Seabright is a highly desirable neighborhood located in the central portion of the city of Santa Cruz California. Many people say that it is Santa Cruz's best neighborhood. When you ask why some may attribute it to its laid-back atmosphere and mixed-use offerings of both residential homes and trendy local shops, great restaurants, and bars.
Seabright shares a border on its west side with the San Lorenzo River and shares the eastern border with the Woods Lagoon. The residents of Seabright benefit from their own private beach. Seabright Beach encompasses about half a mile of shoreline on the south end of the neighborhood. The Walton Lighthouse is located on this beach.
At the beach residents enjoy swimming, surfing, pretty much any beach land activity, dog-friendly space, and public washrooms.
More Reasons to Love Seabright Beyond the Beach at Your Door
Restaurants
The Seabright area of Santa Cruz has some of the finest restaurants in the city most of the restaurants in Seabright are on the north end of the neighborhood located along Soquel Avenue which stands as Seabright's east border. Murray Street and Seabright Avenue also have a great collection of local restaurants. This paired with one of the best beaches in town makes it hard to ever leave your own neighborhood.
The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is located within the Seabright neighborhood. Making for even more fun activities the natural history Museum offers several exciting exhibits telling the history of Santa Cruz and beyond....
Purchasing real estate in your golden years is a unique and exciting process and experience. Mature real estate clients have different real estate needs that require a more customized approach to help meet buying goals that are important in a different stage of life.
Hiring a real estate professional that is aware of these needs and has gained the certification of Senior Real Estate Specialist is important. A senior real estate specialist (SRES) can help senior adults to make more in-depth informed decisions about their specific real estate needs including relocating, purchasing rental properties, selling a family home, downsizing, and more.
What is an SRES Realtro®?
In 1997 the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council or SAREC was formed. This council was put together with a focus on providing real estate professionals the education necessary to meet the distinct needs and interests of Americans over the age of 50 interested in buying or selling real estate.
The designation of Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) is awarded to Realtors® that have completed training offered through the SAREC. Realtors® that are members of the SAREC have demonstrated they have the necessary knowledge, experience, and expertise through their focused specialized training to guide their senior clients in the buying and selling processes of both residential and investment real estate properties with their specific and unique goals at the forefront. These include all of the major lifestyle and financial transitions of all stages of life.
Types of Senior Housing
If you are considering a move to a senior housing...
As if you couldn't love Santa Cruz any more with its unique atmosphere and culture there are plenty of fun community Halloween events to enjoy with your whole family. Here's what's happening in Santa Cruz for Halloween in 2022.
The iconic Santa Cruz boardwalk amusement park is full of spooky fun for Halloween weekend. Come out on October 30 from noon to 7 PM and purchase a trick-or-treat package. You can either purchase your tickets the day of or in advance. Each ticket holder will receive a bag for trick-or-treating throughout the boardwalk area and a $10 my boardwalk card to enjoy the park. The boardwalk card can be used any day you wish.
There is also a costume contest open for participants of all ages and prizes are awarded for various different categories. Those looking for something extra spooky can enjoy the fright walk
This event takes place on October 22 starting at 4 PM. It is a favorite fall tradition among Santa Cruz locals. Families come and enjoy the bounce house and face painting along with live music and food and of course plenty of trick-or-treating opportunities. For those looking for a spooky adventure you can check out the haunted forest event at 6:30. Children aged for years and under are free and tickets are $20 per person for all other guests.
Public parks are an asset to any city town county etc. But they are especially awesome if they have a playground where kids can get outside and have some fun. There's nothing better than a beautiful local park that both you and your child can enjoy and maybe meet up a friend or two.
Here are some great Santa Cruz parks that have fun playgrounds for your kids
Ocean View Park
Ocean view park can be found at 102 Ocean View Ave. in Santa Cruz. The park features a half basketball court, playground, picnic tables, an Offleash dog area, open grassy space, paved walkways, and public restrooms.
The play structure at ocean view park features many slides including long open slides and enclosed tubular slides. It is a fun play area with plenty of climbing structures and swings as well. If your child loves to slide this is definitely the place to take them. It is also welcoming for the entire family even the furry members with an off-leash dog area.
