Santa Cruz is a coastal city in northern California known for it’s beaches, surfing and redwood forests.

It’s a quintessential California beach town with a laid-back vibe, pretty downtown area and world-famous boardwalk.

Here are my favourite things to do in the Santa Cruz area.

Santa Cruz Beaches

A classic Californian coastal town needs a classic Californian beach. Main Beach is a busy but clean beach perfect for a day on the sand.

Good to know: the parking lot fills up quickly in the summer so get here early.

Main Beach is a calm, family-friendly beach. If you’re after bigger waves head to Steamer Lane, a famous surfing spot in West Cliff.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Right on the main beach is the Boardwalk. This is a bustling family-friendly amusement park with vintage rides and a fantastic oceanfront setting. Combine the beach and the boardwalk and you’ve got a great day out. Perfect for kids of all ages.

The Wharf

Don’t miss walking out to the end of the wharf. Buy some taffy, have some fish and chips and look back on the brilliant view of the beach and boardwalk.

The best part of the wharf is the sealions that congregate underneath the end of the pier. You’ll hear their loud barking as you approach. It’s like a mini version of Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.

Santa Cruz Downtown

Santa Cruz has a charming old-fashioned downtown area with a lot of character. Pacific Avenue is the main street and is a pleasant pedestrian-friendly place to walk around. It’s flat, tree-lined and shady with individual shops and eateries.

My favourite stores on Pacific Avenue are the bookshop, World Market and let’s not forget Trader Joes at the end of the street.

Santa Cruz is also known for its unique characters that occupy the downtown area. The most memorable of these was the man dressed head to toe in pink holding a pink umbrella, who would shuffle up and down Pacific Avenue all day taking the tiniest steps you’ve ever seen. He was a bit of a local celebrity. If you’ve ever been to Santa Cruz and remember him, leave me a comment below!

University of California Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a free-spirited University of California town. I was lucky enough to study at UC Santa Cruz and am a proud College Eight alumni. Go banana slugs!

The campus of UC Santa Cruz is worth a visit. It’s a beautiful campus with the college buildings set among redwood trees and farm areas with views of the Pacific Ocean from the higher points. Catch the free loop bus around the campus.

The night skies over the campus can be spectacular on a clear night.

The Mystery Spot

In the redwood forests just outside town you’ll find The Mystery Spot. This is a series of visual illusions such as tilted rooms and water that flows uphill. These type of attractions can be found all over the world, but in Santa Cruz they claim this area was discovered in 1939 and is genuinely gravity-defying. It’s hokey fun, and by the end of the tour you might even believe them.

See The Redwoods

For a more authentic redwoods experience head to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, 20 minutes out of town. This is a forest area with towering ancient redwood trees. It’s also a prime place to spot banana slugs, the bright yellow slugs that are the mascot for the University. Disclaimer: I lived here for a year and never saw one, so they can be elusive!

There are some nice walks you can do throughout this state park, marvelling at the sheer size of these massive trees. For your best chance of seeing banana slugs, make an early start on a misty morning.

Shadowbrook Restaurant

Shadowbrook Restaurant is a unique dining experience in Capitola, 6 miles down the coast.

Something of a local institution, this fine dining restaurant is a popular date night venue with delicious food and old-world charm. The best thing about it? To get to the restaurant you ride in a small cable car through the trees that takes you from the street down to the restaurant. At night it’s lit up with twinkly lights and really makes for a magically memorable evening out.

Here are some other eateries you must try in downtown Santa Cruz.

Pacific Cookie Company

The place where I first discovered the humble snickerdoodle. Don’t miss these excellent all-American cookies. My favourites are the snickerdoodles (obviously), the oatmeal raisin and the peanut butter chocolate chip. Bonus: Pacific Cookie Company is a great place to stock up on gifts to take home.

Cold Stone Creamery

I’m giving a special mention to Cold Stone Creamery. I know this is a chain restaurant, but it’s the best ice cream in America in my humble opinion. If you go there late at night you’ll find it full of UC Santa Cruz students getting their sugar fix. Mine’s a Birthday Cake Remix, thanks.

El Palomar

Mexican food is always good in California and Santa Cruz is no exception. El Palomar has classic Mexican dishes in an airy setting right on Pacific Avenue.

Coffee

For your coffee hit there are some nice cafes downtown like The Walnut Avenue Cafe and Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting.

Where To Stay in Santa Cruz

If you’re looking for hotels in Santa Cruz click here for some good rates.

We like to stay in the Best Western Plus All Suites Inn for comfortable budget-friendly rooms and an easy walk into Pacific Avenue.

Further Afield

Sitting right on Monterey Bay and only 70 miles from the beautiful city of San Francisco, Santa Cruz is an excellent stop on any California itinerary.

An hour to the south is the city of Monterey, famous for its world-class aquarium and whale-watching.

Santa Cruz would make a perfect start or finish point for the spectacular Highway One drive.

For a perfect 2 week Californian road trip have a look at my favourite itinerary here.