It’s a gorgeous Saturday morning and you’re craving a vigorous mountaintop trek, but the kiddos only want to stroll a virtual landscape of pixelated zombies. Sound familiar? We’ve got the solution: easy, scenic hikes with fun surprises and engaging activities that your kids will love. With quality time outdoors and away from the screens, these five outings are your new weekend ace in the hole.
With an enviable Mediterranean climate and a natural splendor the stretches from the redwoods to the bay, Santa Cruz is a remarkable place to pitch a tent. Whether you’re a dyed-in-the-flannel-wool outdoorsy type or won’t bed down without a mattress, there’s a campsite that’s right for you. KOA Santa CruzMinutes from Manresa State Beach, this
Kick-start the new year with an energizing First Day Hike through ancient towering redwoods, sandy coastal stretches, and along soothing mountain streams. On January 1st, state parks across the country are offering free-guided hikes for the sixth year in a row. Get outside, connect with nature, and expand your knowledge of the wildlife, plant life, and people who were here long before us. In order of easiest to most strenuous, we’ve narrowed the list down to a few of our favorites. Whichever one you choose, you’ll start the new year feeling healthy, recharged, and inspired to explore more state parks in Santa Cruz and beyond.
By Rachel Endsley
The hustle, bustle, and continual hum of the workweek has everyone craving a weekend reprieve. A time where you can unplug, let go of the usual daily to-dos, relax your mind, and get a change of scenery. Hit your reset button and let the self-care begin with these perfectly peaceful and rejuvenating locales in Santa Cruz County.
By Traci Hukill
The Santa Cruz Mountains are a hiker’s paradise. Hundreds of miles of trail crisscross this section of the Coast Range, which extends from southern Santa Cruz County all the way to San Francisco. Over the past 150 years, the splendid redwood forests blanketing these mountains have lured loggers and inspired environmentalists, who left their legacies along with fascinating stories that you can discover if you know where to go.