Anna Jean Cummings Park
Anna Jean Cummings Park is located at 461 old San Jose Road just outside of the official boundaries of Santa Cruz in Soquel. The park has a very large place structure and is widely popular with families as the park to go to you. In addition to a huge play structure, is a picnic area, walking trails, public art installations, baseball fields, and soccer fields. This just might become your child's favorite park as the structure is so large it is...
Santa Cruz Harbor is one of the most beautiful and popular spots to enjoy the beauty and shoreline of the city of Santa Cruz California. The harbor has over 1000 slips on Monterey Bay and is hugely popular for sailing.
You can either take out your own personal sailing vessel or you can hop aboard a public or private cruise in the harbor. There are many different companies ready to take you out on the water to enjoy one of the favorite and most popular water activities in the city of Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz Sailing Charters for Hire
Chardonnay Sailing Charters
The Chardonnay Sailing Charters Company offers daily cruises in both Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. They offer both public and private charters. Some of their most popular featured tours include the Sunset Sail in Santa Cruz and the pizza cruise.
Chardonnay Sailing Charters takes guests out on the Santa Cruz 70-foot sailing yacht. It is a popular sailboat among racing enthusiasts. The hull and the sail of this ship are designed for speed but it also offers many inboard amenities that other racing yachts do not. These boats have plenty of comfortable top-side seating for guests to enjoy their cruise while taking in the sights and wildlife. Taking a cruise with Chardonnay Sailing Charters is fun for members of all ages of the family and for locals and tourists alike.
O'Neill Yacht Charters
Climb aboard a 65-foot Team O'Neill catamaran and experience a fun day of sailing the waters of Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. You can book either a public charter or a private charter. Check out the calendar...
One of the most popular places to hang out in Santa Cruz is the Santa Cruz wharf. The Santa Cruz wharf stretches over half a mile and is known as the longest timber pier in the United States. This is a popular area to take a leisurely stroll while enjoying the sights of the water and other beachgoers. If you stay long enough you may even catch a whale or a dolphin out in the water. It is also prime territory to watch surfers in Santa Cruz.
In addition to hanging out near the water, you can also grab a bite to eat at one of the nine restaurants along the Santa Cruz wharf. Read further to get more information on each of the Santa Cruz wharf restaurants.
Santa Cruz Wharf Restaurants
The Dolphin
The Dolphin offers a classic diner atmosphere at the end of the Santa Cruz wharf. This restaurant serves breakfast lunch and dinner just a half mile offshore in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The Dolphin has long been a favorite of Santa Cruz locals and as such has become popular with visitors as well. They have indoor seating as well as outdoor seating on what some call the best patio on the wharf. There's even a walk-up window to easily order without leaving the beach. The Dolphin is open seven days a week 8 AM until they decide to close.
Gilda's Family Restaurant
Gilda's has been in Santa Cruz for more than 50 years. They are located centrally in the wharf area just across from the famous boardwalk. Some of the favorite foods include classic fresh fish entrées, plates of pasta, and comfort food favorites that they refer to as Prairie...
Santa Cruz is home to many of the best things in California, including some great coffee shops. Most Santa Cruz coffee shops can be found along the San Lorenzo River and the Westside. Some say that strolling along the river will bring you to Downtown Santa Cruz's bursting coffee scene that gives a sort of European sidewalk cafe atmosphere. On the Westside you may find more of a modern coffee house with a minimalistic design aesthetic.
Here is a List of Some of the Most Popular Coffee Spots in Santa Cruz
This has been a Santa Cruz fixture since 1978, even before fancy lattes were a thing. You can find Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting along the river downtown. They are loved for their fair trade coffee responsibly sourced and their brew bar of hand-poured coffees made in small batches.
There is more than one Verve Coffee in Santa Cruz, there are four to be exact. You can find them at Pleasure Point, Pacific Avenue, and the Westside. Verve is known for its seasonal coffee flavors serving up just what you are in the mood for at the perfect time. Everything is locally roasted and purchased directly from the farm. Some of Verve's regulars suggest trying the cappuccino.
