Rustic forests, pristine California coastline, agricultural fields carpeted in green, and public art displays crafted by a passionate creative community: these are the ways in which Santa Cruz County tells its story to visitors. Heritage old growth redwood trees are nourished by restorative marine fog absorbed through its pine needles. Marine mammals, fish and invertebrates thrive in Monterey Bay’s nutrient-rich waters, once critical to survival for the native Ohlone people.
The region’s 29 miles of coastline and acres of redwood forests are testimony to its enduring heritage of preservation and conservation, ripe for exploration and experiences.
A rich history of surfing – California’s official sport – began in 1885, when three Hawaiian princes tested the swells adjacent to what is now Main Beach on boards crafted from redwood trees, and surfing was born on the mainland. Only two decades later, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk welcomed visitors as “the Coney Island of the West Coast” with two national historic landmarks guests still enjoy today.
Things to do seem endless here: discover a forested trail through a lush riparian corridor under a canopy of redwood trees; take a breezy sail on the majestic Monterey Bay; or experience the rush of a 17-mile mountain bike ride on a downhill single track.
If farm to table is your thing, you’ll feel right at home The roots of the organic farming movement are literally in the soil at the Center for Agroecology at U.C. Santa Cruz, where researchers found gentler, alternative ways to grow and harvest fresh produce in concert with natural elements. Weekly farmer’s markets showcase local produce, which are sourced by chefs around the county.
These natural surroundings provide inspiration to an eclectic array of consciously creative artists, modern but mindful. An abundance of live music, theater and fine arts accompany local festivals, celebrations and performances – all inspired by the county’s continuous, artistic energy.
Santa Cruz County cordially invites you to explore the region with the fervor, passion, and open-mindedness that defines the destination. Welcome!
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Travel to Santa Cruz County by car from San Francisco via scenic Highway 17 or iconic Highway 1 along the coastline, which will take approximately 90 minutes and is approximately 60 miles/96 km south. Driving from southern California, Santa Cruz County is approximately 349 miles/562 km north of Los Angeles and 30 minutes north of Monterey.
October moments from Santa Cruz… 🧡🌊🌅
We 🫶 this time of year!
Photos 📷 | @summerstar_
#sunset #october #octoberskies #fall #autumn #sunsetlovers #sunsetlover #santacruzsunset #santacruz #santacruzcounty #visitsantacruz
Do you love Halloween? 🎃 Well, we’ve got a bunch of SPOOKY events happening all around Santa Cruz County this month! Check our story for details! 🕷️👻🦇☠️
Photo 📷 | @jennday77
#halloween #pumpkinhead #surfer #halloweenevents #spookyseason #happyhalloween #october #santacruz #visitsantacruz
Apple picking at Gizdich must always end in pie! Agree? 🍏🥧🍎
Location 📍 | Gizdich Ranch in Watsonville
Photos + Videos 📷 | @dgsc
#applepicking #fallfavorite #autumn #fall #watsonville #santacruz #santacruzcounty #visitsantacruz #upick #youpick #upickapples #youpickapples #gizdich #gizdichranch #pie #berrypie #fallfavorites
Fall is settling in around here! 🍁 But also, summer temps and gorgeous weather are holding on strong! Have you peeked at the Santa Cruz forecast lately! 😍
Photo 📷 | @beningramvisuals / @hellobeningram
Location 📍 | @downtownsantacruz
#secretsummer #fall #fallinsantacruz #santacruz #downtownsantacruz #visitsantacruz #maple #fallleaves #fallcolors #sunshine #fallfeels #fallvibes
What’s your favorite pumpkin patch!? 🎃 Santa Cruz County has a patch for every pumpkin - from urban scares to coastal fields, we’ve got some pretty killer (and beautiful) pumpkin patches!
At @poststreetfarm_santacruz, you’ll have a great selection of pumpkins plus, lots of fun walking around and having a few surprises along the way… 🕷️🕸️🦇🤡💀👻 Pro tip: record your friend walking first… #jumpscares galore!
At @rodoni_farms_santacruz, the coast and ocean views make it a truly memorable experience 🌊
At @crystalbayfarm and @clearvieworchards you’ll find much more than pumpkins! Crystal Bay has lots going on for the weekends including music, food trucks, vendors and more! At Clearview, you can also pick apples on the farm! 🍎
At @corralitoshillsfarm you can play bocce ball, cornhole, horseshoes, and pick out your perfect pumpkin! 🎃
At @sunnysideproduce and @capitolaproduce, you’ll have lots to choose from and lots of family fun at these great, in-town local spots! 🧡
And for some classic Highway 1 roadside stops, @swantonberryfarm is a local fave with incredible pies and jams too! 🥧 And in addition to Rodoni’s large pumpkin patch, they also have Rodoni Farm Fresh Produce Stand just a few miles north of their main patch!
