Santa Cruz California

Santa Cruz California Information

Attractions and Activities

Although the city has many charms that keep attracting tourists, there are two that draw the most crowds.  The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is not only a fun collection of rides and games located on a mile of sandy beach, it is a State Historic Landmark and home to the Giant Dipper – the oldest operating roller coaster in the US.  Santa Cruz’s Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point breaks produce some of the best waves for surfing in the world, drawing surfers from far and wide.

Dining

Santa Cruz offers an eclectic mix of dining options, with many restaurants serving fusion cuisine blending the exotic flavors of multiple cultures.  What makes the Santa Cruz culinary experience unique, however, is the prevalence of fresh seafood, vegetarian-friendly menus, sustainably harvested produce and sumptuous local wine. 

Some standout restaurants include local favorites 515, Bittersweet Bistro, Café Mare, Clouds, The Greek, Gabriella Café, Hoffman’s Bakery Café, Kawa Sushi & Roll, Real Thai, Ristorante Avanti and Walnut Avenue Café.

Shopping

Downtown Santa Cruz is the place to go for shopping.  With over 200 unique shops to choose from, visitors can count on finding whatever they need…and perhaps a few items that they didn’t know that they needed.  From art galleries to vintage clothing stores, from bookshops to hand-crafted jewelry stores – downtown Santa Cruz has it all.

Although it is difficult to single out just a few Santa Cruz shopping destinations, a couple notable ones include Annieglass, Artisans Gallery, Bookshop Santa Cruz, Love Me 2 Times, the Pacific Garden Mall and the Tibetan Nomad.