Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
Lulu Carpenter's
1545 Pacific AveCozy setting and good coffee and pastries
India Joze
418 Front StSomething a bit different! Check out their website.
Great coffee. Amazing chocolate chip cookies, homemade and freshly delivered every day.
220 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveGreat coffee. Amazing chocolate chip cookies, homemade and freshly delivered every day.
Delicious breakfasts, large portions, at reasonable prices. Santa Cruz funk! Expect a line.
47 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Zachary's Restaurant
819 Pacific AveDelicious breakfasts, large portions, at reasonable prices. Santa Cruz funk! Expect a line.
Locals love Santa Cruz Roasting. You will see cool art on the walls and drink delicious coffee!
Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting
1330 Pacific AveLocals love Santa Cruz Roasting. You will see cool art on the walls and drink delicious coffee!
Tacos Moreno is about a mile drive from our house but probably the best Mexican food in town.
28 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Tacos Moreno
1053 Water StTacos Moreno is about a mile drive from our house but probably the best Mexican food in town.
Zoccoli's is a local's favorite for sandwiches and Italian delicatessen. Homemade pastries, pastas, soups, and a wide selection of sandwiches. Fast and inexpensive.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Zoccoli's Delicatessen
1534 Pacific AveZoccoli's is a local's favorite for sandwiches and Italian delicatessen. Homemade pastries, pastas, soups, and a wide selection of sandwiches. Fast and inexpensive.
Gayle's always offers an excellent experience. They offer a wide selection from their delicious bakery, but their rosticceria "grab-and-go" options are just as mouth-watering. Located in Capitola, about 3 miles from our home.
155 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveGayle's always offers an excellent experience. They offer a wide selection from their delicious bakery, but their rosticceria "grab-and-go" options are just as mouth-watering. Located in Capitola, about 3 miles from our home.
Decently priced hawaiian cuisine with a full bar (The Reef) and live music during the evening. We recommend trying their poke- they offer great lunch boxes with good portions
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pono Hawaiian Grill
120 Union StreetDecently priced hawaiian cuisine with a full bar (The Reef) and live music during the evening. We recommend trying their poke- they offer great lunch boxes with good portions
A locally-owned favorite for decades, Linda's offers a great breakfast experience. Homemade muffins and cinnamon rolls (a must try!) as well as farm fresh ingredients. There's nearly always a wait!
67 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright AveA locally-owned favorite for decades, Linda's offers a great breakfast experience. Homemade muffins and cinnamon rolls (a must try!) as well as farm fresh ingredients. There's nearly always a wait!
The Bagelry is a local's favorite for breakfast. Bagels are made fresh daily, and they offer a wide selection of spreads, soups, sandwiches, coffee drinks and freshly baked cookies!
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bagelry
1636 Seabright AveThe Bagelry is a local's favorite for breakfast. Bagels are made fresh daily, and they offer a wide selection of spreads, soups, sandwiches, coffee drinks and freshly baked cookies!
Sawasdee is a locally owned Thai restaurant just steps from our house. They feature fresh ingredients, delectable dishes, and a full bar with ceiling-to-floor windows overlooking Main Beach. Recommend for dinner.
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sawasdee By The Sea
101 Main StSawasdee is a locally owned Thai restaurant just steps from our house. They feature fresh ingredients, delectable dishes, and a full bar with ceiling-to-floor windows overlooking Main Beach. Recommend for dinner.
The best sushi downtown! Fresh fish, welcoming service, a wide array of Japanese food, and kid friendly options as well. Top your meal off with a pot of their delicious tea!
20 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Shogun Japanese Restaurant
1123 Pacific AveThe best sushi downtown! Fresh fish, welcoming service, a wide array of Japanese food, and kid friendly options as well. Top your meal off with a pot of their delicious tea!
Your Place is a unique experience. They boast using locally grown, "farm-to-table" ingredients. With many options, Your Place inspires to make a meal tailored to you desires
Your Place Farm to Table
1719 Mission StreetYour Place is a unique experience. They boast using locally grown, "farm-to-table" ingredients. With many options, Your Place inspires to make a meal tailored to you desires
A true local's favorite! Excellent locally owned Brazilian inspired breakfast-lunch spot with a truly amazing juice/smoothie bar. Come early- there will be a wait!
79 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe Brasil
1410 Mission StA true local's favorite! Excellent locally owned Brazilian inspired breakfast-lunch spot with a truly amazing juice/smoothie bar. Come early- there will be a wait!
Drinks & Nightlife
Wednesday night trivia is always fun at 99 Bottles. They have a huge selection of beer on tap and in bottle, and have a delicious menu of salads, burgers and more.
20 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall
110 Walnut AveWednesday night trivia is always fun at 99 Bottles. They have a huge selection of beer on tap and in bottle, and have a delicious menu of salads, burgers and more.
