Guidebook for Santa Cruz Area
Food Scene
Below are places we have visited; do let us know if you find a great place you think we should add!
Coffee Nine
9505 CA-9close by, locally owned...
Coffee Cat
255 Mt Hermon RdGreat space for larger groups; to grab some study/work time.
Ristorante Casa Nostra
9217 CA-9Locally owned; good Italian food PLUS a beer garden!
Mollie's Country Cafe
219 Mount Hermon RoadLocally owned...great for breakfast/lunch (closes at 3 pm).
Locally owned, coffee is good and it is across from New Leaf Market (healthy foods) and on your way to Henry Cowell Redwoods state park entrance (on HWY 9). Small gifts/local art.
39 locals recommend
White Raven
6253 Hwy 9Locally owned, coffee is good and it is across from New Leaf Market (healthy foods) and on your way to Henry Cowell Redwoods state park entrance (on HWY 9). Small gifts/local art.
Spanky's
9520 Hwy 9Locally owned; classic diner without trying to be that.
Heavenly Roadside Café
1210 Mt Hermon RdLocally owned; nice patio; wine tasting next door...
Great food and you get to get a sense of "midtown" Santa Cruz as well. Can get crowded...
133 locals recommend
The Buttery
702 Soquel AveGreat food and you get to get a sense of "midtown" Santa Cruz as well. Can get crowded...
Locally owned; great baked goods and breakfast/lunch items. On the 'westside/hipster" area of Santa Cruz. Next door is a brewery; wine tasting and New Leaf Market close by...a good place to grab some more "foodie" picnic items before you head to the beach !
98 locals recommend
Kelly's French Bakery
402 Ingalls StLocally owned; great baked goods and breakfast/lunch items. On the 'westside/hipster" area of Santa Cruz. Next door is a brewery; wine tasting and New Leaf Market close by...a good place to grab some more "foodie" picnic items before you head to the beach !
Great sandwiches...worth the time they take to create them for you. Some breakfast offerings too.
Castelli's Deli Cafe
6965 Hwy 9Great sandwiches...worth the time they take to create them for you. Some breakfast offerings too.
Gilda's
37 Municipal WharfEl Palomar Restaurant
1336 Pacific AveWoodstock's Pizza Santa Cruz
710 Front StA bit more expensive but the venue is very nice, can get busy so reservations are best!
38 locals recommend
Scopazzi's
13300 Big Basin WayA bit more expensive but the venue is very nice, can get busy so reservations are best!
I local legend; tons of flavors...and don't forget to try the Nutty Bars...a great value. Can get busy so plan to take a ticket for your turn; fun local vibe. Tables to relax at as well...
38 locals recommend
Marianne's Ice Cream
1020 Ocean StI local legend; tons of flavors...and don't forget to try the Nutty Bars...a great value. Can get busy so plan to take a ticket for your turn; fun local vibe. Tables to relax at as well...
Redwood Pizzeria
6205 CA-9Great pizza and a local business to boot. Plenty of seating too.
Otoro Sushi
235 Mt Hermon RdFamily place, food is fine:)
Sushi Blossom
11 Camp Evers LnVery good Japanese cuisine, small venue, call ahead to see if have room for you:)
Laili
101 Cooper StOswald Restaurant
121 Soquel AveAlderwood Santa Cruz
155 Walnut AveWoodies Café
25 Municipal WharfDeli, hot foods, gourmet cheeses, good wine selection..and close by!
27 locals recommend
Ben Lomond Market
9440 Mill StDeli, hot foods, gourmet cheeses, good wine selection..and close by!
Entertainment & Activities
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StWalk, eat, buy fun gifts and treats, observe the sea lions at the end of the wharf!
143 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Wharf
21 Municipal WharfWalk, eat, buy fun gifts and treats, observe the sea lions at the end of the wharf!
Too awesome to even describe. World renowned...worth a day trip.
668 locals recommend
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery RowToo awesome to even describe. World renowned...worth a day trip.
Simply the coolest experience: hitch a ride on a real steam train...various tours available; check it out online.
150 locals recommend
Roaring Camp
5401 Graham Hill RdSimply the coolest experience: hitch a ride on a real steam train...various tours available; check it out online.
Kayak Connection
413 Lake AveSeymour Marine Discovery Center
100 McAllister WaySightseeing
Great place to walk, see surfers, get the feel for Santa Cruz!
49 locals recommend
Lighthouse Field State Beach
Great place to walk, see surfers, get the feel for Santa Cruz!
Great place to walk/bike/see the ocean, watch surfers and get a feel for Santa Cruz beach scene!
193 locals recommend
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff DriveGreat place to walk/bike/see the ocean, watch surfers and get a feel for Santa Cruz beach scene!
Outdoor venue: shopping, movie theatres, people-watching, lots of food options...quintessential Santa Cruz!
88 locals recommend
Pacific Avenue
Pacific AvenueOutdoor venue: shopping, movie theatres, people-watching, lots of food options...quintessential Santa Cruz!
