Santa Cruz is a coastal city (population about 65,000 in 2019) in Santa Cruz County, at the north end of Monterey Bay in California, about 40 miles (64 km) south of San Jose and 75 miles (120 km) south of San Francisco.
Santa Cruz is best known as a countercultural hub, with a bohemian feel and youthful vibe, and fun weekend tourist attractions like the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the dubious Mystery Spot. The rather relaxed beach lifestyle is supplemented by some remaining high tech industry and a vibrant university culture. The University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) is regarded as one of the premier centers of higher learning in the region and was once well known for its strong emphasis on the arts and humanities.
The beaches north and south of Santa Cruz are considered some of the more pristine areas of natural beauty in central California. The beautiful beaches and the rather mild climate play a central role in local culture. Most visitors leave Santa Cruz amazed by the city's beauty and ambiance.
A variety of conditions prevail, depending on the beach, few are suited for swimming due to temperature and current, several are considered an expert surfer's cold cold paradise. Don't expect a beach culture like Southern California, with bikini babes and children swimming in the surf; for much of the year, it's considered perfectly normal to wear a sweater and long pants to the beach.
The nearest airport is in San Jose (IATA: SJC). To get to Santa Cruz, take either the Santa Cruz Airport Flyer, or the free airport shuttle to Santa Clara, the train or bus to Diridon Station and the Highway 17 Express bus. San Francisco International Airport (IATA: SFO) and even Oakland (IATA: OAK) aren't much farther away, and sometimes have cheaper flights. The Airport Flyer goes to SFO and Caltrain provides a route from SFO to San Jose, though with a transfer with BART in Millbrae. For private aircraft, there'a runway about northwest of downtown, near Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.
from & Highway 17 south from San Jose is the most direct route when driving from the more populated parts of the Bay Area. It is a winding and very dangerous road over the mountains, arguably the most hazardous in the state shared during the week with heavy gravel trucks, so heed the speed limits take it easy and arrive alive. Accidents are very common, but the road is a bit safer since the addition of concrete barriers some years ago. Beware of fog, as well as "hurried" drivers, and drive with caution, especially when roads are wet. Going into San Jose Hwy 17 becomes I-880 at its intersection with I-280.
to To merge from Highway 17 to Highway 1 in Santa Cruz to continue south, you must merge three times on the dreaded "fish hook". This causes the beginning of the dreaded commute from "over the hill" to the coast for many. Congestion usually lasts M-F 3PM until 6PM, from just south of 41st Ave. on Highway 1, spilling back onto Highway 17 going south.
is a slower, longer, and more scenic route over the mountains, but it can get congested, and is often subject to extended periods of closure due to landslide damage during the winter. It's also very popular with both bicyclists and motorcyclists, so if driving a car over it be sure to be vigilant.
A much more beautiful, but slower, approach to Santa Cruz is on Highway 1, either from the north, San Francisco and Pacifica (about ), or from the south, Monterey and Big Sur (about ). During stormy seasons, check for rare, but often long-term road closures, although Devil's Slide, the most notorious location for landslides, was bypassed by a tunnel several years ago.
Santa Cruz Metro, Santa Cruz Metro Center at 920 Pacific Ave (Location of map marker is at customer service office at Elm and Pacific (location of address and map marker).), 36.97095°, -122.02509°, +1 831 425-8600. Santa Cruz Metro serves as public transportation in Santa Cruz and to adjacent cities & communities around Santa Cruz County. The following are intercity from Santa Cruz to adjacent cities & communities: 2022-10-12
Santa Cruz Airport Flyer, +1 831 423-5937. Operates a direct (door to door) shuttle from the bay area airports to Santa Cruz. 2016-09-10
There is no train service in Santa Cruz. The nearby San Jose Diridon Station is the central station for Amtrak, Altmont Corridor Express (ACE) and Caltrain. Metro's "17 Express" bus serves as the Amtrak Thruway bus (#35) between San Jose and Santa Cruz (see By bus in above).
The main downtown strip is pedestrian friendly, and it's a 20-minute stroll from there to the beach. Walking to the University of California Santa Cruz from downtown is a little more difficult with a steep climb.