Want more spots, hours, and locations? Check our story or bio link!
Photo 1 📷 | @jennday77
Photo 2 📷 | @beningramvisuals
#pumpkins #pumpkin #pumpkinpatches #pumpkinpatch #santacruzbucketlist #fallfavorites #fallinsantacruz #visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcounty
Here’s a spot you didn’t know you need to visit this fall: Bamboo Giant Nursery & Gardens! With over 15 acres of in-ground bamboo, @bamboogiantnurseryandgardens is one of North America’s largest displays of timber bamboo. Walk the beautiful grounds, take in the autumn air, and enjoy lunch at their tranquil picnic area nestled in the bamboo groves. 🎋🍂🌿
Hours, admission, and location info below!
🕰️ Open Tuesday - Saturday: 9am - 4pm
🎟️ Admission: General: $15; Senior/Child: $10
📍 5601 Freedom Blvd, Aptos
Bamboo Giant is just one of our 6 top recs for Autumn Walks in Santa Cruz County! Check our bio link and story for 5 more of our fall favorites! What’s your go-to fall walk? 🍁
Photos 📷 | @jennday77
Autumn Walks in Santa Cruz County Blog 💻 | @santacruzbucketlist
#autumnouting #fall #autumn #fallinsantscruz #aptos #bamboogiant #santacruz #santacruzcounty #bamboo #bamboogarden #santacruxbucketlist #visitsantacruz
How cool is this!? 🤩
The Pyramids Sand Artwork is in progress now at Cowell Beach and the Santa Cruz Wharf area as part of CommonGround! This mesmerizing temporary sand art instillation is created and led by the talented father-son duo, @jimdenevan and @brightondenevan.
Have you seen it, or do you plan to see it or any other public art projects during CommonGround?
And of course, if you do visit this spot or any others during the festival, please be respectful of the amazing works of art!
More about CommonGround:
CommonGround is a biennial festival of place-inspired outdoor work hosted in locations throughout Santa Cruz County. Focused on temporary and performative public art projects in rural, urban, and architectural space, the 10-day event features site-responsive installations and interventions across the area’s natural and built environments, connecting people, stories, and landscapes.
Check @santacruzmah for more information on this incredible art festival happening now through September 22nd.
Photos 📷| @jennday77
#art #sandart #jimdenevan #brightondenevan #artwork #sand #cowellbeach #santacruzwharf #dreaminn #santacruz #santacruzcounty #visitsantacruz
Peace found in the Santa Cruz Mountains. 🌾🦌🌳
With hiking trails, pond and valley views, wildlife all around, and fresh mountain air, Quail Hollow needs to be on your fall bucket list!
📍 Quail Hollow Ranch County Park in Felton
Photos 📷 | @beningramvisuals / @hellobeningram
#felton #quailhollow #exploresantacruz #hike #hiking #wildlife #nature #peace #peaceful #peacefulescape #deer #santacruzmountains #visitfelton #visitsantacruz #santacruzcounty #santacruzbucketlist
Do you know where there color pops are located? Tell us below! 💜🩵💚🩷🧡💛 How many can you get?
🎶 Living life in color🎶
🎶Everything around me looks so beautiful and sweet 🎶
Photos 📷 | @thecuratedfeast | Liz Birnbaum
#color #santacruz #sundayfunday #colorpop #neighborhoodstrolls #visitsantacruz #colors
Feeling these Seabright stroll vibes… 🌈🌵
Beach town neighborhoods always deliver on the aesthetics! 🙌
Photo 📷 | @thecuratedfeast, Liz Birnbaum
#neighborhoodstrolls #seabright #rainbow #cactus #vibe #aesthetic #design #santacruz #visitsantacruz
The 41st Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival is this weekend, September 14 - 15!
Artists, wineries, locals, visitors: who’s going!? ✋
Stroll the festival, sipping exceptional wines from the Santa Cruz Mountains and admiring the artistic talents of over 100 fine artists - and of course, have the opportunity to purchase their amazing works!
Live music and entertainment will be happening all weekend on the Bandstand Stage at Esplanade Park. (See capitolaartandwine.com/entertainment for the schedule)
Admission is free. Wine tasting requires the purchase of a 2024 Festival Glass and tasting tokens. Glass: $15; Tokens: $1 each. Wine tasting cost varies by winery.
Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Sunday: 10am - 5pm
See you this weekend in the beautiful @capitolavillage!
