Our Best Beaches
here is no finer way to spend your Santa Cruz vacation that to explore our beautiful, coastal environment. From desolate, lonely stretches for romantic picnics to the mainstage beaches for water sports, volleyball or simply checking out the scene, our beaches provide something for everyone. Capitola Beach
Capitola Beach is marked by the Venetian Hotel and the river’s mouth, and provides an eclectic mixture of restaurants, shops and nightlife along its esplanade. A free parking shuttle can take you into the Village. Look for the signs near the Park Avenue exit. the pounding surf, but keep your eyes peeled for dolphins cavorting in the waves. Children delight in picking up sand dollars. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months because of the rip tides. Bonfire rings are provided for beach cookouts.
Bird Watching
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n Santa Cruz County an average year brings 325 bird species here, with the total recorded over the years in the mid-400s. West Cliff Drive and the Wilder Ranch coast offer rocky-shore specialists like Surfbirds and Black Turnstones, plus nesting Pigeon Guillemots and Cormorants on the cliffs. Shorebirds, Gulls, and Terns gather at local river and creek mouths, while the sloughs and lakes in the
Pajaro Valley attract waterfowl including: Herons, White Pelicans, and White-faced Ibis. Bridges along the San Lorenzo River are convenient places to watch Cliff and Northern Rough-winged Swallows. Mornings at Henry Cowell State Park one can hear a Pileated Woodpecker’s “kek.” Bird Club walks: (831)457-8240. http://santacruzbirdclub.org.
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coast cypress trees provide privacy between the campsites on the hill.
Panther Beach
One mile south of Davenport lies this gorgeous beach that is not to be missed. Beautiful rock formations make this a breathtaking site.
Walkin’ The Dog
Pleasure Point Beach
This popular surfing beach, actually a string of little beaches, is situated in the neighborhood of Jack O’Neill, the inventor of the wetsuit.
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West Cliff Drive Walkway
fter a long day of hanging his head out the window into the wind and not really caring where he is going, your four legged friend is going to want to hit the ground running when you reach Santa Cruz. Your first instinct is to hit the beach, ditch the leash and let Rover catch some waves. Leashes are required at the majority of the beaches in town, so you will need to hit the surf with him. There are plenty of dog parks and a beach for off leash roaming.
Rio Del Mar Beach
Aptos has another wide open expanse of beach—a wonderful walking beach. and you can relax on the sand and let your toes wade in the lapping surf.
Watsonville Dog Park
This popular two mile paved walking path winds along beautiful Santa Cruz coastline. Frequented by walkers, runners, bicyclists and of course, dogs. It is located on West Cliff Drive, north of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and south of Natural Bridges State Beach. While dogs are not allowed on either the Boardwalk or the State Beach, there is a dog beach along this path at Mitchell’s Cove Beach. The fenced dog park is about 1/3 of an acre. Located in the Pinto Lake County Park off of Green Valley Rd at Dalton Lane in Watsonville.
Cowell and Main Beaches
Either side of the Santa Cruz Wharf you will find the two most popular beaches in the county. On Cowell you can learn to surf, or stretch out to laze away the day watching sailboats around the wharf. On the other side of the wharf, Main Beach plays host to volleyball games, people watching and also is an entrance to the boardwalk.
Natural Bridges State Beach
This beach is named for its ocean-pounded cliffs offering visitors a close-up look into the unique habitat of marine plants and animals. An expansive tidal pool network is fun to explore. Visit the Nature Center and bring your lunch to the picnic tables overlooking the beach. On the Natural Bridges hillside, the eucalyptus trees host Monarch butterflies on their migration path. On West Cliff Drive 2.5 miles from the Santa Cruz Wharf.
Seabright Beach/Castle Beach
Around the point to the south of Cowell and Main Beaches lies Seabright Beach where kite flying is a local hobby. The Santa Cruz Harbor is at the end of this beach and is home to sailboats and motorboats. Bonfire rings are available for those marshmallow roasts or just to keep warm on a summer evening.
DeLaveaga Park
There is a designated off leash area off of the service road on Market St. Designated off-leash times are sunrise to sunset. Take Market St. past Gruenwald Court.
Henry Cowell State Park
Dogs are allowed in the picnic area, the campground, and on Pipeline Road, Graham Hill Trail, and Meadow Trail. They are not allowed on any other trails or interior roads. Dogs must be leashed. The park is near Felton on Highway 9 in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Frederick St. Park
The off leash area is clearly marked by signs and a split rail fence. Offleash times are sunrise to sunset. The area is located at 168 Frederick Street (Frederick at Broadway).
Seacliff State Beach
Located off State Park Drive this beach is home to the “Palo Alto” cement ship. Once a floating nightclub that sank, it now plays host to seabirds. Halibut and surf perch are caught from its side and no fishing license is required. The history center tells more of the story of this ship. Fossils are imbedded in the cliffs along the southern edge of the beach. An RV campsite area with hookups is available with reservations required.
Greyhound Rock/Davenport
Across from the whale-watching town of Davenport you will find high, rugged cliffs topped with tall pines that provide a perfect viewing station from November through May for the whale migration. Bring your picnic to this restful, serene place conducive for communing with the ocean. If you can rise early before the wind comes up, youÆl discover surfers and fishermen staking claim to the many coves, reefs and pocket beaches.
Twin Lakes Beach
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