11th Hour Coffee brings a unique experience to Santa Cruz. Come in for some coffee, hang out for a bit and enjoy a waffle, and before you leave purchase a new plant to take home. This local shop prides itself on being grassroots but able to...
A favorite fall activity of many people is to settle in at home as the skies turn dark at an earlier hour and the weather turns a bit colder and watch a spooky movie. A great movie to watch on your fall fun movie nights with a cup of warm apple cider and some popcorn is The Lost Boys. Much of the movie was filmed in Santa Cruz.
About the Film The Lost Boys
The Lost Boys was released in 1987. The name is inspired by Peter Pan and his group of friends who call themselves the lost boys. It is meant to show that Vampires never age. The story is about two boys moving to a fictional town in California with their mom. They move in with their eccentric grandpa after their mother's divorce.
The boys decide to hang out at the town's boardwalk (the iconic Santa Cruz boardwalk) which they find is wallpapered with posters of missing persons. As Micheal becomes intrigued by a girl he sees on the boardwalk dating a leader of a local gang, Sam the younger brother, meets two vampire hunters in the local comic book store.
Micheal the older brother ends up hanging out with the members of the gang and gets involved in vampire activity without realizing it. Sam soon discovers Michael's plight as he begins the transition after trying to attack his little brother. Sam then begins to look for ways to help his brother reverse the transition into a vampire.
When You are Done Watching the Movie Take a Lost Boys Tour in Santa Cruz
It is fun to discover all of the places the movie was actually filmed and walk through them and recognize them from the movie....
If you are looking for something unique to the Santa Cruz area to experience, checking out Roaring Camp Railroads train rides through the redwood forest is a great option.
Riding a train through the redwood forest in the Santa Cruz mountains gives you a whole different perspective on this beautiful outdoor area. The train tracks were built in the 19th century and the 19th-century logging steam train was originally used to haul giant redwood logs down from the mountains. This is a fun experience that anyone at any age will enjoy from the youngest toddler to the wisest and most experienced of us all.
Daily Train Rides
The historic steam train will take you on a tour up Bear Mountain while the conductor tells the story of the roaring camp railroads' history. They will share how Graham settled in the area in the 1830s and his settlement became known as Roaring Camp. They will share the tale of establishing a sawmill, the first one west of the Mississippi. Come hear the interesting and rich history in greater detail and learn about the amazing historic trains that traveled along the gorgeous tracks up to Bear Mountain.
Upcoming Events
Labor Day Weekend Fun
September 3-5 spend Labor Day weekend in the town of Roaring Camp for family-friendly activities and live music. You can take a train ride into the town either from the redwood forest steam train or the Santa Cruz beach train. Activities include tug-of-war, a three-legged race, corn hole, kids club activities, and a balloon toss.
Moonlight Dinner Parties
Enjoy four hours of fun with...
There's so much to love about the city of Santa Cruz and one of the favorites is the five different farmers' markets around Santa Cruz County. These markets have the best produce from all around the region as well as several other amazing locally made goods. In addition to being able to purchase the best items in the area, some markets offer live entertainment and freshly made entrees to come grab a meal.
Here's some more information about each of Santa Cruz's farmer's markets
Downtown
The downtown Santa Cruz farmers market may be the most recognized farmers market in Santa Cruz. It takes place year-round on Wednesdays from 1 to 6 in May through October and from 1 to 5 PM in November through April. It is Santa Cruz's largest and longest-running market located in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz just one block off of Pacific Avenue.
This farmers market has been in business for a very long time and showcases many of the farms in the area that are staples for organic and ecological farming in the area. It is an excellent source of fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as pastured meats and local fresh flowers.
The downtown market is also said to be one of the best places to enjoy a diverse selection of ethnic foods. You can find authentic dishes from Naan and Curry to traditional Italian cookies and El Salvadorian pupusas.
