Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 23

Prieta earthquake. On a bluff overlooking Downtown Santa Cruz stands the last remaining original building of the Santa Cruz Mission. Built in 1791, it was the 12th Franciscan mission in California. All but one of the original adobes were lost to earthquakes, but the remaining structure, which houses fascinating exhibits depicting the mission’s history, has been restored at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. The newly restored historic Meder farmhouse at Wilder Ranch State Park a mile north of Santa Cruz is a hands-on living history museum where visitors can experience the details of daily life on a turn-of-the-century dairy farm. Along with its Victorian homes, barns, living history demonstrations and tours, the park offers 34 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails that skirt the cliffs, and more challenging trails that climb the steep hills and meadows overlooking Monterey Bay. Beautiful windswept beaches and a breathtaking fern grotto line the coast. Further up the shoreline lies Rancho Del Oso State Park, on the coastal side of Big Basin where densely forested trails open up to glorious views of the Pacific Ocean. Rancho Del Oso is home to the Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a rare coastal freshwater marsh that shelters many endangered species and Waddell Beach, a renowned spot for windsurfing and kiteboarding. One of the most picturesque spots on the coast is Natural Bridges State Beach. A sandstone arch shaped by wind and waves rises from the sea. Natural Bridges was once a series of connected arches, but today only one remains. During low tide, tide pools brim with sea stars, tiny crabs and sea anemones. In wintertime, the park’s eucalyptus grove is thick with clusters of hibernating monarch butterflies. The coastline for which Santa Cruz County is most famous extends south from Santa Cruz to Watsonville and includes the state beaches of Seabright, Twin Lakes, New Brighton, Seacliff, Rio Del Mar, Manresa, Manresa Uplands, Sunset, and Palm. At New Brighton, Manresa Uplands and Sunset, camp on bluffs above the water or inland among the pines. At Seacliff, campers nestled in their RVs are lulled to sleep by rhythmic waves right on the beach. Seacliff State Beach in Aptos is home to the “Cement Ship”, an experimental vessel constructed of concrete. The S.S. Palo Alto made just one voyage in 1919 before permanently docking at the pier, now a favorite local fishing spot. Surfing is popular at Manresa and Natural Bridges. Swimmers love Twin Lakes beach. Sunset and Palm both feature mountainous sand dunes, up to 200 feet high built up in front of a coastal bluff. Picnic pavilions for large groups can be found at New Brighton, Seacliff and Sunset. Barbecue grills and picnic tables for smaller groups line the long stretch of sand at Seacliff State Beach. The beaches of Seabright, Twin Lakes, Rio Del Mar, Manresa and Sunset have fire rings for building campfires and toasting s’mores. The gentle waves and flickering flames create an idyllic setting for watching the sunset. From the mountains to the sea, Santa Cruz County’s natural beauty abounds in its state parks.

“The campgrounds are operated by big basin redwoods State Park near boulder Creek in the Santa Cruz Mountains one of the best parks for hiking camping and waterfalls.”
San FranCiSCo CHroniCle, oCTober 31, 2010
Photo: Paul Schraub

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Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012

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