When you search for Santa Cruz, California online, a list of multiple activities and tourist attractions will come up. The various beaches, our famous Beach Boardwalk and state parks definitely top the list. However, I rarely see some of my favorite local spots on those lists. Understandably, it’s probably because I’ve been living in Santa Cruz for several years now and we tend to leave the most popular sites to the tourists. I’ll admit that I still have never ridden on the Big Dipper Roller Coaster at the Boardwalk or visited the Mystery Spot. (I know, I know… I will definitely get to these places one of these days). It’s almost like when I lived in New York City back in college and didn’t go visit the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building until I had visitors in town who wanted to hit all of the sights.

Instead, my husband and I prefer to find the quieter spots around town where we can enjoy the weather, the location, the views, and a little more calm. Here are my Top 5 spots in Santa Cruz, if you’re interested in seeing the area like a local:

Downtown Capitola

Whenever we have visitors staying with us, we always opt to take them to Downtown Capitola over Downtown Santa Cruz. While it can still be a busy area, it is typically described as “quaint.” The various shops are predominantly owned by locals, and there are plenty of restaurants to stop into for lunch or a snack. My perfect day in Capitola looks like this: Head south on 41st street and stop at Verve for a latte and a short walk to The Hook to watch the surfers start their morning. Walking back to the car, make a stop at East Side Eatery for one of the best Breakfast / Brunch spots in the entire Santa Cruz area. After Brunch, head downtown and park at the public lot at 426 Capitola Avenue for your best chance at finding an empty spot. It will cost you to park no matter where you find a free space in the area, so make it easy on yourself instead of wasting your time doing laps on the streets. This lot only charges $0.50 per hour, so it will be your best bet! Wander in and out of all the amazing shops throughout the afternoon and check out Trestles Restaurant if you’re looking for something a little upscale for dinner. Wear plenty of sunscreen and bring your sunglasses.

Seabright

Just North of Seabright State Beach are several of the best restaurants in the Santa Cruz area, in my opinion. Not only is Seabright a quieter, less frequented beach to set yourself up for a day in the sun, but the area has much less car traffic than Santa Cruz proper. Among some of our favorite restaurants in Seabright, I can highly recommend Seabright Social for great locally brewed beers and food, or check out Betty’s Burgers to try a local chain. For an outstanding Italian meal, you can’t go wrong with La Posta or Tramonti on Seabright Avenue. Nestled right next to each other, there must just be something special about that location! Reserve a table for yourselves to make sure you can get in at a time you desire. You don’t want to miss your chance to have their food.

 

Black’s Beach

I actually hesitated to put this Beach on my list, because it is SUCH a local’s secret spot and it would be ruined if it became too popular. We close out every single Friday afternoon with a visit to this beach, where they have fire pits, much less people and public restrooms at the top of the hill. We recently had some family photos taken on this beach when everyone was in town for a visit, and they turned out beautiful. We were the only people on the beach that morning!

 

 

The Harbor

The Santa Cruz Harbor is another quiet beach spot where locals will head for volleyball on the beach, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and (of course!) boating. One of our favorite activities for a Saturday afternoon is to head down to the Crow’s Nest Beach Market for a slice of pizza and a beer from the cooler. Sitting out on their patio, we can watch the boats coming in and out of the harbor. After an afternoon of the entertainment, head just a few steps away to the main Crow’s Nest Restaurant to try their award winning calamari. It is some of the best in the city! (The Crow’s Nest also has a stellar Brunch menu, if you find yourself at The Harbor on a Sunday morning. Ask for the eggs benedict with a biscuit instead of an English muffin. It is a meal to remember!)

 

 

Swift Street

On the opposite side of town, the WestSide of Santa Cruz is another hot spot for locals. Along Swift Street, you can find a bustling patio scene at Humble Sea Brewery. Growing at a wild pace and expanding to multiple locations in Northern California, Humble Sea is earning awards and local love more and more every day. If you’re looking to do some brewery hopping, you can walk from Humble Sea to Santa Cruz Mountain Brewery in a measly five minutes. Heading South on Swift Street will take you to the famous West Cliff Drive and provides an easy way to get to Natural Bridges State Beach. If you’re in this area, check out Steamer Lane Supply for a burger or quesadilla. I purposely schedule a lot of my work meetings at this location, just to enjoy the view and weather for a picnic-table-style discussion.

 

 

Santa Cruz has numerous areas to visit, but be prepared for traffic and difficulty parking if you head to some of the most popular sites. The streets in the area can be difficult to navigate, so bring your patience and chill “beach vibe” with you when you come.