Things to do in Santa Cruz, California
- The city was the site of one of the first Spanish missions in California, Mission Santa Cruz, founded in 1791.
- Santa Cruz is home to a world-renowned surf culture and was the location where three Hawaiian princes first introduced surfing to the mainland United States in 1885.
- The city's 'Banana Slug' mascot represents the university located here, which has the unique distinction of having a gastropod as its official mascot.
- Santa Cruz was an early epicenter for the 1960s counterculture movement, deeply influencing its local political and social landscape.
- The town features an unusual concentration of Victorian-era architecture, specifically the 'painted ladies' residential buildings.
About Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is a coastal city on the Monterey Bay known for its eclectic surf culture and diverse ecosystems, ranging from coastal dunes to redwood forests. The city serves as a hub for both the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the unique geological curiosity known as The Mystery Spot. Visitors can explore the ancient canopy at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park or learn about marine research at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. It functions as a gateway to the Santa Cruz Mountains while maintaining an iconic California seaside atmosphere.
Highlights of Santa Cruz, California
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Amusement parks
This historic venue is the oldest remaining amusement park in California, featuring a vintage wooden roller coaster.
Parks
Visitors can walk among old-growth coast redwoods, some of which are over 1,500 years old.
Places of interest
This gravitational anomaly site challenges spatial perception with its famous tilted house.
Places of interest
Experience 19th-century steam train history through rides that wind directly through the redwood forest.
Parks
This site preserves the history of early California ranching alongside scenic coastal cliff trails.
Museums
The center offers interactive exhibits focused on the marine life and research of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Parks
This garden specializes in Australian plants and high-altitude flora within a university-managed botanical setting.
Beaches and ponds
This primary central beach serves as the city's main social hub for swimming and coastal lounging.
Top things to do in Santa Cruz, California
The 71 highest-rated places in Santa Cruz, California, ranked by travellers.
1
Amusement parks
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California’s oldest surviving seaside amusement park, having opened in 1907. It operat...
2
Parks
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park preserves 40 acres of old-growth redwood forest, including trees over 1,500 years old....
3
Places of interest
The Mystery Spot is a gravitational anomaly site located in the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Discovered...
4
Parks
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is California’s oldest state park, established in 1902 to protect ancient old-growth coast...
5
Amusement parks
Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park is a horticultural-themed amusement park emphasizing landscape architecture and gardeni...
6
Beaches and ponds
Seacliff State Beach is defined by the deteriorating remains of the S.S. Palo Alto, a World War I-era concrete tanker pe...
7
Places of interest
Roaring Camp is a historic recreation of an 1880s logging camp located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The site features op...
8
Parks
Sunset State Beach is a California State Park located on the Monterey Bay coastline, distinguished by its expansive, und...
9
Parks
Wilder Ranch State Park is a 7,000-acre coastal preserve situated on the Pacific cliffs north of Santa Cruz. The park pr...
10
Parks
Año Nuevo State Park is globally recognized as one of the largest mainland breeding colonies for northern elephant seals...
11
Parks
New Brighton State Beach is located on the Monterey Bay coastline, featuring 93 acres of forested coastal bluffs and san...
12
Beaches and ponds
Shark Fin Cove is a secluded beach located near Davenport, California, named for a prominent offshore rock formation sha...
13
Beaches and ponds
Seabright Beach is a half-mile stretch of sand situated between the San Lorenzo River mouth and the Santa Cruz Small Cra...
14
Beaches and ponds
Rio Del Mar Beach is a prominent stretch of coastline in Aptos, California, situated along the northern shores of Monter...
15
Temples
The Sankaṭ Mochan Hanumān Temple is located within the Mount Madonna Center, a 355-acre spiritual retreat in the Santa C...
16
Parks
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is a 10,200-acre secondary-growth redwood forest located in the Santa Cruz Mountai...
17
Beaches and ponds
Manresa Main State Beach is a coastal stretch along Monterey Bay defined by its steep bluffs and exposure to significant...
18
Parks
Uvas Canyon County Park is a 1,133-acre park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains featuring a series of cascading waterfa...
19
Parks
Cotoni-Coast Dairies State Beaches consists of 5,800 acres of rugged coastline and agricultural land protected by the Bu...
20
Museums
The Seymour Marine Discovery Center serves as the public education arm of the Long Marine Laboratory at the University o...
21
Beaches and ponds
Santa Cruz Beach, officially known as Santa Cruz Main Beach, is a prominent stretch of sand situated directly adjacent t...
22
Parks
DeLaveaga Park is a 400-acre multi-use recreational facility located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The p...
23
Parks
The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a research and conservation facility specializing in Mediterranean clima...
24
Beaches and ponds
Mitchell's Cove Beach is a secluded, dog-friendly pocket beach located along the West Cliff Drive coastline in Santa Cru...
25
Parks
Davenport Landing Beach is a sheltered, crescent-shaped cove located on the Santa Cruz County coastline, famous for its...
26
Natural attractions
Loch Lomond Recreation Area is a 175-acre municipal reservoir located in the Santa Cruz Mountains that serves as a prima...
27
Parks
Ocean View Park is a neighborhood-focused green space in the Seabright area of Santa Cruz. The park features a multi-use...
28
Parks
Anna Jean Cummings County Park, locally known as 'Blue Ball Park' due to its iconic large blue spherical playground stru...
29
Museums
30
Parks
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Santa Cruz, California on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Santa Cruz, California
September and October, when the coastal fog clears and the summer crowds dissipate, offering warm, sunny days.
3-4 days, allowing time to balance coastal recreation with redwood forest hiking and local museum visits.
The city is best navigated by car, though the downtown area and major beaches are accessible via a local bus system and bicycle paths.
Stay near the Beach Hill or Westside neighborhoods for immediate access to the coastline and local surfing spots.
Expensive, as the city has a high cost of living that reflects in local accommodation and dining pricing.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 71 curated attractions in and around Santa Cruz, California, ranked by traveller ratings.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the highest-rated place to visit in Santa Cruz, California right now.
The largest category is parks, with 33 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Bayonne, New Jersey, Downtown Los Angeles, Washington, D.C..
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