You're Going to Love Santa Cruz
It's easy to fall head over heels in love with Santa Cruz. This resort may only be home to 55,000 people, but its combination of sunshine, pristine beaches, wild surf and cultural attractions means that it punches well above its weight in the ranks of US tourist destinations.
Santa Cruz is a city designed for relaxation. You can stretch out on beautiful beaches at Natural Bridges State Park, rent sailing boats to tour secluded coves, kayak along the coast or visit natural attractions like Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
But if it's more excitement you're after, Santa Cruz delivers. The city is one of the world's greatest surfing destinations, with huge waves at places like Steamers Lane. There's plenty of cultural excitement too, thanks to the city's International Blues Festival and summer beach concerts.
All of this makes Santa Cruz perfect for families, singles, couples and groups of friends. You can party, relax, sunbathe and surf - all just a few miles from San Francisco and easily accessible by plane from anywhere in the USA.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Santa Cruz
The Beaches
Santa Cruz is famous for its flawless beaches. The people and local government take pride in their coastline, protecting it from damage, resulting in a series of beaches that are gorgeous and clean. The water at Main Beach and Natural Bridges is warm and inviting, so dive in, snorkel or surf. There's no better beach destination.
Surfing
Santa Cruz is world famous as a surfing destination. The breaks at locations like Steamers Lane attract elite surfers (particularly in the winter) and crowds of people watching them battle the epic surf. If you are a novice or an expert, Santa Cruz will have surfing spots to suit you.
The Relaxed, Bohemian Vibe
Santa Cruz is also famous for its artistic, creative community. You can buy artisan jewelry at stores like Bead It!, shop for vintage clothing at Retro Paradise, or check out artworks by local painters at the Sesnon Gallery.
The Boardwalk
Santa Cruz Boardwalk provides a chance to step back in time to a more innocent age. This charming seafront district has great restaurants, a fine city beach and family attractions like the Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster. It's a wonderful place to spend time.
Cultural Attractions
Music is a major part of life in Santa Cruz, and local events like May's International Blues Festival attract thousands of visitors. The beach also hosts a summer-long program of open-air concerts featuring major rock and pop artists, while the Kuumbwa Jazz Center always welcomes innovative artists to display their skills.
When to Visit Santa Cruz
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There's hardly a bad time to visit Santa Cruz, but locals tend to recommend traveling in late summer or early fall. A vacation around September and October would be ideal, with warm water and weather, a low chance of fog (which can sometimes enclose the major beaches) and a packed schedule of events. However, June's a good time to go as well, as the beach concert program kicks off.
How to Get to Santa Cruz
Plane
The closest airport to Santa Cruz is in San Jose, but both Oakland and San Francisco airports are also within an hour's taxi ride. If you fly into San Jose, take bus number 17 from San Jose Diridon Station or take an airport shuttle from companies like Early Bird or Santa Cruz Airport Flyer. A shuttle will cost around $60. Taxis are also available at all airports and will generally cost around $70-100 depending on where you fly into.
Train
If you want to travel by train, the closest Amtrak station is San Jose Diridon Station, which is connected to Santa Cruz by the 17 bus. It's also connected to San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles via Amtrak's Coast Starlight service.
Car
Driving to Santa Cruz is probably the easiest way to reach the city. From San Francisco, take I-280, then Highway 17 into town. Those driving from Los Angeles need to take I-5, while anyone coming from the east can take I-80 to San Francisco, then change.
Bus
Santa Cruz Bus Station is on Greyhound's California network, so you can easily catch buses from most locations in the state. The Greyhound stop is located at 920 Pacific Avenue, very close to the center of town.
Airlines serving Santa Cruz
Where to stay in popular areas of Santa Cruz
Most booked hotels in Santa Cruz
How to Get Around Santa Cruz
Public Transportation
Downtown Santa Cruz and the Boardwalk are easily walkable, and everything is within 20 minutes' walk. However, Santa Cruz METRO runs a modest network of local buses, including routes to the University that could be handy. Adult fares are $2, with $6 day passes also available.
Taxis
If you are skipping between beaches and resort hotels, taxis can be a useful way to get around, but they aren't cheap. Expect to pay a meter drop of $3.20, then a rate of $2.75 after the first mile. Uber is active in Santa Cruz. UberX vehicles cost a basic fare of $2, then $1.15 per mile (but have a minimum fare of $5.35).
Car
Car rentals in Santa Cruz are available from companies like Avis, Hertz and Enterprise and rates can be as low as $10 per day, so it's a cost-effective way to get around. Parking is also plentiful at the major beaches and Downtown, so there should be few problems.
The Cost of Living in Santa Cruz
Shopping Streets
The main shopping street in Santa Cruz is Pacific Avenue, home to a number of bookstores, artisanal jewelry makers like Bead It!, apparel boutiques like Forever 21, Cognito Clothing and Jade, along with small art galleries, antique vendors and much more. If you want to head to a traditional mall, the Capitola Mall is a good alternative, with household names like Sear's, Macy's and Target.
Groceries and Other
Many people choose to stay in self-catering homes in Santa Cruz and finding groceries is simple. The city center has branches of Trader Joe's and Whole Foods while suburbs include a Safeway. There are also smaller independent grocery stores like New Leaf Community Markets and Shopper's Corner, which provide a more homely grocery shopping experience. Prices in Santa Cruz are similar to cities like San Francisco. In other words, quite high. Expect to pay $3.60 for a gallon of milk and over $2.50 for a pound of apples.
Where to Eat in Santa Cruz
You'll never run out of high-quality places to eat in Santa Cruz. It's one of the city's greatest strengths. There are superb Mexican restaurants like el Palomar (check out the cantina at the back which serves cheap, delicious tacos). Joe's Pizza & Subs is the place to go for a quick sandwich or slice of pizza, Oswald's serves vegan and organic cuisine, Royal Taj is a highly-rated local Indian restaurant, while the fish and chips at Seabright Brewery are sublime. Expect to pay $12-15 for a mid-range meal and more than $25 at high-end places.