We are blessed to live on the beautiful Central Coast, a place full of many family-friendly activities and places to explore. The City of Santa Cruz is situated on the north side of the Bay, 43 miles north of my hometown of Monterey. If you are looking for weekend fun, Santa Cruz offers a variety of adventures for the whole family. Best known for the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and nearby Roaring Camp. You will be surprised to know that there is so much more to do in this city by the Bay.
U.C Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a research and teaching facility committed to plant conservation and serves both the campus and the public. Large assemblages of plants from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and California natives are displayed on the grounds. There are art displays, garden walks, and even birds! The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden is open from 9:00 to 5:00, except July 4, Thanksgiving Day, December 25-31, and January 1-4. A visit is worthwhile any time of the year. $5 for Adults and $2 for Children (6 to 17 years old), and free under 6. Community Day is the first Tuesday of the month and admission is FREE.
- 1156 High St, Santa Cruz
- https://arboretum.ucsc.edu/
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History (SCMNH) has been connecting people to the wonders of nature for over 100 years. Located above Seabright Beach, the Museum highlights the region’s diverse plant, animal, and human communities from the shoreline of Monterey Bay to the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains. You will find touch pools, honeybees, and exhibits featuring:
• Owls, Hawks and a Golden Eagle
• Reptiles and Amphibians
• Foxes and Coyotes
• Bobcat and Mountain Lion
• Jack Rabbits and Brush Rabbits
• Great Blue Heron and Great Egret
• California Quail and Hummingbirds
• Song Birds, Nests and Calls
• Squirrels, Raccoons, and Skunks
• Monarchs and Banana Slugs and much more!
The Museum is open Tuesday-Friday, 11am-4pm, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm and closed Monday & New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day. $4 Adult, $2 Seniors (over 60), $2 Students, free for Youth (under 18) & free for Museum Members. Admission is free for individuals and families on the first Friday of every month. There is also free admission for active duty military personnel (with valid ID) and their families, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
- 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
- www.santacruzmuseum.org/
Lighthouse Field State Beach
Also known as Point Santa Cruz, this area forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the open headlands in any California urban area. Surfers, tourists, birds-including the rare Black Swift and wintering Monarch butterflies are drawn to the area. Sea lions populate the offshore rocks.
Lighthouse Field State Beach has the distinction of being home to California’s first surfing museum. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse at the Lighthouse Point on West Cliff Drive. Overlooking internationally renowned surfing hotspot Steamer Lane, this museum has photographs, surfboards, and other nostalgic items tracing over one hundred years of surfing history in Santa Cruz.
Open Daily, sunrise to sunset. Admission to the Museum is free.
- West Cliff Drive in downtown Santa Cruz
- www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=550
Wilder Ranch State Park
The Santa Cruz coastline awaits discovery on Wilder Ranch State Park’s 7,000 acres. Step back in time to the late 1800’s and visit an early dairy ranch. You can explore California’s early ranching history by visiting an 1897 Victorian home or experience an 1896 water-powered machine shop. Bring a picnic to enjoy on the front lawn and visit the farm animals. With more than 35 miles of trails, you can adventure into the Santa Cruz Mountains or walk along the coastal bluffs.
Free public ranch tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm. No reservation required, just meet inside the Visitor Center. There is a $10 vehicle day-use fee. Regular sized autos are $10 (seniors $9, age 62 or older). Check out the website for dates of events and walks throughout the year.
- The park is north of Santa Cruz, immediately west of Highway One, just a mile or so past the Western Drive stoplight
- www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
The Marine Discovery Center offers tours Tue-Sun 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm & 2 pm. The 11 am tour is condensed into 30 minutes specifically for families that have younger children. The tours are free with admission and include the touch pool area, the shark pool, and other sea creatures as well.
Unlike a traditional aquarium, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center takes you behind the scenes to learn more about scientific research in our oceans. You can learn more about elephant seal behavior, understand the role of sea otters in their ecosystem, observe the differences in plant and animal life in different tidepools or learn more about the hearing of sea lions and harbor seals.
One of the best displays at the discovery center is Ms. Blue. She is an 87-foot blue whale skeleton; the largest skeleton displayed anywhere in the world. The Marine Discovery Center is open Tue-Sun 10-5pm and closed on Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving & Christmas. Adults are $8, seniors (65 and older) $6, students (with ID) $6, children (3-16 years old) $6, toddlers (2 and under) free and members are free! free admission days are September 20, October 18, November 13 & December 4.
- 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz
- https://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/