Alarcon Ruano Family Reunion

Beginner-friendly surf school right at Cowell Beach — the most protected, mellow break in town, right next to the Boardwalk. Best spot to learn in Santa Cruz.

Cowell BeachBook Ahead

🌊 Richard Schmidt Surf School

One of the most respected surf schools in Santa Cruz — Richard has been teaching here for decades. A local institution.

Local InstitutionBook Ahead

🚵 Top 5 MTB Rides

Scenic mountain bike trails around the county — beginner to expert.

🚲 Bike Rentals — Epicenter Cycling

Mountain and road bike rentals from a great local shop.

⚡ Ebike Rentals — eBikes Cruz

Electric bikes for the hills. See more with less effort.

🚴 City BCycle Pedal-Assist Ebikes

City-wide electric bike share. Affordable, fun, easy to pick up/drop off.

Santa Cruz punches way above its weight musically. Jazz, indie, Latin, Afrobeat — all within a few miles of each other.

🎷 Kuumbwa Jazz Center

World-class jazz in an intimate 200-seat room. One of the best small jazz venues in the country. 320 Cedar St, downtown.

JazzDowntown

🎸 The Catalyst Club

The big room. National touring acts, local legends, and everything in between since 1969. 1011 Pacific Ave.

Live MusicDowntown

🎶 Moe's Alley

Blues, reggae, salsa, funk — the vibe here is always right. 1535 Commercial Way. Check the calendar before you go.

BluesReggaeEastside

🏔️ Quarry Amphitheater

Open-air amphitheater carved into a former limestone quarry on the UCSC campus. Stunning natural acoustics and redwood backdrop.

OutdoorUCSC

💃 Salsa by the Sea

Free weekly salsa dancing on the beach/wharf area. All levels welcome — lessons usually included. Sunday evenings.

DanceFreeWharf

🥁 Afro-Beats @ Abbott Square

Bi-weekly Afrobeats DJ party at the outdoor Abbott Square Market, 725 Front St. Great energy, great people.

DJAfrobeatDowntown

🍺 Woodhouse Brewery Events

Craft brewery at 119 Madrone St with a packed live music calendar. Comedy nights too. Solid beer, great atmosphere.

Live MusicBrewery

🎉 Midtown Fridays Summer Block Party

Summer block party on Soquel Ave with live bands, food trucks, and local vendors. Fridays May–August, 5–9 PM. Free.

Block PartyFreeMidtown

Santa Cruz has a deep creative streak — from Shakespeare under the redwoods to First Friday gallery walks downtown.

🎨 First Friday Art Walk

Monthly countywide art tour on first Friday evenings. Galleries, shops, and cultural venues all open their doors. Free and walkable downtown.

Gallery WalkFreeDowntown

🎭 Santa Cruz Shakespeare in the Redwoods

Professional Shakespeare performances at the Audrey Stanley Grove in DeLaveaga Park, surrounded by towering redwoods. A magical summer tradition.

TheaterOutdoorRedwoods

🏛️ Abbott Square & MAH

The Museum of Art & History at 705 Front St is the cultural heart of downtown. Abbott Square out front hosts markets, music, and community events.

MuseumDowntownCommunity

🌟 The Collective Santa Cruz

Pop-up culture, local vendor collaborations, and creative community events. Always something interesting happening.

Pop-UpCommunity

Craft beer, mountain wineries, food truck rallies, and summer block parties. Santa Cruz takes its food and drink scene seriously.

🚚 Food Truck Friday — Scotts Valley

Monthly food truck event at Skypark with rotating vendors, beer & wine garden, and live music. Last Friday of each month, 5–8 PM.

Food TrucksScotts Valley

🎉 Midtown Fridays Block Party

Summer block party on Soquel Ave with food trucks, local vendors, and live bands. Fridays May–August, 5–9 PM. Free admission.

Block PartyFreeMidtown

🌊 Humble Sea Brewing

Foggy IPAs, pastry stouts, and experimental brews. Dog-friendly beer garden at 820 Swift St with rotating food trucks.

BreweryWestside

🍺 Woodhouse Brewing

Barrel-aged blends and hop-forward beers at 119 Madrone St. Live music calendar, comedy nights, and a creative kitchen.

