The event center on the grounds of the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk – itself an historic landmark – has announced a rebrand of its iconic name. The former Coconut Grove at the legendary seaside amusement park is now The Grove – Santa Cruz Event Center. The venue maintains its presence as the Bay Area’s largest ocean view event venue and the new name reflects the facility’s multi-use capabilities.
The Grove hosts special events such as weddings, reunions, corporate events, nonprofit fundraisers within a 20,000 square foot ballroom and event space. The rebranding addresses The Grove’s shift from hosting band concerts, galas and weddings to a more professional sector of conferences, seminars, meetings and trade shows. Originally named the Casino Ballroom in 1907 and renamed again in 1934 as the “Cocoanut Grove,” the new incarnation of the space maintains its retro-feel while offering modern conveniences to meeting planners and conference attendees.
A landmark in the quaint Santa Cruz neighborhood of Seabright has received a much-needed renovation. Originally created by local boat builder Al Hipkins in 1982, the Gray Whale statue greets visitors outside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, the oldest museum in the city. Lifelike and full size, the project included the addition of a companion baby whale.
Using state-of-the-art materials to restore the sculpture’s lifelike appearance while improving its long-term durability, the eight-week restoration project was fully funded by donors. The whales serve multiple purposes: playground, educational and point-of-interest. Located across from Seabright State Beach, the sculpture is endemic to both the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and to locals. The sculpture was originally hollow but eventually filled with concrete for safety and structural integrity. When the whale was filled, 16 yards of concrete were added – estimated to be 32 tons. Grey whales weigh between 30 to 40 tons, so the statue is approximately the same weight as a real whale.
The museum utilized Nautilus Arts Studio for the renovation, which specializes in scientifically accurate statues and models, including work for the San Francisco Zoo and the iconic baseball glove at San Francisco’s Oracle Park.
The crossover between visitors interested in off-the-grid experiences and visitors seeking accessible travel options intersect at the Chaminade Resort + Spa in Santa Cruz. Chaminade’s Redwood Reflection Trail is one of the Bay Area’s first certified Forest Therapy Trails, accredited by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.
Part wellness, part sensory enrichment the trail can be used individually or a 90-minute guided walk can be arranged through Chaminade, accompanied by a forest therapy guide concluding with a tea ceremony. Inspired by the practice of Shinrin Yoku, this experience offers a respite amongst California redwood trees and eucalyptus groves. Shinrin Yoku is the Japanese art of forest bathing, a digital detox that allows the practitioner to spend time in nature – particularly forests – and engage all five senses in an effort to promote health and well-being: a vital part of preventative healthcare in Japan.
Two sailing charters now offer the opportunity to spot sharks in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. While whale watching excursions remain popular following migratory patterns of Humpback Whales from April through November, and Gray Whales from December through April, the public’s fascination with the largest predatory fish in the ocean has driven this new twist on wildlife watching.
O’Neill Sailing Charters and Santa Cruz Whale Watching both offer tours specific to spotting sharks. Blue shark (Prionace glauca) sightings are somewhat common in the summer and great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) can be seen year around on occasion, feeding on large fish and pinnipeds. Leatherback Sea Turtles, Sun Fish, Harbor Seals, Sea Otters, Dolphin and Porpoise can also be seen on these trips. Two-hour shark tours with Santa Cruz Whale Watching cost $50 per person.
Tucked inside one of the newest beach area properties in Santa Cruz, the upscale Desuar Spa offers massage, treatments, facials and relaxation packages within walking distance of Main Beach.
Massages can be booked from 25-minute to 115-minute sessions, focusing on de-stressing the body through the use of medicated oil and rhythmic motion. Lavender, CBD oil, chamomile, hot stones, and sports-forward stretches are incorporated into some of the massage techniques. The popular Casa Glowssage incorporates Radiant Glow Hydration Therapy following a dry brushing technique to remove dead skin cells and improve circulation. A specialized hydrating balm and the use of a state-of-the-art massaging device rounds out the service.
Desuar Spa Santa Cruz is the newest of four locations, including Monterey at Casa Munras, Downtown Los Angeles at the Westin Bonaventure and Hollywood. Desuar Spa Santa Cruz is located on the second floor of the Courtyard by Marriott Santa Cruz, just steps from the sand.
Santa Cruz County’s official visitor magazine is now available. This 92-page upscale lifestyle-driven publication illustrates the unique culture of the area that sets it apart from other coastal California destinations. Once produced annually, this vacation planner is now published once every two years.
All activities are overseen by Kinderwood owners Lauren Linkemyer and Mack Ellis and can be booked online. Activities include Animal Playtime, which includes getting up close and personal with baby goats, chickens and farm dogs. This daytime playtime includes tasty treats fresh from the farm to finish out the day. A field to table cheesemaking class starts by milking the goats from which artisan cheese is crafted. Sample the finished product at the end of the class. Breadmaking classes utilize wild yeast and Lauren provides step-by-step hands-on assistance through the sourdough process. Offsite goat yoga sessions held in a bucolic field next-door to Beer Thirty Bottle Shop in the nearby town of Soquel are a form of animal therapy and emotional support. Coupled with the relaxation of gentle yoga, an adorable, cuddly baby goat bouncing around the mat is cathartic. Each session includes $5 off a beverage at Beer Thirty following yoga. Farm stays are also bookable through Kinderwood’s website.
Santa Cruz County’s official visitor magazine is now available. This 92-page upscale lifestyle-driven publication illustrates the unique culture of the area that sets it apart from other coastal California destinations. Once produced annually, this vacation planner is now published once every two years.
Thoughtfully curated content in the form of bite-sized paragraphs creatively presented throughout the magazine accompanied by photography which captures the majestic yet playful essence of Santa Cruz County is woven throughout the guide.
