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 recommandé par les habitants
Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak Avenue
65 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Starbucks
21620 E Cliff Dr
29 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Mr Toots Coffeehouse
231 Esplanade
20 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st Ave
220 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff Dr
276 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Thai Basil
101 S Murphy Ave
16 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Naka Sushi Restaurant
1200 41st Ave
18 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf Rd
205 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Star Bene
East Cliff Drive
11 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Seabright Social
519 Seabright Ave
74 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Pleasure Point County Park
East Cliff Drive
17 recommandé par les habitants
"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 recommandé par les habitants
Poet & Patriot Irish Pub
320 Cedar St
10 recommandé par les habitants
Best downtown (Irish) dive bar
Best walkable dive bar. Very local. Two pool tables
8 recommandé par les habitants
The Pocket
3102 Portola Dr
8 recommandé par les habitants
Best walkable dive bar. Very local. Two pool tables
Best music venue in Santa Cruz. They do a good job scheduling shows
83 recommandé par les habitants
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial Way
83 recommandé par les habitants
Best music venue in Santa Cruz. They do a good job scheduling shows
Best view. Best wine
8 recommandé par les habitants
Vino Prima Wine Bar
55 Municipal Wharf
8 recommandé par les habitants
Best view. Best wine
Best for craft and microbrews
34 recommandé par les habitants
Lupulo Craft Beer House
233 Cathcart St
34 recommandé par les habitants
Best for craft and microbrews
Favorite wine bar in Capitola by the Sea
15 recommandé par les habitants
Capitola Wine Bar & Merchants
115 San Jose Ave
15 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Aquarium de Monterey Bay
886 Cannery Row
668 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Carmel-by-the-Sea
San Antonio Avenue
354 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Big Sur
332 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach St
745 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Kayak Connection
2370 CA-1
55 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff Dr
261 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Plage d'État Sunset
Sunset Beach Road
24 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Parc d'État Henry Cowell Redwoods
101 N Big Trees Park Rd
335 recommandé par les habitants
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.