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum RoadSanta Cruz Harbor
135 5th AveIf you can't make it to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey (about an hour drive) this is your next best bet to explore the wonders of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary.
25 locals recommend
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
35 Pacific AveIf you can't make it to the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey (about an hour drive) this is your next best bet to explore the wonders of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary.
The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot RdHave to see it to believe it!
Parks & Nature
THE place (15 minutes away) to walk among the redwoods; take a longer hike; explore the Nature center.
335 locals recommend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park RdTHE place (15 minutes away) to walk among the redwoods; take a longer hike; explore the Nature center.
5 minutes up the road...easy hiking trails, place for a picnic, a pond to enjoy...a beautiful place right in the "back yard" to explore the unique Santa Cruz Mountains "sandhill habitat".
21 locals recommend
Quail Hollow Ranch County Park
800 Quail Hollow Rd5 minutes up the road...easy hiking trails, place for a picnic, a pond to enjoy...a beautiful place right in the "back yard" to explore the unique Santa Cruz Mountains "sandhill habitat".
California's FIRST state park! Awesome easy to difficult hiking trails amongst the redwoods...there is a store, a nature center...something for everyone.
230 locals recommend
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
21600 Big Basin WayCalifornia's FIRST state park! Awesome easy to difficult hiking trails amongst the redwoods...there is a store, a nature center...something for everyone.
Wonderful place to explore the past: historic farmhouse, barn, etc. Fantastic hike along the ocean cliffs as well as other trails up in the hills.
219 locals recommend
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdWonderful place to explore the past: historic farmhouse, barn, etc. Fantastic hike along the ocean cliffs as well as other trails up in the hills.
Iconic place to be by the ocean, tidepools, AND monarch butterflies (nature center too).
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrIconic place to be by the ocean, tidepools, AND monarch butterflies (nature center too).
Less crowded than the beach in front of the Boardwalk. Bathrooms, lifeguards (summer season), firepits.
Can be a bit of a challenge to park, but it is worth it. Waves can be a bit rough at times.
59 locals recommend
Seabright State Beach
Less crowded than the beach in front of the Boardwalk. Bathrooms, lifeguards (summer season), firepits.
Can be a bit of a challenge to park, but it is worth it. Waves can be a bit rough at times.
Amazing walks/hikes/bike trails into the redwood/oak forest and/or along a river.
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadAmazing walks/hikes/bike trails into the redwood/oak forest and/or along a river.
Ano Nuevo State Park
Arts & Culture
Very informative gallery covering the history of Santa Cruz. Check out all the other art exhibits too! Great food options next to the museum, recently renovated. Great for "foodies" and cocktail lovers. The museum is right downtown next to Pacific Avenue - one can wander about and get a sense of Santa Cruz culture.
133 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StVery informative gallery covering the history of Santa Cruz. Check out all the other art exhibits too! Great food options next to the museum, recently renovated. Great for "foodies" and cocktail lovers. The museum is right downtown next to Pacific Avenue - one can wander about and get a sense of Santa Cruz culture.
Santa Cruz Art League
526 BroadwaySanta Cruz Mountains Art Center
9341 Mill StShopping
A wonderful place if you love plants (nursery) and homegoods for the "homesteader"...also has a nice gift shop.
Locally owned.
22 locals recommend
Mountain Feed & Farm Supply
9550 CA-9A wonderful place if you love plants (nursery) and homegoods for the "homesteader"...also has a nice gift shop.
Locally owned.
Further away BUT the closest place for "big box" stores: Target, Macy's, Kohls, etc etc. Home depot, Best Buy and a Safeway are close by across Hwy 1 on 41st avenue.
15 locals recommend
Capitola Mall station
Further away BUT the closest place for "big box" stores: Target, Macy's, Kohls, etc etc. Home depot, Best Buy and a Safeway are close by across Hwy 1 on 41st avenue.
Wonderful place to find all sorts of new and used books, magazines; great children's books and some toys; cards and gifts. Full slate of author book signings/events as well.
57 locals recommend
Bookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific AveWonderful place to find all sorts of new and used books, magazines; great children's books and some toys; cards and gifts. Full slate of author book signings/events as well.
Sylvan Music
1521 Mission StThe place to check out all sorts of guitars...sheet music too.
All sorts of new and used vinyl records and, well, you may find that old DVD/CD you were looking for!
Streetlight Records
939 Pacific AveAll sorts of new and used vinyl records and, well, you may find that old DVD/CD you were looking for!
Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey AvePacific Avenue
Pacific AvenueEssentials
Safeway
6255 Graham Hill RdWild Roots Market
13159 Central AveCVS
6247 Graham Hill RdDominican Hospital
1555 Soquel DrSutter Urgent Care - Westside
1301 Mission StKaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center and Medical Offices
700 Lawrence ExpyBen Lomond Market
9440 Mill StAmazing beer collection plus other goodies, tri tip sometimes that Masood BBQ's himself.
Masoods Liquor & Deli
7970 CA-9Amazing beer collection plus other goodies, tri tip sometimes that Masood BBQ's himself.