Santa Cruz is known for its mild, Mediterranean
climate, with summer temperatures in the mid-70s. Surrounding
mountains shelter the beach town from coastal fog, allowing us
an average of 300 sunny days a year. As a result, the New York
Times has called Santa Cruz the sunniest Banana Belt on the Northern
California coast! With this backdrop, you're sure to enjoy the
many attractions, activities and recreational opportunities of
Santa Cruz, most within walking distance or a short drive from
your vacation rental.
BEACHES
Santa Cruz is the quintessential beach town, with countless golden beaches speckling the north coast of the Monterey Bay. The Cliff House Property overlooks Seabright State Beach, also known as "Castle Beach". Seabright Beach is a favorite for family outings, swimming, bodysurfing, beachcombing and beach volleyball. On the north end of West Cliff Drive is Natural Bridges State Beach, named after archways carved into the rock formations by ocean waves. The beach is popular with surfers, windsurfers, tide-pool trekkers, sunbathers, and fans of the 100,000 migrating monarch butterflies that roost in the nearby eucalyptus grove from late October through February.
MONTEREY BAY
Santa Cruz is located on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, one of the largest protected marine areas in the world. The Bay is home to 26 species of marine mammals, 96 species of seabirds, 345 species of fish, and 4 species of turtle. Watch otters, harbor seals and other sealife play in the waves as you walk the shoreline, or venture onto the Bay for a closer look. Rent a kayak on the Santa Cruz Wharf, or sail the Bay on a chartered yacht. Check out an 87-foot blue whale skeleton, decorator crabs, eels and sea stars at the newly constructed Seymore Marine Discovery Center. In addition to the center's exhibit galleries and acquariums, you'll enjoy superb views of the Bay. If you're visiting between December and April, don't forget to watch the coastline for migrating whales. West Cliff Drive is a good viewing point for spotting pods of whales en route between their winter calving grounds in Mexico and summer feeding grounds off Alaska.
BOARDWALK
Built at the turn of the century, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California's only remaining major beachside amusement park. Old-fashioned and modern amusements mingle at the Boardwalk, with over 30 rides and attractions for thrill-seekers of all ages. Ride two historic monuments: the 1924 Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster and the vintage 1911 Looff Carousel. A huge indoor arcade, miniature golf, laser tag and bowling are available for year-round fun. Don't miss the Boardwalk's free summer concerts, featuring retro rock-n-roll groups.
ROARING CAMP RAILROAD
Hop aboard a Roaring Camp locomotive at the Beach Boardwalk and settle in for a round-trip ride through an 1875 tunnel, a 1909 steel truss bridge, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge and through Henry Cowell Redwood State Park. The Roaring Camp trains are authentic narrow-guage, steam-powered trains dating back to the 1890s.
WHARF
Lined with restaurants and shops, the Santa Cruz Wharf stretches a half-mile out into the Santa Cruz Harbor. Built in 1914, the Wharf is a pretty place for a stroll and an up-close view of crabbers and bait fishermen after halibut. With its fresh fish markets and family-owned restaurants, the Wharf is the place to go for seafood with a view.
WEST CLIFF DRIVE
Walk along West Cliff Drive, a paved path that winds for miles along the ocean, and find out why local residents have consistently voted it the Best Outdoor Promenade, Best Bike Ride, Best Jogging Trail and Best Roller Blading Ride in Santa Cruz. The walk along West Cliff Drive offers gorgeous ocean views, sunsets and glimpses of surfers, dolphins, sea lions and whales. Along the way, stop at two surf monuments: the bronze surfer statue at the Pelton steps, and the remodeled brick lighthouse that's now the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Museum displays trace over 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz, starting with the arrival of two Hawaiian princes in 1885. Just off Lighthouse Point, see Seal Rock, a tiny island strewn with sea lions and seals. Walking along West Cliff Drive, you'll also discover the natural wonders of Lighthouse Field State Beach, a 40 acre park with unpaved trails, numerous birds -- including the rare Black Swift -- and an increasing number of wintering Monarch butterflies.
SURF AND OTHER SPORTS
Santa Cruz has long been considered the capital of Northern California surfing. Famous breaks like Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point, plus countless lesser known spots, ensure a vibrant and thriving surf scene. We get great waves on almost any swell-direction, year-round, and most spots are sheltered from prevailing winds and chop. This miracle of geography makes Santa Cruz a mecca for long and short board surfers of all levels.
Beginners will find board and gear rentals, plus lessons by professional surfers, at Cowells Beach by the Wharf. Club Ed rents boogie boards, surfboards and wetsuits, and offers lessons on Cowell's gently breaking waves. Richard Schmidt Surf School also offers lessons, along with a promise to have you riding a wave on your first day in the water.
Steamer Lane -- one of the world's great and most consistent surfbreaks -- is a long point break set off by the sandstone cliffs of Lighthouse Point. Because it is sheltered from most prevailing winds yet exposed to virtually all swells, the Lane is great in everything from 2' to 15'.
For surf reports, tide tables and details on surfing in Santa Cruz, check out this useful surf website.
Though Santa Cruz has earned its reputation for excellent surf, the town's appeal to outdoor enthusiasts extends well beyond the waves. Santa Cruz is the ideal gateway for golfing, hiking, mountainbiking, cyclying, kayaking, sailing, fishing, diving, windsurfing and kiteboarding along the north coast of the bay.
DOWNTOWN
The Pacific Garden Mall is our downtown shopping district located along Pacific Avenue. Maple trees and benches line the extra-wide sidewalks of "Downtown's" eclectic promenade. Major retailers like The Gap and Starbucks have settled in alongside surf shops, upscale boutiques, vintage clothing shops, antique stores, independent bookstores and a farmers' market featuring organically grown produce. Coffeehouses, sidewalk cafes, bakeries, bars, restaurants and theatres abound. A walking tour will take you past public murals, sculptures, art-deco inspired buildings, and over a dozen galleries featuring work by local artists. For more art, visit the downtown Museum of Art and History.
WINE TASTING
Visit the many boutique wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains, consistently recognized as a premium wine producing region. There are close to 50 family-owned wineries in the area, producing some superb zinfandels, cabernets and estate-grown chardonays.
BEACHES
MONTEREY BAY
BOARDWALK
ROARING CAMP RAILROAD
WHARF
WEST CLIFF DRIVE
SURF AND OTHER SPORTS
DOWNTOWN
WINE TASTING