Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 12

Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is undoubtedly the quintessential California beach town. Surfers tote their surfboards through local neighborhoods on their way to the beach. Families relax on the sand as children splash and play in the water. Screams of delight drift above the waves from riders on the seaside rollercoaster, awakening nostalgic memories of summers past and inspiring a new generation. But while Santa Cruz is the classic spot to dig your toes into the warm sand and soak up the sun, the fun only begins at the beach. Santa Cruz has been described as “A classic beach town with a boardwalk and surfer vibe,” citing its classic amusement park and relaxed atmosphere. The heart of the city is Santa Cruz’ downtown area. Anchored by a clock tower, a vibrant town center pulsates with public art, timeless architecture, aromatic coffee houses and charming boutiques. The pedestrian-friendly, treelined streets are populated with unique shops, exquisite art galleries, outdoor bistros, movie theaters, nightclubs, spas and sidewalk performers. Locallygrown organic fruits, vegetables and other culinary delights are the stars of the show at a weekly downtown farmer’s market. A monthly antiques street faire showcases treasures from the past. Downtown Santa Cruz is also home to the Museum of Art & History, the Santa Cruz Symphony, Actors’ Theatre and many more cultural offerings and annual events such as the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, which performs at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. Public murals and sculptures accentuate downtown’s cosmopolitan flavor, including the appealing bronze sculpture of musician Tom Jefferson Scribner playing the musical saw, which greets visitors on Pacific Avenue. Downtown clubs feature live blues, jazz, alternative rock and world music any night of the week. A First Friday Art Tour is a great way to see the sights downtown and breathe in some of the local culture. On a bluff overlooking Downtown Santa Cruz stands the last remaining original building of the Santa Cruz Mission, the 12th Franciscan mission built in California. The structure houses historic exhibits and offers one of the best views in town. The University of California at Santa Cruz sits atop a sprawling hillside overlooking the quaint town and the gleaming Monterey Bay. The University is home to the acclaimed performances of Shakespeare Santa Cruz as well as the renowned UCSC Arboretum, featuring plant displays from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia as well as from California. The University’s performance halls, galleries, gardens, and hiking and biking trails are all open to visitors. Working your way back to the ocean, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center at Long Marine Lab offers an up-close view of fascinating sea creatures. This renowned research facility, affiliated with UC Santa Cruz, overlooks the bay and features seawater displays where visitors can experience live aquatic animals, aquariums and marine exhibits illustrating the work of resident scientists. Outside, Ms. Blue, the world’s largest blue whale skeleton rests adjacent to the facility and from the back sun deck you can also view the remains of the La Feliz shipwreck, which crashed ashore more than 85 years ago.
Photo: Paul Schraub

while Santa Cruz iS the ClaSSiC Spot to dig your toeS into the warm Sand and Soak up the Sun, the fun only beginS at the beaCh.

2 0 1 2 O f f i C i a l S a N Ta C R u z C O u N T y T R aV E l E R ’ S G u i d E

Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012