Buy tickets ahead of time and bring your camera!
If you want to shop and you can walk over to Valley Fair mall. This entire area has anything you want from high designer to basic shops.
A close spot to our wedding venue if you’re staying in the area. Place to walk around or grab something to eat.
Known as “Santa Carla” in the movie The Lost Boys (1987)… as well as these movies Harold and Maude (1971), Sudden Impact (1983), The Sting II (1983), Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988), Dangerous Minds (1995), Bumblebee (2018) and Us (2019). Niki spent her entire teens going to Santa Cruz with high school friends. It’s also her brother Matt’s favorite place. The board walk will be closed, but you can walk it for a nostalgic feel. You can also drive over to Capitola where they have cute shops or head over to down town Santa Cruz for more shopping. If you have all day head south to Monterey or take Hwy 1 up north to Halfmoon Bay and SF.
Order tickets ahead of time! They have penguins!!!
Chris’s BBQ Spot! Ask for a side of BBQ sauce (not the one for the bread) dip your ribs in it. If you’re a huge BBQ person skip this place and check out Winchester BBQ in San Jose.
Niki’s Favorite zoo in the area… over SF Zoo. She loves the bats there and gibbons.
Cool place to grab a Beer or glass of wine while looking over the bay and seeing views of the city.
They have outlets for YSL and Gucci here.
The closest mall to the venue. Just in case you forgot your dress.
Another outlet Mall. Overrated, but if you want to walk a mile indoors this is the spot, it makes a full circle. You will have to dodge a lot of Milpitians, can be crowded. Also, Chris and Niki worked here. Chris was at Oakley and Niki was at Bebe (not during the same time).
Honestly not worth going.