Contact: Christina Glynn, Communications Director/Film Commissioner
Phone: 831-429-7281, ext. 112, email: cglynn@santacruz.org

January 22, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA— The Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Council (CVC) announces the publication of the 2010 Official Santa Cruz County Traveler’s Guide. The 2010 Guide, 80-pages thick, features a new design, enhanced area maps, and an emphasis on three new feature stories as well as regular elements visitors have come to expect from the 15-year old publication.  In addition,  the CVC unveiled a new Web site design today, which incorporates social media components, enhanced functionality enabling visitors to book a travel package on-line, and vibrant flash-photography illustrating each themed “landing” page (main subject-oriented pages of the site), in addition to other features.

New for 2010, the Official Santa Cruz County Traveler’s Guide features a wine-related focus, including a story highlighting the wine scene in Santa Cruz County as well as expanded Winery listings.  Editorial coverage on destinations such as Pleasure Point and theme-oriented coverage on Wildlife and other topics also add to the descriptive nature of the content.  A detailed countywide map contains four inset maps of Capitola Village, Downtown Santa Cruz, Watsonville and beach areas, to help travelers navigate through the county.  Using interactive technology, Web site visitors who log on to www.santacruzcounty.travel can view the full Guide directly from the homepage and download a copy of the guide.

The printed guide is available free at the CVC’s main visitor center at 1211 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz, and at key locations countywide.  Visitors may order the guide via www.santacruzcounty.travel or  by calling the CVC’s toll-free phone number, 800.833.3494.

“This is the most reliable and comprehensive guide produced for visitors to Santa Cruz County.” said Maggie Ivy, Executive Vice President and CEO of the CVC.  “It’s like having your own personal tour guide to our many state parks, attractions, restaurants and things to do, and it is provided to travelers free of charge.”

For more information or to order a guide, call 800.833.3494

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Contact: Christina Glynn, Communications Director/Film Commissioner
Phone: 831-429-7281, ext. 112, email: cglynn@santacruz.org

January 14, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA— While booking reservations early, vacationing during the off-season, and finding an on-line deal at a hotel might be good ways to save money on a trip this year, the Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council is calling out five activities that won’t cost more than a sawbuck to enjoy.  As many people resolve to slim down in the New Year, here are five ways to keep your wallet fat and happy in 2010!

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Location: 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA – on Main Beach

Price: Individual Ride tickets range from $2.25 to $4.50.  You can buy tickets for just one or any number of rides at any Boardwalk ticket booth.

Description: The admission-free, century-old Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk was named “Best Seaside Amusement Park,” in the world by amusement industry experts.  The Giant Dipper, the park’s centerpiece, is a vintage wooden roller coaster that has thrilled visitors for over 85 years.  And visitors can ride it for only $4.50!  Seventy-three hand-carved horses prance proudly on the famous Looff Carousel, built in 1911, which costs only $3 to ride.

Dates open/available: The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is open seasonally, with rides open in limited operation during the off-season.  See website for calendar.

Winetasting at Bonny Doon Vineyard

Location: 328 Ingalls Street, Santa Cruz, CA – Swift Street Courtyard

Price: $7 per tasting session, to be applied toward wine purchase

Description: Visitors to the new Tasting Room at Bonny Doon can expect a full immersion into a “Dooniverse” of possibilities as enhanced elements including wine and food grudge matches, a verdant Biodynamic lounge and vinous curriculum ad infinitum serve as portals into the weird and wonderful world of Bonny Doon Vineyard.  Gracing the tasting room area is a locally-made, handcrafted spaceship to transport visitors into the Dooniverse.

Dates open/available: Wednesdays – Sundays, Noon to close

Seymour Marine Discovery Center at Long Marine Lab

Location: 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA

Price: $6 adults; $4 student or senior; $4 children aged 4-16

Description: Perched on the edge of the Monterey Bay, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center at Long Marine Lab invites visitors to examine marine life at seawater tables and aquariums, and interact with marine exhibits illustrating the work of resident scientists. Part of UC Santa Cruz, the Center is part of the nation’s third largest marine research and education facility.  Docent-led tours offer a behind-the-scenes peek at the lab’s facilities and Younger Lagoon Natural Reserve.  “Ms. Blue,” one of the world’s largest displayed blue whale skeleton, once a living 87-foot mammal, rests outside the center.

Dates open/available: Tues – Sat 10A to 5P; Sundays Noon to 5P

SculpTour:  Public Art Walking Tour of Downtown Santa Cruz

Location: Downtown Santa Cruz, CA

Price: FREE

Description: The City of Santa Cruz offers free maps to SculpTour, a self-guided walking tour for visitors looking for a budget-friendly free activity.  Recently, twelve new sculptures have been installed in Downtown Santa Cruz as part of the SculpTour rotating public art exhibit.  Standing on five separate sites along Pacific Avenue, the exhibit showcases works in steel, concrete, stones and mortar.  Ranging in subject from “Rocky Dogs” to “Pendulum” and “Waterfall”, the exhibit features artwork by seven local artists, a blacksmith, kinetic sculpture artist, architectural metalworker, a bronze and steel sculptor, a stone and masonry artist and others.  Map is downloadable from the city’s website!  

Dates open/available: Year-round

Agricultural History Project Museum

Location: 2601 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA

Price: FREE (suggested donation: $3)

Description: Agriculture has long been the main industry in Watsonville.  Celebrating this heritage is the Agricultural History Museum at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.  Restored horse-drawn equipment, interpretive exhibits and vintage items are all on display.

Dates open/available: Thursday – Sunday Noon to 4P

For more information on these and other activities, visit www.santacruzevents.travel.

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The Scotts Valley Hilton Hotel has converted several guest rooms into meeting rooms to accommodate corporate and community events.  The $100,000 expansion leaves the hotel with the previously existing 7,500-square-foot ballroom and four meeting rooms. The expansion of meeting space is part of an ongoing improvement program at the hotel, which can now accommodate 300 guests for weddings and special events, as well as up to 200 people for symposiums, trainings and other types of meetings.  Also upgraded was the hotel’s fitness center, now equipped for Hilton Fitness by Precor^TM.

A classic beach town with a Mediterranean feel, Capitola was recently hailed by Sunset magazine as one of the 20 best small towns.  Founded in 1875, Capitola is known as California’s oldest seaside resort town.  Incorporated as a city on January 11th, 1949, Capitola is now celebrating its 60^th anniversary!   Today Capitola is a city with a population of approximately 10,000 people, roughly five times the size it had been sixty years ago. The metropolis has grown to a scenic 1.61 square miles tucked behind and around the original village, still popular today with visitors for its quaint boutiques and breezy esplanade.

In response to a growing movement in the food and beverage industry to produce wines in the most natural and least invasive manner, Casablanca Restaurant has added “green” options to its menu.  The newly revamped wine list at the eatery offers wines which are organically grown, using biodynamic and no-added sulfite methods.  Some wines come from the Santa Cruz Mountain appellation, with additional wines from various other regions of California, Austria, Italy and France.