Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is much more than a beach town — it's home to UCSC, a vibrant food and drink culture, and serves as the coastal gateway to the Santa Cruz Mountains wine country above it. Bonny Doon Vineyard, Beauregard Vineyards, and Bargetto Winery all have tasting rooms in or near the city.
Wineries to Visit
Where to Eat
The city's most celebrated farm-to-table restaurant — organic, local, seasonal in a cozy Victorian.
Modern California cuisine on Pacific Avenue — outstanding natural wine list and creative small plates.
Pacific Avenue bistro with excellent local wine and farm-sourced California cuisine.
Artisan ice cream using local dairy and seasonal flavors — a Santa Cruz institution.
Things to Do
- ✓ Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk — Giant Dipper roller coaster since 1924
- ✓ Natural Bridges State Beach — monarch butterfly migration (October–February)
- ✓ Pacific Avenue shopping and restaurant walk
- ✓ UCSC Arboretum (free)
- ✓ Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- ✓ Wilder Ranch State Park mountain biking and hiking
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, UCSC, Pacific Avenue restaurants, surf culture, and boutique wineries
The only beachfront hotel in Santa Cruz — stunning boardwalk and bay views.
Nature-themed boutique hotel a few blocks from Pacific Avenue — pool and a lively bar.
Eco-certified green hotel on Pacific Avenue — solar-powered and walking distance to everything.