Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 17

Watching Destination
Whether you spend a day whale watching on the Monterey Bay, birding through Watsonville’s wetlands, or touring an elephant seal breeding ground north of town, you will be taking part in a trend that has captured the attention of visitors worldwide. With an impressive variety of wildlife watching experiences for visitors to enjoy, Santa Cruz County has become a destination for nature lovers. One of the most noteworthy natural events happens each winter, when gray whales migrate through the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The whales travel 12,000 miles round-trip from the arctic to warmer waters in Mexico to mate and nurse their young. As these majestic mammals pass the coastline, the Davenport cliffs make a perfect perch for whale watching. Or, spot whales by boat or kayak, where you may also see dolphins, sea otters, and a number of coastal birds. Speaking of birds, Pajaro (“bird” in English) Valley’s rivers and sloughs provide a rich habitat for an amazing diversity of birds. Birdwatching in Watsonville and the surrounding area is unparalleled, due to the proximity of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve, one of California’s last undisturbed coastal wetlands. The globallysignificant Pacific Flyway is nearby, a main passage for migratory birds, and one of only six common avian corridors in the nation. In addition, Watsonville’s 800 acres of wetlands provide a resting stop for migratory birds to feed and regain their strength before continuing their journey. Popular with birders, over 200 species of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds live and migrate through the wetlands. Opt for a guided tour of the wetlands, or head north and track hummingbirds and quail at the UCSC Arboretum. The annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival in September is another way to spot birds. Held in the Watsonville region, the festival features special presentations and expert-led full and half-day trips to birding hot spots. To the north, Año Nuevo State Reserve is the largest mainland breeding colony in North America of the northern elephant seal. In winter, the males battle for mates on the beaches and the females give birth to their pups on the dunes. Visitors can view these lumbering mammals up close on a docent-led tour from December through March. With an abundance of natural beauty, it’s no wonder Santa Cruz County has become a destination for viewing the wonders of wildlife. For ideas on how to enjoy local wildlife in Santa Cruz County, see page 72.

Santa Cruz County

your Wildlife

with an impreSSive variety of wildlife watChing experienCeS for viSitorS to enjoy, Santa Cruz County haS beCome a deStination for nature loverS.

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Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012

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

Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012
Contents
Welcome to Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz
Your Wildlife Watching Destination
Field to Table
Locally Made
From the Mountains to the Sea
Culture and Creativity
2012 Events Calendar
Maps
A Wine Lover’s Paradise
Monterey Bay
Galleries and Museums
Exploring Santa Cruz County’s Great Outdoors
Capitola and Soquel
Pajaro Valley and Watsonville
San Lorenzo Valley
Scotts Valley
Pleasure Point
Aptos
Davenport
Restaurant Guide
Lodging Guide
Visitor Activities
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Intro
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Cover2
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 1
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 2
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 3
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 4
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 5
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 6
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Contents
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 8
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Welcome to Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 10
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 11
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 13
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 14
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 15
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 16
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Your Wildlife Watching Destination
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 18
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Field to Table
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 20
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Locally Made
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - From the Mountains to the Sea
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 23
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 24
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Culture and Creativity
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 26
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 2012 Events Calendar
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 28
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 29
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 30
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 31
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Maps
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 33
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 36
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 37
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 38
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - A Wine Lover’s Paradise
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Monterey Bay
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 41
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Galleries and Museums
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 43
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Exploring Santa Cruz County’s Great Outdoors
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 45
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 46
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Capitola and Soquel
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 48
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 49
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 50
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Pajaro Valley and Watsonville
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 52
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - San Lorenzo Valley
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 54
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Scotts Valley
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 56
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Pleasure Point
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 58
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Aptos
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Davenport
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 61
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Restaurant Guide
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 63
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 64
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 65
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Lodging Guide
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 67
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 68
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 69
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 70
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Visitor Activities
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 72
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 73
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 74
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 75
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 76
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Cover3
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Cover4
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