Things To Do
Capitola Village and Capitola Beach
Capitola Village is a popular tourist spot with a beach, fun little shops, restaurants, and hotels, where you can watch surfers, take a quick dip in the Pacific, or get a slice of pizza. The village is about 5.5 miles from the recommended hotel.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Boardwalk is a famous seaside amusement park in Santa Cruz, and is the oldest in California. It differs from other amusement parks in that you can enter for free, and you pay to ride, making it less of an all day commitment. There is also a bowling alley, indoor mini golf course, laser tag, an arcade, and lots of midway games. The Boardwalk is about 1 mile from the recommended hotel.
Seacliff State Beach
The Seacliff State Beach is about 8 miles from the recommended hotel. It is home to a famous cement ship that was built for World War I, but never used because the war had ended before the ship was completed. Instead the ship was towed to Seacliff State Beach, a pier was built up to it, and it was used as a tourist attraction. As a child, Brianne was able to walk onto the cement ship during trips to the beach, but time and recent storms have all but washed the ship away. Now it is viewable from the beach. The beach itself is long, connecting multiple cities along the shore. If you enjoy a morning walk, and stairs for exercise, this may be your favorite place.
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Nisene Marks is a state forest full of second and third growth redwood trees. This means they are not the oldest or the largest redwood trees, but they will still take your breath away. The park is full of picnic areas and hiking trails to explore. It is about 8 miles from the recommended hotel.
DeLaveaga Golf Course
Delaveaga is a public golf course in Santa Cruz. They offer a par 70, 18 hole golf course. They also have a driving range, and a highly rated disc golf course. Reservations are recommended. The course is about 2 miles from the recommended hotel.
The Mystery Spot
The Mystery Spot is a world famous gravitational anomaly set in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This is a quirky little tourist attraction that makes you question the laws of physics. It is a guided tour that is great for families. The iconic bumper stickers are hard to miss, and have been a staple of Santa Cruz drivers for decades. The Mystery Spot is about 3 miles from the recommended hotel.
Santa Cruz Wharf
The Santa Cruz Wharf is one of the longest in the world. It is home to restaurants, and shopping, as well as boat rentals, and fishing charters. You may catch a glimpse of whales, dolphins, sea otters, sea lions, surfers, and other sea life from the wharf. It is about 1 mile from the recommended hotel.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
While not technically in Santa Cruz, The Monterey Bay Aquarium is worth the 45 mile drive from the recommended hotel. They focus on ocean conservation and education. You can catch a glimpse of the local ocean life in historic Monterey.
Cannery Row
Cannery Row is a historic part of Monterey. Once a sardine canning hub, it is now full of restaurants, hotels, and boutiques. Made famous by writer John Steinbeck, who grew up near by, and based many of his novels on the area. A fun place to visit if you are heading to the nearby aquarium, or just want a look at historic Monterey. It is about 45 miles from the recommended hotel.