Cover Photo 📷 | @dgsc
#capitolavillage #capitolaartandwinefestival #capitolaartandwine #capitola #artandwinefestival #santacruz #winetasting #wines #wine #art #artist #visitsantacruz #visitcapitola #capitolalove
A walk on Walnut Avenue = fall must. 🍁
Nothing says autumn like the Victorian architecture with the fall leaves backdrop. 🍂🏠🌳
Agree?
Photo 📷 | @beningramvisuals / @hellobeningram
#fall #almostfall #walnutavenue #dowtownsantacruz #santacruz #historicdistrict #victorians #victorianhomes #visitsantacruz
Feeling the heat! The @troutfarminn is a hidden oasis in the Santa Cruz Mountains you’ll definitely want to add to your #santacruzbucketlist! Cabana rentals, poolside drinks and eats, weekend brunch, and more, Trout Farm Inn is a hotspot to cooldown in the redwoods. 😌
Restaurant & Bar open 7 days a week!
🕐 Restaurant Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 11am - 9pm
Friday: 11am - 10pm
Saturday: 9am - 10pm
Sunday: 9am - 9pm
🧇 Brunch: Saturdays & Sundays: 9am - 2pm
🍹 Happy Hours: Monday - Friday: 3pm - 5pm
🏊♂️ Pool Deck & Social Club: 11am - 5pm daily
ℹ️ This is a small resort with limited occupancy and entry is available on a first come ~ first served basis. The entry fee for non-members is $25 per person. Day passes for individuals and groups up to 6 people may be reserved online. Please feel free to contact @troutfarminn ahead of time via their website to check on availability!
Visit thetroutfarm.com for reservations and more info!
Photos 📷 | @beningramvisuals / @hellobeningram
#heatwave #heatwaves #pooltime #troutfarm #felton #santacruz #santacruzcounty #cabana #beattheheat #visitsantacruz
It’s about that time! The Santa Cruz County Fair is September 11 - 15! What’s your favorite part about the fair? 🌽🐷🐓🌮🍭🍦
More info below!
Hours:
▪️Wed 9/11, Thurs 9/10, and Fri 9/13: noon - 11pm
▪️Sat 9/14: 10am - 11pm
▪️Sun 9/15: 10am - 10pm
Carpool: 5 or more per vehicle Park Free!
New: each night of the fair, “Skye Dreams” will put on a 200 drone light show in the sky above the fairgrounds!
Presale Savings: buy tickets ahead of time online or at the Fair office to save!
See you at the fair!
#santacruzcountyfair #fair #september #fallfavorites #cinnamonrolls #farmlife #santacruzcounty #santacruz #watsonville #visitsantacruz
August… 😘
#goodbyaugust #goodbyeaugusthelloseptember #august #santacruz #santacruzcounty #laselvabeach #missionhillcreamery #pajarodunesbeach #palmstatebeach #capitola #henrycowell #visitsantacruz
Happy Labor Day Weekend! Hope it’s full of great views like this! 🌴☀️🌊
Photo 📷 | @dgsc
Location📍| @capitolavillage
#capitola #capitolavillage #labordayweekend #laborday #holidayweekend #longweekend #views #santacruz #santacruzcounty #venetians #capitolavenetian #visitsantacruz
Have you been to @themysteryspotsc? Tucked away in the redwoods of Santa Cruz, this delightfully intriguing place will entertain and leave you in wonder as the laws of physics seem to take a turn.
The Mystery Spot was discovered in 1939 by a group of surveyors and opened to the public in 1940. The Mystery Spot has amazed and perplexed hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world, and many return time and time again to experience these puzzling variations of gravity, perspective, and height.
Add a visit to the Mystery Spot to your #santacruzbucketlist - for the first time, or the fifth time!
#mysteryspot #mysteryspotsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcounty #redwoods #mystery #gravity #santacruzbucketlist #visitsantacruz
Happy place = beach 🌊 + @elrosalbakery 🌈.
Have you been to El Rosal Bakery on East Cliff Drive? Mexican bread and pastries 🍞 + some of the best tamales 🫔 in the county. This spot should definitely be on your #santacruzbucketlist!
Photo 📷 | @jennday77
#santacruz #mexicanbread #mexicanpastries #tamales #bakery #beach #eastcliff #visitsantacruz #happyplace #santamariasbeach #santamos
Ideal hangs…
Photo 📷 | @beningramvisuals / @hellobeningram
#davenport #cliffs #datenight #hammock #hammocklife #hammockhangs #viewsonviews #pacificocean #santacruzcounty #santacruz #visitsantacruz
Capitola Village putting on a show… 🤩
Beach weather isn’t over yet - and lucky for us, it usually lasts well into fall... 😏 #iykyk
Photo 📷 | @dgsc
#capitola #capitolavillage #visitsantacruz #santacruz #summer #glamorous #feelingcute #beach #beachvacation #beachtown #wharf #beachview #secretsummer
August in the vineyards… Fall is coming! 🍷
Have you gone wine tasting in Santa Cruz County? From vineyards on the countryside or in the mountains, to urban tastings rooms in the heart of town, Santa Cruz County is bursting with delicious wines!
