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