Santa Cruz is a laid-back beach town located on California’s central coast. It is the perfect weekend getaway or a popular stop while on a California coast road trip. Keep reading to discover the best things to do in Santa Cruz and the surrounding area!
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7 Unique Things to do in Santa Cruz, California
Table of Contents
- 1. Ride the Giant Dipper at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- 2. Check out the shops on Pacific Avenue
- 3. Relax at Shark Fin Cove
- 4. See the tallest lighthouse on the west coast
- 5. Take a train ride through the redwoods
- 6. Eat dinner in a historic summer home
- 7. See the colorful beachfront cottages at Capitola
- A few more of the best things to do in Santa Cruz
1. Ride the Giant Dipper at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a seaside amusement park similar to Belmont Park in San Diego and Coney Island in New York.
This family-owned park first opened in 1907, making it the oldest amusement park in California.
The crown jewel of the boardwalk is the Giant Dipper.
This vintage wooden roller coaster has been in operation for nearly 100 years and is considered the 4th oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the US.
Tickets to ride the coaster are only $8, or it is included with the all-day wristband.
Riding the Giant Dipper is one of the most popular things to do in Santa Cruz. More than 66 million people have ridden the roller coaster since it first opened.
The Giant Dipper has even been featured in several blockbuster movies including The Lost Boys, Sudden Impact, and Dangerous Minds.
In addition to the Giant Dipper, there are 10 other thrill rides as well as smaller kiddie rides. Be sure to take a spin on the historic hand-carved Looff Carousel that was built in 1911.
You can also try your luck at the midway games, play the arcades, and order a fried twinkie or a classic funnel cake from one of the food vendors.
For a view of the boardwalk from the water, take a walk along the nearby wharf.
You can also pick up some souvenirs from the shops at the Santa Cruz Wharf.
If you’re hungry, stop in at The Picnic Basket just across the street.
Their simple menu features baked goods, sandwiches, salads, and ice cream using fresh locally sourced ingredients.
The Picnic Basket is open for breakfast and lunch. Try their scones, ham & cheese croissants, yogurt parfait, or avocado toast.
Another great breakfast spot is Harbor Cafe, their Churro Waffle is insane!
As for hotel recommendations, if you’re looking for someplace to stay near the boardwalk, I would recommend the Beach Street Inn & Suites.
It is located just across the street from Main Beach and within walking distance of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
The hotel is also great for families as the rooms are spacious, clean, and affordable.
The Dream Inn is also located right on the beach and is a great option.
2. Check out the shops on Pacific Avenue
The best place to go shopping is along Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz. Here you will find boutiques, vintage clothing stores, outdoor cafes, art galleries, high-end retailers, and local surf shops.
A few of the more popular stores include Free People, Pacific Trading Co., O’Neill Surf Shop, Miss Jessie May’s Antiques, Santa Cruz Bookshop, and Berdels.
If you’ve worked up an appetite after shopping, pop into Zoccoli’s Italian Delicatessen for one of their signature sandwiches.
This local deli is one of the oldest family-run businesses in Santa Cruz.
The Zoccoli family immigrated from Italy in 1948 and opened this small grocery store here in Santa Cruz.
In addition to groceries, they started selling soups, salads, and sandwiches in the 1970s and they still use many of the same family recipes today.
After lunch, head over to the Penny Ice Creamery for the best ice cream in Santa Cruz.
Penny Ice Creamery is the only ice cream shop in Santa Cruz that makes its ice cream completely from scratch.
The small batch ice cream is made in-house daily using fresh ingredients, and you can truly taste the quality.
It is also rumored that they use the original vanilla ice cream recipe that was first recorded by Thomas Jefferson in 1791.
I would highly recommend ordering the salted caramel ice cream in a waffle cone with their famous toasted marshmallow fluff topping, it is divine!
3. Relax at Shark Fin Cove
Shark Fin Cove is one of the most popular stops on a coast road trip from San Francisco to Big Sur.
This small beach can be accessed from Highway 1. There is a dirt parking area just north of the beach on the coastal side of the highway.
