Holiday on the California Coast

Places to Visit

South Of Here

Monterey is a beautiful, historic town just 40 minutes away. Here, visitors can enjoy more excellent restaurants, the stunningly beautiful Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row - made famous by John Steinbeck's book and the movie of the same name.

Carmel, for many years a renowned artist's colony, has a unique charm. Its many upscale shops and galleries delight the eye. South of Carmel is 17-Mile-Drive with its magnificent ocean views and dozens of baronial homes from an earlier era.

San Juan Bautista is a small, authentic early California town that has changed little in the past century. Its Mexican heritage is still evident in the splendid old mission near the heart of town - as well as in the several restaurants where genuine Mexican food is served. From Santa Cruz, San Juan Bautista is a pleasant, 45-minute drive through the countryside.

North of Here

San Francisco, the famed "City by the Bay" with its museums, theaters, art galleries, cable cars, etc. - is an hour and a half north of Santa Cruz.

Ano Nuevo. Each year in the spring, hundreds of elephant seals arrive to give birth and to care for their young. With a docent in the lead, visitors can enjoy an hour's beach walk to view these strange and interesting creatures. Ano Nuevo is 40 minutes north of Santa Cruz.

Farther Afield

Point Reyes National Seashore is a vast, unspoiled wilderness on the coast north of San Francisco - about three hours away and well worth the trip.

Yosemite National Park, known for its fabled mountains and waterfalls, is considered the most beautiful National Park in the U.S. You can reach it in less than half a day.

Lake Tahoe offers spectacular mountain scenery - along with casino gambling and stage shows. Allow a half-day for the drive.

Disneyland, located near Los Angeles, is a day's drive from here.

For more information, click on the following:

Explore Santa Cruz County

• Information Map
• General Information
• Yahoo! Travel Things To Do
• Santa Cruz County State Parks, beaches, redwood forests, historical buildings, hiking, biking, picnicking
• Capitola, small beach town with attractive shops, galleries and restaurants about 15 minutes drive
• Santa Cruz, known for its surfing spots, beaches, oceanside amusement park, university, and tourist-friendly shops, about 20 minutes drive
• University of California

Family fun

• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Here, amusement park
• Seymour Center (marine life)
• Roaring Camp Steam Railroad

Wine tasting

• Santa Cruz Mountains Wineries
• Bargettos, a 20 minute drive

Golf

• Local Courses

Discover some local history

• Wilder Ranch

Summer festivals

• Shakespeare Santa Cruz
• New Music Festival

Farther Away

• Monterey, about 45 minutes
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Whale Watching
• Carmel, small shops, art galleries, about 50 minutes
• Golf at Pebble Beach
• Point Lobos State Park, about 50 minutes
• Elkhorn Slough, about 45 minutes
• Big Sur, an area of dramatic ocean cliffs, about 70 minutes
• San Jose, in the heart of Silicon Valley, about 45 minutes
• San Francisco, about 90 minutes
• Pinnacles National Monument, about 90 minutes

Still Farther (overnight trips)

• Yosemite National Park
• Napa Valley Wine Country
• Disneyland