5 Best Beaches and Beachfront Attractions in Santa Cruz, CA

Published on: 11 October 2018 Last Updated on: 31 October 2024

California is home to some of the world’s most popular beaches, and on California’s coastline, you’ll find one of its best beach towns, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is is a city along the Monterey Bay that provides beach-goers with an endless array of activities and attractions. If you’re planning a trip to Santa Cruz, California, consider visiting some of these beaches and beachfront attractions.

Natural Bridges State Beach:

Natural Bridges State Beach is hands down one of the most beautiful beaches in Santa Cruz. Whereas other beaches have become overrun with bars, restaurants, and other attractions, Natural Bridges State Beach has preserved its austere grandeur. It’s also a California state park with biking and hiking trails, picnic areas, tidepools, and is known for its Monarch Grove — a temporary home for Monarch Butterflies in the winter.

Santa Cruz Main Beach:

Santa Cruz’s Main Beach is a popular stop for tourists and locals alike. It’s close to Santa Cruz’s most popular hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, and of course, the Boardwalk. Main Beach runs from the San Lorenzo River to the Santa Cruz Wharf, which is a large wooden pier with dining, shopping, and entertainment options. Even though Main Beach is one of the largest beaches in Santa Cruz, it quickly becomes crowded because of the many attractions surrounding it — so be sure to get there early for a great spot!

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk:

Image via Flickr by sneedy

Adjacent to Main Beach in Santa Cruz’s most popular beachfront attraction — the Boardwalk. After you’ve finished basking in the sun at the beach, explore the Boardwalk. From roller coasters and family rides to arcades and games of skill, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has a multitude of activities for kids and adults. The Boardwalk is free, but you’ll need to purchase tickets if you want to ride any of the attractions or play any of the games.

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum:

Santa Cruz is a surf town. It’s also home to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, which is an excellent activity for those looking to get out of the sun for a few hours. It overlooks Steamer Lane, which is a world-famous surfing hotspot in Santa Cruz. The museum features surfing photos, artifacts, surfboards, and other relevant paraphernalia.

Mitchell’s Cove Beach:

If you’re traveling with your four-legged-friends, then you may want to block off some time to visit Mitchell’s Cove Beach. This public beach is dog-friendly with designated off-leash hours after 4 PM and before 10 AM. It’s in a slightly more secluded area which means it’s less crowded than a lot of other beaches in Santa Cruz. As a result, Mitchell’s Cove Beach is the perfect spot to relax and unwind while on your vacation.

A trip to Santa Cruz would not be complete without visiting the beach or seeing some of the popular beachfront attractions in this coastal city. From tourist-traps like Santa Cruz’s Main Beach to more secluded gems like the Natural Bridges State Beach, you’ll have plenty of beach options. When you’ve grown tired of the white sand and crashing waves, you can explore some of the surrounding attractions like the Boardwalk, Wharf Pier, and Surfing Museum.

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A Weekend in Jacksonville: The What’s, Where’s, and When’s

