Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Ryan & Anna
Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Everything Else

2 parking spots: 1. Directly in front of garage (apt #3) 2. Directly in line with garage, 20 feet further South (away from door) We normally reserve 1 spot for guests. Plenty of street parking
1552 Merrill St
1552 Merrill Street
2 parking spots: 1. Directly in front of garage (apt #3) 2. Directly in line with garage, 20 feet further South (away from door) We normally reserve 1 spot for guests. Plenty of street parking
Friendly, kid-safe beach that doesn't get as crowded as the boardwalk. Beach bonfire pits in the evening (easy to snag in winter, come early in summer -- they close at 10pm year round)
65 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak Avenue
65 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Friendly, kid-safe beach that doesn't get as crowded as the boardwalk. Beach bonfire pits in the evening (easy to snag in winter, come early in summer -- they close at 10pm year round)

Food Scene

close, tranquil, gluten free
21231 E Cliff Dr
21231 East Cliff Drive
close, tranquil, gluten free
Grab your coffee to go and walk the extra 200 feet down 17th street to some nice benches overlooking the ocean
29 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Starbucks
21620 E Cliff Dr
29 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Grab your coffee to go and walk the extra 200 feet down 17th street to some nice benches overlooking the ocean
Quaint, local cafe with homemade whip cream in beautiful corner of Capitola by the Sea
20 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Mr Toots Coffeehouse
231 Esplanade
20 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Quaint, local cafe with homemade whip cream in beautiful corner of Capitola by the Sea
Hip coffee spot with a powerful ice coffee "missle"
220 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st Ave
220 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Hip coffee spot with a powerful ice coffee "missle"
Best view in Santa Cruz. Great food. Some very cool local functions (Sunday evening comedy nights, Thursday evening beach BBQ in summers)
276 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff Dr
276 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Best view in Santa Cruz. Great food. Some very cool local functions (Sunday evening comedy nights, Thursday evening beach BBQ in summers)
Best Thai food in Capitola, bar none. Call in advance, they close randomly outside of tourist season.
16 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Thai Basil
101 S Murphy Ave
16 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Best Thai food in Capitola, bar none. Call in advance, they close randomly outside of tourist season.
Great sushi for a decent price. Located in a strip mall, but we think their cuts are better than the fancier spots further South on 41st (we also like the fancier spots, they are also delicious)
18 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Naka Sushi Restaurant
1200 41st Ave
18 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Great sushi for a decent price. Located in a strip mall, but we think their cuts are better than the fancier spots further South on 41st (we also like the fancier spots, they are also delicious)
This is a really cool property with a cool local story. One of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz
205 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf Rd
205 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
This is a really cool property with a cool local story. One of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz
Short walk, great staff. We always feel at home and seem to have more fun here than at Lago Di Como (slightly higher reviewed restaurant a few blocks further)
11 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Star Bene
East Cliff Drive
11 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Short walk, great staff. We always feel at home and seem to have more fun here than at Lago Di Como (slightly higher reviewed restaurant a few blocks further)
Local brewpub. Fun scene
74 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Seabright Social
519 Seabright Ave
74 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Local brewpub. Fun scene
"Barrel" breakfast burrito is heavenly. This place doesn't look like much, but it always delivers. Grab coffee and stroll down "East Cliff" - the surf and spiritual capital of the "East side"
17 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Pleasure Point County Park
East Cliff Drive
17 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
"Barrel" breakfast burrito is heavenly. This place doesn't look like much, but it always delivers. Grab coffee and stroll down "East Cliff" - the surf and spiritual capital of the "East side"
Favorite Mediterranean spot in Santa Cruz. Lots of good options along Pacific Street
110 Church St
110 Church Street
Favorite Mediterranean spot in Santa Cruz. Lots of good options along Pacific Street

Drinks & Nightlife

Best downtown (Irish) dive bar
10 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Poet & Patriot Irish Pub
320 Cedar St
10 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Best downtown (Irish) dive bar
Best walkable dive bar. Very local. Two pool tables
8 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
The Pocket
3102 Portola Dr
8 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Best walkable dive bar. Very local. Two pool tables
Best music venue in Santa Cruz. They do a good job scheduling shows
83 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial Way
83 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Best music venue in Santa Cruz. They do a good job scheduling shows
Best view. Best wine
8 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Vino Prima Wine Bar
55 Municipal Wharf
8 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Best view. Best wine
Best for craft and microbrews
34 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Lupulo Craft Beer House
233 Cathcart St
34 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Best for craft and microbrews
Favorite wine bar in Capitola by the Sea
15 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Capitola Wine Bar & Merchants
115 San Jose Ave
15 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Favorite wine bar in Capitola by the Sea

Sightseeing

One of the world's top aquariums, with incredible insights on the "life and death" of Monterey Bay. We are "ocean advocate" members and can get you a discount if you warn us in advance
668 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
668 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
One of the world's top aquariums, with incredible insights on the "life and death" of Monterey Bay. We are "ocean advocate" members and can get you a discount if you warn us in advance
Artistic (but dreadfully expensive) town with Pebble beach golf, gorgeous beaches, and nearby hiking. Clint Eastwood was once its mayor.
354 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Carmel junto al mar
San Antonio Avenue
354 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Artistic (but dreadfully expensive) town with Pebble beach golf, gorgeous beaches, and nearby hiking. Clint Eastwood was once its mayor.
Some of the West Coast's best hiking. We like Andrew Molera State Park.
332 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Big Sur
332 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Some of the West Coast's best hiking. We like Andrew Molera State Park.
Beach. Boardwalk. Roller Coasters. Games. This is a kid's dreamland in the daytime, and the do some cool beachside shows and movies in the evenings
745 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach St
745 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Beach. Boardwalk. Roller Coasters. Games. This is a kid's dreamland in the daytime, and the do some cool beachside shows and movies in the evenings
Kayak with sea-otters (go earlier in the AM before the wind picks up)
55 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Kayak Connection
2370 CA-1
55 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Kayak with sea-otters (go earlier in the AM before the wind picks up)
Beautiful beach at end of pleasant walk along West Cliff Drive (surf and spiritual center of West Side Santa Cruz)
261 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff Dr
261 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Beautiful beach at end of pleasant walk along West Cliff Drive (surf and spiritual center of West Side Santa Cruz)
Miles of beaches without crowds. Waves are safest to North (almost flat in New Brighten Park), and get bigger, more dangerous, and less kid safe as you travel South (dangerous on a 5' day at Manresa)
24 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Playa Sunset State
Sunset Beach Road
24 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Miles of beaches without crowds. Waves are safest to North (almost flat in New Brighten Park), and get bigger, more dangerous, and less kid safe as you travel South (dangerous on a 5' day at Manresa)
Nice and informational redwoods walk. Too many hikes to list here, but ask your morning barista for tips on less known and less crowded hikes to suit your day.
335 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Parque Estatal de los Bosques de Secuoyas de Henry Cowell
101 N Big Trees Park Rd
335 personas del lugar lo recomiendan
Nice and informational redwoods walk. Too many hikes to list here, but ask your morning barista for tips on less known and less crowded hikes to suit your day.