Santa Cruz, CA is known for its beautiful beaches and iconic boardwalk. This unique location features colorful beach homes, a super fun atmosphere, and incredible nature. There are so many things to see and do.
Befitting the upscale atmosphere, there are many popular luxury hotels near local attractions like Natural Bridge State Park that give you a bird’s eye view of the area. One popular one is Hyatt Place Santa Cruz is the perfect place to stay since it’s situated close to the downtown area. What’s even better about this hotel is that it’s located near the classic Boardwalk, where you can get your entertainment fix. The Hyatt Place Santa Cruz embraces the laid-back beach culture of Santa Cruz with its comfy amenities and being located just minutes from the beach.
The Dream Inn Santa Cruz is a local favorite. It’s a piece of local history, offering a cool retro-chic vibe. The great beachfront location makes it a destination for vacationers of all stripes. Santa Cruz is the perfect city to explore some of its white sand beaches, charming boardwalks, and lush natural forests. Here are some of the things you’ll want to do in Santa Cruz.
Big Basin State Park
This state park is the perfect place to take an epic hike and enjoy the great outdoors. Here you’ll travel among coastal redwood trees across 80 miles of trails. During your tour, you’ll also come across incredible birds, canyons, and waterfalls. If you’re looking for a rush, then you should venture on the three-day hike from the Skyline to the Sea Trail. You can score a ride from the Santa Cruz Metro Station during the months of March to December. Or, you can go without a car and hike it alone.
The Crepe Place
This unique place is situated in a two-story Victorian house. The Crepe Place has some of the best crepes that you’ll ever taste in your life. But this quaint restaurant also serves authentic French cuisine. This venue hosts comedy shows, concerns, and classic movie screenings on a weekly basis. It works on stimulating each of your senses. You’ll be impressed with this restaurant, no matter the time of day or night.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Sometimes all you need is a relaxing walk along the boardwalk. Here you can enjoy all the eclectic sights and sounds that Santa Cruz has to offer. This is not only a boardwalk but it’s also one of the oldest seaside amusement parks in the nation. It’s been packed with family-friendly fun since 1907.
There’s affordable entertainment such as a bowling alley, indoor arcade, laser tag, miniature golf course, and more. They have free live concerts on Friday night and movie night on Wednesday nights. If you want to try something different, then head over to Karaoke nights at the Boardwalk Ball which you can sing your lungs out in front of an always-friendly crowd.
Surfing
Santa Cruz is one of the best places to surf in the country. There are plenty of clean, attractive beaches that allow you to get your surf on. If you’ve never surfed, there’s no better place to get started. While lying on the beach may sound nice, getting a surf lesson is even better. Or, you can try your hand at kayaking or scuba diving. If you don’t like water sports but you still want to be in the water, then there’s always whale or dolphin watching while you cool off near the shore.
Thrift Shopping
Want to get your shopping fix? Head downtown to check out some of the cool local thrift stores. Whether you’re shopping for Christmas gifts or souvenirs, you’ll find the right store for what you’re looking for. There are unique stores such as Cognito Clothing and Moon Zooom. Then there are trendier stores such as The Closet Shopper, where you can get the perfect piece for your personal style. If you’re traveling the second Sunday of the month, then you’ll want to take advantage of the shops on Lincoln Street that are part of the Santa Cruz Antique Fair.
