If you have just moved to Santa Cruz County or are considering a move to Santa Cruz County you may be wondering what there is to do at this time of year. Getting to know an area and getting acquainted with it to help you get comfortable in your new home or learn about the area to decide if you want to move is important. One way to get to know the culture of an area is to discover what events are happening. Here is a list of 2023 holiday events in Santa Cruz County to help you get to know the area.

Winter Wonderland on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

It wouldn't be a list of Santa Cruz events without highlighting what is going on at the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The boardwalk has been around for many decades and is a center of activity in the city of Santa Cruz. Get acquainted with the boardwalk and with the culture of the beach area in Santa Cruz by checking out the holiday festival that happens every year on the boardwalk. This year the festival will run between November 23 and December 31 on special days.

Different festive activities include photos with Santa, delicious seasonal treats, fire pit rentals and s'mores making, and a special winter wonderland package which includes special seasonal fun happening at the boardwalk. You don't want to miss the mini Nutcracker performances on the colonnade stage on December 2 and 3. The roaming carolers are also a lot of fun and they will be on the boardwalk on December 10 and 11th.

Holiday Lights at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds...

If you are relocating to Santa Cruz you are probably trying to find out everything you can about the city to help you determine if this is ultimately the move that you would like to make. When it comes to the city of Santa Cruz there is a lot to love and people who have lived here their whole life find new things to fall in love with every day. If you are someone that enjoys breakfast as your favorite meal of the day and really likes to get out for a special breakfast once in a while there are plenty of places to get a good breakfast in Santa Cruz.

Let us hope you find your new favorite breakfast spot in your new home. Whether you like to discover a new place every time or you want to find that new comforting spot that you frequent once a week or a couple of times a month here is a list of the best breakfast places in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz's best breakfast spots

The Buttery

OK let's just start off with the name alone who doesn't like butter? The name itself offers us something promising. If you are someone who loves a good comforting sweeter side to breakfast this is the place to stop. The Buttery is a long-running bakery and Café in the Seabright area of Santa Cruz. They have been here since 1984. This is not just an amazing place for breakfast but a great place to stop anytime you need a sweet homemade-style baked good. In addition to sweet treats or sandwiches, coffees and teas, and savory breakfast options. Give your breakfast experience a boost by choosing to dine...

Santa Cruz is a popular town on the Monterey Bay coastline in central California. It is well-liked for many reasons and well-known for several attributes. Besides the surfing culture, it is known as a town with a friendly atmosphere and a great arts scene. What makes Santa Cruz calm and creative? Science says it could be the water. 

Living Near the Water Can Make a Person Calm and Creative

From the earliest recorded history, humans have attributed healing properties to natural bodies of water. For example, the early Romans looked at bathing as highly important and made a relaxing bath part of the cultural norms. Romans took a soak not only alone but with others as a form of relaxation and a good way to take time to connect with others in a calm setting. 

Using water to restore the mind body and soul was not just used in Roman culture it was also a huge part of care in Chinese medicine, Indian medicine, and many others. Water symbolized a sacred space, a place of rebirth, and a source of spiritual cleansing and salvation.

In today's culture, the water holds an equal level of popularity. Homes on the water are highly desirable, vacations to an island oasis are seen as the ultimate dream getaway, and water sports never seem to lose their popularity. Need to relax? Many people picture a soak in the hot tub or a nice warm bath. 

Water gives the mind rest from overstimulation

In today's technology-driven age, humans are bombarded in every different direction by stimuli and can easily become overstimulated. The human brain needs...

Santa Cruz is full of some of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in the country and this is part of the reason why it continues to be such a desirable place to live. If you are trying to learn more about Santa Cruz while you are considering a move here, you need to check out some of the best places in the city to enjoy the outdoors and natural beauty of Santa Cruz. 

Santa Cruz's Best Outdoor Viewpoints

West Cliff Drive

When people think of a scenic California coastal drive the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) often comes to mind. But this is probably because they have not taken a drive down West Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz. It is the best place to experience sea cliffs high above the bay. The road winds from Natural Bridges State Park to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum two more great spots to help you experience and fall in love with Santa Cruz. 

You can experience West Cliff Drive by car or on foot. There are many pathways that line the cliffs and walking is the popular activity here. It is a great way to take your time here and drink in all the beauty of the shoreline. It's especially amazing at sunset. 

Lookout Trail in Pogonip Park

When people think of a scenic viewpoint they often picture a spot at a high elevation...

If you have just moved to Santa Cruz or are checking out what there is to do in the Santa Cruz area as you consider a move here, you may be looking for some fun things to do. Check out this list of great events for foodies in Santa Cruz this October. Who doesn't love a fun time featuring some great food? 

