Susan's Guidebook
Sightseeing
An absolutely delightful village by the sea. Lots of shops, restaurants and of course the beach.🏖🏄♂️
151 locals recommend
Capitola
An absolutely delightful village by the sea. Lots of shops, restaurants and of course the beach.🏖🏄♂️
Beaches every where! A beautiful coast! Enjoy🏖☀️⛵️🎡🎢🛶🚴♀️🧗🏿🤽🏽♂️🏄♂️🧘🏼🏊🏻♀️🏌🏻♂️⛹🏼🪂🏂🏃🏼♂️💃🏼🕺🧜🏻♀️🐋🐳🐬🦋🦉🐆❤️
10 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Boat Rentals
15 Municipal WharfBeaches every where! A beautiful coast! Enjoy🏖☀️⛵️🎡🎢🛶🚴♀️🧗🏿🤽🏽♂️🏄♂️🧘🏼🏊🏻♀️🏌🏻♂️⛹🏼🪂🏂🏃🏼♂️💃🏼🕺🧜🏻♀️🐋🐳🐬🦋🦉🐆❤️
I love the Boardwalk, there is no admission charge, just walk around and take it all in. There are rides for all ages. You’re right on the ocean and the Wharf right next door. In the summer there are free concerts. Enjoy!
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StI love the Boardwalk, there is no admission charge, just walk around and take it all in. There are rides for all ages. You’re right on the ocean and the Wharf right next door. In the summer there are free concerts. Enjoy!
A beautiful campus with miles of trails to walk, bike or drive along the main roads. Beautiful scenic views. Great bookstore. Enjoy the many music and art programs offered.
67 locals recommend
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum RoadA beautiful campus with miles of trails to walk, bike or drive along the main roads. Beautiful scenic views. Great bookstore. Enjoy the many music and art programs offered.
The views are exquisite, be sure to walk around. Great place to take young children; they can run around outside and inside good exhibits for them to enjoy. Wonderful gift store, I’ve always found a perfect gift at a great price.
80 locals recommend
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
100 McAllister WayThe views are exquisite, be sure to walk around. Great place to take young children; they can run around outside and inside good exhibits for them to enjoy. Wonderful gift store, I’ve always found a perfect gift at a great price.
Right by the Boardwalk, the Wharf, and the ocean. A futuristic visitors center.
25 locals recommend
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
35 Pacific AveRight by the Boardwalk, the Wharf, and the ocean. A futuristic visitors center.
Lovely was to spend some time downtown. Not only the museum but many restaurants and shops.
Enjoy people watching.
133 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StLovely was to spend some time downtown. Not only the museum but many restaurants and shops.
Enjoy people watching.
What a beautiful hiking or biking 🚴♀️ area. Take a hat if it’s a sunny day.
219 locals recommend
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdWhat a beautiful hiking or biking 🚴♀️ area. Take a hat if it’s a sunny day.
Wonderful place for hiking and taking the family. Great information center. Nice gift store.
335 locals recommend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park RdWonderful place for hiking and taking the family. Great information center. Nice gift store.
The trip up the coast, the views!
Go a little farther and see the Elephant Seals at the State Park!
Ano Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area
The trip up the coast, the views!
Go a little farther and see the Elephant Seals at the State Park!
Surfers Memorial
647 W Cliff DrA scenic walk or drive up West Cliff Drive.
Lovely hiking along the stream, or hike up to Lima Prieta epicenter and beyond.
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadLovely hiking along the stream, or hike up to Lima Prieta epicenter and beyond.
Fall Creek Unit Trailhead
Felton Empire RoadFood scene
What can I say! Gayle’s is world renowned! If you like European delicacies, or an oatmeal cookie, fabulous bread, delicious sandwiches, salads, coffee, and so much more, you have to at least check it out!
155 locals recommend
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveWhat can I say! Gayle’s is world renowned! If you like European delicacies, or an oatmeal cookie, fabulous bread, delicious sandwiches, salads, coffee, and so much more, you have to at least check it out!
Oh my their Chocolate cupcakes with homemade whipped cream dream! Also great espresso drinks as well as sandwiches and salads.
Oh and breakfast too!
133 locals recommend
The Buttery
702 Soquel AveOh my their Chocolate cupcakes with homemade whipped cream dream! Also great espresso drinks as well as sandwiches and salads.