What are your favorite spots? Tag them below!
Photos 📷 | @thecuratedfeast, Liz Birnbaum
Vineyard 🍇 | @nicholson.vineyards
#winetasting #vineyards #wine #winery #grapes #visitsantacruz #nicholsonvineyards #corralitoswinetrail #santacruzmountains
Not sure who needs to hear this but technically there are 38 more days of summer… Enjoy. 🌊☀️
Photos 📷 | @dgsc
#capitola #summer #capitolavillage #summertime #summerdays #summerweather #visitcapitola #santacruz #visitsantacruz
A little color pop from one of our amazing local artists, @abimustapha! The Santa Cruz County art scene is bursting with talent and there are so many places, events, galleries, street murals, and performances throughout the county (and calendar) to see this artistic expression!
Here are a few ways to pop into the Santa Cruz County art scene:
1. Visit a gallery or art center like @radiusgallery, @watsonvillecenterarts, @santacruzartleague, @felixkulpagallery, @tanneryartscenter, @mkcontemporary.art, @pajarovalleyarts, and many more!
2. Mark your calendar for @openstudios.acscc on October 5-6, 12-13, 19-20, 2024, where you can visit artist studios, watch them create, and purchase pieces directly from the artists!
3. Follow art hubs and organizations like @tanneryartscenter, @artscouncilsc, @watsonvillecenterarts, @santacruzmah, @santacruzartleague, and @pajarovalleyarts for upcoming events, exhibits, and performances.
4. Mark your calendars for the Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival on August 17-18, 2024, and the @capitolaartandwinefestival on September 14-15, 2024, where you can sip sensational wines and see a variety of artists’ work on display and available for purchase!
5. Stop into a local boutique that sells local artists’ work! Just a few places with this artistic flair are @artisansscruz, @lumengallery_capitola, @shophomework, @rootstockcollective, and more! What’s your favorite shop to buy local art?
6. Take a walk and enjoy the murals all over the county! @downtownsantacruz, @capitolavillage, @cityofwatsonvillegov, and the Westside are all great locations to take in murals.
7. Explore @firstfridaysantacruz for a lively (and free) monthly art event!
These events, locations, galleries, and organizations are just the tip of the iceberg for the Santa Cruz County art scene. Start exploring and tell us what you love about this community of creatives!
Videos 📷 | @impactcreative with @abimustapha
#art #artist #painting #canvas #create #paintoncanvas #artscene #process #artprocess #santacruzart #artoftheday #visitsantacruz
Loch Lomond does that summer chill 💯. Hiking, boating, or fishing, this peaceful reservoir is a great summer destination in the Santa Cruz Mountains. 🌲 🎣 🛶
Quick FYI for visiting:
▪️Loch Lomond is seasonal: Operating from March through mid-October, hours vary. More details here.
▪️Vehicle Fee $10, Season Pass $100
▪️Arrive early to snag one of the limited parking spaces closest to the lake.
▪️No swimming allowed.
▪️There are 12 miles of hiking trails to explore around the loch.
▪️Rent an electric motorboat or a rowboat from the Park Store, or call ahead to reserve your boat: 831-335-7424
▪️Fishing is welcome, and licenses can be obtained from the Park Store.
▪️Picnicking is available at many parts of the park. Bring your own charcoal if you plan to BBQ.
▪️Beginning in April, free boat tours of Loch Lomond on the Newell Jewell are offered during the second weekend of each month, Saturday and Sunday, 11 AM-noon. Tours can accommodate 25 people, and you can sign up at the Park Store. First come, first served.
▪️Loch Lomond Recreation Area is dog-friendly, so bring your pup along! Leashes are required, and make sure they stay on trail and out of the water! And of course, clean up after your pooch.
▪️Check out the “Loch Walks” that are hosted by a variety of ornithologists, botanists, and more. Discover dates and more information here.
▪️Please respect this natural space and keep it natural for years to come. Pack your trash, carpool, and leave it better than you found it.
Video 🎥 | @dgsc
#lochlomond #boating #fishing #lochlomondrecreationarea #sanlorenzovalley #slv #santacruzmountains #felton #benlomond #visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcounty
