Santa Cruz, California: Beach Boardwalk, Ocean-Inspired Attractions & More

• Where is Wilder Ranch State Park located?
  • Located on the northern coast of Santa Cruz overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Wilder Ranch State Park offers beautiful natural scenery and an array of outdoor activities to enjoy.
• What is the history of Wilder Ranch State Park?
  • Formerly the main ranch that supplied the Santa Cruz Mission and later a dairy farm, many of the ranch buildings, homes, and gardens have been turned into museums and displays for the public to explore.
• What activities can visitors enjoy at the park?
  • The park boasts a network of trails that wind through coastal terraces and valleys, which are ideal for walking, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.
• What wildlife can be found at Wilder Ranch State Park?
  • The coastline of Wilder Ranch State Park is a marine protected area known as the Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve and is home to a fascinating array of ocean tidal zone wildlife and marine ecosystems.

• What makes the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk special?
  • Boasting fun amusement rides and fun-filled activities, great places to eat, a rich history, and a spectacular beach setting, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has been the beating heart of the seaside city for more than 100 years.
• When was the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk founded?
  • Founded in 1907, the Boardwalk stretches along a beautiful sandy beach alongside the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which is home to schools of dolphins, packs of sea lions, playful sea otters, and pods of whales.
• What rides and attractions can visitors enjoy?
  • The seaside amusement park features exhilarating rides and heart-stopping adventures, including two rides that are National Historic Landmarks - the Looff Carousel's exhilarating ring toss and the renowned Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, built in 1924 – both of which still thrill crowds today.
• What indoor entertainment options are available?
  • Indoor arcades offer the latest video and redemption games, a two-story miniature golf course, laser tag, pinball machines, and a vintage game collection. There is also a large family-friendly bowling center across the street from the park.

• What is the Seymour Marine Discovery Center?
  • Explore the underwater world of the ocean at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Overlooking Monterey Bay, the Discovery Center is part of the University of California’s Long Marine Laboratory and provides a fun-filled way of learning about the ocean for children of all ages.
• What exhibits can visitors explore?
  • The center features an impressive aquarium teeming with species from across the globe, an invertebrate pool where you can touch sea anemones, sea urchins, starfish, and hermit crabs, and a large shark pool providing a close-up view of these incredible creatures.
• What unique attractions does the center offer?
  • A massive blue whale skeleton leaves visitors in awe, and a range of educational programs and workshops are available for children who are interested in learning more.
• Are guided tours available?
  • Guided tours of the center occur three times a day, with a special 30-minute tour for families with younger children. The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is one of the top attractions in Santa Cruz.

100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, California 95060, Phone: 831-459-3800

• What is La Posta Restaurant?
  • La Posta Restaurant is a charming neighborhood restaurant that brings the soul of traditional Italian cuisine into the heart of Seabright.
• What is the restaurant’s ambiance like?
  • The restaurant has a simple interior with dark wood and 1930s-style office lights, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
• What dishes are featured on the menu?
  • With a focus on delicious Italian fare, the menu features mouthwatering, super-thin pizzas, homemade bread straight from the wood-fired oven, cured meats, and fresh pasta.
• Who is the chef, and what inspires the menu?
  • Inspired by organic products provided by local farmers, foragers, and fishermen, Chef Katherine Stern delivers a contemporary, market-driven menu of authentic Italian food, complemented by a diverse wine list of Italian vintages.

538 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz, California 95062, Phone: 831-457-2782

Recommended Activities for Families

• What is the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum?
  • The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum is a research and teaching facility that is committed to plant conservation and educating the public on its importance.
• What kind of plant collection does the Arboretum have?
  • The Arboretum is home to a rich and diverse collection of flora, with more than 300 plant families from the floral kingdom, including rare and threatened species.
• Where is the Arboretum located?
  • Located on the west side of the University campus, the Arboretum features a variety of displays and gardens showcasing shrubs, trees, and flowers from across the world.
• What types of plants are featured?
  • The gardens include world conifers, primitive angiosperms, and bulb-forming plant families, offering visitors a unique look at global plant diversity.
• Are guided tours available?
  • Docent-led tours are a fantastic way to explore the Arboretum and are available on request.
• Does the Arboretum host events?
  • The facility also hosts various educational events throughout the year to engage and educate the public on plant diversity and the importance of conservation.

