Santa Cruz is Uber Hip Cali

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.

golden sunset

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

verve coffee

Best Beaches:

  • Dog Beach
  • Lighthouse Point Park
  • Natural Bridges State Beach
rugged beaches

rugged beaches

arches rock

arches rock

santa cruz sunset

santa cruz sunset

santa cruz flower beach

santa cruz flower beach

santa cruz lighthouse at sunset

santa cruz lighthouse at sunset

santa cruz bike

santa cruz bike

Best Tourist Attraction:

Roaring Camp Railroad

black smithvirgin forests

virgin forests

redwoods train

redwoods train

tall redwoods

tall redwoods

close tree

close tree

roaring camp

roaring camp

steam trainblacksmith working

blacksmith working    

Shopping and People Watching:

  • Outdoor Antique Market
  • Street Artists at Lincoln St & Pacific Ave
street musicstreet music admire'erssanta cruz antique fair


outdoor market


Best day time activity not at the beach:

Disc Golf at Delaveaga (below: view from the tee box at “top of the world”)

Top of the World DeLaveaga

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
santa cruz boardwalk

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.