Jacksonville, Florida, is on the northeast coast of the state. It is a metropolitan city with a lot to see and do. The city’s mix of the arts, beaches, and fusion southern food make it a great place for a weekend getaway. Check out these places for insider information on where to stay, what to do, and the best places to eat for your weekend in Jacksonville. Where to Stay: One Ocean Resort and Spa: Stay at One Ocean Resort and Spa for a room by the water on Atlantic Beach with rates starting at $175 per night. This resort is perfect for a couple’s weekend getaway with its romance package, which includes rose petals in your room, champagne, and fruit, with a couple’s spa services that you can add. You can take in the view of a romantic sunset at one of Jacksonville’s best beaches. Riverdale Inn: For a place to stay closer to the locals, try Riverdale Inn located in the Riverside area near Five Points. The rooms are in a Victorian mansion and cost around $150 per night. Get advice on places to go from the local couple who own and run the inn. This comfortable inn has a 24-hour bar, a brunch buffet on the weekend, and afternoon teas if you book in advance. Hyatt Regency Jacksonville: One of the most in-demand hotels in Jacksonville is the Hyatt Regency due to its central location overlooking the river and Main Street Bridge and rates starting around $120 a night. Have a drink at the bar by the heated, rooftop swimming pool, or get in a run in the hotel gym. Not only is this hotel a convenient option if you want to explore downtown, but the meeting rooms and business center make it easier to take a weekend for yourself at the end of a business trip. What to Do: Riverside Arts Market Start your Saturday morning at the Riverside Arts Market, a local marketplace full of artistic wares you can buy from artists around the city. You can also grab a treat from a local food vendor on Farmer’s Row, or head down the street and watch a concert at the TH-Center. Get there by 9 am to start the day with an hour of free yoga. The market is open until the mid-afternoon, around 3 pm. The Riverside Arts Market notoriously takes place under the bridge on the St. John’s River, with views of the water and live music as you shop. Five Points: Shop at Five Points for unique boutiques in a bohemian neighborhood. Shopping in the late morning or early afternoon is the best way to beat the crowds on the weekend. The stores here offer an eclectic range of shopping from high-end dress boutiques to boutiques with a vintage style. You can also get a craft beer to cool down from one of the many local bars and breweries in the neighborhood. Visitors know of the area for both its eclectic vibe and the architecture, which is reminiscent of a small town. Catty Shack Ranch: Go to Catty Shack Ranch to big cats from the wild up close. This is a rescue sanctuary that takes in and treats exotic animals, especially felines. Once animals come to the sanctuary, they remain there for life. You can see lions, tigers, leopards, bobcats, silver foxes, and more. You can only go on Sunday, so book your tickets in advance. You can choose from a daytime tour, a tour with a more in-depth educational component, or a night feeding. Tickets range from $10 to $15 for adults and $5 to $10 for children. Where to Eat Another Broken Egg Café: Every weekend away needs brunch, and Another Broken Egg Café offers brunch that combines modern food with a southern flare. Open on the weekends through lunchtime, this southern original has a location by Tapestry Park and Jacksonville Beach. You can find classic southern food like shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles or try something new like a lobster omelet. Wash it all down with one of their unique brunch cocktails. Many meals are between $10 and $15. Gilbert’s Social: Try modern southern food in a laid-back atmosphere at Gilbert’s Social. This restaurant serves up turkey oxtail, pulled pork, and more classic southern meats, but you can also find plenty of fruit and vegetable combinations all at prices around and under $20. Gilbert’s Social is not open on Sundays or Mondays, so go here for lunch or dinner earlier during your trip. Chef Kenny Gilbert competed on multiple reality cooking shows. He has also won awards and cooked for presidents and celebrities. Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails: Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails is a two-time James Beard Award nominee and a great spot for dinner. The restaurant focuses on locally sourced food and has an array of seafood. You can even ask for a vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free menu. It is centrally located in The Markets at Town Center, and you can go any day of the week. Many of the main dishes are between $20 and $30. If you’re only spending a weekend, you’ll need to know how to pack as much of the city into as little time as possible. You can still experience a lot that Jacksonville has to offer if you know where to go and what to do beforehand. Try these places during your mini vacation in Jacksonville. Read Also: 4 Best Destinations In Western United States So Much To See And Do During A Visit To Chicago Make Your Vacation Less Stressful With The Following Tricks

Preparing to Stay in a Luxury Apartment on a Vacation

After deciding to stay in a luxury apartment on your next vacation, you might feel excited about it. On your first try, it could be a unique experience, but something you will cherish. Luxury apartments are spacious and have a lot of facilities you can enjoy. Maximize your stay in the apartment, and prepare well. Research the nearby places: The good thing about luxury apartments is that they have good locations. If you wish to travel to different places during your vacation, you can easily do it. Since you are in a place with access to critical areas, find the places you can visit, and arrange your schedule. If you are visiting sites that are quite far from the location of the apartment, you might also want to rent a private vehicle to take you to different areas. It is also a good idea if your chosen apartment is in a remote area, which you might also prefer because it is quiet and calm. Prepare the food you want to cook: If you are having quite an extended vacation, you might want to avoid eating out all the time since you will have to spend a considerable amount of money. You would probably rather stay in your luxury apartment since it has a huge kitchen. You can decide what you want to cook and find a place where you can buy fresh ingredients. Besides, if you are staying there for a while, you don't want to eat the same local cuisine all the time. Pack the right clothes: Determine what amenities and facilities are available in the apartment. If they have a swimming pool, you might want to bring your best swimming attire. If they have a fitness gym, you can continue your fitness routine even while travelling. You need to bring your gym clothes. Don’t worry about bringing a lot of clothes with you. Most luxury apartments have spacious closets. Some of them even have walk-in closets. Plan some fun games: If you are travelling to a different place with your family or friends, there might be some days when you don't want to head out to go to specific places. Since you are in a comfortable apartment, you might rather stay home and cherish your time with the people you love. Besides, not everyone chooses to go on a vacation to visit places. Others prefer staying in a luxury place where they can feel relaxed. To avoid boredom, prepare some games that you can play with everyone. Bring some board games and card games to have beautiful moments together. Besides, you have a spacious room, so playing games is possible. It is a good idea to consider luxury apartments such as Edinburgh apartments if you are travelling there soon. You won't need to spend much compared with 5-star hotels, but you will get the same or even better experience. You can choose luxury apartments again if you plan to travel to other places. Read Also: Arabian Ranches – A Modern Family Living Planning A Family Vacation As The Kids Grow Up

