Visiting Santa Cruz
POPPIE LADY ON THE ROAD AGAIN:
SANTA CRUZ
Welcome to my series ‘Poppie Lady On The Road Again,’ where I am sharing the most recommended tips and places to visit (children optional) in my favorite cities in California. You can view more photos and videos of these tips under my highlights ON INSTAGRAM.
I grew up (and still live) on the “other side of the hill” and have always loved an afternoon trip to Santa Cruz. There is nowhere else in the world quite like Santa Cruz with the ocean, redwoods, hippies and bookworms. “Keep Santa Cruz Weird” is a popular saying that represents the region well;)
WHAT TO DO
SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK
A CLASSIC! For a throwback date night or a family fun day, it’s hard not to feel footloose and fancy free when you enter the threshold and hear the screams from the roller coasters and smell the fresh cotton candy and funnel cakes. There is a huge arcade, indoor pirate-themed mini golf (need I say more?), Boardwalk games and rides. It’s right near the wharf, where you can drive down and get a bowl of chowder at Stagnaro brothers (my grandma’s fave). The sky glider is a MUST RIDE and you can enjoy sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and glide above the Boardwalk. Warning: The Big Dipper is not great if you’ve got hips and is QUITE ratchet-y! Tips: You can pay for the metered parking on Riverside Drive on an app (info on the actual meter)
The Sky Glider was the best part of our Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk date night
Coco LOVED riding the Buggies ride that went up/down and around!
SAILING ON THE CHARDONNAY
A sailboat you can publicly or privately charter (we opted for the BYO Thursday night voyage for $50 per person, kids free unless they are full). 2 hours of fun at sea! They also have events for a little more $$$ where they serve wine and pizza!
#TracisTips: Bring a jacket! Bring cash for tipping (they have a box). Check in starts 30 minutes prior to your sailing time.
We went with ribs and champagne for our BYO sailing night! (Kids must wear life jackets of have the life jacket clipped to the person holding them). Kids sail free unless the boat is full.
I wanted to book our next visit aboard the Chardonnay before we made it back to shore! We had the absolute best time and the kids loved it (despite their faces in this photo, LOL).
DAYS MARKET
Right next to both La Posta and Tramontina is Days Market Liquor. It doesn’t look like much, but they have a great selection of canned wine and beverages, as well as local ice cream (The Mission Hill Creamery in their Salted Carmel flavor is to die for). We stock up on goodies and bring them to Twin Lakes Beach to enjoy for less $$$. We also like to get their canned champagne to bring sailing on the Chardonnay!
Taylor Reinhold painted the mural outside of Days Market (photo from his website).
TWIN LAKES BEACH
With views of the Harbor (where you board the Chardonnay), Twin Lakes Beach is our favorite beach to visit. The Palomar has AMAZING nachos and margaritas (I love the Guava!) and you can bring the food out onto the sand. Crow’s Nest is a fancy Hawaiian-themed throwback and I love to get a to-go Mai Tai (you have to buy a food item with to go drinks and can get fries or a bread roll).
We love to spend an afternoon after work at Twin Lakes beach in Santa Cruz.
We love to grab drinks and snacks from the Days Market, nachos and margaritas from La Paloma or a Mai Tai from the Crows nest and enjoy Twin Lakes beach.
DIG GARDENS
Curated plants, plants, gifts and cards. They carry the most amazing selection of goods and decor (think a more modern/urban Anthropologie with LOTS of plants).
My “Plant Lady” costume at Dig Gardens. Photography by Jess at @BirchStudioPhoto (HIGHLY recommend for photography, based in Santa Cruz).
DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ
As one of our summer camp staffers used to say, 'We’re Chillin on Pac Ave” (said without any sarcasm whatsoever). Fun to walk around and check out the surf shops, grab a cone at Penny Ice Creamery and some coffee at Cat and Cloud. If you are feeling adventurous, Good Vibrations is across the way from Abbott Square;)
We love Cat and Cloud coffee at Abbott Square in Downtown Santa Cruz.
