Sheila’s guidebook
Farm to Table in Watsonville
Our family loves the beautiful agricultural community of Watsonville. There is a lot to discover close to home.
Gizdich Ranch is a farm in Watsonville known for its pies and berry picking. You can get a slice of any of the amazing pies (apple, ollalieberry, blueberry and so many more) or buy an entire pie to take home. The pie shop also has a deli and a picnic area for you to enjoy.
In the spring and early summer Gizdich offers berry picking. Strawberries, ollieberries, boysenberries and apples during their respective seasons. We pick the berries and go home to bake our own shortcakes and pies.
46 recommandé par les habitants
Gizdich Ranch
55 Peckham RdGizdich Ranch is a farm in Watsonville known for its pies and berry picking. You can get a slice of any of the amazing pies (apple, ollalieberry, blueberry and so many more) or buy an entire pie to take home. The pie shop also has a deli and a picnic area for you to enjoy.
In the spring and early summer Gizdich offers berry picking. Strawberries, ollieberries, boysenberries and apples during their respective seasons. We pick the berries and go home to bake our own shortcakes and pies.
Martinelli's offers juice tasting and a dose of history the is fun for the entire family. The Martinelli family has been in Watsonville for more than 150 years. The company store gives you a glimpse into the family and the company's history and offers you free tasting of their entire line of juices. You can purchase them all in the store to take home to enjoy.
9 recommandé par les habitants
Martinelli's Company Store
345 Harvest DrMartinelli's offers juice tasting and a dose of history the is fun for the entire family. The Martinelli family has been in Watsonville for more than 150 years. The company store gives you a glimpse into the family and the company's history and offers you free tasting of their entire line of juices. You can purchase them all in the store to take home to enjoy.
Known for its house made sausages this market is worth checking out.
26 recommandé par les habitants
Corralitos Market & Sausage Co
569 Corralitos RdKnown for its house made sausages this market is worth checking out.
Wine Tasting Near Pajaro Dunes
There are several delicious and fun wineries right in Watsonville. The Pleasant Valley region wineries are open for wine tasting on Saturdays year-around and open on Sundays during the summer.
This is a family owned winery. It's a comfortable and relaxing stop where you can kick-back on their patio, enjoy the great wine and views. They usually have some light appetizers available as well.
26 recommandé par les habitants
Vignoble et domaine viticole familial Alfaro
420 Hames RdThis is a family owned winery. It's a comfortable and relaxing stop where you can kick-back on their patio, enjoy the great wine and views. They usually have some light appetizers available as well.
Storrs is one of the best wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They have their main location in downtown Santa Cruz and opened their property in Watsonville summer 2018. This is a new facility with beautiful views and fun activities (Bocce ball was being built last time I was there). At the time of this writing, their website said they are open on Sunday's year-round. You may want to call to confirm.
8 recommandé par les habitants
Storrs Winery & Vineyards
1560 Pleasant Valley RdStorrs is one of the best wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains. They have their main location in downtown Santa Cruz and opened their property in Watsonville summer 2018. This is a new facility with beautiful views and fun activities (Bocce ball was being built last time I was there). At the time of this writing, their website said they are open on Sunday's year-round. You may want to call to confirm.
I have not visited this winery yet but I have enjoyed some of their wine. They are close to Alfaro and Storrs so wanted to mention this as well. If you're in the area and looking for a third stop this should be a consideration.
They also have a tasting room in Carmel-by-the Sea.
22 recommandé par les habitants
Windy Oaks Winery
550 Hazel Dell RdI have not visited this winery yet but I have enjoyed some of their wine. They are close to Alfaro and Storrs so wanted to mention this as well. If you're in the area and looking for a third stop this should be a consideration.
They also have a tasting room in Carmel-by-the Sea.