BreweryLive Music

🏔️ Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing

Award-winning organic brewery since 2005 at 402 Ingalls St. Flagship ales, seasonal brews, and food from Kelly's French Bakery.

BreweryOrganic

🍷 Sante Adairius / Rustic Ales

Belgian-style saisons and specialty beers at 1315 Water St. Small pub with outdoor patio. Bookie's Pizza available on-site.

BreweryBelgian

🍇 Urban Wine Tasting Guide

Walkable urban tasting rooms including Madson Wines, Margins Wine, Birichino, and Big Basin Vineyards. No car needed.

WineUrban

🏔️ Santa Cruz Mountain Wineries

80+ wineries and 200 growers in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. Wine trails, passport programs, and tasting rooms worth the drive.

WineMountains

SUP yoga in the harbor, sunrise flows on the beach, float tanks, redwood retreats — Santa Cruz is a wellness town through and through.

🏄 SUP Yoga at the Harbor

Yoga on paddleboards in the calm harbor waters. Saturday & Sunday at 8:30 AM. $45/person. All levels welcome.

SUP YogaHarbor

🌅 Sunrise Yoga at La Bahia

All-levels yoga flow on the seaside roof deck at La Bahia Hotel. Saturday & Sunday 9 AM. Mats provided, space limited.

YogaOceanfront

🌲 Sunday Yoga at Trout Farm Inn

Outdoor all-levels yoga among the redwoods in Felton. Wednesdays & Sundays at 9 AM. $25/person.

YogaRedwoodsFelton

💪 Coastline Pilates

Locally female-owned studio at 406 Mission St with 25+ group classes weekly. Reformer and mat classes with small class sizes.

PilatesStudio

🧊 Sage Float Spa

Sensory deprivation float tanks, infrared sauna, cold plunge, and red light therapy. 1395 41st Ave, Capitola.

FloatSpaCapitola

🙏 Land of Medicine Buddha

Tibetan Buddhist retreat on 108 acres in Soquel. Daily classes, yoga, meditation, and hiking trails. 19 private retreat rooms.

RetreatMeditationSoquel

💆 Essentia Body Therapy

Premium massage therapy in a historic Victorian at 556 Ocean View Ave. Swedish, deep tissue, prenatal, sports, and craniosacral.

MassageTherapy

🏔️ 1440 Multiversity

75-acre luxury retreat in the Scotts Valley redwoods. Immersive workshops, world-class spa, farm-to-table dining. Day visitors welcome.

RetreatWellnessScotts Valley

Surf shops, boutiques, outlet deals, and village strolls — organized by neighborhood so you can hit multiple spots in one trip.

🛍️ Downtown Santa Cruz — Pacific Ave

The main drag. Bookshop Santa Cruz, independent boutiques, local brands, and people-watching. Start here.

ShoppingDowntown

🏔️ Patagonia Outlet — 415 River St

One of the few Patagonia outlet stores in California. Discounted outdoor gear and clothing. Worth the stop.

OutletOutdoor Gear

🌊 Westside Santa Cruz

Mission Street area — Cameron Marks, surf shops, and local favorites. More laid-back than downtown.

ShoppingWestside

🏄 Berdels

Locally-owned surf and skate lifestyle shop on Pacific Ave. Great selection of boards, apparel, and SC-branded gear.

SurfSkateDowntown

🏘️ Capitola Village

Colorful waterfront village with boutiques, galleries, and local artisan shops. Beautiful walk along the esplanade.

ShoppingCapitola

🛹 The Boardroom on 41st Ave

Massive skateboard shop with an extensive collection of boards, gear, and skate culture. A local institution.

SkateEastside

🏄 O'Neill Surf Shop

The original — Jack O'Neill invented the modern wetsuit right here in Santa Cruz. Iconic brand, iconic shop.

SurfHeritage

🌳 Aptos Village

Quaint shopping area in Aptos with cafes, boutiques, and a relaxed small-town feel. Worth the short drive.

ShoppingAptos

🚌 Santa Cruzer Shuttle

Eco-friendly electric shuttle connecting downtown to the beach and boardwalk. Free and easy way to get around while shopping.