Things to do to enjoy yourself in Melbourne

With tons of things that people on any budget can do in Melbourne, there’s no doubt why this city earned the title of being Australia’s most livable city. It might be known for its overpriced coffee, but there are a lot of things one can experience there. No matter what amount of money you’re carrying, there will always be something you can enjoy in the city. From the art-related events to cheap yet yummy food, you can find it all in Melbourne. It has got some of the beautiful places where the historic architecture, aesthetic parks, sporting venues can be explored. This is a list of things you can and must do to enjoy yourself for whatever time you are there. Get ready for some Art : If you are fond of exploring the places and things that relate to art in any form, Federation Square is where you must go. This place is the artistic hub of the city that you must not miss. With over 2000 programs that it hosts all around the year, you can choose the one of your taste and interest. The greatest of all, most of these events are free. Well, even if you are on a tight financial budget, this place is ready to ensure some good time for you in the city. You can visit the architectural galleries there to experience the moving image in all forms. It is on the deck of the Yarra River, so you get the mild winds around there. Enjoy the Sceneries in the Yarra Valley : It takes not more than an hour of drive from Melbourne to be in the glorious Yarra Valley. The place is full of lovely sceneries where even the cafes and restaurants are in the outdoors so you can enjoy the weather and the view while having food and drinks. With plenty of bushwalking and cycling trails there, you will always feel short on time. You get to walk around the world’s tallest trees in the Yarra Ranges National Park. Take some time out while on the pedals and enjoy lunch at local vineyards. Not just cycling and walking; you get the chance to visit the stunning art gallery there as well. With a range of things to choose from, you can keep yourself engaged all day. Time to have some food : It is not very difficult to find affordable food if you are aware of the right places in the city. It doesn’t matter if you are entirely new there; you’ll still have something to eat in return for a little money. Sometimes, there’s nothing as pleasant as a classic cheeseburger. You can get it for under $10 at most of the stores. While in Melbourne, you must try some Spanish restaurant to explore the cuisines and music of an entirely new place. The food gets an all-new taste when some Melbourne twist adds to it, and what’s better than that when you are tired and hungry and want something good to eat. When you go to a city to explore it, you must feel relaxed at all times to enjoy yourself there. You can do it there with your family, or friends, or whoever is with you. Trams are fun : It is always fun to travel on the trams; children love them more than anything else. One of the greatest attractions of the city is the free tram service, an outstanding free service to move around in the city. Although they are historical, they still have that charm that people love there. The city circle tram allows you to visit some of Melbourne’s iconic places like the Parliament House, Melbourne Jail, Aquarium, and Etihad Stadium. It takes a rest on only the two days in the complete year. Final Words : More than hundreds of things to see and explore, you will never have enough time to see the city to the fullest. But whatever time you have, it is assumed that you will feel the world in there. While in Melbourne, you can do whatever interests you, without having to worry about the expenses, because you can get the best deals for almost everything there. Read Also : 7 Travel Tips To Feed Your Wanderlust In Europe 5 Things You Should Do To Reduce Stress Major Festivals To Visit At Jamaica

5 Best Beaches and Beachfront Attractions in Santa Cruz, CA

Natural Bridges State Beach:

Santa Cruz Main Beach:

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk:

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum:

Mitchell’s Cove Beach:

Treat Your Guest Right, Enhance Your Service Quality!

Preparing to Stay in a Luxury Apartment on a Vacation

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Related

A Weekend in Jacksonville: The What’s, Where’s, and When’s

Preparing to Stay in a Luxury Apartment on a Vacation

Things to do to enjoy yourself in Melbourne

5 Best Beaches and Beachfront Attractions in Santa Cruz, CA

Natural Bridges State Beach:

Santa Cruz Main Beach:

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk:

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum:

Mitchell’s Cove Beach:

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Treat Your Guest Right, Enhance Your Service Quality!

Preparing to Stay in a Luxury Apartment on a Vacation

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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