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Sep 8, 2023 · Highly rated activities with free entry in Santa Cruz: The top things to do for free. See Tripadvisor's 70,053 traveler reviews and photos of Santa Cruz free attractions.
As of the 2020 census, the city population was 62,956. [10] Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a popular tourist destination, owing to its beaches, surf culture, and historic landmarks. Santa Cruz was founded by the Spanish in 1791, when Fermín de Lasuén established Mission Santa Cruz.
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Experience strange natural phenomena at this mysterious tourist attraction located in Santa Cruz, CA. Shop the online gift store and view pictures and videos of this very unique Mystery Spot.
- Experience easygoing luxury at the Dream Inn. Staying near the beach is never a bad idea—and you can’t get much closer than the Dream Inn. Built on the site of Jack O’Neill’s first shop, this 1960s-era hotel sits just steps from Cowell Beach.
- Take an at-sea animal adventure. For a completely new perspective on Monterey Bay’s marine life, rent a vessel from Venture Quest Kayaking and paddle out from shore.
- Get a sense of surfer history. Legend has it that surfing first arrived in the United States when a trio of traveling Hawaiian princes paddled out in Santa Cruz.
- Get your kicks on a wooden roller coaster. Built in 1907 as the “Coney Island of the West,” the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is proof that a seaside amusement park never goes out of style.
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Santa Cruz is best known as a countercultural hub, with a bohemian feel and youthful vibe, and fun weekend tourist attractions like the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the dubious Mystery Spot. The rather relaxed beach lifestyle is supplemented by some remaining high tech industry and a vibrant university culture. The University of California Santa ...
By plane
The nearest airport is in San Jose (SJCIATA). To get to Santa Cruz, take either the Santa Cruz Airport Flyer, or the free airport shuttle to Santa Clara, the train or bus to Diridon Station and the Highway 17 Express bus. San Francisco International Airport (SFOIATA) and even Oakland (OAKIATA) aren't much farther away, and sometimes have cheaper flights. The Airport Flyer goes to SFO and Caltrain provides a route from SFO to San Jose, though with a transfer with BART in Millbrae. For private...
By car
from & Highway 17 south from San Jose is the most direct route when driving from the more populated parts of the Bay Area. It is a winding and very dangerous road over the mountains, arguably the most hazardous in the state shared during the week with heavy gravel trucks, so heed the speed limits take it easy and arrive alive. Accidents are very common, but the road is a bit safer since the addition of concrete barriers some years ago. Beware of fog, as well as "hurried" drivers, and drive wi...
By bus
1. 36.97095-122.025091 Santa Cruz Metro, 920 Pacific Ave (map marker is at customer service office at Elm and Pacific), ☏ +1 831 425-8600. Santa Cruz Metro serves as public transportation in Santa Cruz and to adjacent cities & communities around Santa Cruz County. The Santa Cruz Metro Center serves as both an Amtrak and Greyhound bus station.(updated Oct 2022) 1. 1.1. 17- Amtrak Hwy 17 Express to San Jose Diridon Station where passengers transfer to Greyhound, Amtrak, Altmont Corridor Express...
By foot
The main downtown strip is pedestrian friendly, and it's a 20-minute stroll from there to the beach. Walking to the University of California Santa Cruz from downtown is a little more difficult with a steep climb.
By bus
Santa Cruz Metroprovides bus service within the city.
By car
While driving is certainly an option, parking is tight, so be careful to not get ticketed.
36.978112-122.0294231 Mission Santa Cruz, 126 High St, ☏ +1 831 425-5849. Th-Sa 10AM to 4PM (& Su during the summer); closed holidays. The original Mission Santa Cruz was dedicated by Fermin Lasuen...
Road Biking- Road cyclists in central Santa Cruz can escape the big city by going out Empire Grade, taking Branciforte to either Glen Canyon or Granite Creek, or even going out Hwy 1. A little to t...37.0054-121.995951 Delaveaga Disk Golf Course. This frisbee golf course is very challenging. Saturdays are busy, especially in the morning. The course is awesome and the hikes in the area are spect...36.95273-122.057782 Natural Bridges State Beach, 2531 West Cliff Dr. Open daily, sunrise to sunset. State beach park with nature trails. Yearly monarch butterfly migration. Entrance free. Fee for p...36.979025-122.0098333 Santa Cruz Roller Palladium, 1606 Seabright Ave., ☏ +1 831 423-0844. see website for session hours. Classic rollerskating experience in this roller arena that is over 65 years...Shopping on Pacific Avenueincludes surf shops, plant shops, clothing and various boutiques. 1. 36.97574-122.026811 Toque Blanche, 1527 Pacific Ave, ☏ +1 831 426-1351, info@mytoque.com. High end kitchenwares catering more to the well-heeled as opposed to starving students. 2. 36.97541-122.026722 Sock Shop, 1515 Pacific Ave, ☏ +1 831 429-6101. 10AM-6...
The city imposes a 25¢ fee on all disposable cups – even for a cup of water, which would otherwise be free. You can bring your own water bottle, cup, or coffee mug to restaurants to avoid paying this fee. Some restaurants and cafes may also serve drinks in a non-disposable cup if the order is explicitly placed "for here."
For its size, Santa Cruz has a large number of drinking establishments from Irish pubs to nightclubs. Many of the bars are located along Pacific Avenue. A serious pub crawl can be done starting at either the Asti (listing below) and ending about 7 blocks away at the Rush Innor the other way around.
Santa Cruz offers everything from cheap drive-up motels along Ocean Street to cute B&Bs to one somewhat shabby high-rise hotel on the beach. A medley of factors allows for de facto legal camping throughout town on city-owned property. There are encampments scattered throughout town. Downtown alone features an encampment of dozens of tents adjacent ...
There is much crime in the downtown area, often drug-related. You will probably be safe during the day and early evening, but keep your wits about yourself. Mountain lions exist in the more rural areas, but are uncommon. Attacks by mountain lions on humans are much rarer still, but have happened. If you should see one, do not approach it, and if it...
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Santa Cruz County (/ ˌ s æ n t ə ˈ k r uː z / ⓘ), officially the County of Santa Cruz, is a county on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 270,861. The county seat is Santa Cruz.
Apr 26, 2024 · Santa Cruz, city, seat (1850) of Santa Cruz county, west-central California, U.S. It lies on the north shore of Monterey Bay, at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and is about 80 miles (130 km) south of San Francisco. The area was first explored by the Spaniard Gaspar de Portolá (1769), who.
