Things To Do
Santa Cruz Wharf
The Santa Cruz Wharf is known for fishing, boat tours, viewing sea lions, dining, nightlife and gift shops. It is also next to the Boardwalk, a classic amusement park featuring games & rides right on the beach.
Natural Bridges State Beach
This beach attraction is famous for its iconic stone arch, stunning coastal views, and rich tide pools. John and I visited this spot on our first visit to Santa Cruz, pictured above.
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
See if you can find a banana slug!
Shrine Coffee
Shrine Coffee is a Catholic, non-profit, community coffeehouse and an extension of the Shrine of St. Joseph. We love their mission and proximity to the water. We recommend the Summer Fog - iced tea with cold foam, yum!
Swift Street Courtyard
This market stretch offers ample shops, wineries, restaurants and more. We especially recommend Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing for their egg salad sandwich.
Cat & Cloud Coffee
This local Santa Cruz coffee chain has a good selection of single origin coffee roasts plus a fabulous food menu. We love the breakfast burrito and overnight oats.
Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen | Westside
Enjoy a fun menu with classic American fare including cocktails/mocktails, small bites, salads, full plates and more!
Bagelry
We stumbled upon this no-frills, budget-friendly spot and couldn’t believe how good the bagels were. For Stonehill Alum, this gives essence of Back Bay Bagel. Whether you want a simple bagel or a full sandwich, you can’t go wrong.