Guidebook for Bonny Doon and Santa Cruz
Sightseeing
Davenport beach
446 CA-1Beautiful beach
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrBeautiful scenery
One of the oldest boardwalks in California. Everyone goes there.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StOne of the oldest boardwalks in California. Everyone goes there.
The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot RdTo bend your mind
Food Scene
A popular local restaurant with high quality continental food, including local seafood.
47 locals recommend
Avanti Restaurant
1917 Mission StA popular local restaurant with high quality continental food, including local seafood.
Bantam
1010 Fair AveVery hip west side California cuisine restaurant. Try the pizza.
Great wines and tasting room, and right next door! I recommend the chardonnays and pinots, but other wines are good too.
32 locals recommend
Beauregard Vineyard
10 Pine Flat RdGreat wines and tasting room, and right next door! I recommend the chardonnays and pinots, but other wines are good too.
Cowboy Bar & Grill
6265 CA-9Great American/Mexican Food
Davenport Roadhouse
1 Davenport AveClosest upscale dining
Duarte's Tavern
202 Stage Rd3rd generation classic local restaurant
Coffeetopia
1723 Mission StreetFor good coffee and Santa Cruz coffee culture
Out in the boondocks near Watsonville, but famous for their many pies. If you go, have a Mexican meal in Watsonville too.
46 locals recommend
Gizdich Ranch
55 Peckham RdOut in the boondocks near Watsonville, but famous for their many pies. If you go, have a Mexican meal in Watsonville too.
Laili
101 Cooper StUpscale mediterranean food
Surfrider Cafe
429 Front StFor the Santa Cruz vibe
Hip new local eatery in the west side of town with good drinks, good food and good vibe.
32 locals recommend
Venus Spirits
200 High RdHip new local eatery in the west side of town with good drinks, good food and good vibe.
Another refined boutique California cuisine restaurant with a sophisticated menu, on the West side of Santa Cruz.
6 locals recommend
Vim Dining and Desserts
2238 Mission StAnother refined boutique California cuisine restaurant with a sophisticated menu, on the West side of Santa Cruz.
Good pies and sandwiches; across the street from Davenport Beach
21 locals recommend
Whale City Bakery
490 CA-1Good pies and sandwiches; across the street from Davenport Beach
Parks & Nature
Ano Nuevo State Park
Elephant seal babies on the beach in January and February!
For the Redwoods! (But many trees and facilities were burned down due to the fires in 2020.)
230 locals recommend
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
21600 Big Basin WayFor the Redwoods! (But many trees and facilities were burned down due to the fires in 2020.)
1 mile from our place, very few people, and great views of the ocean and bay!
Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve
Martin Road1 mile from our place, very few people, and great views of the ocean and bay!
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadGreat hiking through the redwoods
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park RdGreat Hiking
Go see their arboretum for a great collection of native and exotics plants and trees
67 locals recommend
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum RoadGo see their arboretum for a great collection of native and exotics plants and trees
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdGreat hiking, mountain biking and beach scenery
This is going to be a great local park, only a few miles from our place. It was recently established so they are still working on developing the trails.
Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument
This is going to be a great local park, only a few miles from our place. It was recently established so they are still working on developing the trails.