Up the coast of Santa Cruz County is a place that goes beyond your wildest dreams: Shark Fin Cove. Carved away from the cliffs by wind and waves, an island shaped like a shark’s dorsal fin juts out of the water just beyond the shore of the secluded beach.
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.
We are highlighting some of the best places in Santa Cruz County to explore the great outdoors! From miles of sand to comb on the beaches of south county to zip lining through the resilient redwoods, you’ll love getting some fresh air with these outdoor explorations. Check out our picks for the Best Opt Outside
The expansive coastline in Santa Cruz County offers endless options to explore coastal environments for tide pool treasures. Exploring the tide pools of Santa Cruz unveils creatures like giant sea anemones, colorful sea stars, and dragon-like nudibranchs. Visiting tide pools during low tides or during the annual King Tides event is a wonderful activity perfect
It’s a gorgeous day, and you want to enjoy the outdoors, but the Bloody Mary you had at brunch has you shying away from an uphill trek to the local mountaintop. We feel you. Thankfully, there are plenty of scenic-and flat-promenades where you can gather the friends, pups, and kids, and bask in the dazzling, local scenery without breaking a sweat.