Santa Cruz Surfing Travel Guide

Other Guides for Santa Cruz

Surfing Destinations Near Santa Cruz

Travel Guides Near Santa Cruz

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Scotts Valley, CA (5.4 mi.)
Mount Hermon, CA (5.5 mi.)
Felton, CA (5.8 mi.)
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Aptos, CA (7.3 mi.)
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Pacific Coast Surfing States/Provinces

Beach Travel Destinations

Santa Cruz coastline (Stockbyte)

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Santa Cruz Surfing Travel Tips

By Ludmilla Alexander

Voyage to 100-year-old surfing mecca, thanks to rolling waves and state-of-the-art gear creations.
Join observers on the bluff at Steamer Lane, a surfing hot spot next to Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse.
Check out 1930's surfboards, wetsuits, and photos at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, inside the lighthouse.
Attend surf school on Cowell's Beach.

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

Seaway Inn

176 West Cliff Drive
Santa Cruz, CA Map

Distance: 0.9 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated

Good For Surfing

Expert Rated & Recommended

from: $139

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Seascape Resort Monterey Bay

One Seascape Resort Drive
Aptos, CA 95003 Map

Distance: 8.6 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class:

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Expert Rated & Recommended

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 Rated & Recommended

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Attractions

Waddell State Beach

Good For Surfing

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

Cowell/Main Beach

Good For Surfing

Santa Cruz, California

Distance: 1.1 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Main Beach and Cowell Beach are located on either side of the Santa Cruz Municipal Pier, near the... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended

Steamer Lane

Good For Surfing

Hwy. 1 to Bay St. towards ocean
West Cliff Dr.
Santa Cruz, California

Distance: 1.5 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Steamer Lane is a famous surfing site in Santa Cruz, California. It's home to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, which is housed in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse.... Read More

Expert Rated & Recommended

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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

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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

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Feature Articles

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The best beaches for practicing your moves offer slow, gentle waves and a no-pressure atmosphere. Here are six of our faves.
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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.