Santa Cruz in California is no doubt one of the best summer towns in the USA. With the cool sea breeze, rainless summer months, and home to one of the best old school amusement parks, there are so many amazing things to do in Santa Cruz, which makes it the perfect getaway for your family during the summer holidays. But what many people don’t know is that a weekend in Santa Cruz, California is a great adventure any time of year!
In fact, the town, which is quiet throughout the year, gets really busy to the point where most of the hotels and motels got booked out. So, if you’re planning a visit to this lovely summer town, you may be better off during the off season. All of the top Santa Cruz attractions are open year round, plus you will find better rooms and lower prices. If you are considering spending 2 or 3 days in Santa Cruz soon, grab your coffee and read on!
Santa Cruz does have a lovely beach and boardwalk, which we will get to, but this town has a whole lot more to offer. In case you are wondering, I interned in the area for quite some time, and share all of the best beaches in California for a summer vacation. In Santa Cruz, the beach gets a day, but here’s my suggestion for an amazing 3 days in Santa Cruz, California.
3 Days in Santa Cruz –Day 1
For this weekend in Santa Cruz, I assume that you arrive in the morning of Day 1 and leave in the evening on day 3. But since I never mention the time here, you can obviously tailor the itinerary to suit your own plan! I suggest grabbing some take out lunch for picnicking on Day 1, as there really isn’t anywhere to stop and eat, or even pick up something between these attractions.
Wilder Ranch State Park
Upon checking into your hotel in Santa Cruz, I don’t recommend heading directly to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk because I think you’ll need a full day to enjoy everything there. Maybe you’re all pumped up for the adrenaline rush way before you arrive, so feel free to switch between Day 1 and Day 2, but anyway… I suggest heading out to Wilder Ranch State Park.
Wilder Ranch State Park is amazing in terms of the number of short hikes, and the coastal landscape. There are easy trails with brilliant views over the coast. If you’re cycling, this state park also has a few trails for you to tackle. In fact, the San Francisco Chronicle has declared Wilder Ranch to have the best mountain biking in California. Most of the trails can be completed within a few hours, so it’s perfect for the first day.
Right at the entrance, you’ll also find a historic ranch, which features a Victorian farmhouse, and several other historic buildings, with live re-enactments, demonstrations, and free docent led tours on the weekend . If you are into history, it is a great way to learn about early farm life in California.
During my hike there, some hikers told me that they saw a coyote by the trail. As always, be aware of your surroundings while hiking! And remember to bring your own water!
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
On your way back from Wilder Ranch State Park, you’ll pass by Seymour Marine Discovery Center. It’s a community-supported marine science education center of the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC).
Before you get to the entrance, the skeleton of a huge 20-meters blue whale will catch your attention. Right beside it lies a skeleton of a grey whale as well.
What makes this center different is that, instead of showing you exhibitions and stuff, they actually took the effort to let visitors interact and learn things in a more interesting way. You can learn about their research programs, the behaviors of the seals, roles of sea creatures in the ecosystem and more.
I’ve got to say that this is probably one of the best things to do in Santa Cruz with kids, but it is interesting for adults too.
Natural Bridges State Park
If you’re anxious to get closer to the water, luckily Natural Beaches State Park is right next door. However, it does require driving back out to the main road, and then back in to officially get there. While you could walk and cut across, driving the out and about way is the better idea.
On your way into Natural Beaches there is a small visitor center. Stop there so you can check the tides, and find out if butterfly season is “in.” This area is one of Monarch wintering habitats. If you are there at the right time of year, the Monarch Trail cannot be missed during your weekend in Santa Cruz.
Sadly, there is only one of the namesake Natural Bridges left in the state park, but the beach is beautiful, and it is a fantastic place for photos. The beach is actually pretty small here, but it is a pretty place to get your toes in the sand if that is what you have been waiting for.
Santa Cruz Downtown For Dinner
Depending on what time of year you are spending your 3 days in Santa Cruz, you may be having dinner before the sunset, or after it. I definitely suggest planning dinner so that dining doesn’t interfere with your first Pacific sunset of the weekend. Either way, head downtown for dinner.
Downtown Santa Cruz is filled with quirky shops, local art galleries, and unique restaurants. Pacific Avenue is the heart of this district, where you’ll find plenty of spots to enjoy live music and street performances. It gets very busy during the summer, especially in the evening. It often gets very chilly at night due to the cold sea breeze, so bring a jacket any time of year.
The great news for food lovers is that the whole Downtown is filled with restaurants of various cuisines. You can find everything from pizzas, cafes, to Japanese and Korean cuisines here.
And if you have no idea which one to go for, I recommend Woodstock’s Pizza which serves the best pizza, in my opinion, in the entire town.
Enjoy Sunset in West Cliff Lighthouse
Although technically, Santa Cruz is facing south, the atmosphere in West Cliff can get very lively during the sunset hours. Residents having their evening jogs, families having picnics by the beach, and dogs fetching the tennis balls in the sea are all common. You will see this place is one of the local’s favorite Santa Cruz attractions.
Consider renting a JUMP electric bike to bike along the West Cliff trail.
The lighthouse itself is a surfing museum, check it out if you’re visiting before the closing hours.
3 Days in Santa Cruz – Day 2
Have Breakfast in Santa Cruz Wharf
While some of the restaurants in Santa Cruz Wharf open at lunch time, there is a restaurant that I particularly fancy. It’s Dolphin Café, located at the very end of the wharf. They serve the best chowder in town.
The main reason for visiting the wharf in the morning is that you’ll get the chance to see the California Sea Lions lying on the decks below the wharf. And on a good day, you might even find several dozens of them throughout the entire wharf.
They’re so huge, and chubby, makes you feel like squeezing them.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Now, this is the main Santa Cruz attraction and the engine that drives the summer traffic in this very town. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has been around for more than 100 years and is welcoming tens of thousands of visitors every summer. At least one of your 3 days in Santa Cruz should be spent here.
What outsiders don’t know is that the Boardwalk is open all year round, including from 12-7 on weekends and school holidays through the winter months. While the temperatures get cooler, it still climbs into the low 60s most days. A jacket and your adrenaline will keep you going for the fun!
The signature wooden trail roller coaster, the Giant Dipper has been around for more than 100 years and is still operating as the main ride now.
If you’ve watched Bumblebee or Us, you might be familiar with this place. If you are a bit older, you may remember it from The Lost Boys.
Other than the 40+ amazing rides in the park, you’ll also find all sorts of old school stalls selling snacks like corndogs, popcorns, ice creams, turkey legs, and more. And did I mention the game stall?
For this, I recommend visiting in the morning if you wish to try most of the rides there, at least in the summer. That’s because the queues can get very long at noon, all the way until evening.
If amusement parks are not your thing, then read on for the alternatives!
3 Days in Santa Cruz – Day 2 Alternatives
Take The Sailing Tour
The sailing tours in Santa Cruz bring you to the Monterey Bay. This is where you’ll most likely be seeing whales. In fact, it’s not really difficult to see the whales in this area, because they’re just so plentiful.
Well, I would say the main point of the sailing tours is whale watching, but you’ll also see a flock of shearwater birds migrating between California and New Zealand, and sea lions easily. Go check out O’Neill Yacht Charters or Chardonnay Sailing Charters.
The only thing I didn’t like is the freezing sea breeze, which gets worse when the boat travels fast.
Defying Law of Physics in Mystery Spot
As the name suggests, this attraction is mysterious, as in the law of physics doesn’t work quite the same way as you’re used to. Located in the redwood forests, the seemingly strange phenomenon was discovered back in 1939 and later opened to the public for visit in 1940.
Remember to make a booking before you go, as it gets busy during the summer, and sometimes got fully booked out. There’ll be a tour guide to explain and demo everything you see inside the compound.
Visit The Mystery Spot website here for more information on the opening hours! It’s fun for all ages!
Make Your Own Tie-dye Shirts
What’s better than to dye your own shirts with your favorite colors and pattern? Well, you can do that in A Brighter World in Santa Cruz!
Located in the Downtown, you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of tie-dye shirts on the rack. Or if you prefer, you can try to dye your own shirts with a little help from the staff.
You don’t necessarily have to buy the shirt you dyed, but I can’t think of a reason to not take that shirt home with you. It makes the perfect souvenir of your weekend in Santa Cruz. If you are not from the US, you may be wondering what’s a tie-dye shirt. You’ve probably seen them before, but didn’t know what they were called r how they were made. Now you know!
3 Days in Santa Cruz – Day 3
Take the Roaring Camp Railroads
During your visit to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, you might notice that giant old school train stopping at the entrance. If not, you’ll probably see the track of the train there.
