Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 51

Watsonville & Pajaro Valley
Pastoral charm, scenic nature
Strawberry fields and apple orchards provide a gorgeous backdrop that welcomes visitors to Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley. A variety of options awaits; from an early morning bird watching excursion to an afternoon at a u-pick farm or museum, sunset stroll on an expansive beach or attending a signature festival. The region’s fertile soil and mild climate yield some of the nation’s finest produce. Berry fans flock to Watsonville every summer for the Watsonville Strawberry Festival at Monterey Bay to celebrate this delicious ruby gem. Agriculture has long been the main industry in Watsonville. The Agricultural History Museum at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds celebrates the colorful heritage of this industry. Restored horse-drawn equipment, interpretive exhibits and vintage items are all on display. The fairgrounds also host the annual Santa Cruz County Fair in September. The Wetlands of Watsonville Nature Center displays a diversity of wildlife habitats, including the Pajaro River, the Watsonville Sloughs and Pinto Lake. Over 200 species of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds live in and migrate through the wetlands, making it an ideal place for bird watching or walking one of the many trails winding through the area. Nearby, the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve is one of California’s last undisturbed coastal wetlands. The annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival each September is a captivating way to take in the sights. “Bird” watching in another form takes place during the Watsonville Fly-In. The largest air show in Northern California, the Fly-In features vintage planes and restored World War II war

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over 200 species oF waterFowl, raptors and songBirds live in and migrate through the wetlands, making it an ideal place For Bird watching.

birds in an airborne extravaganza during Labor Day Weekend. The streets of downtown Watsonville are adorned with Victorian buildings and 1880s storefronts, as well as the town’s centerpiece, the Watsonville Plaza, which serves as a gathering place for celebrations and festivals. A few blocks away, the Henry J. Mello Center boasts the finest acoustics in the county. Other attractions include the Pajaro Valley Arts Gallery featuring rotating exhibits, and the Pajaro Valley Historical Museum rich with the region’s past. In southern Santa Cruz County, Manresa and Sunset State Beaches are often uninhabited, and are perfect for sunset walks along the water’s edge. Watsonville’s unique landscape is rich with options for fun and exploration.

“Located in the lush Pajaro Valley Watsonville is a pastoral scenic destination that combines agriculture culture and nature all within easy driving distance.”
oAkLAnD triBune, June 12, 2011

www. s a n t a cr u z co u n ty. t r a v e l



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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