Felton
The Felton farmers market runs through a portion of the year from May to October from 1 to 6 PM on Tuesdays at 120 Russell Ave. This is a highly anticipated weekly event during the spring, summer, and early fall that has been running for over 30 years. Some of the local residents of Santa Cruz make sure that they come out to the market every week and...
There are so many amazing and fun things to do in Santa Cruz and one of the best ways to spend a summer afternoon is to take a trip down to the Penny Ice Creamery. You will find ice cream like no other in this unique locally owned ice cream shop. It is one of the favorite places to grab a cold treat on a hot summer day in Santa Cruz.
About the Penny Ice Creamery in Santa Cruz
Everything served at Penny Ice in Santa Cruz is made from scratch. All of the ingredients are local seasonal and organic. Penny Ice uses fresh local ingredients combined in small batches to create some of the most unique Artisanal ice cream flavors you have never tried before. Penny Ice is one of the smallest dairy manufacturing plants in the state using all organic dairy and sustainably grown ingredients. You can watch them make the ice cream right inside the shop.
Penny Ice was founded by Chef Kendra L Baker with her business partner Zachary E Davis. They enjoy being open with the entire process of their clean ingredients and artisan ice creams. They take pride in showing the public and each customer exactly what is going into their ice cream. They take a lot of care in sourcing every single ingredient in their products so that they can say that everything is 100% from scratch.
This is the only ice cream shop in Santa Cruz that is a licensed pasteurizer therefore they do not have to purchase premixed ice cream for their base but can make it right on site for the most amazing flavorful ice cream.
Their Products
The Penny Ice offers seasonal flavors that rotate throughout the year dependent upon what local ingredients are readily available to combine the most unique...
Santa Cruz has many fun activities to keep you and your little ones entertained all summer long. Besides the apparent beach-going and water activities, there are many other things to explore.
The Museum of Art and History, located conveniently in the heart of downtown, features a variety of activities and attractions during the summer months. Exhibits are fun for the whole family and change every few weeks.
The Santa Cruz skating rink is located in midtown. You can bring your kids for a few hours of skating or reserve the whole space for birthday parties and special events.
The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is dedicated to raising awareness about how to care for the world’s oceans. You can take your family on a tour of a real marine research facility. You can pet sharks, see moon jellies, and admire a life-size sculpture of a gray whale.
You can also jump aboard a 60-foot luxury charter boat and get ready to look for sea creatures in style. From May to November, look out for humpback whales, which make Monterey Bay their feeding ground. December through April, be prepared to see gray whales. The tours last three to four hours and are narrated by the ship crew.
...
Best Beaches in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz County is home to some of the best beaches on the West Coast. There are miles of uninterrupted sand with beautiful sunsets. Santa Cruz beaches have something for everyone. Some are favorites with tourists due to proximity to hotels and shopping while others tend to be local favorites. Here are some of the best Santa Cruz beaches to visit.
MAIN/COWELL’S BEACH
Main Beach is the beach in front of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Cowell’s Beach is Main Beach’s neighbor to the north, just on the opposite side of the wharf.
ITS BEACH (DOG BEACH)
Often referred to as Dog Beach, Its Beach does technically allow dogs, but they’re supposed to be on leashes and only on the beach at certain hours.
NATURAL BRIDGES BEACH
Natural Bridges is home to picturesque views, photo ops, and tide-pooling., Natural Bridges State Park is best known for playing host to thousands of Monarch Butterflies who migrate here each fall.
AÑO NUEVO STATE PARK
The beach at Año Nuevo State Park is located in the picturesque town of Pescadero, the beach is most known for its protected colony of elephant seals that migrate specifically to this spot each year.
...
Considering a Move to Santa Cruz?
GREAT! Here's why!
There are very few places where you can surf world-class waves before breakfast, hike among giant redwoods in the morning, enjoy a gourmet organic lunch, and work on your Ph.D. Santa Cruz, CA is one of those rare places. This city has about 62,000 people on the Pacific coast of northern California and enjoys 250 days of sunshine annually to enjoy one of the world’s great surfing beaches. It’s also nestled next to the Santa Cruz Mountains, where spectacular hiking trails afford sweeping views of the ocean.