Feature stories focus on the nine ecosystems within Santa Cruz County which can be found at area beaches and parks, the region’s rich history of surfing, how accessible culture and creativity provide flavor and context to the destination, and the ways in which agriculture has impacted the local food and drink scene in dynamic and impactful ways.
Leaning into the opportunities for soft adventure and the abundance of nature, editorial is included focusing on different forms of rest and relaxation highlight local spas, parks, forests, beaches and hidden gems in local neighborhoods where peaceful respites can be found.
The back of the book section serves to inform visitors about where to stay, eat, and what to do while in-market. Complemented by native advertising from hotels, restaurants, attractions and other local businesses, this section of the magazine features dining and lodging listings highlighting the amenities offered by various restaurants, hotels, bed and breakfast inns, motels, vacation rentals, and campgrounds. Activity listings, signature events, and a redesigned county map in a playful aesthetic are also trademarks of the magazine.
With a print run of 55,000 copies, distribution has been expanded to include South Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Lodi, Fresno and California Welcome Centers throughout the state. Key regional and international airports in both northern and southern California, and international airports in Phoenix and Seattle are also included in distribution plans for the guide.
Free copies of the guide can be ordered online at www.santacruz.org, by calling 800.833.3494 or by stopping by the year-around visitor center at 303 Water Street, Suite 100 in Santa Cruz Fridays – Tuesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
On Santa Cruz’s westside, in a spirited courtyard housing a coffee shop, boutiques, a bespoke butcher shop, and a few local favorite spots to nosh, a new spot for hard cider has opened in a shared space with Sones Cellars, a local, family-owned winery producing small lots of fine quality, distinctive wines. While single-variety wines are common, Tanuki Cider produces a single-varietal cider made from local apples.
Tanuki’s dry farmhouse ciders are grown, pressed, fermented and bottled in Santa Cruz County and made from Newtown pippins sourced at Five Mile Orchards in the mid-county town of Corralitos. Cider-maker Robby Honda has been crafting this unique brew for a decade, resulting in a cider that is bubbly, light amber in color, medium body with a dry finish.
While Santa Cruz County has an abundance of public murals featuring everything from sea life in honor of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to crate label murals paying tribute to the agricultural region of south county, a unique piece has become a cornerstone of Boulder Creek in the San Lorenzo Valley. Home to old-growth coastal redwood trees, this mountain town has an unofficial mascot: Albert the white peacock.
At over 1,200 feet, the mural covers the side of a prominent building on Highway 9 through town, Albert is featured standing prominently among redwood trees bathed in sunlight. Albert became a symbol of Boulder Creek and resiliency, in particular following the CZU Fire in August 2020 when the San Lorenzo Valley was decimated by the destructive blaze. This albino peacock lived in a quiet residential neighborhood where locals kept an eye on his welfare as he made his way around the streets for what locals estimate was three decades.
While a massive Blue Whale skeleton exhibit is being restored, augmented reality (AR) is providing visitors to Santa Cruz’s Seymour Marine Discovery Center with a lifelike view of this graceful creature. Employing the latest technology, visual effects studio Halon Entertainment used laser technology to create a three-dimensional scan of Ms. Blue’s skeleton and then created a digital 3-D model of the skeleton and body, seen in the AR experience. Halon Entertainment created computer graphics for films such as “Avatar,” “Jurassic World” and several in the Star Wars series.
By downloading an app and scanning a symbol posted near the skeleton, the whale comes to life on screen, as a three-dimensional representation of Ms. Blue’s full body appears just as it would have been when she was alive, as well as her skeleton. This technology-driven exhibit takes the places of the actual skeleton as the bones are being refurbished.
The 87-foot-long skeleton has greeted visitors for a quarter century at the entrance of the museum. Nicknamed “Ms. Blue,” the 87-foot-long-skeleton washed ashore on Pescadero State Beach an hour north of Santa Cruz in 1979. The bones were preserved, then cleaned, refurbished, reassembled and mounted outside the aquatic museum. Ms. Blue soon became the center’s mascot, providing a preview to those entering the marine lab of its exhibits: displays of sharks, sea stars, anemones, hermit crabs and other creatures that call the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary which the center over looks, home.
Felton-based Chef Jessica Yarr from The Grove Cafe and Bakery has opened a new retail shop adjacent to her popular eatery on Highway 9 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Featuring new and vintage Pyrex dishware, ravioli presses, and cooking tools hand selected by Chef Yarr, Kitchen Corner has the charm of a private home while maintaining a cozy retail vibe.
This boutique culinary store features dishware used at The Grove as well as knives, cutting boards made from food grade recycled plastic, cookbooks and other kitchen tools hand selected by Chef Yarr. Perfect for both novice and serious cooks, The Kitchen Corner also offers cooking and baking classes.
Following a $750,000 renovation, the historic Santa Cruz Hostel on Beach Hill is ready to welcome seasonal visitors. The hostel is located two blocks from Santa Cruz’s Main Beach and four blocks from downtown and is comprised of a series of cottages dating back to the 1800s and a heritage rose garden.
The complex includes six principal structures – the Carmelita Cottages – which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The two front cottages, constructed circa 1872, are among the oldest surviving buildings on Beach Hill. The grounds sit on more than a half-acre and the board and bat cottages feature gables and stained-glass windows, surrounded by trees and flowers. The renovations took six months to complete and include restoration of the rose garden, the addition of the new ADA-accessible Cyclery Cottage and an expansion which enables the hostel to host up to 51 guests in dorms, private rooms and private cottages. A small onsite museum is dedicated to the history of the Carmelita Cottages.
The property is technically a public park, and the hostel hosts potluck dinners inviting the community to dine with guests every Wednesday night.
