Santa Cruz: Experience the Coast, Culture, and Nature

Santa Cruz combines coastal experiences, nature, and a remarkable local history. Between the Pacific, the Santa Cruz Wharf, and the free-admission Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, you will find a variety of ideas for shared days on vacation. There are also museums, historic sites, and trails where the city’s landscape can be viewed from different perspectives. When searching for a vacation rental or vacation home in Santa Cruz, you can therefore first decide whether culture, the beach, nature observation, or activity should be the focus of your trip.

Between the Beach, Wharf, and Pacific

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a classic seaside amusement park located along a one-mile-long sandy beach. Admission to the park is free. At the Santa Cruz Wharf, there are opportunities for dining, shopping, and parking. From there, visitors can also observe whales, dolphins, sea lions, and sea otters. The wharf extends 2,745 feet over the waters of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and is the longest wooden pier in the United States. This makes it possible to combine relaxing hours by the water with observations of marine life.

Walking Trails and Nature at Natural Bridges State Beach

Those who want to explore Santa Cruz on foot or by bicycle will find West Cliff Drive to be a scenic, three-mile-long route along the Pacific Ocean. The route is used for walking, cycling, running, and walking dogs, and ends at Natural Bridges State Beach and Park. There are publicly accessible tide pools in a marine protected area. The Monarch Grove at Natural Bridges State Beach temporarily provides habitat for thousands of monarch butterflies; the Monarch Grove at Natural Bridges is also designated as a nature reserve. These different nature experiences give your trip planning two clear focal points: activity along the coast or quiet observation in a protected habitat.

Museums and the History of Santa Cruz

At the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, photographs, surfboards, and other artifacts document more than 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) is located downtown. Spontaneous visits are possible via Abbott Square plaza or the main entrance on Front Street. For the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, bus stops are located at the corner of Murray and Seabright, a six-minute walk from the museum.

The Mission Hill Historic District has had a defining historical influence. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it is considered the birthplace of Santa Cruz, the first permanent European settlement in Santa Cruz County. Until the Gold Rush, the district was the religious, commercial, industrial, and agricultural center of Santa Cruz County. Its most striking feature is the 149-foot-high steeple of Holy Cross Church. Those interested in surfing history, art, natural history, and urban history can take these different subjects into account when choosing the focus of their trip.

Choosing the Right Focus for Your Vacation

Santa Cruz is well suited to a trip planned around a combination of active days on the coast, nature observation, and cultural discoveries. West Cliff Drive is the focal point for longer walks and bike rides, while the Wharf and Boardwalk define time spent by the water. Museums and the Mission Hill Historic District provide a different emphasis. A vacation rental in Santa Cruz or a vacation home can therefore serve as the starting point for the focus that best suits your travel group and your preferred daily rhythm.

Discover More Places

For further searches on the portal, you can also find Boulder Creek, Aptos, Capitola, Scotts Valley, Felton, Freedom, Interlaken, and Soquel.

To the higher-level travel overview: Santa Cruz.