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Santa Cruz County

705 Front Street · Santa Cruz, CA

Why you should go…

Visit Santa Cruz County is the official nonprofit visitor marketing organization for Santa Cruz County, California. It publishes a biennial visitor guide covering the county's beaches, state parks, redwood forests, and food and drink scene, and runs a year-round visitor center in downtown Santa Cruz. The county lies on the Pacific coast just south of the San Francisco Bay Area.

  • #beach
  • #coast
  • #county
  • #redwoods

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Santa Cruz County, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Downtown Santa Cruz

    Free

    Santa Cruz's walkable downtown shopping and dining district along Pacific Avenue.

    0.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    Far West Fungi

    Free

    Mushroom store and cafe selling fresh, dried and cultivated fungi, grow kits, and mushroom snacks.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Local Gem

    UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanic Garden

    Under $25

    A 115-acre botanic garden of Mediterranean-climate plants from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Chile.

    1.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Tours
    Outdoor Adventure

    Club Ed Surf School and Camps

    $50+

    A longtime Santa Cruz surf school offering lessons, rentals and camps near Cowell Beach.

    2.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Capitola

    Free

    A pastel-colored Santa Cruz County beach village built around a small wharf and Capitola Village's shops and restaurants.

    3.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Los Gatos

    Free

    A walkable South Bay town at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains with a historic creek trail.

    20 mi awayMore like this