Santa Cruz Craft Breweries & Taprooms

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Santa Cruz—come for the beach and the redwoods, stay for the beer and the company. In recent years, several breweries and taprooms have been sprouting up all over Santa Cruz County, and we’re certainly not complaining. They each have their own unique style and ambiance, but they do have a couple of things in common:…

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Bodysurf City: Bodysurfing in Santa Cruz

Bodysurfing in Santa Cruz

“Be the board” is the mantra of bodysurfers. Defined by a beautiful simplicity and a oneness with natural forces, bodysurfing takes wave riding to its essential roots. It’s also a blast. Santa Cruz boasts some of the best bodysurfing breaks in the world, with waves tailor-made for every skill level. Beginners love getting their feet…

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Dog Parks in Santa Cruz

Dog Parks in Santa Cruz happy dog being held by owner

One by one, Santa Cruz County’s beaches are becoming off limits to off-leash dogs. The penalties for disobeying leash laws in these “No Paw Zones” can be up to $300, and Animal Control is stepping up enforcement efforts around the County. With fewer safe outdoor spaces for dogs to exercise, play and socialize, it’s becoming…

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Santa Cruz Bakeries

Santa Cruz bakeries

Santa Cruz bakeries are also a great place to grab lunch or dinner—here’s what to look for.   The Buttery: Once a bakery, now an Eastside institution, the Buttery starts off with killer zucchini muffins, massive eggs platters, a textbook Croque Monsieur, and opulent oatmeal, and continues on to lunches featuring designer salads, hot sandwiches,…

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Museums in Santa Cruz County

Old Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County is filled with opportunities to stimulate the senses, but there are also lots of opportunities for learning to balance it all out. For those who prefer a little mind candy on their vacation, there is no shortage of museums in Santa Cruz. Whether you want to know more about local history, marine…

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Surfing Schools in Santa Cruz

Surfing Schools Santa Cruz - sunset

Locals and visitors have been drawn to the Santa Cruz waves since 1855 when three Hawaiian princes showed up to surf the mouth of the San Lorenzo river on their redwood boards. Weighing 150-175 lbs. and measuring 17 feet long, the boards were designed o’lo style, a shape reserved for Hawaiian royalty. Surfing has evolved…

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Chocolatiers of Santa Cruz

chocolate

A favorite food of many, it’s not hard to imagine why chocolate has long been considered a divine, indulgent treat invoking love, passion and even (gasp) greedy, secretive hoarding. Here in Santa Cruz, we are lucky enough to have our choice of locally made upscale chocolates for every occasion, even if that occasion is just…

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Campgrounds Close to Santa Cruz

santa-cruz-campgrounds

Santa Cruz isn’t all surfing, skateboarding and beach parties. Visitors and residents regularly take advantage of numerous campgrounds in the Santa Cruz Mountains and along the coast. Reservations are suggested for any type of camping, and sites can fill up quickly in the summer months. Here are a few of our favorites.   This guide…

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Santa Cruz Surf Spots

santa-cruz-surf-spots

There’s a reason people call Santa Cruz “surf city”—Santa Cruz’s waves accommodate all levels of surfers, whether they charging big wave spots or just want to get their feet wet. While there are numerous beaches that are great for visitors and beginning surfers, there are also dangerous and local spots that surfers should be aware…

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Guide to Santa Cruz Shops for Mystics

Mystical Santa Cruz

No one needs an oracle to know that Santa Cruz is a magical place, but if you do need tools for divination or spells you don’t have to search far. Santa Cruz has five welcoming witchy shops—more per capita than most cities. The shops serve as museums, classrooms, supply hubs, and most important, community centers.

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Guide to Retreat & Meditation Centers in Santa Cruz

yoga

There’s more to Santa Cruz than the Mystery Spot and the Boardwalk with its famed wooden roller coaster and deep-fried Twinkies. Framed by sparkling blue waters, towering redwoods and foggy mountainside, it makes the ideal location for a spiritual retreat. From yoga to Vipassana, the area offers a multitude of ways to get grounded and…

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Restaurants with Patio Dining

chaminade

Most Santa Cruzans are sun worshippers, and with at least 300 days of sunshine a year, there are plenty of opportunities for devotion. We can’t all get to the beach every day, but we all need to eat, and the experience is more pleasurable if a mountain breeze, briny ocean air or bustle of foot traffic…

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Santa Cruz’s Lively Pop-Up Scene

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Get ready to drool. Santa Cruz is now home to a thriving Pop-up restaurant movement. Innovative, burgeoning chefs are experimenting in their craft and making amazing food at locations all around town, including farms and wineries in the surrounding area. Get it while it lasts! A Pop-up is generally a restaurant without a permanent location.…

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Santa Cruz Hotel Cocktail Bars

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Almost as prominent as the beach, cocktail bars and lounges pop up inside luxury hotels across Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz hotel cocktail bars are located in settings from the chic to the unique, in modern establishments or historical venues. Hotel cocktail bars offer guests and residents alike a slice of the ultimate Santa Cruzian…

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Santa Cruz County Farmers Markets

vegetables

Santa Cruzans are spoiled. Not only do we live in one of the most beautiful beach towns on the West Coast, but we’re blessed with sunny days, rich soil and a community of dedicated farmers and artisans. This is never more apparent than at the vibrant farmers markets that pop up almost every day around…

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Santa Cruz Brunch Guide

brunch

Brunch, otherwise known as “weekend breakfast” or “hangover cure,” is also the go-to meal for special occasions: Mother’s Day, Easter or your mother’s birthday (moms love brunch). Santa Cruz brunch spots cater to every whim, with options ranging from high-end gourmet to old-school diners serving traditional egg-based breakfast fare. Whether the aim is to prep for…

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Santa Cruz County Beaches

best-santa-cruz-beaches

Santa Cruz’s beaches are world-famous, but not all of the best beaches here are well-known outside of the local community. Surfing spots like Pleasure Point and Steamer Lane usually get the most attention, but Santa Cruz’s most gorgeous—and sometimes tucked away—shores offer stunning sunsets, fascinating marine life, and endless family fun.

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