Things To Do
Downtown Santa Cruz
Have breakfast at Zachary's, or lunch at Laili, where we had our first date! :) Grab a pair of fun socks at The Sock Shop, flip through books at Bookshop Santa Cruz, eat a scoop of Penny's ice cream, and listen to a dude plink a guitar on the street.
West Cliff
West Cliff has the most picturesque landscape you can imagine. Go for a run along the coast, marvel at the swanky houses, watch the surfers bob up and down, and try to spot a whale. Most importantly, look for Oma Yolande's bench near where Stockton Avenue and West Cliff Drive intersect, aka Whale Point. <3
Wilder Ranch State Park
Another beachy, salt breezy location. Pretend it's 1897 and walk around the old ranch, hike around the fields and try to find a bobcat.
Santa Cruz Wharf
Take a leisurely stroll down the pier and look at the sea lions. We highly recommend getting an order of fried calamari at Rivas, which was Grampa Roberto's favorite.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Just next door to the wharf. Go on the Big Dipper rollercoaster, eat funnel cake, and play some air hockey in the arcade! The tourists will be out, but don't let that stop you from having fun with your kids. If you need a break, you can go for a swim!
Swanton Berry Farm
Swanton Berry Farm is a short and scenic drive up the coast. Pack a picnic and pick your own strawberries! They are truly the best ones out there. Sample the jam before grabbing a must-have slice of strawberry shortcake or olallieberry pie. On the way up, you'll pass through Davenport where you can get some excellent breakfast at Whale City Bakery or lunch at the Roadhouse.
UCSC Arboretum
Up by the gorgeous college campus that Shivani attended, the UCSC Arboretum is a sanctuary that offers scheduled tours to look at California's best native plants. Look at a tree, look at another tree, look at a plant!