1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, Phone: 831-502-2998

• What is the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History?
  • Founded in 1905, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is home to a vast collection of Native American and archaeological artifacts, as well as natural history specimens from the past. The museum aims to inspire and encourage exploration and education of the natural world.
• Where is the museum located?
  • Housed in the historic Carnegie Library, the museum features a wealth of exhibits, both transient and permanent, which highlight particular aspects of the natural world.
• What exhibits can visitors explore?
  • Exhibits include ‘The Ohlone People’, ‘Geology of Santa Cruz’, and ‘Wildlife and Habitats’. Collections also feature scientific illustrations on the nature of art, along with thousands of biological, ethnographic, and historical artifacts.
• What is the outdoor exhibit kiosk on the Santa Cruz Wharf?
  • Added in 1984, the outdoor exhibit kiosk on the Santa Cruz Wharf displays information about the wharf's history and surrounding marine life.
• What other attractions should visitors check out?
  • Don’t miss a visit to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum at the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, which features fantastic old surfboards and historical photographs.

1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, California 95062, Phone: 831-420-6115

• What is Oswald Restaurant?
  • Oswald Restaurant is a stylish and sophisticated eatery in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz that has been serving California comfort food and craft cocktails since 1995.
• What is the restaurant’s ambiance like?
  • Minimalist décor allows for the restaurant’s exhibition kitchen to take center stage, along with the patrons, creating a lively, vibrant atmosphere in this upscale, urban eatery.
• How is the service at Oswald Restaurant?
  • A superb wait staff makes you feel right at home, and a lively bar adds to the convivial ambiance.
• What are some of the restaurant’s signature dishes?
  • The menu offers tried and tested signature dishes such as the seared ahi appetizer. Perfectly prepared mains range from crispy duck to sea-smacking scallops with garden-fresh vegetables.
• What drinks are available?
  • The wine list provides an excellent choice of vintages, beers, and spirits, perfectly complementing the restaurant’s menu.

121 Soquel Ave. Front St., Santa Cruz, California 95060, Phone: 831-423-7427

Attractions for Couples

• What is the NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary?
  • Overlooking the Pacific Ocean and just steps away from the Santa Cruz Wharf, the NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary celebrates the spectacular Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, its diverse ecosystems, and its plethora of marine inhabitants.
• What is the goal of the sanctuary's visitor center?
  • Featuring an array of engaging interactive and multi-media exhibits, the center aims to not only enable visitors to explore the sanctuary's remarkable marine environment but also to educate them on the importance of marine conservation and their role in its preservation.
• What kind of exhibits does the center have?
  • Interpretive exhibits are the heart of the center, using state-of-the-art audiovisual media in conjunction with several touchable displays, films, and interactive video kiosks.
• What are the main exhibits at the center?
  • Main exhibits include an introduction to the sanctuary and its inhabitants, ‘Where Does Your Water Go’, an informative presentation that explains the path that groundwater takes and where it ends up, and an attractive Intertidal Touch Pool, where visitors can touch and feel different animals of the sea.

35 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, California 95060, Phone: 831-421-9993

• What is Lago di Como?
  • For a taste of Italy in the heart of Santa Cruz, head to Lago di Como on East Cliff Drive. Owned by Giovanni and Mary Ellen Salciccia-Spanu, the restaurant offers an authentic Northern Italian dining experience.
• What is the ambiance like at Lago di Como?
  • Lago di Como has a warm and inviting atmosphere, with slate tile floors, dark gray and creamy ivory walls, and well-placed mirrors that create an illusion of space.
• What type of cuisine does the restaurant serve?
  • The eatery serves a mouthwatering menu of traditional Northern Italian fare, from homemade pastas and sauces to wood-fired pizzas and a range of authentic meat and fish dishes.
• What are some signature dishes at Lago di Como?
  • Popular dishes include the fresh salmon with lemon glaze and the veal scaloppini with mushroom sauce.
• Does the restaurant offer a selection of wines?
  • An impressive variety of wines and Proseccos is the perfect accompaniment to every dish.

21490 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, California 95062, Phone: 831-454-8257