ABBOTT SQUARE MARKET
This little square is home to one of the Cat & Cloud locations and some delicious eateries like La Buffala pizza. It is also connected to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, where we love to visit the dahlia show annually! They have dahlias the size of your head and insanely gorgeous bundles for sale.
The annual Dahlia show is hosted at the Santa Cruz museum of Art and History!
GARDEN OF EDEN
The Garden of Eden is a ‘super secret locals only spot’ (kidding, not kidding) inside Henry Cowell State Park. It’s a bit of a trek along some railroad tracks and down a steep hill, but the reward is a heavenly watering hole! We love to pack a picnic and head out for the best way to cool down on a hot summer day. I have seen a family enjoying some time in the nude there, but I can’t guarantee you will see them because I only saw them once.
The Garden of Eden is a heavenly watering hole despite what Cohens face would tell you!
HOME/WORK
This is a total gem of a shop with lots of handmade goods for gifting (or yourself!). I found some amazing ceramic snakes here, fun jewelry and art prints.
I found some incredible ceramic snakes and other handmade goods at HOME/WORK.
HARTS FABRIC
Truly the most extensive fabric selection that I’ve ever found and I personally feel so represented with their selections. It’s as if you can shop the fabrics used to make garments at Anthropologie and MORE. They have an incredible selection from Rifle Paper Co. rayons to upholstery and outdoor fabrics to lots of cotton prints for quilting. A must visit for anyone who likes fabric!
Harts Fabric in Santa Cruz has the BEST selection of fabrics for any project! They have a lot of really modern/trendy/darling fabrics and I’ll never go back to Joanns!
I picked up all of these cute fabrics for our vintage mouse house project from Hart’s fabric in Santa Cruz. (Note: mice we’re purchased elsewhere)
Harts Fabric has the most amazing selection of fabric.
THE MYSTERY SPOT
The mystery spot is “gravitational anomaly located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz, California. It is a circular area of effect around 150 feet or 46 meters in diameter. Within the Mystery Spot you will be stunned as your perceptions of the laws of physics and gravity are questioned.” I have to say, I got nauseous there but found it to be really fun!
If you have seen this bumper sticker then your interest has been piqued about the mystery of the Mystery Spot.
The Mystery Spot is a “gravitational anomaly” in the redwoods and fun for all ages! Photo from their webite.
ROARING CAMP RAILROAD STEAM TRAIN
Fun for all ages, board a steam train and enjoy a ride through the redwoods. You can arrive a bit early and grab a hot dog or walk around the camp area.
The Roaring Camp steam engine was a relaxing ride through the redwoods!
DISCOUNT SHOPPING
My aunt Jill loves to visit the Patagonia discount store on River street and the outlet Rip Curl surf shop on Mission. Outdoor and surf apparel for less!
You can find some good bargains at the Patagonia outlet.
I ASKED MY FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER, JESS OF BIRCH STUDIO, WHERE HER FAVORITE LOCAL SPOTS ARE AND SHE WROTE: “WE LOVE A GOOD WALK/HIKE ALONG THE OCEAN AT WILDER RANCH, VERVE COFFEE, MINI MINT, CHILDISH, MIDTOWN SURF, PATINE, THE WARMTH COMPANY, HOME RESTAURANT IN SOQUEL, LILLIAN’S ITALIAN, VENUS SPIRITS, ABBOT SQUARE, HIDDEN BEACH, and SEABRIGHT BEACH!”
Jess loves to take her family hiking/walking along the bluffs at Wilder Ranch! SantaCruzLife.com says, “Directions to trailhead: From Highway 1 in Santa Cruz, drive North to Wilder Ranch State Park. Start out from the parking lot at the visitors center and follow the Old Cove Landing Trail along the cliffs. The trail will turn northward again and loop back to the start of the trailhead.”
Mini Mint is an ADORABLE kids’ shop that Jess loves to frequent. I am dying to go, especially since they carry one of my favorite lines, Rylee + Cru/ Quincy Mae!
Patine is one of Jess’ favorite shops. It looks like you've stepped into the creme de la Paris flea market! Photo from MapQuest.
