Capitola Village’s signature landmark, the colorful Venetian Court is celebrating 100 years in 2024.

The long-awaited arrival of Downtown Santa Cruz’s Hook & Line, a new seafood restaurant on historic Walnut Avenue has now occurred.

A hidden gem within Santa Cruz County is now more accessible to visitors with disabilities, thanks to a $1.4 million renovation of the area’s trails, picnic benches, terraced banking, pond overlook, interpretative signs, and pollinator gardens. 

Santa Cruz’s Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection is embracing the creative community that surrounds it by commissioning a local artist to create a mural for the front of the building.

Popular with locals and visitors driving iconic Highway 1 from San Francisco, Whale City Bakery now has a second location in mid-county, approximately 30 minutes south of its original location in Davenport, on Santa Cruz County’s north coast.

Visitors to Santa Cruz County who want to travel more sustainably can ride in style this summer to portions of Big Basin Redwoods State Park which have reopened. Santa Cruz Metro has announced that service to the park is resuming effective immediately. The bus service will operate five times a day on Saturdays and Sundays through September 10, 2023.

After more than a year, a full-property renovation is complete at Santa Cruz’s Best Western Plus All Suites Inn. This family-friendly property features 80 large guestrooms and suites, public laundry facilities, a breakfast area and sundry shop.

The ninth edition of the official Santa Cruz County map is now available. The map was redesigned for 2023 into a 9”x4” rack-card style, foldable, four-color format. When unfolded, this 18”x 20” map showcases the entire county and features detailed insets of Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley, Capitola Village, and the San Lorenzo Valley.

A new electric Bike Share system in Santa Cruz County now provides a convenient, fun, and affordable way for visitors and locals to travel countywide. Having debuted in June, Bike Share’s initial phase includes 400 e-bikes and 800 docks throughout the City of Santa Cruz and the U.C. Santa Cruz campus.

A series of public art displays are now featured at the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz. This series of sculptures, murals, and community engagement activities are designed to bring pieces out of artists’ studios and into public view for a more accessible way to experience local creative talent.