Santa Cruz County is undoubtedly the quintessential California beach destination. Family-friendly but with a classic surf vibe, visitors mix effortlessly with locals in Santa Cruz and Pleasure Point. Explore the sweet towns of Capitola and Soquel, and visit the “Cement Ship” in Aptos, or a u-pick farm in Watsonville and Pajaro Valley. Visit the redwoods in the San Lorenzo Valley at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park or by a reservoir at Loch Lomond. Look for sea glass in Davenport or check out Scotts Valley. Start exploring now!
Aptos
The quaint town of Aptos is in an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County.
70 miles south of San Francisco, 35 miles north of Monterey, and unabashedly left of center, you’ll find great surf, sandy beaches, redwood-covered mountains, laid-back towns organic farms, and a burgeoning beer and wine scene. It’s impossible to pick one place to visit in Santa Cruz County. Take a quick cruz of them all!