| Fun Things To Do Near Santa Cruz | |||
 One of our favorite places to visit, and a great place for kids is the world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Located in the picturesque downtown of Monterey, at the far end of Steinbeck’s Cannery Row, the aquarium has many tanks of sea flora and fauna. The jellyfish displays are breathtakingly beautiful and the sea otters are highly entertaining. Located about 45 minutes south of Santa Cruz.. |
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On the other side of the Peninsula from Monterey is the tony town of Carmel. Once ruled by Clint Eastwood, the town contain numerous highly expensive shops, the sweet Carmel Mission, and the Pebble Beach golf course, which you can tour.
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 The beach boardwalk in Santa Cruz is definitely a blast from the past. Roller-coasters, carnival games, and cotton candy mix for a somewhat corny, but definitely fun experience. Just moments away from the beachfront, you'll find Downtown Santa Cruz with its many specialty shops, cafés, book stores, wide variety of restaurants and abundant nightlife. The Mystery Spot is an interesting phenomenon that might entertain for a few bucks. A short drive out West Cliff Drive will take you to the Surfer's Museum tracing over 100 years of surfing history.
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 The Santa Cruz area boasts numerous wonderful beaches, including the breathtaking Natural Bridges State Beach. AS you might have guessed, surfing is very popular here. North of Santa Cruz lies the beautiful, craggy coastline, up to San Francisco, and hugged by Highway One. Sites there include Mavericks, a famous surfer beach. South lies the Monterey Bay coast, with its fields of artichokes and strawberries, dunes, and Elkhorn Slough. Even further south, the coastline becomes cliffs and waterfalls again. You can visit the charming Pt. Lobos State Reserve, and, just a bit further, the incredible beauty of Big Sur. |
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 Santa Cruz marks the southern most point for the coastal California Redwood (sequoia sempervirens). You can walk amongst them on the sylvan UC Santa Cruz campus, or hike through Cowell or Big Basin parks to enjoy their majesty. For a slightly quirkier view, catch the steam train from western themed Roaring Camp all the way down to the beach. |
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 The Monterey area is home to California's coastal vineyards, and there are numerous tours and wine tastings available. |
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