Santa Cruz
The minute I walked into Santa Cruz, the best words I could think of to describe this small surfing town were “chill beach vibes.” The more I got to know this artistically-inclined place, the more special it became with its environmentally-conscious atmosphere, good-hearted outdoorsy and adventurous people who are very aware of the world as well as their immediate surroundings, the strikingly-beautiful cliffs on the beach views, the environment, and its love for surfing.
What to Do
Steamer Lane
Surfing is Santa Cruz’s first love. An iconic surf spot, Steamer Lane has epic views of the cliffs, the ocean, the lands end in the distance, and tons of surfers. This is the most amazing surfing scene to watch; only the elite surfers are “allowed” to surf here. At this destination there is also a lighthouse which is actually a surfing museum. Don’t forget to pose by the surfer statue just a little bit closer to the wharf from the surfing spot.
Santa Cruz Pier and Boardwalk
These iconic sites will get you great photos and scenic views. On the left side of the pier (looking out towards the water) about halfway up the pier is a little dock where the sea lions lay out.
West Cliff Drive
Some of the most beautiful homes and dramatic cliff beaches are along this walkable stretch in Santa Cruz. It ends at Natural Bridges State Park, and begins at the boardwalk. Here you will see many pelicans, surfers, and keep your eyes peeled for whales!
Pacific Garden Mall
Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz is known for its amazing shopping experiences. As Santa Cruz is known for its thrifting, I recommend checking out Crossroads, as it is filled with high-end clothing. There are also many shoe and high-end clothing stores, O’Neill Surf Shop, a bookstore, plant store, coffee shops, and many dining options.
Where to Eat
The Picnic Basket
We ate here for a gourmet breakfast burrito; it was a healthier version of what you might think of when you think of a burrito. I loved it, especially with the salsa. My friend Amanda loved their house chai tea latte and I love their oat milk house-vanilla latte. This small restaurant is located directly across from the Santa Cruz wharf, so it has a great view of the beach from the other side of the street. This was my favorite go-to place for breakfast on the weekends.
Point Market
The original Point Market is on East Cliff Drive. This place is cash only! They are very well-known for their breakfast burritos. I’ve never seen a menu with so many different breakfast burritos… It was great! I loved their latte as well.
Verve Coffee Shop
There are many Verve’s in the area, but my favorite was the one on Pacific Avenue. It was big enough so I could do some blogging/photo editing and not feel rushed to leave. One of my favorite coffee drinks was here which was their iced latte with oat milk and house flavoring.
Cat & Cloud Coffee Shop
The most eclectic coffee shop in town is Cat & Cloud. I frequently have a hankering for their mint mocha coffee, and I have heard their brunch food is on point as well.
Venus
This pretty fancy spot is great for dinner (we visited the west side location). We loved their brussel sprout appetizer (and I normally don’t enjoy brussel sprouts), the gnocchi, and the sausage platter. The cornbread looked phenomenal but they were out when we went late at night. I thought I hated gin and tonics… but the Laura Palmer drink was fantastic.