Santa Cruz Beach Travel Guide

Santa Cruz Beach Travel Guide

Other Guides for Santa Cruz

Beach Destinations Near Santa Cruz

Travel Guides Near Santa Cruz

Pacific Coast Beach States/Provinces

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Coastline in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz coastline (Stockbyte)
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Santa Cruz Beach Travel Tips

By Ludmilla Alexander

  • Brave 55-mph twists and turns on the boardwalk's Giant Dipper, a classic wooden coaster.
  • Brush up on boardwalk trivia at The Art & History Museum in downtown Santa Cruz.
  • Toss steel rings into a clown's mouth on the 95-year-old Looff Carousel.
  • Trace 100 years of surfing history at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Two inventive claims to fame: the wet suit and surfboard leash.

Santa Cruz Travel Guide

For a small bayside city, Santa Cruz has a lot to offer. The main show, of course, is the Beach Boardwalk, which attracts millions of visitors each year. But past the arcades and cotton candy is a surprisingly diverse and energetic city with a little something for everyone: Shopping, hiking, mountain biking, sailing, fishing, kayaking, surfing, wine tasting, golfing, whale-watching—the list of things to do here is almost endless, making Santa Cruz one of the premier family destinations on the California coast. Read More

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Hotels

from: $139

Seascape Resort Monterey Bay

One Seascape Resort Drive
Aptos, CA 95003 Map

Distance: 8.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 3 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0
5.0

Santa Cruz KOA

1186 San Andreas Road
La Selva Beach, CA Map

Distance: 10.7 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
5.0

Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn

31 Davenport Avenue
Davenport, CA Map

Distance: 9.4 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated
expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
4.0
All Santa Cruz Hotels »
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Attractions

Monterey Bay Aquarium

expert favorite attraction
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, California

Distance: 25.6 mi. (from destination center)

Description:

Monterey Bay Aquarium [STSTST] [kds]—Ranked one of the nation's top family... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
5_0
4_0

Waddell State Beach

expert favorite attraction
Highway 1
Davenport, California

Distance: 16.6 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Waddell Beach is internationally known as a prime spot for windsurfing, primarily because of its... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Monarch Grove Sanctuary

expert favorite attraction
Ridge Road
Pacific Grove, California

Distance: 24.6 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Thousands of Monarch Butterflies migrate to the Monarch Grove Sanctuary every October and cluster... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0
All Santa Cruz Attractions »

Airports

Major Airports near Santa Cruz

Distance (mi.)
San Jose International Airport 26.9 map
San Francisco International Airport 48.5 map
Oakland International Airport 52.4 map

Other Smaller Airports near Santa Cruz

Distance (mi.)
Carmel/Monterey Peninsula Airport 28.8 map
Modesto Municipal Airport 74.1 map
Merced Municipal Airport 86.1 map

Flight Deals to Santa Cruz

Originating From
Los Angeles (LAX) to San Jose (SJC) $126
San Diego (SAN) to San Jose (SJC) $145
Las Vegas (LAS) to San Jose (SJC) $146
Seattle (SEA) to San Jose (SJC) $166
Denver (DEN) to San Jose (SJC) $176

Feature Articles

  • Easy Rollers
    outside
    The best beaches for practicing your moves offer slow, gentle waves and a no-pressure atmosphere. Here are six of our faves.
  • Swellsville, USA
    outside
    Bare feet on hot sand. Surfboard on the waves. Lobster in the pot. A long, hot season to stay wet and never go back inside. summer starts here—don't let the screen door hit you on the way out.
  • August Family Travel Guide
  • San Francisco
    outside
    IF YOU'VE HAD your fill of lingering summer fog, yoga-mat gridlock, and a whole lotta dazed and confused former dotcommers, now's the time to leave your heart in San Francisco but take the rest of you out yonder to Sierra peaks and serene redwood forests.
See All Feature Articles on Santa Cruz »

Trip Ideas

Santa Cruz Beach Travel Guides

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