TransportFree

Our favorite spots near the boardwalk and main beach — from breakfast tacos to sunset cocktails. All walkable from the sand.

🧺 The Picnic Basket

Breakfast and lunch right at 125 Beach St. Fresh local ingredients, great coffee, and a laid-back boardwalk vibe. Get the breakfast sandwich.

BreakfastLunchBoardwalk

🍦 Penny Ice Creamery

Made-from-scratch artisanal ice cream at 913 Cedar St. Seasonal flavors with local ingredients. A Santa Cruz essential.

Ice CreamDowntown

🍨 Marianne's Ice Cream

105+ flavors of Michoacana-style ice cream at 1020 Ocean St. A Santa Cruz institution for decades. Kids love it.

Ice CreamFamily

🌊 Low Tide at La Bahia

Casual beachfront restaurant at La Bahia Hotel, 215 Beach St. Pacific Island-inspired cuisine with ocean views.

BeachfrontDining

🌅 Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge

Ocean-view dining at the Dream Inn, 175 W Cliff Dr. Seafood and local ingredients. Best sunset cocktails in town.

Fine DiningOcean View

🍛 Namaste Indian Bistro

Curries, tandoori, and biryani at 1501 Mission St. Consistent, flavorful, and a solid lunch option.

IndianMission St

🌮 Las Palmas Taco Bar

Authentic Mexican at 55 Front St — a 70-year tradition since 1955. The real deal.

MexicanDowntown

☕ Firefly Coffee House

Local coffee shop at 131 Front St with homemade bagels and fresh pastries. Cozy neighborhood spot.

CoffeeBakeryDowntown

☕ Verve Coffee Roasters

Specialty roaster at 1540 Pacific Ave. Fresh-roasted daily since 2007. The best cup of coffee in Santa Cruz.

CoffeeDowntown

Where to Stay

Something for every style and budget — organized by neighborhood and vibe.

Near Boardwalk & Downtown

Most walkable zone — beach, Boardwalk, and Pacific Ave all within easy reach.

🌊 La Bahia Hotel

Boutique oceanfront hotel with sunrise yoga on-site. A local favorite.

Boutique Oceanfront

🌙 Dream Inn

Right on the beach. Stunning ocean views from most rooms. Lively pool area.

Boutique Beachfront

🏡 West Cliff Inn

Victorian B&B steps from the coastal trail. Charming, intimate, and well-reviewed.

B&B Boutique

🌴 Marea Sol

Comfortable property close to the action. Good value near the beach.

Boutique

🐚 Sea and Sand Inn

Modest and well-located, steps from West Cliff Drive and the beach.

Boutique

🎨 Hotel Paradox

Art-forward boutique hotel with a pool and forest-meets-beach vibe.

Boutique Design Hotel

🏨 Courtyard by Marriott

Reliable, centrally located, and well-appointed. Great for families.

Marriott

🏩 Hyatt Place

Modern, comfortable, and well-priced. Good amenities for longer stays.

Hyatt

Resort & Spa Feel

10–20 minutes from the main beach depending on Hwy 1 traffic. Worth it for the experience.

🌿 Chaminade Resort & Spa

Hilltop resort with a full spa, pool, and sweeping Santa Cruz views. A real getaway.

Resort Spa

🏖️ Seascape Beach Resort

Condo-style units right on the beach in Aptos. A proper vacation feel — great for families.

Resort Beachfront Aptos

Scotts Valley — In the Redwoods

~10 minute drive to the main beach. Quieter, woodsier atmosphere.

🏔️ 1440 Multiversity

Immersive learning and wellness retreat center nestled in the redwoods. World-class programming, spa, and farm-to-table dining. A transformative experience. Day visitors welcome too.

Retreat Wellness Redwoods

🏨 Hilton Santa Cruz / Scotts Valley

Full-service Hilton in the hills. Pool, restaurant, reliable comfort.

Hilton

🏨 Four Points by Sheraton

Solid Marriott property in Scotts Valley. Good rates and amenities.

Marriott

Westside Santa Cruz

Close to the university, Natural Bridges, and West Cliff Drive.

🏨 Hampton Inn by Hilton

Two locations — Ocean St and Mission St. Reliable, clean, good breakfast. Family-friendly.

Hilton 2 Locations