As the first industry and a cornerstone of the Santa Cruz County economy, our agriculture roots here are deep.
Tucked away in the mountains and dotting the landscape of the UC Santa Cruz campus stand the ruins of a once prosperous industry that helped put Santa Cruz on the map.
Lined with grand Victorian homes, vintage streetlamps, and a wondrous tree canopy, Walnut Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz is a visual treat any time of year.
As visitors make their way down the hill, a trolley waits at the end of Pacheco Avenue near the grand entrance to DeLaveaga Park in Santa Cruz. From 1910 until
A nostalgic look back at the West Coast’s oldest amusement park Since its opening in 1907 as the “Coney Island of the West,” the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has been
By Garrick Ramirez
During the 19th century, Santa Cruz was one of the largest ports in Northern California thanks to a variety of booming industries including lumber, agriculture, and lime, a key element of the cement that built cities such as San Francisco. The region teemed with wharves and piers to transport goods to seabased ships, yet, over the years, nearly all were dismantled or swept away by ferocious storms. Today, can still explore three remaining piers, and marvel at the popular ruins of a fourth. Originally constructed to ship local products abroad, the wharves and piers that dot the Santa Cruz County shoreline today deliver an abundance of scenery, history, and good eats.
Mission Street circa 1880 shot roughly from the area where London Nelson had lived and farmed two decades earlier, looking up toward Mission Hill. The handsome white building in the
One of the prettiest ways to get from downtown Santa Cruz to sprawling, redwood-shaded San Lorenzo Park is to take the short stroll across the San Lorenzo River via the
Resilience of Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Even 2020 can’t defeat a forest that has survived ice ages, wildfires and logging sprees People the world over are looking to 2021
Burly lumberjacks, Hawaiian princes, and a protester who wore a dress made from hot dogs are just some of the fascinating characters that fill Santa Cruz’s rich history. Below, we’ve listed a few of our favorite historical stories as well as the spots to experience them firsthand. Yep, we love getting lost in Wikipedia too, but local history is best explored in person thanks to the following museums and cultural institutions.
As a California State Parks Interpreter, a redwood forest serves as Rhiannon Sims’ office. She manages interpretive projects, such as special event planning and wayside panel design, and media outreach
The link between Santa Cruz and Hawaii extends beyond their share of sunny beaches and laid-back vibes. In 1885, three, vacationing Hawaiian princes dazzled Santa Cruz locals by riding waves on makeshift boards they had made from redwood planks. It marked the introduction of surfing to the mainland U.S., and sparked a nationwide craze that began here in Santa Cruz. Today, the region brims with other Hawaiian imports such as poke bowls and Kona coffee that will transport you to the islands. From ono grinds to ukulele melodies, here’s where to find aloha in Santa Cruz County.