And that’s the very track of the Roaring Camp Railroads. The train takes you from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk all the way to Felton on a 3-hours round trip. This is one of the oldest historic lines in California, and mustn’t be missed on your first weekend in Santa Cruz.
Back in 1875, this train was used to carry timber, picnickers, and tourists to the Big Trees. From the Boardwalk, you’ll pass through the steel truss bridge built in 1909, San Lorenzo River Gorge, and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park before arriving in the Roaring Camp in Felton.
And if you need more information for booking the train, just go ahead and ask the guest service center in the Boardwalk. They have the flyers over there.
Grab a Dessert in Penny’s Ice Creamery
Ever wondered how ice cream was made? Located at the Downtown, it’s the only ice cream shop that makes ice cream from scratch in the house. If you visit at the right moment, you’ll be able to observe the process of ice cream making right in front of your eyes.
With all-organic ingredients, you’ll have a variety of choices to choose from.
Go ahead and grab this wonderful summer dessert while escaping the heat if you visit in summer. Even if you visit in the off-season, there is always room for ice cream!
Join the Wine Tasting Tour
If winery and brewery tours are more of your thing, then joining the wine tasting tours might not be a bad idea. Since it’s a less popular activity, you can take your time to decide whether you should go for one.
There aren’t many tour providers for this activity, but the most well-known one would be The Santa Cruz Experience. Psst, you’ll also get access to wineries which are not open to the public as well!
Wrapping It Up -Your Weekend in Santa Cruz
So how does this 3 day Santa Cruz itinerary sound? I think this town has something for everyone.
By the way, there are quite a few more things to do in Santa Cruz that we haven’t even talked about. So if you are considering spending more than 3 days in Santa Cruz, you will find enough to fill your time.
Other Things to Do in Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park: Learn about the area’s pre-Colonial history by visiting the remnants of Mission Santa Cruz, one of California’s 21 Spanish missions. The park includes a restored adobe building and exhibits on the area’s Native American and Spanish history.
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Explore towering redwoods, some over 1,500 years old, just a short drive from downtown Santa Cruz. The park offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and serene views of ancient trees, perfect for nature lovers.
- Capitola Village: Visit this charming seaside village just a few miles from Santa Cruz. Capitola offers colorful beachfront cottages, boutique shops, and cozy cafes. The Capitola Beach is a great spot for sunbathing or paddleboarding.
- Shark Fin Cove: A hidden gem located near Davenport, just a short drive from Santa Cruz. Shark Fin Cove is a picturesque beach surrounded by cliffs with stunning rock formations, perfect for photography and a peaceful retreat from the more crowded beaches.
- Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Country: While your itinerary already includes a wine tour, the Santa Cruz Mountains are dotted with small, family-run vineyards offering intimate wine tastings and scenic views. Consider exploring Ridge Vineyards or Big Basin Vineyards if you’re looking for a more secluded experience.
- UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanic Garden: Discover a wide range of plants from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and California at this expansive arboretum. It’s a great spot for a peaceful walk through beautifully curated gardens, offering views of the Monterey Bay.
These additional attractions offer an array of experiences for visitors, ranging from outdoor adventures and historical sites to unique cultural experiences. Whether you’re into nature, history, or just soaking in the local vibes, Santa Cruz has plenty more to discover beyond the main tourist spots!
I hope you’ll make some amazing summer memories in Santa Cruz, California!
Looking for Other Weekend Destinations?
Perhaps you loved your 3 days in Santa Cruz so much you want to experience more fantastic getaways. Or, maybe Santa Cruz isn’t exactly what you’re looking for. Try these fun destinations:
- A Whirlwind Weekend in San Francisco
- A Day in Yosemite
- A Weekend in Trinidad, CA (Coming Soon)
- Fabulous Southern California Weekend Getaways
- A Weekend in Sacramento (Coming Soon)
- Redwood National and State Parks
- A San Francisco to the Redwoods Road Trip
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About the Author
Yen is a full-time university student who always takes full advantages of his holidays to travel for new experiences. He’s been to New Zealand for Working Holiday before having his road trip, volunteered in Kathmandu, Nepal and exchanged in California along with several backpacking trips through Southeast Asia. Having spent months in foreign countries, he gives in-depth travel tips and guides in his travel blog, Wandering Journal. You can also find Yen on the Wandering Journal Facebook page, and on Instagram!
