Santa Cruz
Some of the best adventures grow from the seed of a small, spontaneous idea. One of the most rewarding aspects of traveling is when all of the daydreaming becomes reality. For the January 2022 version of myself, this road trip seemed far away and if anything, a bit daunting to pull off. The rough outline had multiple stops, lots of socializing with friends and family, and more details than I was used to travel wise. But June rolled around, and after getting everything in order, I finally felt that familiar stomach rolling excitement for my next adventure.
With gas prices rising at the end of spring, suddenly a road trip didn't seem like the most practical means of travel. Nonetheless, we took off early in the morning on June 14th and headed down to our first stop on the trip, Santa Cruz.
From Seattle, Santa Cruz is about a 14 hour trip. We left around 7 am and arrived 9 pm. For this portion of the trip we decided to save some money by staying with my family. No matter where I am traveling, I'm always looking for small ways to save money. That way, I can spend what I save on experiences!
Day 1 - Santa Cruz
The first day in Santa Cruz I woke up early and headed down to the Santa Cruz wharf and boardwalk. If you are thinking of visiting the Santa Cruz Boardwalk it's always best to get there earlier rather than later, especially in the summer when tourism picks up. Getting there earlier means cooler temperatures and shorter lines.
Pro tip: If you are planning to ride more than several rides, order an unlimited rides pass online in advance. You'll save money buying an unlimited day pass overall and save up to $30 by buying online. Rides at the boardwalk without a day pass can cost up to $8, so it's best to get a day pass.
That morning the lines were luckily super short and we got to fit in about 15 different rides before the day started getting hotter and we decided to head to a local nearby beach.
For lunch we stopped by El Palomar, located near Twin Lakes Beach. Twin Lakes Beach is one of my favorite Santa Cruz beaches, it's usually not too crowded, is a nice long stretch of soft sand, and is situated next to the Santa Cruz harbor and a couple restaurants.
Twin Lakes also connects to Black's Beach, another cute, local beach. El Palomar has great Mexican food and the prices are reasonable. The Crow's Nest is right next door and is the perfect spot for anything from a nice lunch or dinner to casual drinks with a beautiful view of the ocean and sunset. We ended the night with dinner with my family and roasting marshmallows over a campfire.
Day 2 - San Francisco
The next we got up early for the hour and a half drive to San Francisco. Being lucky enough to live in Santa Cruz I have been able to go to San Francisco many times over the years. I have a handful of favorite stops that are a go to.
One of my favorite spots to eat in San Francisco is the Boudin Sourdough Factory down by the water. We started the afternoon with sourdough bread bowls with clam chowder and then walked past all the shops on the wharf to the closest trolley station.
If you plan to use the trolley for more than one ride, I recommend buying an all day pass online, since the cost outweighs the use after two separate trolley trips. We took the trolley up to Lombard St., famous for its twisting road and beautiful view of the bay.
Afterwards we walked a couple blocks over to China Town to do some sightseeing and then took an Uber back to the Fort Mason area to get a delicious sundae at the Ghirardelli Factory. After our snack we drove over to Golden Gate Park to explore the Japanese Tea Gardens.
Tickets to the Japanese Tea Gardens are definitely worth the experience. They vary by price depending on the year/month/season but prices are never too ridiculous, and usually $8-$10 for non SF resident adults. The scenery and sculptures are beautiful and the gardens feature a beautiful tea house perched above the water, koi fish, zen gardens, a gift shop, and lovely designs.
If you get the chance to explore Golden Gate Park, definitely do so! Whether you love outdoor live music, botanical gardens, museums, or just going for a beautiful walk this park has it all.
At 1,017 acres Golden Gate Park is one of the most impressive and sprawling city parks I have ever been to. This photo is an area of the park just between the de Young museum and the California Academy of Sciences in the building.