Oh and breakfast too!
Love their 🥖 bread! Great espresso drinks too! Their main bakery is in Santa Cruz on Mission Street is larger with more bake goods.
13 locals recommend
Companion Bakeshop Aptos
7486 Soquel DrLove their 🥖 bread! Great espresso drinks too! Their main bakery is in Santa Cruz on Mission Street is larger with more bake goods.
Peet's Coffee
214 Mt Hermon RdI love lattes! This is where I go.
The absolute best sour dough pancakes I ever had!!! Love their Mikes mess, really anything on breakfast menu, haven’t been to lunch there yet but if it’s like the breakfast it’s Delicious 😋
47 locals recommend
Zachary's Restaurant
819 Pacific AveThe absolute best sour dough pancakes I ever had!!! Love their Mikes mess, really anything on breakfast menu, haven’t been to lunch there yet but if it’s like the breakfast it’s Delicious 😋
Sunrise Cafe
4718 Soquel DrLocal hangout for breakfast especially on weekends. Good specials.
This is definitely a local surfers 🏄♀️ dive, but the best blueberry walnut pancakes in town. You can even eat in their VW camper in front of the restaurant! Good regular old coffee too!☕️
30 locals recommend
Paula's
3500 Portola DrThis is definitely a local surfers 🏄♀️ dive, but the best blueberry walnut pancakes in town. You can even eat in their VW camper in front of the restaurant! Good regular old coffee too!☕️
There are so many Farmer’s Markets around Santa Cruz! One of the main ones is on Wednesdays, 130pm. Delicious fruit, vegetables, food trucks and great people watching.
8 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Community Farmers' Market
700-798 Cedar StThere are so many Farmer’s Markets around Santa Cruz! One of the main ones is on Wednesdays, 130pm. Delicious fruit, vegetables, food trucks and great people watching.
At Cabrillo College parking lot. A Saturday must! 8am -noon. So many great vendors, fresh everything. Friendly people. Often wonderful music by locals.
44 locals recommend
Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College
6500 Soquel DrAt Cabrillo College parking lot. A Saturday must! 8am -noon. So many great vendors, fresh everything. Friendly people. Often wonderful music by locals.
Downtown. Had a delicious lunch here, prices on the higher end. Good service.
11 locals recommend
Alderwood Santa Cruz
155 Walnut AveDowntown. Had a delicious lunch here, prices on the higher end. Good service.
The absolutely best BBQ! The best bread pudding with whiskey sauce and vanilla ice cream on top! So much beer! Great local musicians!
95 locals recommend
Aptos St. BBQ
8059 Aptos StThe absolutely best BBQ! The best bread pudding with whiskey sauce and vanilla ice cream on top! So much beer! Great local musicians!
Just the trip down the hill in the cablecar is worth going!🚃 Beautiful spot, you can have a drink at the full bar or dinner and then walk down to Capitola Beach.
205 locals recommend
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf RdJust the trip down the hill in the cablecar is worth going!🚃 Beautiful spot, you can have a drink at the full bar or dinner and then walk down to Capitola Beach.
The best salad bar in Santa Cruz! And the best carrot cake and pies!
This is a causal lunch and dinner place. In or outside dining, excellent for families. Food is very good, from hamburgers to shrimp and wonderful soups too.
19 locals recommend
Carpo's Restaurant
2400 Porter StThe best salad bar in Santa Cruz! And the best carrot cake and pies!
This is a causal lunch and dinner place. In or outside dining, excellent for families. Food is very good, from hamburgers to shrimp and wonderful soups too.
The go to Italian Restaurant in Santa Cruz. I love the Sunday Gravy sauce. Full bar, some great wines.
Can be a bit noisy.
125 locals recommend
Lillian's Italian Kitchen
1148 Soquel AveThe go to Italian Restaurant in Santa Cruz. I love the Sunday Gravy sauce. Full bar, some great wines.
Can be a bit noisy.
Fabulous Margaritas! Salsa is so good I could drink it, we always go through two baskets of chips with it!
12 locals recommend
Tortilla Flats
4616 Soquel DrFabulous Margaritas! Salsa is so good I could drink it, we always go through two baskets of chips with it!
Right next to the Harbor, great views both upstarts and downstairs. Has music and comedy night. Love the calamari and clam chowder. Nice salad bar. Full bar.
