Articles: Best Beaches for...

Santa Cruz County's 29 miles of sun-splashed, fun-filled beaches offer something for everyone. From dramatic windswept cliffs to the wide expanses of sand and sea, you're sure to find your sweet spot on the sand. Here are a few recommendations to help find the perfect beach for any activity:

Campfires:	Twin Lakes State Beach, Santa Cruz Seabright/Castle State Beach, Santa Cruz New Brighton State Beach, Capitola Rio del Mar State Beach, Aptos Sunset State Beach, Watsonville Manresa State Beach, Watsonville
Camping:	Sunset State Beach, Watsonville New Brighton State Beach, Capitola Seacliff State Beach, Aptos (RV camping only)
Dogs (on leash):	Its Beach, Santa Cruz (before 10am and after 4pm) Seacliff State Beach, Aptos Rio del Mar State Beach, Aptos New Brighton State Beach, Capitola Manresa State Beach, Watsonville Palm State Beach, Watsonville Seabright State Beach, Santa Cruz Twin Lakes State Beach, Santa Cruz
Fishing:	Seacliff State Beach, Aptos Grey Hound Rock County Beach, Davenport
Kayaking:	Capitola Beach, Capitola
Kiteboarding:	Waddell Beach, Davenport
Learning to surf:	Cowell Beach, Santa Cruz
People watching:	Main Beach, Santa Cruz
Picnicking:	Seacliff State Beach, Aptos
Romantic sunsets:	Bluffs above Seacliff Beach, Aptos West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz Sunset State Beach, Watsonville
Scenic drives:	West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
Surfing:	Cowell Beach, Santa Cruz Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz
Swimming:	Twin Lakes State Beach, Santa Cruz
Volleyball:	Main Beach, Santa Cruz Capitola Beach, Capitola
Walking/running:	Any of the beaches in Aptos or Watsonville West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
Whale watching:	Davenport Beach (bluffs), Davenport
Windsurfing:	Waddell Beach, Davenport

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