To have and to hold...
Things To Do
Roaring Camp Train Ride
Take a beautiful train ride in the redwoods or take a train all the way to Santa Cruz's beach boardwalk. This is totally worth doing for the views and experience!
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Henry Cowell is THE place to see big redwood trees, go camping, go on hikes, and enjoy the beautiful California nature. You can book a campsite or just go on a nice day hike. You can also park, walk around, and just take a few pictures if you're not up for a big walking adventure!
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The boardwalk has it all: rides, arcade games, mini golf, bowling, food, the beach, and more! It's always fun to visit the boardwalk, especially on the weekend. Definitely check their calendars to see what events are going on on the day you're interested in visiting!
Santa Cruz Wharf
See the sea lions lounging, eat some yummy seafood, do some shopping and take a walk on the Santa Cruz Warf. My favorite thing to do here is definitely see what the sea lions are up to. They hang out on the boards underneath the warf, and there are often hundreds of big sea lions sleeping or talking to eachother! Watch a video about the warf here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/OuEBlC0aGZo?autoplay=1
Chardonnay Sailing Charters
Take a sailboat around to sight see Santa Cruz from the sea! This is such a cool experience to be on water in this way, and the Chardonnay often does really fun events like "Afternoon Pizza Charter" or "Brunch & Champagne Charter".
Princess Monterey Whale Watching
Wow. I couldn't recommend whale watching more! I have gone 4 times lol. Hop on a large boat with optional seating and go out into the ocean to see the migrating whales in their natural habitat. If you're interested in going down to Monterey (which is about 45 minutes from Santa Cruz), I highly recommend doing this. It is so incredible. DRESS IN WARM LAYERS and take a look at the FAQ on their website!
Monterey Bay Aquarium
If you're going to the Monterey area, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is an amazing experience. As one of the best aquariums in the United States, learn about incredible aquatic wildlife such as the sea otters, giant octopus, penguins, and much more.
Carmel-by-the-Sea
"Visit Carmel-by-the-Sea and discover one-of-a-kind experiences around every corner in this one-square mile village nestled along California's Central Coast. Whether you have a day – or two or three – Carmel-by-the-Sea will reward you with some of the world's finest scenery, historic sites, art galleries, restaurants, and boutique shops."
17 Mile Drive
If you're heading down the bay towards Monterey and Carmel, be sure to go down 17 Mile Drive! "See the enchanting world full of dramatic coastal cliffs, snow-white beaches, mystical forests and iconic golf courses. Discover one of the most scenic drives in the world as you meet the inspiring Lone Cypress, ponder the giant trees at Crocker Grove, digest the untouched beauty at Fanshell Beach, behold the power of the Restless Sea at Point Joe, stroll the boardwalk above the beach at Spanish Bay, and much, much more."