Venus Spirits is the perfect place to grab a spirit for a cocktail enthusiast!
WHERE TO EAT
LA POSTA:
I think this is one of my all-time favorite places to eat. They hand make in-house all pasta, pizza dough, and bread (all SO good!). Be sure to buy a loaf to bring home! We adore their mushroom pizzas and any of their pasta dishes. Their Blue Heron salad is my FAVORITE and my husband and I always fight over the Fettuccini (asparagus, peas, pancetta, pecorino romano $25). SUPER kid friendly, and the food and wine are top notch. I asked for waters with lids for the kids and the staff, Zylen, replied “We don’t have lids, but we are always happy to clean up a mess!” It made me feel really comfortable and not like a bull in a China shop.
Coco can eat an entire Little Gem Salad by himself! It’s a family favorite!
La Posta is some of the best food of my life. The freshly made pasta is always a true pleasure.
THE PENNY ICE CREAMERY
For the first 34 years of my life, I would have told you I don’t like whipped marshmallow topping, but then I ordered the toasted marshmallow topping here with their burnt carmel ice cream and my life has changed completely. I am now a whipped marshmallow topping person. Seriously, make sure you get it.
The Penny Ice Creamery is such a wonderful treat and they have some amazing and unique flavors!
Burnt Carmel Ice Cream with Toasted Marshmallow topping in a freshly made waffle cone from Penny Ice Creamery = the best treat.
VERVE COFFEE ROASTERS
One of our favorite places to grab coffee, Verve is consistently delicious! Amanda says, “order the iced vanilla latte! (their vanilla syrup is made in house and a whiskey vanilla).”
CAT AND CLOUD COFFEE
There is no lack of amazing coffee in Santa Cruz. My husband is a big coffee enthusiast and we love to visit Cat and Cloud.
MENTONE
Delicious pizza and cocktails! This is new from an amazing chef. A really fun and delicious date night with some awesome cocktails (we loved the peace cocktail). Heads up, it’s on the pricier side, especially for pizza.
The Peace Cocktail from Mentone was top notch!
GAYLE’S
There is always a line from here to Tombucktoo, but it’s WORTH THE WAIT. Our new move is to look at the menu online (everything is good, literally) and order an hour ahead of when we want to pick it up. Would make for a lovely picnic, or if you have a little time on your hands, order in and enjoy! The key lime pie is to die for.
Everything is so good from Gayles Bakery! Photo from FB.
BURGER (It’s literally named ‘Burger’)
Very kitchy! They have every single type of burger you can ever imagine (and milkshakes!). My friend, Amanda, loves to order the John Wayne.
So many kinds of crazy and delicious combinations of burgers from Burger, and some tasty milkshakes!
SAMBA ROCK ACAI BOWLS
Every flavor/kind of acai bowl you can imagine!
Samba Ro k has every kind of a Ai bowl you could want to try. Photo from happycow.net
MARIANNES ICE CREAM
i definitely like Penny Ice Creamery better, but Marianne’s is definitely a Santa Cruz staple!! They have 105 flavors!
Marianne’s has 105 different flavors of ice cream! Photo from Marianne’s website.
WATSONVILLE- ALOHA HOLA
If you are driving through Watsonville, you have to stop at Aloha Hola for their Hawaiian-Mexican inspired food! Their pulled pork Wahine salad with Passion fruit dressing is my favorite. Also, the co-owner and chef is really cute (she’s my aunt;)
The Watsonville Hangar is a great place to stop in Watsonville for food and drinks.
Sadie Winn enjoying some nachos from Aloha Hola.
A FEW MORW IDEAS:
My friend Erin said, “everyone needs to eat at the super kitchy Tyrolean Inn at least once! It’s a German restaurant, pretty authentic, with an atmosphere I don’t quite know how to describe. It’s like Buca Di Beppo but for the Alps. 😂”
My Aunt Jill lives in Santa Cruz and said her favorite local spots are Manuel’s Mexican Food, Maki Hawaiian food on the wharf and Zen Island (three new places on our list to try!!).