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrRight next to the Harbor, great views both upstarts and downstairs. Has music and comedy night. Love the calamari and clam chowder. Nice salad bar. Full bar.
Nice local place for dinner or lunch.
Good food dining in or outside. Full bar.
88 locals recommend
Café Cruz
2621 41st AveNice local place for dinner or lunch.
Good food dining in or outside. Full bar.
Lovely place to have lunch or dinner. Nice specials, excellent wine and good service.
79 locals recommend
Café Sparrow
8042 Soquel DrLovely place to have lunch or dinner. Nice specials, excellent wine and good service.
What a view! Go for happy hour or breakfast, lunch, or dinner or just to see this gorgeous view!
30 locals recommend
The Spa at Chaminade
1 Chaminade LnWhat a view! Go for happy hour or breakfast, lunch, or dinner or just to see this gorgeous view!
Delicious Thai food. Right here is Soquel. Extensive menu. Sweet rice with mango was to die for!
16 locals recommend
Sawasdee Thai Cuisine
5050 Soquel DrDelicious Thai food. Right here is Soquel. Extensive menu. Sweet rice with mango was to die for!
Organic delicious food, vegetarian and meat too! Love the Vietnam sandwiches. Rice Bowles.
80 locals recommend
Charlie Hong Kong
1141 Soquel AveOrganic delicious food, vegetarian and meat too! Love the Vietnam sandwiches. Rice Bowles.
Want a good hamburger? This place is our favorite! The fry’s are perfect! Great other sandwiches options too. The prices is great! Seating inside or out.
8 locals recommend
Jack's Hamburgers
202 Lincoln StWant a good hamburger? This place is our favorite! The fry’s are perfect! Great other sandwiches options too. The prices is great! Seating inside or out.
Looking for vegetarian? Great menu, one of my favorites is the special of choice of soup, salad, rice combo, sounds boring? No delicious!
62 locals recommend
Dharma's Restaurant
4250 Capitola RdLooking for vegetarian? Great menu, one of my favorites is the special of choice of soup, salad, rice combo, sounds boring? No delicious!
This is a locals place. Great Huevos Rancheros for breakfast. Good food and good prices.
10 locals recommend
Taqueria Los Gordos
7488 Soquel DrThis is a locals place. Great Huevos Rancheros for breakfast. Good food and good prices.
The view is outstanding! The clam chowder is fabulous! Lunch is our favorite, just can’t beat the clam chowder and that view! Service is excellent!Valet parking.
13 locals recommend
Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge
175 W Cliff DrThe view is outstanding! The clam chowder is fabulous! Lunch is our favorite, just can’t beat the clam chowder and that view! Service is excellent!Valet parking.
In the heart of Capitola, in or outside dining. Dinner only. We had a delicious dinner with a wonderful appetizer. Family run.
23 locals recommend
Caruso's Tuscan Cuisine
115 San Jose AveIn the heart of Capitola, in or outside dining. Dinner only. We had a delicious dinner with a wonderful appetizer. Family run.
Has been here since 1980, great happy hour! Love the outdoor area. Calamari appetizer is delicious! Oh and the desserts! Good Italian food.
Ristorante Italiano
555 Soquel AvenueHas been here since 1980, great happy hour! Love the outdoor area. Calamari appetizer is delicious! Oh and the desserts! Good Italian food.
Music Scene
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific AveGreat shows. Has a big stage. Drinks and some food. Local favorite.
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial WayGreat venue, all kinds of music.
Jazz Jazz Jazz! Plus other music too. Fabulous artists! Check it out.
52 locals recommend
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar StJazz Jazz Jazz! Plus other music too. Fabulous artists! Check it out.
Entertainment
Best popcorn in town! Great avant-garde movies. Small theaters.
63 locals recommend
Landmark's Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln StBest popcorn in town! Great avant-garde movies. Small theaters.
Petroglyph Ceramic Lounge
125 Walnut AveWe’ve had so much fun here, from 3 to 75 years old!
Grocery Stores
Nob Hill Foods
809 Bay AveSafeway
2720 41st AveNew Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair AveWhole Foods Market
911 Soquel Ave