Santa Cruz
Around Santa Cruz
Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · California · 262k people
Santa Cruz
“Surf City”
Santa Cruz · Watsonville
Salt air and redwood shade.
Banana Slug YellowMonterey Bay BlueRedwood Brown
Welcome to Santa Cruz! Whether you're here for the waves, the redwoods, or the farmers markets, you'll find your people. Grab a fish taco and hit the beach.
Clubs for Santa Cruz
No clubs for Santa Cruz yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Santa Cruz. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Santa Cruz. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Historic seaside amusement park with the Giant Dipper roller coaster.
- Santa Cruz Wharf Fishing pier with sea lions, seafood restaurants, and bay views.
- Natural Bridges State Beach Monarch butterfly grove and a natural rock bridge.
- Wilder Ranch State Park Coastal bluffs, historic ranch buildings, and ocean views.
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Old-growth redwoods along the San Lorenzo River.
- UC Santa Cruz Campus Hilltop campus with redwoods, meadows, and panoramic bay views.
- Outdoors Surf at Steamer Lane
- Outdoors Hike in Nisene Marks State Park
- With kids Ride the Giant Dipper at the Beach Boardwalk
- With kids Visit the Seymour Marine Discovery Center
- Evenings Catch live music at the Catalyst
- Evenings Stroll the downtown bars
- Locals love Surf breaks
- Locals love Farmers markets
Through the year
- Wharf to Wharf Race July 6-mile run from Santa Cruz to Capitola along the coast.
- Santa Cruz County Fair September Agricultural fair with livestock, rides, and local food.
- Capitola Art & Wine Festival August Artists and wineries line the streets of Capitola.
- Watsonville Strawberry Festival July Celebrates the region's strawberry harvest with food and music.
- Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music August Contemporary orchestral music performances.
Santa Cruz has a mild Mediterranean climate with fog in summer and rain in winter. The best time to be out is late spring and early fall, when skies are clear and temperatures are comfortable. Best: Late spring and early fall are the clearest and warmest.
Talk like a local
- “The Boardwalk”
- The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
- “The Lane”
- Steamer Lane surf break.
- “Cap”
- Capitola village.
- “The Wharf”
- Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf.
Getaways
- San Jose Tech museums, downtown dining, and the Winchester Mystery House.
- San Francisco Golden Gate Park, the Ferry Building, and city sights.
- Salinas Steinbeck Center and agricultural heartland.
- Napa Valley Wine tasting and vineyard tours.
Local flavour
Teams
- Santa Cruz Warriors NBA G League
Also rooting for San Francisco Giants (MLB), San Francisco 49ers (NFL), Golden State Warriors (NBA), San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Eat and drink
- Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl A staple at the wharf, often enjoyed with a view of the bay.
- Fish tacos Fresh local catch, served with cabbage and crema at beachside taquerias.
- Watsonville strawberries The region's agricultural heart, famous for sweet, juicy berries.
- Artichokes Grown nearby, often steamed and served with butter or aioli.
Where people go
- Beach boardwalk The historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, with its classic rides and seaside carnival atmosphere.
- Fishing wharf The Santa Cruz Wharf, where locals and visitors fish, dine, and watch sea lions.
- Redwood forests Ancient groves like Henry Cowell and Big Basin, offering shaded trails and towering trees.
- Surf breaks World-renowned spots like Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point, central to the surf culture.
- Organic farms and farmers markets The agricultural heart of Watsonville, with abundant strawberries and fresh produce.
Heritage and traditions
Santa Cruz–Watsonville is proud of its laid-back surf culture, redwood forests, and agricultural bounty, blending coastal creativity with a deep connection to the land and ocean.
Say it like a local: “Stoked” — Excited or enthusiastic
Festivals
- Santa Cruz Greek Festival September Greek food, music, and dancing at the county fairgrounds.
- Watsonville Dia de los Muertos November Community altars, processions, and traditional Mexican celebrations.
- Santa Cruz Pride June LGBTQ+ celebration with a parade and festival downtown.
- Woodies on the Wharf Summer Classic woodie cars line the wharf, celebrating surf culture.
- Santa Cruz Film Festival Spring Independent films from around the world screened locally.
- Santa Cruz Bluegrass Fair Summer Bluegrass bands and family-friendly activities at the fairgrounds.
Landmarks with a story
- Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Site of the 1791 mission, with restored adobe buildings and gardens.
- Holy Cross Church Historic Catholic church in downtown Santa Cruz, dating to the 1800s.
- Santa Cruz Surfing Museum Housed in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, chronicling surf history.
- Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad A steam train from 1890s that runs through redwoods to the beach.
- Capitola Venetian Hotel A colorful Italianate hotel on the Capitola Esplanade, built in 1924.
- Watsonville Plaza Historic town square with a gazebo and surrounding old buildings.
Food traditions
- Breakfast burritos from Watsonville taquerias A hearty start to the day, filled with eggs, potatoes, and salsa.
- Roadside strawberry stands Watsonville strawberries are a springtime staple, sold fresh along the road.
- Local oysters Monterey Bay oysters are served on the half shell at many seafood spots.
- Farmers market produce Year-round markets feature organic greens, heirloom tomatoes, and artichokes.
- Fish and chips at the wharf A classic seaside meal, often enjoyed with a view of sea lions.
Music and arts
- Surf rock The genre's early energy is tied to Santa Cruz surf culture.
- Contemporary classical (Cabrillo Festival) A world-renowned festival for new orchestral music.
- Shakespeare in the park Santa Cruz Shakespeare performs in a redwood grove.
- Local ceramics and pottery Many artists craft functional and sculptural pieces in the area.
A little history
- 1791 Mission Santa Cruz founded
- 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake devastated the area
- 1965 UC Santa Cruz founded as a new campus
- 1907 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk opened
- 1915 Duke Kahanamoku surfed the San Lorenzo River mouth, popularizing surfing locally
- Game day Surfing at Steamer Lane
- Game day Mountain biking on UCSC trails
- Outdoors Watch sunset from West Cliff Drive
- Outdoors Swim at Seabright Beach
- With kids Roaring Camp Railroad
- With kids Mystery Spot
A relaxed, surfer-influenced English with a hint of Northern California slang. In Watsonville, Spanish is common, and locals often mix English and Spanish casually.
Only here
- The Mystery Spot, a gravity-defying tourist attraction.
- Kelp forests in Monterey Bay, visible while kayaking or diving.
- The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, housed in a lighthouse.
- One of the oldest seaside amusement parks in the US – the Boardwalk.
New here? A few tips
- Bring a wetsuit – the Pacific is cold, even in summer.
- Expect fog and cool mornings; dress in layers.
- Traffic on Highway 1 and near the beach is heavy on weekends – plan ahead.
- Try a breakfast burrito from a Watsonville taqueria – it's a local staple.
- Visit the redwoods early to avoid crowds.
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Part of Bay Area
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Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.