There’s the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Whale watching. The longest wooden wharf in the country. A delightful boardwalk complete with a roller coaster. A vibrant downtown with historic architecture, a thriving culinary scene, and an arts community.
Given the presence of UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz scored unsurprisingly high as an educational community. A highly rated public school system includes nationally recognized public and charter high schools such as Pacific Collegiate, one of the nation’s top schools. Secondary school students can pursue a degree right at home, either at UCSC, which offers 65 undergraduate majors and 41 grad programs, or the well-respected Cabrillo College.
Santa Cruz’s health care also received high marks, which Collins credits significantly to an emphasis on preventive health and wellness options.
Housing, which also ranked high among Santa Cruz’s strengths, offers varied options but tends to be expensive. The average home price...
Santa Cruz is known for its natural beauty, world class. The sleepy Northern California town also has some of the most delicious restaurants along the Monterey Bay coastline. You can find yourself at peace on a cliff overlooking the ocean. You can get the heart pumping while climbing up and down the Aptos hills or biking around town working up an appetite, then you can stroll along the streets downtown and indulge in a tasty meal or dessert.
Santa Cruz has something for everyone, and when it comes to the best Santa Cruz restaurants. in fact, the hard part is deciding where to eat in Santa Cruz. It should be no surprise that the food options in Santa Cruz will include vegan, vegetarian, and other earth-conscious food. California is generally known for its progressivism, particularly in the environmental and health movements of the US, and Santa Cruz especially so!
#1-You will find Asian-fusion food, street food style at Charlie Hong Kong’s. They offer vegan and gluten-free options, plus they make sustainability a part of their everyday business practices.
#2-The lovely Cafe Gratitude...
The Museum of Natural history in Santa Cruz is the first museum dating back to 1904 with the founding collection of Santa Cruz lighthouse keeper and naturalist, Laura Hecox. The Museum features educational, hands-on exhibits for children, families, and adults who are curious about the world they live in and the natural history of one of the most scenic locations on the California coast.
The Museum traces its beginnings to the late 1800s and the collection of naturalist Laura Hecox. Miss Hecox was born in Santa Cruz in 1854 and from childhood had a keen interest in the natural sciences. Her parents, Adna and Margaret Hecox traveled overland from Illinois to California in 1846 and settled in Santa Cruz the following year. In 1869 Mr. Hecox was appointed keeper of the original Santa Cruz Lighthouse and took up residence there with his wife and family.
The museum opened on August 21, 1905. There were displays of dried sea stars and crustaceans, Indian baskets and mortars, Eskimo artifacts, minerals, agates, gems, petrified woods, coral, bird nests and eggs, turtle and tortoise carapaces, and several cases of shells, including two hundred local species. The Hecox collection remained at the library until about 1917 when it was moved to the new Santa Cruz High School. The Crafts House, home of the Museum from 1930 to 1954, was located behind the present Museum where there is now an amphitheater.
In 1984 the Museum built outdoor exhibit kiosks on the Santa Cruz Wharf featuring marine life, fishing, and wharf history. In 1986 the Surfing Museum was established as a satellite facility at the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse. The fascinating displays of old surfboards and historical photographs attract 70,000 visitors each year.
In 2009, to avert closure...
$1 million might not go as far as it used to but that's not so much a surprise in the California market. People are moving out of the big cities such as LA, San Diego, and San Francisco into smaller suburbs, especially those looking for a more laid-back lifestyle, specifically along the water. This is why places like Santa Cruz, Davenport, Live Oak and Rio Del Mar becoming so popular.
Santa Cruz spreads out along the coastline to places like Pleasure Point, Opal Cliffs, and Capitola, all offering similar real estate markets and homes. Here's which are likely to get for $1 million in the Santa Cruz real estate market.
$965,000
Townhouse in Santa Cruz – almost 1500 ft.², two-bedroom and 2 1/2 bath, updated, and one of only 10 townhouses in this convenient and private corner of downtown. It was built in 1990 Tennessee multiple upgrades. This move-in-ready home also has homeowner association dues of about $358. When looking at a townhouse, you do have those HOA fees which will cover common area maintenance, building maintenance, management, and possible amenities. HOA fees may also cover certain utilities.