It is not marked with a sign, so put Shark Fin Cove into your maps then keep an eye out for the parking lot as you get close.
From the parking lot, follow the short dirt path across the train tracks until you reach the lookout point.
Here you will see a massive rock sticking out of the water that looks like a giant shark fin.
You can continue down the path to access the beach, but be sure to wear tennis shoes as the trail is rocky and steep.
Just note that swimming is not recommended at Shark Fin Cove as there is a strong undercurrent.
However, the beach itself is a serene little pocket along the coast with soft sand and secluded sea caves.
It’s the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the crashing waves.
Highway 1 is one of the most scenic drives in the US, particularly along the Big Sur coast. If you’re planning to visit the area, check out these Prettiest Stops on a Big Sur Road Trip.
4. See the tallest lighthouse on the west coast
If you head north of Santa Cruz for about 35 minutes, you’ll reach Pigeon Point Lighthouse State Park.
Here you will find the historic Pigeon Point Lighthouse perched high on a cliff.
The lighthouse was built in 1872, and at 115 feet it is considered the tallest lighthouse on the west coast.
Pigeon Point Lighthouse is still actively used by the US Coast Guard today.
However, the original 16-foot tall 2,000-pound Fresnel lens has been replaced by an automated LED beacon.
The original lens and five-wick oil lamp can be found on display at the fog signal building.
The interpretive center inside the fog signal building and oil bunker is open to visitors every Thursday through Monday.
The lighthouse tower and keeper’s office are currently undergoing extensive renovations. The interior is closed for tours, but guided history tours around the grounds are available by request.
See the Pigeon Point Lighthouse State Park website for updates and tour information.
For a unique experience, book a night at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse hostel and vacation rental.
During your stay, you can fall asleep under the radiant stars of the dark sky reserve and wake up to the sound of harbor seals and a pastel sunrise over the lighthouse.
The state park also includes a public beach, tide pools, and coastal hiking trails.
*Related Post: If you’re planning a trip to San Francisco, check out our guide How to Spend One Day in San Francisco.
5. Take a train ride through the redwoods
The Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a short 20-minute drive from Santa Cruz, but feels like a world away.
The crashing waves and kitschy tourist shops are replaced by towering redwoods and the quiet call of nature.
Here you will find a 40-acre ancient coastal redwood grove.
The largest tree in the grove is almost 277 feet tall and is over 1,500 years old.
You can find this tree along the 0.8-mile Redwood Grove Loop Trail. I would recommend downloading an audio tour of the Redwood Trail for more information.
The 4-mile Cathedral Redwoods Trail is also a popular hiking trail. Be sure to stop by the Visitor Center for a map and more information about the different trails in the park.
The Fremont Tree is also one of the most popular tourist attractions at Henry Cowell State Park.
Visitors can walk inside the hollow base of the tree which has a circumference of 46 feet. Lt. John C Fremont supposedly camped overnight inside the tree while exploring California in the 1840s.
However, the biggest draw to the park is the Roaring Camp Railroad where you can climb aboard an authentic 1890s steam locomotive and take a narrated train ride through the redwood forest.
The train departs from Roaring Camp, a re-creation of the old 1800s settlement.
The 75-minute journey will take you up a winding narrow-gauge railroad, over a trestle bridge, and through the heart of the redwood forest.
It is definitely one of the most beautiful and unique things to do in Santa Cruz.
The train reaches the summit of Bear Mountain where visitors can stretch their legs and take a restroom break while the conductor tends to the steam engine.
After the short break, the train will head back down the same track to the station.
It is highly recommended to purchase train tickets in advance during peak season.
There is also a $10 entrance fee for the state park. Keep in mind that the permit is good for any same-day entry to the other state parks in the area.
*Related post: If you’re planning to visit the nearby town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, check out our guide for the Best Things to do in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
6. Eat dinner in a historic summer home
Shadowbrook is one of the most unique restaurants near Santa Cruz. It began as a log cabin summer home that was built in the 1920s.
Throughout the years, new additions were added and in 1944 it first opened as a restaurant.
Shadowbrook is built along a terraced hill and guests have the option to take a bright red cable car from the parking lot down to the restaurant.
