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Get outside play! Enjoy pristine coastal redwood forests, 29 miles of beaches, and endless opportunities to explore Santa Cruz County’s great outdoors and wildlife adventures. Try birding, tide pooling, hiking, whale watching, surfing, mountain biking, sailing, kayaking, and more.
Enjoy the birthplace of mainland surfing at full capacity. Take a surfing lesson with Club Ed Surf School or Richard Schmidt’s Surf School. Boards, wetsuits and good vibes are available for beginners and those who have tried a time or two.
Are you more of a nature and wildlife aficionado? Order a free Wildlife Watching Guide or download it digitally and see how many birds you can identify in state parks, at the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum, from the Santa Cruz Wharf, and other locations. Hop aboard a seasonal whale watching excursion or take a trip to see the elephant seals north of town.
Take it outside and see below for a full list of outdoor and wildlife activities in Santa Cruz County!
Santa Cruz is known for its phenomenal wildlife viewing opportunities. Year-round whale watching, birding, otters, tide pooling, and forest wildlife have put Santa Cruz County on the map for many nature enthusiasts!
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Thousands of delicate, orange-hued wings gracefully flutter, somewhat randomly, about Santa Cruz County, each traveling to a place Beyond Your Wildest Dreams.
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The secret’s out! Winter is the BEST time to visit Santa Cruz for some great wildlife watching! And one of our winter must-sees – the elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park!
READ MORE >>Get outside play! Enjoy pristine coastal redwood forests, 29 miles of beaches, and endless opportunities to explore Santa Cruz County’s great outdoors and wildlife adventures. Try birding, tide pooling, hiking, whale watching, surfing, mountain biking, sailing, kayaking, and more.