Bargetto was recently named best Santa Cruz Mountain Winery in the local best of Santa Cruz 2019 published by Good Times (Santa Cruz's main newspaper.) This is about 15 minutes up the road from the other Pleasant Valley Wineries I've listed but wanted to include this in case you're open to driving a bit further. In addition to good wine, the tasting room has beautiful views overlooking a wooded creak area in the back and friendly staff. When we got to watch deer in the woods while we tasted our wine.
If you go directly here from the beach house, it will take about 15 minutes as well.
31 recommandé par les habitants
Bargetto Winery
3535 N Main StBargetto was recently named best Santa Cruz Mountain Winery in the local best of Santa Cruz 2019 published by Good Times (Santa Cruz's main newspaper.) This is about 15 minutes up the road from the other Pleasant Valley Wineries I've listed but wanted to include this in case you're open to driving a bit further. In addition to good wine, the tasting room has beautiful views overlooking a wooded creak area in the back and friendly staff. When we got to watch deer in the woods while we tasted our wine.
If you go directly here from the beach house, it will take about 15 minutes as well.
Beer Tour
We've enjoyed discovering a number of different craft breweries in the area as well as a couple of beer gardens. We hope you will enjoy as well.
Corralitos Brewing is one of our local favorites. It's in Watsonville, so close to the house but feels like a drive out to the country.
This is also remarkably close to Corralitos market if you want to take home some of their house made sausages to pair with your beer.
The Watsonville wineries are also close by if you want to visit a few wineries as well.
28 recommandé par les habitants
Corralitos Brewing Company
2536 Freedom BlvdCorralitos Brewing is one of our local favorites. It's in Watsonville, so close to the house but feels like a drive out to the country.
This is also remarkably close to Corralitos market if you want to take home some of their house made sausages to pair with your beer.
The Watsonville wineries are also close by if you want to visit a few wineries as well.
Elkhorn Slough Brewing
65 Hangar WayThis is new to Watsonville so I have not been yet but will surely visit soon.
We go out of our way to stop at this tasting room amidst an industrial park. It's close to the freeway and easy to get in and out.
They also have a brewery and taproom in Capitola
28 recommandé par les habitants
Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
103 Kennedy DrWe go out of our way to stop at this tasting room amidst an industrial park. It's close to the freeway and easy to get in and out.
They also have a brewery and taproom in Capitola
This is a favorite stop. You can't beat the beer garden on a sunny day or a warm evening. They offer thirty rotating taps, 300+ bottles and offer several local brews.
The beer garden includes a family-friendly section that backs-up to a window where you can order food from Carpos, the neighboring restaurant.
They also have an over 21 area with games -- darts, corn hole, etc.
Inside you'll find a few tables and refrigerators with canned beer you can get to go.
Beer Thirty has a sister beer garden in Watsonville near the airport called Beer Mule. As of this writing we prefer driving the extra few minutes up the road to Beer Thirty but mentioning the closer location in case you're inclined to check it out.
82 recommandé par les habitants
Beer 30
2504 S Main StThis is a favorite stop. You can't beat the beer garden on a sunny day or a warm evening. They offer thirty rotating taps, 300+ bottles and offer several local brews.
The beer garden includes a family-friendly section that backs-up to a window where you can order food from Carpos, the neighboring restaurant.
They also have an over 21 area with games -- darts, corn hole, etc.
Inside you'll find a few tables and refrigerators with canned beer you can get to go.
Beer Thirty has a sister beer garden in Watsonville near the airport called Beer Mule. As of this writing we prefer driving the extra few minutes up the road to Beer Thirty but mentioning the closer location in case you're inclined to check it out.
This is a fun spot located in the West Side of Santa Cruz in the Swift Street Courtyard. They have a patio to enjoy the fresh air, lit up by cafe lights in the evening. They serve light food from neighboring Kelly's Bakery (worth a stop as well for a light lunch or baked indulgance.) or you can walk across the way to West End Tap for dinner.