Santa Cruz Metro provides bus service within the city.
While driving is certainly an option, parking is tight, so be careful to not get ticketed.
Santa Cruz can be a wonderful town for cycling, but be careful because drivers are no better here than in many other places. Around town and along Highway 1 is easy, but roads in the Santa Cruz Mountains are steep, winding and challenging for many cyclists. Be careful. Collisions between bicycles and cars are often reported. A number of pedestrian and car collisions have also happened in the downtown area.
Santa Cruz County is home to talented artists, musicians, and writers. Check out some of the locals' favorite art, music, and literary events:
Santa Cruz is a beach town, with a beach to match almost any interest. Main Beach 📍 and Cowell Beach 📍 attract large crowds to the boardwalk area on sunny summer weekends. Flocks of novice surfers balance on their boards in the quiet waters just north of the municipal wharf, in front of the big hotel that locals still call the Dream Inn 📍. Volleyball nets are strung just south of the wharf. The boardwalk amusement area is adjacent to main beach. Heading north, Steamers Lane 📍 isn't a beach, but the famous surf break in front of the lighthouse. In the summer, its sometimes hard to see what the fuss is about, but the winter can bring big waves and spectators line the rail watching the surfers and the sea lions.
North of the lighthouse are a series of little pocket beaches, some that disappear entirely in the winter. The first one, It's Beach 📍, and across the street at Lighthouse Field (see www.folf.org) are two of the few places in town that dogs can be run off leash (before 10AM and after 4PM only) you will often dozens of dogs are chasing sticks, balls, and each other. Mitchell's Cove 📍, just north, also allows dogs. Natural Bridges State Beach, whose famous monarch butterflies are discussed above, is a popular windsurfing beach. Natural Bridges is also known for its tide pools - little pockets in the rocky formation just north of the main beach that are exposed at low tide and house all sorts of small marine creatures. Kids love them but keep a close eye on them as the rocks can be slippery and the ocean unpredictable. The name is misleading: one of the two stone bridges collapsed a few years ago. Just south of Natural Bridges is the tiny clothing-optional 2222 Beach.
Heading further north along the coast, you leave the city limits and pass through agricultural fields for before reaching the small town of Davenport, which has a couple of restaurants, a B&B, and a huge cement plant that dominates the skyline. Each turnout along the road marks a beach, many of which are prime surf spots. Wilder Ranch State Park 📍 can be reached by a new bike path from just north of Natural Bridges. Its several nice beaches include Three Mile Beach 📍 and Four Mile Beach 📍, named after their distances from town. Laguna Creek Beach 📍 (with parking on the east of highway 1), Panther 📍 and Hole-in-the-Wall Beach 📍 (connected by a passage that closes at high tide), Bonny Doon Beach 📍 (another famous clothing optional spot), and Davenport Beach 📍. For those who want to tour the beaches, Highway 1 has wide shoulders that are generally safe for cycling.
The beaches north of the Boardwalk, especially those on the open ocean instead of the bay, can have huge waves and strong currents, so care should be taken in the water, even by strong swimmers.
There are lots of beaches south of Main Beach as well, but you'll need another guide for them.
Santa Cruz is also surrounded by a great number of open space parks. There are two types of parks to choose from. There are inland wooded parks, (like Henry Cowell State Park) with redwood groves, and swimming in the river and open space preserves built on the coastal hills.
Wilder Ranch is a state park sitting in the hills adjacent to the coast (just west of town on Hwy 1). It has expansive views of the Monterey Bay as well as sweeping views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The ranch also includes many old historic building, staffed with docents to demonstrate the workings of the historic ranch.
The Pogonip is within the city boundaries adjacent to the university and accessible from Spring Street and from Highway 9 (via Golf Club). The Pogonip is an old country club which has reverted to a fairly natural state. It sits on the side of a hill and has great views as well as great natural items. Numerous springs fill the creeks, as well as a special fish pond along the Spring Box Trail.
Shopping on Pacific Avenue includes surf shops, plant shops, clothing and various boutiques.
Budget: under $10, mid-range: $10 - $20, splurge: over $20 (meal for one + soft drink).