Santa Cruz County October Foodie Events By Date

Friday, October 20

Vine to View Dinner featuring Calerrain Wines

The dinner is hosted by the restaurant at Chaminade Resort. The View will serve a four-course meal focused on wine pairings of the fantastic wines of Gilroy's Calerrain Wines. The Chaminade Resort and Spa is located at 1 Chaminade Lane in Santa Cruz. The Vine to View Dinner will start a at 6 pm and ends at 9 pm. Tickets are $100 per person. 

The Mountain Affair

An event at Casa Nostra restaurant offering an elegant fine dining experience with great food, local wine, and live music. The Mountain Affair event is a fundraiser for the Mountain Community Resources nonprofit that provides services to San Lorenzo Valley residents. Casa Nostra is located at 9217 Highway...

The city of Santa Cruz has plans for expanding the downtown area of Santa Cruz and is beginning its planning by seeking input from those who live in Santa Cruz. They have begun their efforts by conducting an online survey and study to ask people in Santa Cruz what they think of the proposed plans for expanding the downtown area.

This initial downtown expansion project has plans of taking 29 acres south of Laurel Street and restructuring to make room for a 4-acre sports arena and an unspecified number of high-rise apartment buildings. This would displace the current businesses and homes that are already in the area. Without the projected revenue from the proposed new residential high-rise apartments building a new arena would not be economically feasible. The city is asking for insight from community members and is asking for opinions about the redevelopment of this area of downtown Santa Cruz.

Currently, the survey is only open until September 1 and is available in English and Spanish taking about 15 minutes to complete. The city says it plans to take the input gathered from this survey as well as hold a public community meeting about project plans later in September or October. They will use these insights as they make their decisions for restructuring this area of Santa Cruz.

Last year there was a proposal for the construction of 175-foot-high residential buildings which would be roughly 16 stories. When this plan was originally proposed there was pushback from the public which has led to the city Council attempting to scale back the original plans to include residential buildings with a height of 12 stories. These plans were amended and reconfigured at the beginning of 2023. The reconsideration...

Monterey Bay is located on the central coastline of the state of California. This coastal area offers some of the most amazing views and beautiful beaches in California. And just a little inland you will find some of the most gorgeous forested areas full of towering redwood trees and amazing hiking trails that bring you back to views of the beach.

We may be biased but this is quite possibly the best spot to settle into in the entire state of California. Who wouldn't want to be able to wake up with the sound of the crashing waves and the sun kissing their face? Even if you were just a few minutes inland from the shore you can be at the beach in minutes. The Monterey Bay area of California has some of the most amazing beach towns to settle into. Here are some of our favorites.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is possibly the most notable town on California's Monterey Bay coastline. Is most notable for its surfing culture when it comes to the water and is the spot of one of the most iconic and longest-standing boardwalks in America. If you love to surf this is the place to settle into as the surf culture in Santa Cruz earned it the name of the original "Surf City" in America. Santa Cruz is home to many point breaks and short breaks and is what some would say is the best surfing spot in America.

Taking a trip into the quaint downtown area of Santa Cruz will bring you into an artsy and relaxed...

Are you looking for a home in the Santa Cruz area nicely tucked into the woods near countless opportunities to enjoy the mountains and get outdoors, yet not too far removed from the best beaches in California and all within a decent commute to work? Then the Woods Cove neighborhood is worth a look. 

Where is Woods Cove? 

You can find Woods Cove just off Graham Hill Road in the Scotts Valley area of Santa Cruz County. This area was once part of Henry Cowell's land along with all of the land that the college UC Santa Cruz sits on. You can find it neighboring the horse show grounds at Santa Cruz Horseman's Center on Graham Hill Road and is north of the San Lorenzo River which makes up the southern boundary of the community. It is also within walking distance of Henry Cowell Park.

It is a relatively newer residential development that broke ground in 2003 and finished construction around 2005. Homes were built by Standard Pacific Development. The development features luxury properties tucked into the gorgeous wooded area of Santa Cruz County between Scotts Valley and the Pasatiempo Golf Course and neighborhood. 

Homes in Woods Cove

The main developer...

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.

Santa Cruz Museum of National History

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. The locals of Santa Cruz know it as...

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 community you may have several questions...

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.

Halloween at the Boardwalk

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

Annual Fall Festival at Chaminade Resort and Spa

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.

Capitola Village Halloween Parade

If you live in Capitola...

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 hard to get bored here. It is also a great...

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 on the website to discover available...

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 favorites.

...

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

Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting

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. 

Verve Coffee Roasters

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

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 deliver quality that competes with...

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. Take a self-guided movie tour through...

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 the forest steam train at Roaring Camp's...

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 they think of it as a second home. There...

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 and fresh ice cream flavors. Some of...