94 recommandé par les habitants
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
334 Ingalls StThis is a fun spot located in the West Side of Santa Cruz in the Swift Street Courtyard. They have a patio to enjoy the fresh air, lit up by cafe lights in the evening. They serve light food from neighboring Kelly's Bakery (worth a stop as well for a light lunch or baked indulgance.) or you can walk across the way to West End Tap for dinner.
Rainy Day at the Beach with Kids
There's no such thing as a bad day at the beach. Even when it's raining I enjoy watching the stormy ocean and wind blow through the trees. If you're looking to get the kids out of the house, there are a number of great indoor options.
I love this place. It's easy, usually not crowded, doesn't break the bank and has fun exhibits that my kids and I can enjoy for a couple hours.
If it's dry enough outside the location is stunning on the edge of a bluff overlooking the ocean. Plus they have a complete whale bone skeleton of a blue and a grey whale that are fascinating.
Inside, they will give the kids a bingo game to help them find what's special in the different exhibits and aquariums. The octopus is my personal favorite. The touch tanks are the best around in my opinion and the docents (mostly UCSC students) are helpful providing information about the different animals. They also have a swell shark you can touch!
They offer tours which are quite popular as well. If you're interested in these you should definitely plan ahead.
There is no food on site but you can bring a picnic lunch to eat at the tables outside (I know, not great for a rainy day.) I usually just make sure we eat before we go and stop off at one of the great restaurants in West Santa Cruz (West End Tap and Kitchen, Kelly's Bakery) afterward.
80 recommandé par les habitants
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
100 McAllister WayI love this place. It's easy, usually not crowded, doesn't break the bank and has fun exhibits that my kids and I can enjoy for a couple hours.
If it's dry enough outside the location is stunning on the edge of a bluff overlooking the ocean. Plus they have a complete whale bone skeleton of a blue and a grey whale that are fascinating.
Inside, they will give the kids a bingo game to help them find what's special in the different exhibits and aquariums. The octopus is my personal favorite. The touch tanks are the best around in my opinion and the docents (mostly UCSC students) are helpful providing information about the different animals. They also have a swell shark you can touch!
They offer tours which are quite popular as well. If you're interested in these you should definitely plan ahead.
There is no food on site but you can bring a picnic lunch to eat at the tables outside (I know, not great for a rainy day.) I usually just make sure we eat before we go and stop off at one of the great restaurants in West Santa Cruz (West End Tap and Kitchen, Kelly's Bakery) afterward.
Stop and get a slice of pie at this legendary pie shop in Watsonville. The pie shop is located in a large barn with picnic tables inside so you can stay dry while you indulge
46 recommandé par les habitants
Gizdich Ranch
55 Peckham RdStop and get a slice of pie at this legendary pie shop in Watsonville. The pie shop is located in a large barn with picnic tables inside so you can stay dry while you indulge
Take the kids juice tasting at the Martinelli's Company Store in Watsonville. The Martinelli family has been in Watsonville for 150 years and this Store gives you a bit of the history and the option to taste a number of their different juices for free. You can purchase your favorites and bring them back to the house to enjoy during your stay.
9 recommandé par les habitants
Martinelli's Company Store
345 Harvest DrTake the kids juice tasting at the Martinelli's Company Store in Watsonville. The Martinelli family has been in Watsonville for 150 years and this Store gives you a bit of the history and the option to taste a number of their different juices for free. You can purchase your favorites and bring them back to the house to enjoy during your stay.
Popular local artist Annieglass is based on Watsonville, right next door to the Martinelli's Company Store. It is glass so not the best stop for the kids but a fun place for the adults in the group if the kids are okay while the adults check out the beautiful glass. This is a fun stop rain or shine.
Annieglass Inc
310 Harvest DrPopular local artist Annieglass is based on Watsonville, right next door to the Martinelli's Company Store. It is glass so not the best stop for the kids but a fun place for the adults in the group if the kids are okay while the adults check out the beautiful glass. This is a fun stop rain or shine.