The city imposes a 25¢ fee on all disposable cups – even for a cup of water, which would otherwise be free. You can bring your own water bottle, cup, or coffee mug to restaurants to avoid paying this fee.
Chaminade Resort & Spa, One Chaminade Ln, 36.99818°, -121.98503°. Two amazing restaurants featuring menus using only the freshest produce from local farms. If you're in town on a Sunday, Chaminade's Sunset Restaurant has an award-winning Sunday morning Champagne brunch. Happy hour is every Tuesday-Thursday, 4-6PM.
Charlie Hong Kong, 1141 Soquel Ave, 36.97991°, -122.01087°. An oddly small colorful building which contains a restaurant of decent inauthentic Thai/Vietnamese fusion. There is half-outdoor seating complete with heat lamps, foliage, and colorful decorative lighting. Very vegan/vegetarian friendly. $4-6 for standard entree
El Palomar, 1336 Pacific Ave, 36.97406°, -122.02598°, +1 831 425-7575. Open every day for lunch and dinner. Reservations are taken only for large parties on weeknights, and the wait can be very long on weekends. Great Mexican food in dramatic dining room, but not cheap. Brighter cantina in back is a good lunch spot that becomes a bar at night, serves some of the best tacos in town for $2.50 a pop and has specials on Tuesday nights. Lots of seafood specialties. Homemade tortillas are excellent, as are the margaritas. Strolling guitar players some evenings. Kid friendly. Typical entrees $10–16
Kianti's, 1100 Pacific Ave, 36.97198°, -122.02529°, +1 831 469-4400. This is a great downtown Italian spot. The food is quite good, and it's a very entertaining place to eat. On weekend evenings, you may even get a fully choreographed performance by the entire staff. $8–10
Malabar, 514 Front St, 36.97253°, -122.02414°, +1 831 423-7906. Excellent curried mangos and Kofta Joe. The service can be surly, but don't worry about it. Eat and be happy. Sunday night dinner is a fixed menu consisting of naan, salad, various curries and rice (in small amounts) and a dessert; however, the price is determined by what you think it is worth. Only have $5? It's okay. Feel like it's worth $20, that works too.
Mobo Sushi, 105 River St (San Lorenzo Park Plaza Shopping Center), 36.97519°, -122.02465°. Innovative sushi and jazz club. Check local listings for music.
Oswalds, 121 Soquel Ave, 36.97348°, -122.02505°. Classy Californian cuisine using organic and fresh ingredients. Reservations recommended on the weekend. $8–25
Red Restaurant and Lounge, 200 Locust St, 36.97511°, -122.02816°, +1 831 425-1913. 3PM-2AM. Features a plush lounge and an elegant dining room. Menu consists of happy hour bites (3-7PM) appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, salads, and nightly dinner specials. Organic local produce from the downtown farmer's market provides fresh, healthy, and delicious food. Chef Bobby Madrid. Exquisite cocktails featuring an array of house-infused liquors - you don't want to be in Santa Cruz without experiencing the Red. $6-30
Seabreeze Cafe, 542 Seabright Ave, 36.96830°, -122.00777°, +1 831 427-9713. Still often called "Linda's" even though the personable owner sold this cafe to the her business partner Tex Hintze quite a few years ago. Often a wait on weekends but you can start your mug of coffee while you wait. Cinnamon Rolls on the weekend are a must! Best breakfast in town! Vegan-friendly, kid friendly.
