Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Our Favorites in the Food Scene
Cafe Brasil
1410 Mission StThey are a fun family environment and their food is AMAZING!!
A Hawaiian restaurant/Bar that often has great live music. Very kid friendly.
http://www.hulastiki.com/
102 locals recommend
Hula's Island Grill
221 Cathcart StA Hawaiian restaurant/Bar that often has great live music. Very kid friendly.
http://www.hulastiki.com/
Great place to have healthy local organic food. Get everything you need for a picnic and take it across the street to the beach.
50 locals recommend
The Picnic Basket
125 Beach StGreat place to have healthy local organic food. Get everything you need for a picnic and take it across the street to the beach.
This is a cute small batch ice creamery that makes everything from scratch and features unusual flavors. :)
64 locals recommend
The Penny Ice Creamery
913 Cedar StThis is a cute small batch ice creamery that makes everything from scratch and features unusual flavors. :)
This is a fantastic fancy restaurant. Great food and atmosphere with a wonderful walled outdoor garden, you can go wrong here.
104 locals recommend
Laili
101 Cooper StThis is a fantastic fancy restaurant. Great food and atmosphere with a wonderful walled outdoor garden, you can go wrong here.
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveThe best coffee in town.
Delicious Breakfast with a comfortable outdoor courtyard with big outdoor couches tucked away from the cars.
25 locals recommend
Café Iveta
2125 Delaware AveDelicious Breakfast with a comfortable outdoor courtyard with big outdoor couches tucked away from the cars.
The Cremer House
6256 CA-9Delicious
Definitely the healthiest meal downtown. Vegan and delicious with a fun Santa Cruz vibe.
39 locals recommend
Cafe Gratitude
103 Lincoln StDefinitely the healthiest meal downtown. Vegan and delicious with a fun Santa Cruz vibe.
A Santa Cruz Institution, a vegetarian restaurant where everything is delicious.
62 locals recommend
Dharma's Restaurant
4250 Capitola RdA Santa Cruz Institution, a vegetarian restaurant where everything is delicious.
For chocolate lovers who would like to sit and have a delicious cookie or chocolate beverage.
Mutari Chocolate House & Factory
504 Front StFor chocolate lovers who would like to sit and have a delicious cookie or chocolate beverage.
Alderwood Santa Cruz
155 Walnut AveNew fancy restaurant in town. Great happy hour burgers.
Essentials
Great Natural Food Store with everything you need besides meat.
22 locals recommend
The Food Bin and The Herb Room
1130 Mission StGreat Natural Food Store with everything you need besides meat.
Large health minded grocery store with several prepared food options and a great place to grab a greens juice.
248 locals recommend
New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair AveLarge health minded grocery store with several prepared food options and a great place to grab a greens juice.
Trader Joe's
700 Front StWhole Foods Market
911 Soquel AveStaff of Life
1266 Soquel AveOther places of interest
Cycle Works
375 Mission StThis is a great bike shop where you can rent bikes by the hour.
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum RoadUCSC Campus
Moon Zooom
1630 W San Carlos StGreat Vintage Shopping.
Sightseeing & Other attractions
The park has 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails winding through coastal terraces and valleys. Several restored buildings once belonging to the Wilder family are preserved.
219 locals recommend
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdThe park has 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails winding through coastal terraces and valleys. Several restored buildings once belonging to the Wilder family are preserved.
Beautiful Kid friendly walk, bike or run through the redwoods and creeks. Truly invigorating!
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadBeautiful Kid friendly walk, bike or run through the redwoods and creeks. Truly invigorating!
The largest redwoods around. Short loop that is great to let kids run.
335 locals recommend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park RdThe largest redwoods around. Short loop that is great to let kids run.
Cute little downtown to poke around with a nice beach and several places to eat overlooking the water
167 locals recommend
Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey AveCute little downtown to poke around with a nice beach and several places to eat overlooking the water
Rio del Mar
Another nice beach and local deli spot
Entertainment, Events & Activities
This beach, with its famous natural bridge, is an excellent vantage point for viewing shore birds, migrating whales, & seals & otters playing offshore.
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrThis beach, with its famous natural bridge, is an excellent vantage point for viewing shore birds, migrating whales, & seals & otters playing offshore.
Fun place to drive up the coast to for homemade strawberry shortcake and a U-pick.
35 locals recommend
Swanton Berry Farm
25 Swanton RdFun place to drive up the coast to for homemade strawberry shortcake and a U-pick.
This is a great yoga studio that offers kids yoga classes in the studio across the hall from their adult yoga classes so parents and kids can all enjoy at the same time. http://lumayoga.com/center.htm
Luma Yoga
1010 Center StThis is a great yoga studio that offers kids yoga classes in the studio across the hall from their adult yoga classes so parents and kids can all enjoy at the same time. http://lumayoga.com/center.htm
The Kid Zone by the beach. http://www.beachboardwalk.com/
Have a delicious lunch before you go at The Picnic Basket or get a picnic to go.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StThe Kid Zone by the beach. http://www.beachboardwalk.com/
Have a delicious lunch before you go at The Picnic Basket or get a picnic to go.
Great trees to climb, animals to pet and trails to explore.
219 locals recommend
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdGreat trees to climb, animals to pet and trails to explore.
Pogonip Creek Nature Loop
Pogonip Creek Nature LoopA walk through the trees
Strawberry U Pick and a fun place to hang out with kids. They offer soup and coffee as well as strawberry shortcake an a little farmhouse with toys to play games.
35 locals recommend
Swanton Berry Farm
25 Swanton RdStrawberry U Pick and a fun place to hang out with kids. They offer soup and coffee as well as strawberry shortcake an a little farmhouse with toys to play games.
Santa Cruz Antique Fair
On the second Sunday of every month downtown
Drinks & Nightlife
The Crêpe Place
1134 Soquel AveGood Live Music Venue
Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320-2 Cedar StGreat Live Music- Mostly Jazz
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial WayLive Music
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific AveLive Music
Rio Theatre
1205 Soquel AvePerforming Arts Center with larger acts
www.riotheatre.com