Joyspan [joi-spahn]: How much time within a lifetime that you truly experience joy.  

California’s Central Coast is celebrating the opening of the La Bahia Hotel + Spa, an only-in-Santa-Cruz luxury lodging experience. Embracing the concept of joyspan, the La Bahia features 155 rooms including 16 suites with unobstructed ocean views of the Monterey Bay, rocking a Wes-Anderson-Meets-Art-Deco esthetic. 

Following multiple decades of planning and development, the La Bahia marks an historic first for the City of Santa Cruz while paying tribute to the provenance of the grounds themselves, where a small hotel once stood over a century ago. A series of architecturally distinctive touchpoints can be found throughout the grounds, and a lovingly preserved, original bell tower from 1926 topped with a vintage mermaid weathervane anchors one corner of the property.  

Designed with a Spanish-Mediterranean flavor elevated by an Art Deco interior theme, the property encompasses one city block (225,000 square feet total) and houses 13,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, a 4,000 square foot Bahia Ballroom and 5,200 square feet of rooftop deck. Four distinct culinary concepts can be enjoyed onsite, and a Moorish spa deriving inspiration from the rich sea life that calls the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary home rounds out the guest experience. 

 The official opening of the newest national monument on the central coast has been announced. With three trails encompassing nine miles, these 400+ acres of public land can be accessed near Santa Cruz County’s north coast. 

Cotoni-Coast Dairies are defined by three trails. The 2.5-mile beginner Hawk Trail offers coastal grassland paths and views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Visitors to the 1.6-mile Tree Trail will find narrower paths through forested areas and across larger tree roots on this intermediate loop trail. Most first-time hikers to Cotoni-Coast seek out these two trails; combined, they take an estimated two to two and a half hours to complete. Four miles of intermediate and advanced terrain define The Wildcat Trail, where the highest points in the park can be found, rivaling the views from Big Sur.  

Mountain bikes and e-bikes are permitted on all trails. Dogs on leash are allowed on the Hawk and Tree Trails. Oceanview cliffs and six forested, year-around streams flowing from the Santa Cruz Mountains into the Monterey Bay are distinctive features of this newest open space. A variety of habitats and wildlife can be found, including riparian and wetlands, coho salmon, steelhead trout, California red-legged frogs, mule deer and mountain lions. 

At one point in history, the Cotoni Tribe made their home on the coastal prairie known today as Cotoni-Coast Dairies. Today, the Bureau of Land Management collaborates with local tribes and community partners on interpretive exhibits, archaeological projects and educational and interpretive materials that provide an indigenous perspective.  

A stylish roadside gourmet coffee and ice cream kiosk adjacent to the historic Trout Farm Inn in the mountain town of Felton has just popped up. This year-around, Instagram-friendly spot is quickly becoming a favorite with locals and visitors. 

Cream and Sugar serves up scoops and brew, providing an afternoon refreshment or a morning buzz. Featuring hyper-local 11^th Hour Coffee, Santa Cruz’s Marianne’s Ice Cream and handmade pastries from Companion Bakeshop, this diminutive sweet spot is open seven days a week until 8PM.  One of the more sought-after menu items is the matchagato (a shot of matcha poured over ice cream). Other standard favorites include morning rolls, kouign amann, teacakes and dark chocolate sea salt cookies. Marianne’s famous 1020 flavor – named after the address of their original Santa Cruz shop featuring caramel ice cream with a chocolate swirl and chocolate sandwich cookies – is a standard menu item.   

Roaring Camp Railroads, known for its vintage steam train rides through the old growth redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains and its summertime train from the mountains to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has unveiled the latest way to view the redwoods. “Sequoias at Night” is an immersive experience that takes place after dark.

A nighttime stroll along a flat wide path takes visitors on a 0.8-mile walk underneath towering 250-foot tall majestic trees illuminated by hand crafted lanterns. Suspended 50 feet above the forest floor, 26 lanterns were designed and made by local artists including Anna Bobisuthi, Roaring Camp’s resident blacksmith, and Chris Butler, who also created the lighting design for Sequoias at Night. 

Named the hottest travel trend of 2025 by Travel + Leisure, noctourism – being in nature at night – is known to awaken the senses, which are often heightened by the night sky. Nighttime activities in nature avoid summetime heat, fewer crowds and capitalize on the sober living movement, offering a fresh point of view al fresco. 

“Sequoias at Night” will take place on Friday nights, weather permitting. Expanded dates are planned for Spring 2026. Adult tickets are $24.95, children $12.95 and kids under two enter for free.  

In the diminutive town of Capitola, the colorful, Mediterranean-inspired village is known for a relaxed feel which co-exists effortlessly with a spirited hum of small business activity. This seaside town – in addition to local cafes, boutiques, a newly constructed wharf and views of Capitola Beach and Soquel Creek – is now home to three new wine tasting rooms:

Vin Vivant 

Two Central Coast sommeliers partnered to bring their experience and love of Capitola Village to Vin Vivant, where John Haffey and Ryan Cooley highlight French wines along with other samples from around the globe. John was former wine director at Aubergine in Carmel and is a 2023 Michelin California Sommelier Award winner. Ryan served as sommelier at Aubergine, where both worked to earn a second Michelin star for the restaurant in 2024. On the culinary front at Vin Vivant, small bites like tomato milk bread, smoked sea salt and lemon olive oil cake with whipped mascarpone, cardamom spiced pear sauce and poached pears are the creation of Talia Damon, former pastry chef at Aubergine. 

Rexford Wines 

Winemaker Sam Miller is expanding his westside reach and opening a second location for Rexford Wines, in one of the coziest spaces in Capitola Village. This new tasting room – originally a laundromat – is a homey sanctuary in an otherwise lively location. A tasting bar, crafted out of repurposed redwood and oak is the centerpiece of the bright space, where Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, and other premium varieties are crafted from mindfully sourced small lots in locally curated vineyards.  

Cocoa Vino 

Specializing in rare and hard-to-find wines, including vintage champagne on a rotating basis, Cocoa Vino is steps away from Capitola Beach. Part wine bar/part lounge, mimosas are paired with live music on weekends and the atmosphere transforms into an energetic hub, where celebration meets sophistication. 

One of the most unique music venues in Santa Cruz County is commemorating half a century of performances and music education in 2025. Founded in 1975 in a former bread bakery, Kuumbwa Jazz Center remains in its original location today, attracting locals and visitors for its eclectic calendar of performers.  

While the venue was founded by jazz enthusiasts, Kuumbwa has seen an array of artists grace its stage over the years. Guitarists like Pat Metheny, vocalists, and world renown musicians such as Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Chick Corea, and Wynton Marsalis have all played at Kuumbwa. Embracing music in all forms, the venue has hosted New Wave musician Thomas Dolby, Western Swing artist Carolyn Sills, and others. In addition to being the oldest weekly jazz nonprofit organization on the west coast, the venue specializes in jazz education – including Jazz Camp for grades 8 – 12, Artists in the Schools, bringing performers to classrooms in an effort to support music education.