Guidebook for Boulder Creek

Suzanne
Guidebook for Boulder Creek

Food Scene

Delicious sushi - excellent fresh fish and creative rolls. Prices are on the high side, but we enjoyed it. Have been there on date nights and with our family.
26 locals recommend
Tae's Edo Sushi Bar
13271 CA-9
26 locals recommend
Delicious sushi - excellent fresh fish and creative rolls. Prices are on the high side, but we enjoyed it. Have been there on date nights and with our family.
Best Chinese food in town (also the only :-)) - multiple guests have told me it's good!
27 locals recommend
The Red Pearl
13151 CA-9
27 locals recommend
Best Chinese food in town (also the only :-)) - multiple guests have told me it's good!
Scopazzi's is a long-standing restaurant tradition in Boulder Creek. It's a white-tablecloth place serving Italian food. We've had some great dinners and some so-so. Check out Yelp to see how they're doing lately.
38 locals recommend
Scopazzi's
13300 Big Basin Way
38 locals recommend
Scopazzi's is a long-standing restaurant tradition in Boulder Creek. It's a white-tablecloth place serving Italian food. We've had some great dinners and some so-so. Check out Yelp to see how they're doing lately.
Not really a restaurant, there is no category! The tri-tip is marinated and grilled in-house and it is awesome. Almost everything else is made on premises as well.
The Redwood Keg Liquor & Deli
12980 CA-9
Not really a restaurant, there is no category! The tri-tip is marinated and grilled in-house and it is awesome. Almost everything else is made on premises as well.
If you're in the mood for some fast food, this place is great. The owners are incredibly friendly and the service is fast. Yummy milkshakes. Cash only, but they will take checks (he even once offered to let me mail a check when I had a freaking out hungry toddler and no cash!).
9 locals recommend
Fosters Freeze
110 Mountain St
9 locals recommend
If you're in the mood for some fast food, this place is great. The owners are incredibly friendly and the service is fast. Yummy milkshakes. Cash only, but they will take checks (he even once offered to let me mail a check when I had a freaking out hungry toddler and no cash!).
Fabulous pizza!
33 locals recommend
Boulder Creek Glass
13200-b Central Ave
33 locals recommend
Fabulous pizza!
great coffees, lattes, pastries. Homemade whipped cream! Cash only. Kid friendly.
22 locals recommend
Jenna Sue's Cafe
13090 CA-9
22 locals recommend
great coffees, lattes, pastries. Homemade whipped cream! Cash only. Kid friendly.
Bavarian (German) food. We've had a few great meals here with family and friends. Kid-friendly.
19 locals recommend
Tyrolean Inn Restaurant
9600 Hwy 9
19 locals recommend
Bavarian (German) food. We've had a few great meals here with family and friends. Kid-friendly.
We've eaten here many times over the years. I love the redwood grove outside in warmer months. Italian.
49 locals recommend
Ristorante Casa Nostra
9217 CA-9
49 locals recommend
We've eaten here many times over the years. I love the redwood grove outside in warmer months. Italian.
Delicious breakfast/brunch food
16 locals recommend
Spanky's
9520 Hwy 9
16 locals recommend
Delicious breakfast/brunch food
very good tri-tip sandwiches
Masoods Liquor & Deli
7970 CA-9
very good tri-tip sandwiches
Great burritos!
34 locals recommend
Taqueria Vallarta
893 41st Ave
34 locals recommend
Great burritos!
Really wonderful pizzas, but they make them to order so it can take a while. We call ahead even when we're eating in!
20 locals recommend
Redwood Pizzeria
6205 CA-9
20 locals recommend
Really wonderful pizzas, but they make them to order so it can take a while. We call ahead even when we're eating in!
Great Cambodian food (similar to Thai but less spicy - fabulous for kids). Our oldest son is Cambodian-American, so we are biased, but Cambodian food is AWESOME. Our favorites are the chicken kebobs (SO good), red curry stew, fresh spring rolls, amok (if you like fish), lemongrass soup, I can go on and on. They have a large outdoor patio and there's often live music outside in the summer.
21 locals recommend
Jia Tellas
18 Victor Square
21 locals recommend
Great Cambodian food (similar to Thai but less spicy - fabulous for kids). Our oldest son is Cambodian-American, so we are biased, but Cambodian food is AWESOME. Our favorites are the chicken kebobs (SO good), red curry stew, fresh spring rolls, amok (if you like fish), lemongrass soup, I can go on and on. They have a large outdoor patio and there's often live music outside in the summer.
Beautiful tasting room with delicious organic wines. There are many wineries in the Santa Cruz mountains to visit!
22 locals recommend
Hallcrest Vineyards
379 Felton Empire Rd
22 locals recommend
Beautiful tasting room with delicious organic wines. There are many wineries in the Santa Cruz mountains to visit!
Our favorite ice cream, it's the best! Several locations in Santa Cruz. (My picks: Salted Caramel. Or Northern Oregon Blackberry. Or 1020....it's hard to choose!). Cash only - but there's an ATM just in case.
38 locals recommend
Marianne's Ice Cream
1020 Ocean St
38 locals recommend
Our favorite ice cream, it's the best! Several locations in Santa Cruz. (My picks: Salted Caramel. Or Northern Oregon Blackberry. Or 1020....it's hard to choose!). Cash only - but there's an ATM just in case.

