Santa Cruz: Coast, Redwoods and Culture

Santa Cruz can be planned around a range of interests: coastal landscapes, redwood forests, history and recreational activities all come together here. If you’re looking for a hotel, it helps to decide first which experiences will shape your stay. The places featured here offer specific points of interest—from elephant seal habitats to historic buildings and train rides. This can help you decide whether nature, culture or recreational activities will be the focus of your trip.

Coast and Nature Reserves

Each year, up to 10,000 elephant seals come to the nature reserve at Año Nuevo State Park to mate, give birth to their pups and molt. The park features natural history exhibits in a historic 19th-century dairy ranch. Wildlife watching and the history of ranching come together at this destination.

The Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve borders Natural Bridges State Beach. At the beach, you can take walks to look for shells, build sandcastles and explore tide pools. If you’d like to do more than take a walk during your time by the water, you’ll find a range of beach activities there.

Wilder Ranch State Park stretches across 7,000 acres, from Ben Lomond Mountain through marshland and ancient, wave-cut terraces to the ocean coast. Its landscape encompasses several types of terrain. The park also tells the story of early California ranching through a Victorian house built in 1897 and a water-powered machine shop built in 1896.

Redwoods and Trails

A 40-acre grove of towering old-growth coast redwoods is a special feature of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. The rare Santa Cruz Sandhills habitat, home to numerous endemic species, is also found in the park’s higher elevations. Hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, swimming and camping are all possible there. These offerings and natural features reveal different sides of this state park, from forest to rare habitat.

At Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, dense second- and third-growth redwood forest extends from near sea level into steep coastal mountains. The park offers 30 miles of trails for hiking and biking. Big Basin Redwoods State Park, meanwhile, is California’s oldest state park and preserves old-growth coast redwoods in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. When comparing nature destinations, you can consider their different features: forest generations and elevation, a designated trail network or a park’s history.

History, Art and Recreation

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is home to the only surviving building of California’s twelfth mission. On Mission Hill, the park offers a patio, gardens and views of the city. Exhibits and a large-format film projection tell the history of the Ohlone and Yokuts at Santa Cruz Mission; they can be seen as part of guided and self-guided tours.

Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History also adds to the cultural scene with rotating art and history exhibits, public festivals and cultural celebrations. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has rides for thrill-seekers, families and children. The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster there is a National Historic Landmark. Operating hours may vary; check the dates for your visit.

Roaring Camp Railroads offers two different train rides: authentic 19th-century steam locomotives travel through the Big Trees to the summit of Bear Mountain. Another ride takes passengers in early 20th-century Pullman cars and open excursion cars through a scenic river gorge in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to the beach in Santa Cruz. Schedules may vary; check the ride dates in advance.

Things to Do in Santa Cruz County

Parks and beaches in Santa Cruz County offer opportunities for swimming, camping, sunbathing and hiking. Other visitor offerings in the county include wineries, museums, farmers markets, surfing, shopping and family activities. At U-pick farms, you can harvest your own produce. Seasonal crops include strawberries, olallieberries, apples and kiwis; harvest times, farm offerings and reservations vary.

Two project details can also help you find your way around the trails: The first construction segment of Phase I of Segment 7 of the Coastal Rail Trail includes a 1.2-mile paved multi-use trail from Natural Bridges Drive to Bay and California Streets. Check construction and access conditions before your visit. The San Lorenzo River Parkway Phase III/Trestle Trail opened to the public on May 17, 2019.

Explore more destinations: Capitola, Watsonville, Boulder Creek, Aptos, Interlaken, Scotts Valley, Soquel, Felton, Freedom, Rio del Mar, Santa Cruz, Ben Lomond.

For the broader travel overview: California.