Day 3 - Monterey
On our third day in Santa Cruz we decided to drive down to Monterey and enjoy some of the local activities. One of the most popular attractions in Monterey is the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium may seem pricey at first glance, but they are totally worth it. If you are just visiting the area, daily tickets are worth the bang for your buck. If you are a local, consider becoming an aquarium member, where you get access to shorter entry lines and a great payoff.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is my favorite part of Monterey and is one of the best aquariums worldwide. New exhibits are always popping up, there are hourly talks and demonstrations from staff, and endless areas to explore.
At the aquarium there are endless exhibits to see. You can spend anywhere from an hour exploring to all day. My personal favorite exhibits are the giant pacific octopus exhibit, the otter exhibit, and the jellyfish walk.
Before lunch we drove down to Carmel by the Sea, one of my favorite stops on the West Coast. Carmel is a lovely little town by the ocean and is a must see if you find yourself in that area of California. We perused the downtown area and wandered through the adorable neighborhoods in the area.
Carmel may look like a picturesque and quaint town but it is in fact one of the most expensive markets in the country with median home prices standing at nearly $2 million.
After visiting the aquarium we stopped for lunch at Happy Girl Kitchen Company in Pacific Grove to spend time with my Aunt and Uncle. If you are looking for delicious vegan options, this is a super cute spot! There is outdoor and indoor seating, yummy food and delicious lemonade.
After lunch we all took a sunny walk along the water. The water was a beautiful blue and the sky was clear. If you find yourself in Pacific Grove consider taking a walk along Ocean View Blvd.
Day 4 - Santa Cruz
On our last day in Santa Cruz I really wanted to hit some of my favorite hometown, local spots. In the morning my parents and I and our dog Koda and I all went for a hike in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, a beautiful park a couple minutes from my house. The view from the hike was gorgeous and we could see all the way to the bay.
That afternoon I explored Capitola, one of my favorite seaside villages in California. We shopped, walked by the area, and stood out on the pier watching the surfers and beachgoers.
Capitola is known for its dreamy, quaint, and colorful beachside buildings. The beach is a bit small and can be crowded on the weekends but its a very picturesque location. On occasion there is live music in the evenings and there are many great places to eat and shop in the area.
Some of my favorite restaurants in the area are: Mr. Toots Coffeehouse, Pizza My Heart, and Polar Bear Ice Cream.
If you're looking for a nicer dining experience check out Trestles (a few blocks from the beach) or Shadowbrook (overlooking the river).
Later in the day we drove through the beautiful UC Santa Cruz campus where my mom went to college and now works. UCSC boasts sprawling golden hills and towering redwood trees interspersed by academic buildings, residence halls, libraries, and more. The botanical garden and arboretum are especially beautiful.
There are many beautiful hiking trails crisscrossing over campus. Everything from shaded walks in the wood to strolling through grassy meadows is yours to choose from. Pogonip is just next to campus and offers cool hiking trails, biking trails, a koi pond, waterfalls, and more.
For dinner we stopped by Betty's Burgers, one of my all time favorite restaurants in Santa Cruz. There are several locations, but my favorite is located on Pacific Ave., the downtown strip of stores in Santa Cruz. The restaurants are rock n roll diner themed with reasonably priced and delicious burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Some of my other favorite spots on Pacific Ave. include Lulu Carpenter's, Verve Coffee Roasters, and Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting for coffee. I love Pacific Thai, Rosie McCann's, Monster Pot, and El Palomar for dinner as well. If you're looking for something sweet check out Pacific Cookie Company (my favorite is the Midnight cookie - perfect for chocolate lovers) or The Penny Ice Creamery.
We enjoyed a beautiful sunset at Santa Cruz Beach before heading home.
All in all the first stop of our trip was a huge success. There are so many things I love about Santa Cruz and the surrounding towns that it's hard to fit even 1/10th of what I love into a four day span, but I would say we managed pretty well. I made sure to check online for cheaper ticket prices in advance, schedule activities I knew would be crowded/touristy for week days when possible, and always left a little room for flexibility.
One tough travel lesson I still have to practice is remembering that no matter how hard you plan, there will always be some last minute change up, big or small, that requires you to adapt. Luckily, I'll be visiting Santa Cruz again in late July before my next big trip and will be able to soak up a little more of my hometown.
