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Hotel Class: 
1.5 Star - 24 Opinions
111 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, United States
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of people enjoy staying here
24 Opinions
Twin Lakes State Beach
from their website.
lighthouse and museum in Santa Cruz
Wilder Ranch Beach Access
We're visiting SF in early June. How heavily traveled is Highway 1 between Pacifica and Santa Cruz? Are there particular times to avoid? Also, along a different line, is the Big Basin Redwood State Park worth visiting for the Redwoods? Thank you.
I wouldn't say it's particularly crowded but you might get behind a slow car. You might find it foggy in June. Big Basin is a great place to visit Redwoods. There are also some great hiking trails. The photo on my home page was taken a couple of weeks ago at Big Basin.
Thanks so much for the reply. I think the picture of the redwood on your page convinced me to take a stop there on our way down the coast. A little aside, your remarks about the Grand Canyon could not be more true.
I'll agree with Callaveta. The traffic usually isn't bad along this stretch of the coast, and Big Basin is a great place to see the redwoods. Keep in mind when planning your time that there isn't a direct road from the coast to Big Basin. You have to get there via highway 9 from Santa Cruz to the south, which takes at least a good 45 minutes passing through Felton, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek; or from the north, which would completely change your itinerary. You can also hike in from the coast on the Skyline to the Sea trail, but that is a whole different matter that you have to prepare for.
Butano State Park has direct access from highway 1. It is a smaller park.
Santa Cruz travelers often find themselves needing to surf the internet. WiFi is available around town. Although, if you didn't bring a laptop, Cruzio (http://cruzio.com), a local internet service provider, offers in-store computer/internet rentals, printing, and even travel information.
On the "west side" where columbia street meets the ocean, there is a 5ft stained glass peace sign perched on a rock that sits in the ocean. The peace sign was put there anonymously overnight by some people who call themselves "the peace rockers".
They have a website that talks about the meaning and history behind it. www.peacerocks.info
It's supposed to light up at night but I'm not sure....
The pictures don't do it justice.
Shortly after the mission was completed the Spanish created a "villa" called Branciforte just across the river. This villa was the only such secular, hybrid community of solders & settlers created by the Spanish in California. This facility was filled with many former soldiers as well as criminals who helped lead to the eventual downfall of the Santa Cruz Mission by abusing the residents and relying on their farms and livestock for food.
When the Mexican government decided to secularize the missions in 1834, Branciforte and Mission Santa Cruz were combined under the name Pueblo de Figueroa. Many of the foreigners at Branciforte were banished to Mexico in 1840, but the city ultimately continued to grow into modern Santa Cruz, which maintains many of Branciforte's secular and slightly rebellious traditions.
The only remains from Branciforte are some long-buried building foundations around the intersection of North Branciforte Avenue and Water Street.
We stopped at the Santa Cruz Diner one morning while driving from Monterey to San Francisco. This busy and rather large restaurant had some good service and above average food. We had omelets with hasbrowns and toast along with coffee, and our three meals ran about $27 together.
The Santa Cruz diner is open 24/7 and seems to have a big late night following, especially among the local university students. Their unique menu includes a variety of seafood, sandwiches, appetizers, and non-diner food such as Vietnamese dishes. Probably their most unique feature is the variety of unique antique signs around the dining room.
Metroactive.com named this diner one of Santa Cruz's best places for late night dining.
The Crow's Nest is one of those places that could be a tourist rip-off, but it isn't. It has an excellent location right where the harbor meets the beach, but doesn't just rely on this. It's been in business for almost 40 years and continues to be a locals' favorite because of the good food and evening entertainment. The waterfront views of the beach and Monterey Bay are a bonus.
They serve lunches and dinners in a dining room downstairs, and upstairs there's the Breakwater Bar and Grill that is a good place to hang our for drinks, appetizers and lunches. It is also quite popular at night when there is music - know as somewhat of a pick up place.
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Address: 111 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, California, 95060, United States
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