Favorite Spots in Santa Cruz, CA
One of your first stops in town should be the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It has restaurants, arcade games, mini golf, bowling, laser tag, shops, and amusement park rides.
You can't think of Santa Cruz without thinking about surfing. Steamer Lane has some of the best waves in California. While you're there, you can visit the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum at the lighthouse. Walking/biking paths are along the coast where you can watch the surfers below. And a dog friendly beach is near by.
Verve Coffee was started here in 2007. They have 4 locations in Santa Cruz with delicious pastries from Manresa Bakery.
Favorite breakfast, Cafe Brasil
Lots of good ice cream choices in S.C. Favorite two are The Penny Ice Creamery and Marianne's Ice Cream.
https://www.thepennyicecreamery.com
For hiking, visit Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=546
Several months out of the year, you can go whale watching in the Monterey Bay. Boats leave out of Santa Cruz along with other cities around the bay where you can see humpback & blue whales.
