| Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Santa Cruz attractions, posted by real travelers and locals. Santa Cruz Map |
 | Santa Cruz Off the Beaten Path | Tips 1 - 10 of 41 |  |
 picnic spot by kazander
We only traveled the area between Santa Cruz and San Francisco, but the entire length of RT 1 is supposed to be beautiful! Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Santa Cruz?
Read reviews about Santa Cruz Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
 California Beach by kazanderLeave a Comment
|
 Forest morning by matthieuxjamesLeave a Comment
|
I remember Randall Graham when he sold his first cases of wine to a store I worked at in Yountville. Long curly hair in a mess and wearing an old T-shirt, it was hard to imagine that his wine could be good. But, we tasted and found the Clos de Gilroy quite good indeed, and since then Randall has made many other types of wines and liquors. Now, many years later, Randall is a celebrity in the wine business, but his tasting room and home remain in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Bonny Doon. Actually, Randall spends a lot of time in Italy, so it's rather rare when a visitor to the tasting room will be able to meet with him. I've taken several groups of students from my California Wine Appreciation class to visit the winery, and Randall continues to be an engaging man who remembers past acquaintances very well. Nowadays, the wines are better packaged than they are produced, in my humble opinion, as Randall has found the secret of marketing drinkable now style wines to restaurants and novice wine consumers. Even so, the winery is worth a visit, and if one has not tried several bottles of his reasonably priced wines, then one cannot consider themself a well versed wine consumer. Besides wine, the winery tasting room sells lots of other stuff that tourists will like more than the junk sold at the Santa Cruz Pier. The tasting room is open daily, except major holidays, from 11:00am – 5:00pm Leave a Comment
|
 | |  |
 butterflies are free by yooperprof
Really, Monarch Butterfly migration is one of the marvels of nature. Leave a Comment
|
Visiting Santa Cruz?
Read reviews about Santa Cruz Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
I also have pages for Felton, Mount Hermon, and Ben Lomond, three hamlets up Hwy 9 from Santa Cruz. This part of the county is home to reclusive folk who have antique stores, redwood burl and bear artistry, or otherwise hangout in the redwood forests. There are a variety of activities available, but just a drive up twisty Hwy 9 is worth a half day or more. There are also plenty of cabins and resort hotels in the Santa Cruz Mountains for those who want to get away from the din of the beach cities. Hwy 9 will continue through Boulder Creek and drop down into Saratoga, which is part of the Silicon Valley, so this is a good scenic route to San Francisco and San Jose. Check out my VT links below for more information. Leave a Comment
|
Santa Cruz is decidedly the most urbanized beach in the area, and is great for people watching, food, and amusement. But, there are some great beaches elsewhere. Check out my pages for Aptos, in particular, which has an entirely different spin on the beach action with often better weather, wider and longer beaches, and fewer crowds in the water or on the sand. Unlike the Santa Cruz Wharf, which is layered with asphalt, the pier at Aptos is entirely wooden planking on top. Again, go to my Aptos Pages, which are linked below. Leave a Comment
|
About halfway on hwy 1 to Monterrey is Moss Landing, a generally better place to buy fresh fish. I have a VT page devoted to this town that's well worth reading for more information. Moss Landing is about 20 minutes south from Santa Cruz at the center of the Monterey Bay. A good strategy is to stop there on the way south, or on the way back to hwy 101 if driving toward LA. It's pretty easy to spot from a distance because there's an old diesel electric power plant there too, but don't let that detract from the great seafood available at the place. Check out the link below for specific details. Leave a Comment
|
 Award winning wines at
Hallcrest Winery, Felton, C by karenincalifornia
After witnessing the quirky behavior of the owners/employees at the two previous wineries we visited, we couldn't wait to see what would happen at Hallcrest. We were the only visitors there in the tasting room, which was nice. At first, things got off to a very normal and uneventful start. Then, while we were sipping a very fine pinot noir, the winery employee who was helping us asked, "Excuse me, I haven't had a chance to eat lunch. You don't mind if I eat in front of you, do you?" She immediately plopped down this most disgusting gruel in front us. Nothing like adding a little gruel to the enjoyment of a discovering a new wine!
This is Santa Cruz. Not Napa. It's an understatement to say different rules apply. Or rather, in Santa Cruz, there are no rules. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
 Admiring the view from
atop Buzzard's Roost by karenincalifornia
My husband and I took a shorter hike from the Park headquarters to the top of Buzzard's Roost for some views. The total mileage was 5.5 miles. The hike starts in an old growth redwood forest. As you climb, you will rise through forests of oaks, bay laurels, and eventually ponderosa pines. At the top you'll be rewarded with a panoramic view of the entire park. On a good day, you'll see the ocean. On a semi-good day (which means no water to be seen), you'll see a bank of fog sitting out on the coast line. Take the Pine Mountain trail, and near the top take the branch going left to Buzzard's Roost. You can't miss it. It looked like Park Officials were blocking off the trail to Pine Mountain. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
|
More Santa Cruz Travel Deals Travelodge Santa Cruz
Always Low Rates, Free Breakfast Free High Speed Internet, Book Now! Santa Cruz, CA Motel
Motel near Boardwalk & Beaches from $59/nite. Free Breakfast & WiFi. International Hotels
Marriott's Official Site. Book Best Rate Guaranteed & Earn Rewards. Sponsored Links - National 9 Plymouth St
130 Plymouth St, Santa Cruz, CA - UCSC Inn Santa Cruz
611 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA - Comfort Inn Boardwalk Area
314 Riverside Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA - Ramada Limited Fishermans Wharf
130 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA - Seaway Inn
176 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA - Ramada Limited Santa Cruz Water St
516 Water Street Ocean Street and Water Street, Santa Cruz, CA - Babbling Brook Inn
1025 Laurel St, Santa Cruz, CA - Best Inn Santa Cruz
600 Riverside Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA - Inn Cal Motel Santa Cruz
370 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA - Coastview Inn Santa Cruz
301 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA - Continental Inn
414 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA - Econo Lodge Boardwalk
550 Second St., Santa Cruz, CA - Paradise Inn By The Beach Santa Cruz
311 2nd St., Santa Cruz, CA - Travelodge Santa Cruz
525 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA - Coast Santa Cruz Hotel
175 W. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA
|
