Beaches

Travel Blog

Rugged Beauty: Explore Santa Cruz’s North Coast

Just north of Santa Cruz is a vast expanse of coast that runs along Highway 1, dotted with stunning beaches perfect for sunbathing, surfing, tide-pooling, or enjoying a beach day. Each one of these locations features soaring cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and sandy beaches you must see to believe.

6 Outrageously Scenic Picnic Spots

Combine a warm climate with limitless scenery and a bounty of artisan breads, cheeses, and wine, and you have the recipe for a perfect picnic. With 29 miles of beaches, Santa Cruz has no shortage of scenic locales to spread out on your favorite picnic blanket. But for added comfort and larger gatherings, you’ll want picturesque spots with designated picnic areas equipped with tables and possibly BBQ grills. Here, we’ve listed a few of our favorites and organized them by setting so you can plan your dream picnic!

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