Santa Cruz Tips

So if you’re ever in the Santa Cruz area, there are tons of things to do and see, so here’s a list of some of the stuff that I enjoyed:

- Downtown: The downtown area of Santa Cruz is really cool; there are shops of all colors and specialties, from traditional Japanese tea houses to candle making lounges. There are cool hippie shops (Go Ask Alice was my personal fav) where you can buy jewelry, scarves, herbal medicines, chakra alignment candles- A N Y T H I N G. There’s really something for everyone in downtown Santa Cruz and it’s very walkable- you can walk from the far end of the city to the boardwalk on the beach in 20 minutes and it's an absolute must if you’ll be in the city.

- Nisene Marks (State Park): If you’re an outdoorsy person and want to see some big ol’ beautiful red fir trees and hike some amazing trails, Nisene Marks is the place to be. It’s a gorgeous place with tons of hiking trails of varying difficulties, great for families or serious adventurers alike. You can drive up to the trail heads, but know that parking is very limited. There’s also a bike rental shop at the base of the hill before the entrance of the park (Note: it's a 3 mile uphill ride to the entrance of the park). 

- Henry Cowell Redwood State Forrest: This is another perfect spot for outdoorsy folks; only a 10 minute drive from downtown Santa Cruz, it’s an amazing opportunity to see some of the last redwoods in the area. Filled with a variety of hikes, it’s a great way to see nature while still close to the shore!

- The beaches: Ohhhh, the beaches! Man, there are so many different beaches in the Santa Cruz area. I didn’t get the chance to go to all of them, so if you ask the locals they'll tell you there are different spots for surfing, lounging, swimming, and general quiet. It’s a big surf town, where the surf/skate brand Santa Cruz was born (obvi), so if you want to get your surf on or even just get a lesson there are so many places to take advantage of that!

Well, that’s all I got since I spent most of my time working on the farm, but get out there and explore if you’re visiting the area- or even if you’re a local!

Stay curious and happy travels!