A Travel Community for San Francisco Bay Area Families
Family Beach Weekend in Santa Cruz
This fun seaside town offers great beaches, a boardwalk for the kids with a vintage carousal and roller coaster, great hikes and terrific shopping and restaurants.
Also, with some new options for accommodations and dining, Santa Cruz is a more attractive weekend getaway than ever before.
Santa Cruz Boardwalk: With “classic” rides and all the expected boardwalk treats, kids love the boardwalk. There is a range of rides for both younger and older kids and you can't miss the 1911 carousel which is a National Historic Landmark. Once you’re done with the rides, you may want to head down to Cowell’s beach. The boardwalk can be overwhelming on a summer weekend so you may want to save it for "off season".
This fun seaside town offers great beaches, a boardwalk for the kids with a vintage carousal and roller coaster, great hikes and terrific shopping and restaurants. Also, with some new options for accommodations and dining, Santa Cruz offers is a more attractive weekend getaway than ever before.
Santa Cruz Boardwalk: With “classic” rides and all the expected boardwalk treats, kids love the Boardwalk. There is a range of rides for both younger and older kids and you can't miss the 1911 carousel which is a National Historic Landmark. Once you’re done with the rides, you may want to head down to Cowell’s beach.
Santa Cruz Wharf: A great place to catch the sunset after a day of frolicking at the beach. Stop at Dolphin Restaurant for a killer view of the sunset. The chowder and calamari get high marks but the view is the main selling point for this restaurant. The sea lions provide added entertainment and after dinner you can hit Marianne’s Ice Cream for a delicious dessert.
Cowell's Beach: A broad, flat beach, you can play in the waves, watch dolphins, and listen to sea lions bark in the distance. Locals recommend the walk from Cowell Beach to Natural Bridges State Park but it is three miles each way so perhaps a bit far for families with younger children.
Natural Bridges State Park: While not a great swimming beach, you can see birds, sea lions, sea otters and sometimes, migrating whales. In addition the park boasts one of the largest concentrations of migrating Monarchs in the United States. While January is the best month for Monarch viewing, there is still plenty to see in February. The visitors’ center is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Where to Eat:
Oswald. This long-time favorite in Santa Cruz has recently reopened at a new location.
121 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. (831) 423-7427.
La Posta. Their food is known as creative Italian and they get special kudos for their home-made pasta and innovative salads. They have a family-style fixed price dinner on Sunday nights. Considered a good value and great food.
538 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. (831) 457-2782.
Dolphin Restaurant. Conveniently located on the Santa Cruz Wharf, this restaurant provides the perfect place to watch the sunset over the bay. Their food is not extraordinary but their calamari and clam chowder get relatively high marks. Enjoy the outdoor patio in on warm winter days.
Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. (831) 426-5830.
Marianne's Ice Cream. Many consider this to be the best ice cream in Santa Cruz and some consider it the best in the country. They have an extensive menu of home made ice cream as well as milkshakes and other goodies. If you watched the sunset at the Dolphin Restaurant, this will provide a perfect dessert for a perfect evening.
1020 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. (831) 458-1447.
Zachary's Restaurant. A popular breakfast and brunch spot, Zachary's offers a range of options including specialties like oatmeal molasses french toast and curry home fries. Kids can get pancakes shaped as Mickey Mouse.
819 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. (831) 427-0646.
Walnut Avenue Cafe. Another great breakfast option in Santa Cruz, it is considered to offer a bit more ambiance than Zachary's. You can get a hearty breakfast of French toast with grilled bananas, walnuts and yogurt or granola with fruit and a muffin.
106 Walnut Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060. (831) 457-2307.
Where to Stay:
Dream Inn: A relatively new offering in Santa Cruz, the Dream Inn is right on the beach, very convenient to the Boardwalk and downtown. The have a heated pool and a kids wading pool. Consider one of their suites if you are looking for some extra room for the family. Rooms from $239 and suites from $289.
175 W. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Pelican Point Inn: Close to Twin Lakes Beach and the harbor, Pelican Point Inn offers Studio and Living Room Suites that are walking distance to the beach and restuarants. While the Inn is "modest" on the outside, inside the suites sport bamboo hardwood floors, kitchenettes with marble counter-tops. Very reasonable at $119 for Studio Suites and $159 for Living Room Suites.
