History is afoot in Santa Cruz with three walking tours from Walk Santa Cruz. These small-group excursions feature scenic areas of town and neighborhoods rich with stories of notable pioneer families, lovingly preserved examples of late-Victorian style architecture such as Queen Anne, Stick-Eastlake, and Italianate, and local culture as it was at the turn of the century. These personalized, 90-minute walking tours host a maximum of 10 guests.
The Santa Cruz Surf Walk tour sheds light on the history of surfing in Santa Cruz, educates guests about how to read the waves and surf conditions, and explores the innovations that arose from the sport, such as wetsuit technology and skateboarding. This oceanside tour also touches on offshore wildlife and explains the importance of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
During the Heart of Downtown tour, guests will see the last remaining adobe from the original mission and visit historic points of interest and learn the background of each – such as Santa Cruz City Hall, Squid Row, the Town Clock, Santa Cruz’s “Garden District” and more – as well as learn insider tips for local restaurants, coffee roasteries, and nearby attractions.
The Beach Hill Loop tour showcases the historic mansions grand estates built by San Francisco’s wealthy elite in the 1870s in the Beach Hill neighborhood overlooking the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Guests will learn about the historic train depot site and rail routes that connected the region’s industrial wharves, delivering lime, lumber, leather, and produce and transporting visitors to the beach area. This tour includes Downtown Santa Cruz, where excellent examples of Victorian, Craftsman, and Art Deco architecture can be found.
Walking tours are held Thursdays – Saturdays; cost is $45 per tour.