$1,025,000
Four $1,025,000 is a one bedroom and...
A fairly common and important fact to research when considering a new place to live is the crime rate. This is especially important if you are moving with a family that has little ones and you want to ensure they are growing up in a safe neighborhood. No need to sugar coat it; you want to know and here's the truth.
Santa Cruz has a slightly higher crime rate than the average US city. This only applies to the proper boundaries. The rate of crime is 39 per 1,000 residents in one year. The northern part of Santa Cruz is considered to be the safest.
Your chance of being a victim of a crime is 1 in 13 in the northwest neighborhoods or as low as 1 in 40 in the north part of the city. You can determine this information by looking at a crime map. When you are looking at a crime map you want to remember that the rate of crime may appear inflated due to people visiting the area during the day. This is all dependent on the retail establishments and how busy the central part of a city is. If a city includes airports, parks, or schools, there is almost always a higher crime rate, especially if it is in a more metropolitan or lower-income area.
Crimes that are commonly seen in Santa Cruz are assault and robbery when it comes to violence crimes. You can also note that there is theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. In 2020, the crime rate in Santa Cruz fell from the previous year and this trend seems to be showing positive growth in that area.
The decrease in these crimes was mainly in the more violent crimes. The Santa Cruz Police Chief has said it is important to look deeper...
The Santa Cruz Mission is formerly a Spanish mission located in Santa Cruz, CA. This mission was the 12th mission out of the 21 California Missions. It is the only mission not named after a person. Santa Crux means Sacred Cross, which is an important symbol in the Roman Catholic Church.
The mission was founded on August 28, 1791, and is named for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Christianity. It is in the bluff in the city of Santa Cruz near the San Lorenzo River. Where it is located is now called the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. It features a structure with a water fountain and park grounds. This is located in a large residential area.
The mission is actually the second mission built because the first one was flooded and forced Father Lasuen to relocate to higher ground. The new mission became known as the Hard Luck Mission because the disease had swept through the area that wiped out about half of the population in the area. We often view missions as peaceful and tranquil grounds, but oftentimes we don't know the historical past of the grounds.
There is a garden behind the mission and the original hand-carved baptismal front that was once located in the sanctuary is in the garden. The garden produces goods such as wheat, barley, corn, beans, peas, lentils. There is also an oil painting of the Virgen de Guadalupe that is from 1797. The chapel is smaller and inviting for baptisms and small weddings.
One of the popular viewing points is through the gothic arches at the front. The mission was once...
Known for its beautiful and expansive beaches along with its surf and laid-back culture, Santa Cruz is a dream place to settle down and a vacation destination. The land and area known as Santa Cruz was founded in 1769 by Spanish explorer Don Gaspar. He called the area Santa Cruz which means holy cross. The famous mission at Santa Cruz was established in 1791 and was founded by the Spanish as one of the civil settlements or pueblos in California.
Santa Cruz is known as a beach town with one of the most touristy spots as the boardwalk and fishing pier. Besides the seaside scenery, there is so much more to this beautiful area. There is a historical mission and a quaint downtown. It is close to Monterey Bay and also boasts of ocean views. There is a huge marine environment to view as they play in the deep blue waters.
Surfers can often catch a glimpse of marine life. Santa Cruz is known for its outdoor activities with coastal hiking trails. You can find hiking trails in most places, but not coastal hiking trails. The best are found in Wilder Ranch State Park. This park is known for its beautiful hummingbirds and access to the Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
The cultural lifestyle is what attracts many to Santa Cruz.
There are Shakespeare performances, surfing museums, and the historical mission that you can visit and attend. The boardwalk activities include all the summertime fun you can imagine such as rides, games, attractions, bike riding, painting, and fishing. What you probably didn't know about Santa Cruz is that it is the birthplace of mainland surfing. This is where they used surfing boards that were made from redwood planks. Santa Cruz is also home to California's oldest beach resort...
