Santa Cruz is Uber Hip Cali
Santa Cruz California seems to have it all…beautiful dramatic beaches, virgin redwood forests, outdoor markets and a mish mash hodge podge culture that oozes awesomeness.
It’s a place where it seems anyone and everyone can be cool. You’re a bum; that’s cool. You’re a surfer; that’s cool. You’re a street artist; that’s cool. You’re a doctor; that’s cool. While it has a quintessential Cali vibe, it also seems a bit more laid back. As if Santa Cruz isn’t trying to be uber hip, it just is. And it didn’t hurt that the city is home to one of the best coffee roasters we have been to in a really long time. A cup of Verve coffee on the beach with board in hand… yep, that’s about all I need in life but here are a few of our fave finds…
Best Coffee Shop:
Verve
Best Beaches:
- Dog Beach
- Lighthouse Point Park
- Natural Bridges State Beach
rugged beaches
arches rock
santa cruz sunset
santa cruz flower beach
santa cruz lighthouse at sunset
santa cruz bike
Best Tourist Attraction:
Roaring Camp Railroad
virgin forests
redwoods train
tall redwoods
close tree
roaring camp
blacksmith working
Shopping and People Watching:
- Outdoor Antique Market
- Street Artists at Lincoln St & Pacific Ave
Best day time activity not at the beach:
Disc Golf at Delaveaga (below: view from the tee box at “top of the world”)
Where we Parked It:
Santa Cruz Ranch RV Resort, even though it’s nothing like a Ranch, but they do have the fastest wifi ever at a campground.
Things you could stand to Skip:
- The boardwalk – the same as every other boardwalk
- Beach at the boardwalk – unless you just really want to be surrounded by people
Share your take on Santa Cruz in the comments below, were you wowed or bummed out by this city?
Disclaimer: While we were compensated to film the campground (thanks Thousand Trails!)…all of our experiences and opinions are NOT purchased and are our own.
