About Watsonville


Strolling through downtown Watsonville, visitors will find charming 19th century storefronts and curly-cued Victorian buildings built when the city was the agricultural king of Santa Cruz County. Although the wealth that was once brought in by the area’s farms has diminished, Watsonville is still the place to get the area’s best produce. And while the historic downtown may not be the bustling business center that it once was, it is now bustling with the city’s many concerts and festivals. But the natural beauty lying beyond Watsonville’s center is perhaps the city’s biggest attraction. Birders come from all over the nation to observe the other 200 bird species housed in the area’s wetlands. The beaches in Watsonville are also both stunning and nearly deserted.



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Watsonville Zip Code:

95077

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Hoopchi @ Hoopcamp S Cruz
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Attractions and Activities in Watsonville

Watsonville is a birder’s paradise.  The Wetlands of Watsonville is a permanent and migratory home to over 200 bird species, which can be observed from the many trails running through the area.  Also nearby Watsonville is the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of the last pristine coastal wetlands in California and home to a variety of birds.  Making it a true birding town, Watsonville also hosts the Monterey Bay Birding Festival each year in September.

Watsonville is not just a birding town, however, and its agricultural background makes it a wonderful place to enjoy some of the best produce in the nation during the annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival at Monterey.  Watsonville also hosts the annual Santa Cruz County Fair and Cinco de Mayo Celebration. And finally, Watsonville’s Manresa, Sunset and Palm state beaches will enchant beach lovers. 

 

Dining in Watsonville

Watsonville is home to good, affordable restaurants that include a variety of international options.  The area has a rich Japanese-American history, represented in Watsonville’s dining scene by Miyuki Restaurant and Imura.  Other Watsonville favorites include the Freedom Meat Locker with its delicious BBQ sauce and the more formal Lorenzini’s with its authentic Italian fare.  Other dining options include the Green Valley Grill, Cowboys Corner Café and El Frijolito Restaurant.

 

Shopping in Watsonville

Aside from the Watsonville Certified Farmers market every Friday from 3pm to 7pm in the Downtown Watsonville Plaza, the shopping in Watsonville is comprehensive but not remarkable.  The town’s primary shopping areas include Overlook Center, Freedom Center, Pajaro Plaza, Crossroads Center, Watsonville Square, Cabrillo Center, East Lake Village, Crestview Shopping Center and Alta Vista Shopping Center. 


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