Seabright Brewery, 519 Seabright Ave, 36.96751°, -122.00843°, +1 831 426-BREW. 11:30AM – 11:30PM daily (kitchen closes at 10PM). Updated pub grub, and fresh beer made on the premises. Salmon fish and chips, with beer battered salmon fried in Japanese bread crumbs and served with sesame-wasabi tartar sauce and teriyaki garlic chili sauce is almost too rich to eat. Lots of vegetarian food. Big patio overlooks a busy road, but is a pleasant place to head after a day at the beach. Beer and pizza specials on some weekdays. $8–12 sandwiches and entrees
Shogun, 1123 Pacific Ave, 36.97236°, -122.02593°, +1 831 469-4477. Excellent sushi restaurant in a convenient downtown location. The exceptionally fresh ingredients and talented sushi staff make this some of the best sushi available in Santa Cruz County. They offer all the traditional suhis, as well as lots of variations, some of which are veggie/vegan friendly. Of particular interest is the "korokke," a potato croquette served with tonkatsu sauce, which you won't find in many local Japanese restaurants. Serves lunch and dinner through the week, dinner Saturdays, closed Sundays. Sushi plates are $3–9
Silver Spur Restaurant, 2650 Soquel Dr, 36.98767°, -121.97214°, +1 831 475-2725. It's letting the secret out of the bag to tell you that Linda of Seabreeze Cafe fame bought this larger venue to sling her famous fabulous food. Vegan-friendly, kid-friendly.
The Buttery Café, 702 Soquel Avenue, 36.976903°, -122.015808°, +1 831 458-3020, info@butterybakery.com. 7AM-7PM. The café serves breakfast foods, sandwiches, salads, and, of course, delectable fresh bakery items. 2017-08-01
Thai House, 353 Soquel Ave, 36.97478°, -122.01946°, +1 831 458-3546. Arguably the best Thai food experience in Santa Cruz. The food is quite good, the ambiance interesting and relaxing, and the staff always friendly. Kids will stay entertained by the two large aquariums. $6–15
Vasili's, 1501 Mission St, 36.96698°, -122.03954°, +1 831 458-9808. People travel from a fair distance to sample the authentic and very tasty Greek food. $6–15
Walnut Avenue Cafe, 106 Walnut Ave, 36.97361°, -122.02652°, +1 831 457-2307. American breakfast and lunch. Fresh ingredients, friendly service, and a complete lack of trendiness. A favorite of Santa Cruz locals—long waits on the weekends.
Zachary's, 819 Pacific Ave, 36.96992°, -122.02535°, +1 831 427-0646. Fantastic breakfasts featuring homemade bread French toasts, fruit salads, home fries, and more. Finishing Mike's Mess is a worthwhile challenge. Expect a line Saturday and Sunday. $1–10
Zoccoli's Deli, 1534 Pacific Ave, 36.97608°, -122.02648°, +1 831 423-1711. Amazing sandwich place. It's where all the locals go. The Castroville Italian sandwich and the tiramisu are to die for.
For its size, Santa Cruz has a large number of drinking establishments from Irish pubs to nightclubs. Many of the bars are located along Pacific Avenue. A serious pub crawl can be done starting at either the Asti (listing below) and ending about 7 blocks away at the Rush Inn or the other way around.
Santa Cruz offers everything from cheap drive-up motels along Ocean Street to cute B&Bs to one somewhat shabby high-rise hotel on the beach.
A medley of factors allows for de facto legal camping throughout town on city-owned property. There are encampments scattered throughout town. Downtown alone features an encampment of dozens of tents adjacent to San Lorenzo Park. Many people sleep and live in cars and RVs throughout the area, though some neighborhoods may tolerate it less or more than others.
For our bohemian friends passing through (keep Santa Cruz Weird!), sleeping on city beaches cannot be recommended. Try the more chill beaches along the cliffs northwest of town, or along the sandy banks of the San Lorenzo, upriver in the gorge, along Highway 9.
There is much crime in the downtown area, often drug-related. You will probably be safe during the day and early evening, but keep your wits about yourself. Mountain lions exist in the more rural areas, but are uncommon. Attacks by mountain lions on humans are much rarer still, but have happened. If you should see one, do not approach it, and if it approaches you in a seemingly aggressive manner, stand as tall as possible and wave your arms; this will usually intimidate it.
During most of the year, the ocean is cold enough to quickly give you hypothermia, and there are dangerous rip currents at many beaches. Unless you're a qualified diver and you've done your homework, you're best off leaving it to the local surfers, who typically wear full-body wetsuits and know what they're doing.
If you are a skilled surfer, be aware that Santa Cruz's surfing culture is unfortunately notorious for its "locals only" attitude, and while in reality most surfers there are perfectly reasonable and friendly, if you are surfing there and you do get into a confrontation, it's best to just walk away.
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