Articles

The best of Santa Cruz County community life, as chosen by our readers.

 

Best Beach    

Seabright Beach.html

East Cliff Dr at Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz.

Twin Lakes State Beach.html

E Cliff Dr at 7th Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.429.2850

Natural Bridges State Beach.html

2531 West Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz. 831.423.4609

 

Best Bike Ride  

West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

Wilder Ranch State Park

1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz. 831.426.0505

East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

 

Best Boardwalk Ride

Big Dipper

Fireball

Loggers Revenge

400 Beach St, Santa Cruz. 831.423.5590

 

Best Derby Girl    

Foxee Firestorm 

Liv n Let Die

Candie Hooligan

santacruzderbygirls.org/

 

Best Dog Park

It’s Beach

West Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz.

Scotts Valley Dog Park

361 Kings Village Rd, Scotts Valley.

Aptos Dog Park at the Polo Grounds

2255 Huntington Ave, Aptos.

 

Best Farmers Market

Downtown—Santa Cruz Community Farmers Market

Wed, 2:30-6:30pm year-round

Lincoln and Cedar St, Santa Cruz. 831.454.0566

Cabrillo/Aptos—Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets

Sat, 8am-noon year-round

Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Dr, Aptos. 831.728.5060

Westside—Santa Cruz Community Farmers Market

Sat, 9am-1pm year-round

Western Dr and Mission St, Santa Cruz. 831.454.0566

Best Local Athlete

Peter Mel

Surfer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mel

Nat Young

Surfer

www.oakley.com/sports/surf/athletes/213

Brendon Ayanbadejo

Football (Baltimore Ravens)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brendon_Ayanbadejo

 

Best Local Hero    

Eric Charles

Valerie Corral

wamm.org

James Durbin 

durbinrock.com

Danny Keith  

grindouthunger.org

 

Best Neighborhood  

Seabright

Westside

Pleasure Point

 

Best Nonprofit    

Santa Cruz SPCA

2685 Chanticleer Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.465.5000

Grind Out Hunger

912 41st Ave, Santa Cruz.  grindouthunger.org

Save Our Shores

345 Lake Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.462.5660

 

Best Place to Jog/ Hike

West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

Nisene Marks

Aptos Creek Rd, Aptos. 831.763.7062

Pogonip

333 Golf Club Dr, Santa Cruz. 831.420.5270

 

Best Retreat Center   

Land of Medicine Buddha

5800 Prescott Rd, Soquel. 831.462.8383

Mount Madonna

445 Summit Rd, Watsonville. 408.847.0406

Kennolyn

8205 Glen Haven Rd, Soquel. 831.479.6714

 

Best State Park   

Wilder Ranch State Park

1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz. 831.426.0505

Henry Cowell (Redwods State Park)

101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton. 831.438.2396

Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Aptos Creek Rd and Soquel Dr, Aptos. 831.763.7063

 

Most Unfortunate Trend    

Violence/Crime

Homelessness

Gangs

 

Best Wedding Venue 

Kennolyn

8205 Glen Haven Rd, Soquel. 831.479.6714

Chaminade Resort & Spa

1 Chaminade Ln, Santa Cruz. 831.475.5600

Seascape Resort

1 Seascape Resort Dr, Aptos. 831.688.6800