Heritage Tourism

Travel Blog

Santa Cruz Lime Kiln Hikes

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.

Discover the Wharves & Piers of Santa Cruz County!

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.

The London Nelson Story

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

Big Basin on the Mend

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

8 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Santa Cruz History

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.

Santa Cruz County: Hawaii’s Mainland Inspiration

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.

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