21345 E Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Also, with some new options for accommodations and dining, Santa Cruz is a more attractive weekend getaway than ever before.
Santa Cruz Boardwalk: With “classic” rides and all the expected boardwalk treats, kids love the boardwalk. There is a range of rides for both younger and older kids and you can't miss the 1911 carousel which is a National Historic Landmark. Once you’re done with the rides, you may want to head down to Cowell’s beach. The boardwalk can be overwhelming on a summer weekend so you may want to save it for "off season".
This fun seaside town offers great beaches, a boardwalk for the kids with a vintage carousal and roller coaster, great hikes and terrific shopping and restaurants. Also, with some new options for accommodations and dining, Santa Cruz offers is a more attractive weekend getaway than ever before.
Santa Cruz Boardwalk: With “classic” rides and all the expected boardwalk treats, kids love the Boardwalk. There is a range of rides for both younger and older kids and you can't miss the 1911 carousel which is a National Historic Landmark. Once you’re done with the rides, you may want to head down to Cowell’s beach.
Santa Cruz Wharf: A great place to catch the sunset after a day of frolicking at the beach. Stop at Dolphin Restaurant for a killer view of the sunset. The chowder and calamari get high marks but the view is the main selling point for this restaurant. The sea lions provide added entertainment and after dinner you can hit Marianne’s Ice Cream for a delicious dessert.
Cowell's Beach: A broad, flat beach, you can play in the waves, watch dolphins, and listen to sea lions bark in the distance. Locals recommend the walk from Cowell Beach to Natural Bridges State Park but it is three miles each way so perhaps a bit far for families with younger children.
Natural Bridges State Park: While not a great swimming beach, you can see birds, sea lions, sea otters and sometimes, migrating whales. In addition the park boasts one of the largest concentrations of migrating Monarchs in the United States. While January is the best month for Monarch viewing, there is still plenty to see in February. The visitors’ center is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Where to Eat:
Oswald. This long-time favorite in Santa Cruz has recently reopened at a new location.
121 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. (831) 423-7427.
La Posta. Their food is known as creative Italian and they get special kudos for their home-made pasta and innovative salads. They have a family-style fixed price dinner on Sunday nights. Considered a good value and great food.
538 Seabright Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062. (831) 457-2782.
Dolphin Restaurant. Conveniently located on the Santa Cruz Wharf, this restaurant provides the perfect place to watch the sunset over the bay. Their food is not extraordinary but their calamari and clam chowder get relatively high marks. Enjoy the outdoor patio in on warm winter days.
Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. (831) 426-5830.
Marianne's Ice Cream. Many consider this to be the best ice cream in Santa Cruz and some consider it the best in the country. They have an extensive menu of home made ice cream as well as milkshakes and other goodies. If you watched the sunset at the Dolphin Restaurant, this will provide a perfect dessert for a perfect evening.
1020 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. (831) 458-1447.
Zachary's Restaurant. A popular breakfast and brunch spot, Zachary's offers a range of options including specialties like oatmeal molasses french toast and curry home fries. Kids can get pancakes shaped as Mickey Mouse.
819 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. (831) 427-0646.
Walnut Avenue Cafe. Another great breakfast option in Santa Cruz, it is considered to offer a bit more ambiance than Zachary's. You can get a hearty breakfast of French toast with grilled bananas, walnuts and yogurt or granola with fruit and a muffin.
106 Walnut Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060. (831) 457-2307.
Where to Stay:
Dream Inn: A relatively new offering in Santa Cruz, the Dream Inn is right on the beach, very convenient to the Boardwalk and downtown. The have a heated pool and a kids wading pool. Consider one of their suites if you are looking for some extra room for the family. Rooms from $239 and suites from $289.
175 W. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Pelican Point Inn: Close to Twin Lakes Beach and the harbor, Pelican Point Inn offers Studio and Living Room Suites that are walking distance to the beach and restuarants. While the Inn is "modest" on the outside, inside the suites sport bamboo hardwood floors, kitchenettes with marble counter-tops. Very reasonable at $119 for Studio Suites and $159 for Living Room Suites.
21345 E Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
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