Top 5 Santa Cruz Day Trips: Explore & Discover

Santa Cruz, like your ultimate surfer town mixed with redwood forests, provides more or less the launching point for fantastic day trips. Getting out to experience something else beyond the beaches and boardwalk could be quite worthwhile. Whether you are wanting the ocean air, ancient trees, or just a quirky town, that is, like, totally doable. I will take you through several very interesting choices for an awesome day away. Each suggestion comes packed with some tips and little insights I think you will really enjoy. Are you just about ready to get out of Santa Cruz for some new adventures? I know I sure am.

1. Capitola: Seaside Charm and Colorful Views

Capitola, with that kind of colorful village right on the water, really just provides something a bit special. It’s, in a way, super close to Santa Cruz. Therefore, it only takes a hot minute to get there. The main draw is probably the Capitola Venetian Hotel, a group of brightly colored condos. Those, sort of, make you think you have been transported right over to the Italian Riviera. Stroll along the beach, do a bit of shopping in those cute little boutiques, and afterwards grab some food at any of those, you know, restaurants overlooking the water. You will not regret it!

For a little added fun, so you might want to rent a kayak or paddleboard and actually explore the coastline from the ocean perspective. Plus, for history fans, very often there are walking tours that explain a lot of the cool background on this former seaside resort town. As I was saying, it is so, so, relaxing, too it’s almost easy to spend the whole day right here. Just watch out for those crowds during the summer.

Tips for Capitola:

Parking: Arrive kind of early because, clearly, parking becomes rather difficult as the day goes on.
Dining: Shadowbrook Restaurant has this awesome little tram. So, like, it will take you down to the restaurant.
Beach Time: Consider bringing along all your beach gear.

2. Roaring Camp Railroads: Steam Trains and Redwood Trees

Want to go see what riding a steam train through redwood forests looks like? Then head on over to Felton. Roaring Camp Railroads presents two awesome railway experiences. It’s almost like it’s the kind of attraction great for families. Like your views just simply are out of this reality! That old-timey steam train works very hard while you travel way, way up into the mountains, through groves. Plus, I honestly believe the conductors provide fun historical backgrounds. You should seriously consider it.

After your rail adventure, or before actually, take a bit to just stroll through the little town. It features some cool shops, that is, and has eateries nearby. Furthermore, be sure to test your balancing skills at the Mountain Parks Skateboard Park if trains do not move you. Anyway, the whole town actually really adds a super delightful flair for any day of discovery.

Tips for Roaring Camp:

Tickets: Clearly, I want you to book in advance to seriously guarantee your spot, because there is a very limited capacity.
Dress: You may just want to bring layers since the temperature tends to shift rather when you are up in the redwoods.
Events: As I was saying, just confirm the Roaring Camp calendar, for that matter, before heading out; their schedule does typically change seasonally, alright.

3. Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea: Coastal Elegance and Art

Monterey and Carmel, for the most part two gorgeous places located only an hour away, that is, provide, basically, a sophisticated, yet still really just totally pleasing escape. In Monterey, a visit down to the Monterey Bay Aquarium could be really well worth it. I think I would easily spend a few hours here. Its immersive displays just make the visit way beyond interesting. Also, you get to walk around Cannery Row.

Carmel, really, shows off all of its fancy art galleries. Strolling here could be interesting as well. Check out the boutiques, very, very excellent dining venues, along Ocean Avenue in particular. What’s more, so take a detour through Scenic Road where it actually meanders right along the coastline. Doing so lets anyone score some epic vistas and maybe just that photo opp.

Tips for Monterey & Carmel:

Aquarium: You want to, maybe, buy the aquarium tickets ahead of time so there are less wait times when you are there.
17-Mile Drive: I would recommend it; if that is so, you probably want to take the scenic 17-Mile Drive connecting Pacific Grove to Carmel because its worth the dollars.
Carmel Beach: Absolutely visit this for that iconic shoreline experience in the evening time; just bring layers for warmth if you need to because sometimes the temperature shifts when the sun drops, basically.

4. Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Hiking Among Giants (Check for Current Status)

Check official sources before planning as trail access, due really to prior wildfire damage, is subject to change. When open and clear, I would mention Big Basin Redwoods State Park; I find the spot is super epic if your looking for immersion with nature’s absolute tallest trees. Before wildfire closure happened, it rated as the older park around California. Now, though, that does not mean that access cannot change or, actually, re-open. You may discover a number of great spots to trek that suit all degrees of expertise. It’s, basically, whether that would involve walking gently or taking something challenging.

Do your proper checks, I might suggest, prior to making the day completely based about the park as things related to trail entry vary. When accessible, basically experiencing its beauty is something all Californians should take, so keep tabs on the updates and definitely consider a visit once you are able.

Tips for Big Basin:

Status Updates: Confirm always that that areas got all-clear permissions prior planning, which matters big time.
Gear Appropriate: Have dressy clothes set, as you do so many times.
Eco Guidelines: Adhere closely at guideline set. You could possibly not cause additional disturbances around fragile place like; thus that just really aids maintain their integrity, ok?

5. Ano Nuevo State Park: Elephant Seal Watching

The spot at Ano Nuevo State Park grants that really fascinating thing, specifically elephant seal gatherings. Northern coast of Santa Cruz, in fact, has the position right at Año Nuevo giving spectators chance witness herds which gather mostly for purposes like birthing also pairing. It happens, like, normally during, roughly, Dec towards March. Very, very interesting.

The area comes protected and does offer led tours, so it makes easy for visitor witnessing amazing wildlife while even maintaining small interruption onto natural habitat, too it’s almost easy to find out cool material by those led groups so really you could see beyond the basic observation on these enormous animals.

Tips for Ano Nuevo:

Reserve Guide-Led Spot: Should think of it, reservations usually can be necessities through active cycles which includes key times through the whole thing.
Appropriate Outfit Matters Here: Considering area might tend towards coming breezy, you’ve found packing numerous layering types clothing items is super handy always; just remember!
Listen to Guide Remarks during Journeys: Follow safety laws or regulations they hand over when checking out wild life; this tends prevent interruptions towards environment together keep the guest quite secured through expeditions generally when animal are involved naturally you can expect the animals to also feel relaxed and never interrupted or disrupted anyway.