The exterior is surrounded by lush gardens and the interior is a maze of eclectic dining rooms, each unique and bursting with character.
We ate in the enclosed dining patio by the river and loved the ambiance.
I will say that we weren’t overly impressed with the food. The dishes we ordered were mediocre and the portions seemed small for the price.
However, I would still recommend Shadowbrook for the unique dining experience.
*Related post: If you’re planning a Pacific Coast Highway road trip, check out the best things to do from Oceanside to San Diego!
7. See the colorful beachfront cottages at Capitola
Capitola is a charming seaside town just outside of Santa Cruz. It was founded in 1874 as the first beach resort in California.
The resort started as a small tent camp called “Camp Capitola”. In 1895, the grand Victorian-style Hotel Capitola was built. It attracted visitors from all over before it sadly burned down in 1929.
Today, Capitola is known for its collection of vibrant cottages that sit on the shore of Capitola Beach. The pops of bright colors are reminiscent of a romantic European seaside village.
The cottages were first built in 1925 as condos and many of them are available as vacation rentals today.
The Capitola Venetian Hotel sits right above the condos and offers views of the ocean. Capitola Hotel is also a popular hotel with close access to the beach.
If you’re looking for a place to eat in Capitola, I would recommend Paradise Beach Grille.
It was voted Best Restaurant in Capitola for 7 years and the outdoor patio overlooks Soquel Creek and Capitola Beach.
Everything we ordered was so good, but our favorite was the sourdough boule stuffed with gouda, mozzarella, and garlic!
If you’re planning to continue your coast road trip down south, check out our guide for the Best Things to do in Monterey.
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A few more of the best things to do in Santa Cruz
- Natural Bridges State Beach: A public beach with stunning rock sea arches and tide pools.
- Big Basin State Park: Big Basin is California’s oldest state park and is located about 50 minutes from Santa Cruz. It boasts 2000-year-old redwoods and over 80 miles of trails. Many trails are now reopened after the 2020 fire. The 0.6-mile Redwood Loop Trail is one of the most popular trails with gigantic trees. Parking permits must be purchased in advance, no same-day permits are available.
- Butano State Park: Located about 45 minutes from Santa Cruz. This park also offers redwood forest hiking trails. The redwoods aren’t quite as tall as in the other parks, but it is still beautiful and less crowded. The most popular trails include the 3-mile Little Butano Creek Trail which takes you to the heart of the redwoods. The 6 Bridges Trail is a 2.2-mile trail that crosses over 6 bridges, as the name implies.
- Ano Nuevo State Park: This park offers the best view of elephant seals in their natural habitat. The viewing area can be reached by a 3-mile guided hike from December 15- March 31. Reservations must be made in advance.
- Old Davenport Pier: This abandoned Pier has a swing attached to it that makes for the perfect Instagram shot. You’ll need to scramble down a steep cliff to reach it, so wear proper shoes and use caution. It is also best to visit during low tide.
- Wilder Ranch State Park: This lesser-known state park offers a shortage of crowds but no shortage of beauty. Take the easy 2-mile Old Cove Landing Trail to Ohlone Bluff to see impressive cliffs, hidden beach coves, and dozens of seals.
- Sea Cliff State Beach: A massive sunken ship can be found at the end of the pier at Sea Cliff State Beach. The SS Palo Alto was built during WWI but the war was over by the time it was finished being built. In 1929, it was transported to this location where it became an entertainment venue. The pier was built leading out to “The Ship” that was decked out with a casino, heated pool, midway games, a restaurant, and a dance floor. The company that purchased it went bankrupt during the Great Depression and it has since sat vacant while deteriorating into the sea. Safety barricades have been put into place so visitors can’t get too close, but there is a visitor center on-site with more information.
- Walton Lighthouse: The Santa Cruz Breakwater (Walton) Lighthouse can be found on a jetty at the northern end of Monterey Bay in the Santa Cruz Harbor.
I hope this guide will help you discover the best things to do in Santa Cruz, CA. Enjoy your trip! If you have any questions or your own recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments below.
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