The Catalyst has hosted some of the biggest names in the music industry. With live performances and DJ's almost every night, the Catalyst is the perfect place for a drink and some dancing! Also pool.
81 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific AveThe Catalyst has hosted some of the biggest names in the music industry. With live performances and DJ's almost every night, the Catalyst is the perfect place for a drink and some dancing! Also pool.
Arts & Culture
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StLocal arts
About a half hour drive from Santa Cruz, Pescadaro is a quaint town with a tiny downtown. This gallery features local artisans.
Made In Pescadero
216 Stage RdAbout a half hour drive from Santa Cruz, Pescadaro is a quaint town with a tiny downtown. This gallery features local artisans.
At the base of West Cliff's gorgeous lighthouse, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum gives guests the extensive history of surfing in Santa Cruz, as well as the earliest surfing accounts throughout the US.
75 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum
701 W Cliff DrAt the base of West Cliff's gorgeous lighthouse, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum gives guests the extensive history of surfing in Santa Cruz, as well as the earliest surfing accounts throughout the US.
Shopping
This is a great shoe store with a huge selection of really fun socks!
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sockshop & Shoe Company
1515 Pacific AveThis is a great shoe store with a huge selection of really fun socks!
Nut Kreations
104 Lincoln StDelicious treats, homemade nut creations and chocolates. Worth a visit!
Parks & Nature
The park’s Natural Preserve houses over 10,000 elephant seals a year to breed and give birth. There's a history exhibit, bookstore, and theater, as well as dunes and marshes. North of Pigeon Point.
88 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ano Nuevo State Park
The park’s Natural Preserve houses over 10,000 elephant seals a year to breed and give birth. There's a history exhibit, bookstore, and theater, as well as dunes and marshes. North of Pigeon Point.
Your kids will have too much fun on the steep metal slides this park has to offer (tip: bring wax paper for an even faster ride!). Overlooking the ocean, this park is a gorgeous place for a picnic!
18 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ocean View Park
102 Ocean View AveYour kids will have too much fun on the steep metal slides this park has to offer (tip: bring wax paper for an even faster ride!). Overlooking the ocean, this park is a gorgeous place for a picnic!
Pogonip Park inside the heart of the UCSC campus (which is massive!) has miles of hiking and biking trails, while being surrounded by gorgeous and shady redwood trees. Google Pogonip for more info.
Pogonip Vista Point
Pogonip Park inside the heart of the UCSC campus (which is massive!) has miles of hiking and biking trails, while being surrounded by gorgeous and shady redwood trees. Google Pogonip for more info.
With 34 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, Wilder Ranch State Park has plenty of ground to cover! There's also a restored dairy farm and small museum/gift shop on the premises by parking.
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Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdWith 34 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, Wilder Ranch State Park has plenty of ground to cover! There's also a restored dairy farm and small museum/gift shop on the premises by parking.
Entertainment & Activities
Built in 1936, this art deco movie theater is unlike any other. Huge rooms with balcony style upstairs. Features locally grown popcorn and ice cream/candy from local businesses. Very friendly staff!
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Del Mar Theater
1124 Pacific AveBuilt in 1936, this art deco movie theater is unlike any other. Huge rooms with balcony style upstairs. Features locally grown popcorn and ice cream/candy from local businesses. Very friendly staff!
Sister theater to the Del Mar, The Nick offers a wide range of independent films, locally grown popcorn, concessions from local businesses, and a friendly and knowledgable staff. Local's approve!
63 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Landmark's Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln StSister theater to the Del Mar, The Nick offers a wide range of independent films, locally grown popcorn, concessions from local businesses, and a friendly and knowledgable staff. Local's approve!
Taking you from the SC Mountains down to the Boardwalk, this railroad is a must-see experience, trailing through the huge redwood forests Santa Cruz has to offer. Multiple tracks and departure times.
150 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Roaring Camp
5401 Graham Hill RdTaking you from the SC Mountains down to the Boardwalk, this railroad is a must-see experience, trailing through the huge redwood forests Santa Cruz has to offer. Multiple tracks and departure times.
Have fun with the family on fantastic rides while facing the sparkling ocean! $1 rides, hot dogs, sodas, and cotton candy offered Mon/Tues. Mini golf and arcade in Neptune's Kingdom right next door!
745 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StHave fun with the family on fantastic rides while facing the sparkling ocean! $1 rides, hot dogs, sodas, and cotton candy offered Mon/Tues. Mini golf and arcade in Neptune's Kingdom right next door!
Sightseeing
Discovered in 1939, the famous Mystery Spot is a visual illusion-based attraction and gravitational anomaly located in the redwoods of Santa Cruz. Get your tickets in advance on their website!
208 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot RdDiscovered in 1939, the famous Mystery Spot is a visual illusion-based attraction and gravitational anomaly located in the redwoods of Santa Cruz. Get your tickets in advance on their website!