What To Do In Santa Cruz, California
Last Updated on January 22, 2024
This is a beautiful beach with a view of jaw-dropping rock formations. Check out the tide pools to observe sea life like colorful anemones, crabs, sea urchins, and starfish. This beach is also the perfect spot for great photography and to stop for a picnic. If visiting in early or mid-October, be sure to stop by the only state Monarch habitat that welcomes thousands of Monarch butterflies every year for their winter migration.
Shark Fin Cove
Without a doubt, Shark Fin Cove is one of the prettiest beaches in California with a cave to explore and rock formations. Also known as Shark Tooth Beach, this cove is famous for its rock formation that resembles a shark’s fin. Photographers love this area and is a fun spot to take in the scenic coast.
Capitola is a vibrant city with colorful buildings that evoke a relaxed European vibe. It has suffered a lot in the past from hard-hitting storms but has been rebuilding and thriving as well as before. Take your time strolling the streets and stopping in the shops. There’s nothing like a quaint little beach town to give you all the small-town charm.
You won’t find a more picturesque train ride in California. The Roaring Camp Railroad is a historic train in Santa Cruz County that goes through redwood groves and trails along scenic views. It’s a fun experience that includes a steam engine, old-fashioned cars, the conductor’s stories, you’ll feel transported into another time. You’ll make a stop in the redwoods to enjoy the forest and take photos with the train.
Check out my reel that showcases the Roaring Camp Railroad.
This is a hidden gem on the California coast! Fern Grotto Beach is located in Wilder Ranch State Park. There is a 2.5 mi round trip flat trail with beautiful coastal views, beaches, and wildlife. When I was there I saw birds, seals, and rabbits. This unique cave is at the back of the beach with ferns draping down over the entrance. It is small but pretty. Access is easier during low tide and the fern dries out by the end of summer so the earlier in the season you visit, the more likely you’ll be able to see it while it’s still green. Want to see a sneak peek?
Check out this reel that gives you a taste of the beauty that awaits!
