 Verses of Thought Transformation, a saying from Dalai Lama for each stop point. Huge Gongs, and a beautiful peaceful setting. Short but cool hikes including one to the temple at the top.
68 personas locales recomiendan
Land of Medicine Buddha
5800 Prescott Rd
68 personas locales recomiendan
It's a really special spot where anytime the Dalai Llama is in Cali, he stays here. Hikes include 8 Verses of Thought Transformation, a saying from Dalai Lama for each stop point. Huge Gongs, and a beautiful peaceful setting. Short but cool hikes including one to the temple at the top.
It's a great day since it's only 1 hr south of Santa Cruz. You can go for a drive, short hike then to Henry Miller Library, ending with a drink and fries at Nepenthe!
Big Sur Coastline
It's a great day since it's only 1 hr south of Santa Cruz. You can go for a drive, short hike then to Henry Miller Library, ending with a drink and fries at Nepenthe!
This is our favorite beach. We take our dog, surfboard and beach chairs to make a day of it. Even in the height of beach weather, you'll have plenty of space to yourself.
55 personas locales recomiendan
Playa Estatal Manresa
1445 San Andreas Rd
55 personas locales recomiendan
This is our favorite beach. We take our dog, surfboard and beach chairs to make a day of it. Even in the height of beach weather, you'll have plenty of space to yourself.

Arts & Culture

They have their finger on the pulse for what makes a great community museum. They include local artists, history of the area and have many, many events that welcome all families of different interests.
133 personas locales recomiendan
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front St
133 personas locales recomiendan
They have their finger on the pulse for what makes a great community museum. They include local artists, history of the area and have many, many events that welcome all families of different interests.

Shopping

It's a shop in an Airstream trailer, it's cute and cool with great goods from local makers of re-burbished flannels, jam, goat cheese and SlowCoast T-shirts.
SLOWCOAST
450 CA-1
It's a shop in an Airstream trailer, it's cute and cool with great goods from local makers of re-burbished flannels, jam, goat cheese and SlowCoast T-shirts.
They have new/used and many talks from Authors there.
57 personas locales recomiendan
Bookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific Ave
57 personas locales recomiendan
They have new/used and many talks from Authors there.
Modern, cool and fun. This could be in Brooklyn. They not only have gorgeous clothing but plenty of household goods, beautiful accessories and a Men's shop two doors down. Great for baby and gifts for anyone!
19 personas locales recomiendan
Stripe Design Group LLC
107 Walnut Ave
19 personas locales recomiendan
Modern, cool and fun. This could be in Brooklyn. They not only have gorgeous clothing but plenty of household goods, beautiful accessories and a Men's shop two doors down. Great for baby and gifts for anyone!
Who wouldn't want the coolest in camping, surfing and hiking. Along with awesome local art. The owner knows her stuff and you will walk around drooling and trying not to take the entire store home.
8 personas locales recomiendan
SAWYER LAND + SEA SUPPLY
402 Ingalls St
8 personas locales recomiendan
Who wouldn't want the coolest in camping, surfing and hiking. Along with awesome local art. The owner knows her stuff and you will walk around drooling and trying not to take the entire store home.
If you don't have a wetsuit or board, they will rent all to you for the day for $50 I think? If not, you will just want to buy stuff here anyway.
36 personas locales recomiendan
O'Neill Surf Shop
110 Cooper St
36 personas locales recomiendan
If you don't have a wetsuit or board, they will rent all to you for the day for $50 I think? If not, you will just want to buy stuff here anyway.

Essentials

Super close to our house. So close, I visit almost every day.
165 personas locales recomiendan
Trader Joe's
700 Front St
165 personas locales recomiendan
Super close to our house. So close, I visit almost every day.
They don't call this place Whole Paycheck for nothing! It's easy to overspend here but I try to go for choice ingredients like produce, fish, the hot food bar, burrito maker. Oh and I pick up local Verve coffee beans here.
157 personas locales recomiendan
Whole Foods Market
911 Soquel Ave
157 personas locales recomiendan
They don't call this place Whole Paycheck for nothing! It's easy to overspend here but I try to go for choice ingredients like produce, fish, the hot food bar, burrito maker. Oh and I pick up local Verve coffee beans here.
For beer, wine, ice and everything nice.
BevMo!
1820 41st Ave
For beer, wine, ice and everything nice.

Getting Around

On the corner of 30th Ave and Capitola, you can catch a bus into town. You can bring a bike too. They take cash or you can get a buscard. Schedules are posted at bus stops and it's very easy to take.
East Remote Bus Stop
On the corner of 30th Ave and Capitola, you can catch a bus into town. You can bring a bike too. They take cash or you can get a buscard. Schedules are posted at bus stops and it's very easy to take.