Parks & Nature

Come to the oldest state park in California to see the tallest trees on earth. There are only a few places left to walk among these giants, it is a "do not miss" if you are staying at our house. You can do a short loop trail (bumpy stroller ride, but do-able) through an old-growth redwood groves or explore miles and miles of hiking trails. Great visitor center and lots for both kids and adults to learn and explore.
230 locals recommend
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
21600 Big Basin Way
230 locals recommend
Come to the oldest state park in California to see the tallest trees on earth. There are only a few places left to walk among these giants, it is a "do not miss" if you are staying at our house. You can do a short loop trail (bumpy stroller ride, but do-able) through an old-growth redwood groves or explore miles and miles of hiking trails. Great visitor center and lots for both kids and adults to learn and explore.
Henry Cowell boasts a gorgeous old-growth redwood grove, miles of hiking trails, fun river beaches, a fabulous visitor center, great little gift shop with local offerings - plus it is literally next-door to Roaring Camp Railroads! You could spend days here playing in the river, hiking, and riding the steam and diesel trains.
335 locals recommend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park Rd
335 locals recommend
Henry Cowell boasts a gorgeous old-growth redwood grove, miles of hiking trails, fun river beaches, a fabulous visitor center, great little gift shop with local offerings - plus it is literally next-door to Roaring Camp Railroads! You could spend days here playing in the river, hiking, and riding the steam and diesel trains.
local reservoir Loch Lomond is open March 1 to September 1 and is a fun place to rent a boat and go fishing!
8 locals recommend
Loch Lomond
8 locals recommend
local reservoir Loch Lomond is open March 1 to September 1 and is a fun place to rent a boat and go fishing!

Essentials

Great little grocery store with organic and local foods. Excellent sandwiches, ready-made food, meats/seafood. However, this is not a place to find Tylenol, although they do have some great homeopathic poison ivy remedies. :-)
89 locals recommend
Wild Roots Market
13159 Central Ave
89 locals recommend
Great little grocery store with organic and local foods. Excellent sandwiches, ready-made food, meats/seafood. However, this is not a place to find Tylenol, although they do have some great homeopathic poison ivy remedies. :-)
Traditional grocery store with everything you need.
14 locals recommend
Johnnie's Super Market
13225 CA-9
14 locals recommend
Traditional grocery store with everything you need.
Traditional grocery store, a bit bigger than Johnnie's.
27 locals recommend
Ben Lomond Market
9440 Mill St
27 locals recommend
Traditional grocery store, a bit bigger than Johnnie's.
17 locals recommend
Safeway
6255 Graham Hill Rd
17 locals recommend
14 locals recommend
Nob Hill Foods
222 Mt Hermon Rd
14 locals recommend

Entertainment & Activities

18 locals recommend
CineLux Scotts Valley Cafe & Lounge
226 Mt Hermon Rd
18 locals recommend
Right down the street from one of our favorite beaches is the lovely Swanton Berry Farm. Great baked goods, coffee/tea/warm cider, strawberries to pick or buy in summer (late May to August depending). Pay on the honor system (cash or check). They support farmworkers and pay fair wages. There is also a farm and u-pick in Pescadero (kiwis in December, olallieberries in June, blackberries in August, etc).
35 locals recommend
Swanton Berry Farm
25 Swanton Rd
35 locals recommend
Right down the street from one of our favorite beaches is the lovely Swanton Berry Farm. Great baked goods, coffee/tea/warm cider, strawberries to pick or buy in summer (late May to August depending). Pay on the honor system (cash or check). They support farmworkers and pay fair wages. There is also a farm and u-pick in Pescadero (kiwis in December, olallieberries in June, blackberries in August, etc).
Because the zip-lining and adventure ropes course are SO much fun! My teens and I went recently with my mom (to celebrate her 70th birthday!) and it was awesome! They are super safety-conscious, so we felt totally safe even though a couple of us are terrified of heights. Reserve in advance!
49 locals recommend
Mount Hermon Adventures
17 Conference Dr
49 locals recommend
Because the zip-lining and adventure ropes course are SO much fun! My teens and I went recently with my mom (to celebrate her 70th birthday!) and it was awesome! They are super safety-conscious, so we felt totally safe even though a couple of us are terrified of heights. Reserve in advance!
Naturalist led pontoon boat tour around the gorgeous slough - we have been many times and always see dozens of sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and many, many species of birds. A wonderful outing and a gentle trip for older and younger folks. Must book in advance!
16 locals recommend
Elkhorn Slough Safari
7981 Moss Landing Rd
16 locals recommend
Naturalist led pontoon boat tour around the gorgeous slough - we have been many times and always see dozens of sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, and many, many species of birds. A wonderful outing and a gentle trip for older and younger folks. Must book in advance!
Because glass-blowing, guided by a world-class glass artist, is an experience to treasure. Make your own glass pumpkin or Christmas ornament!
Viscosity Art Glass
13170 CA-9
Because glass-blowing, guided by a world-class glass artist, is an experience to treasure. Make your own glass pumpkin or Christmas ornament!
You can ride the narrow gauge steam train to Bear Mountain to explore the old-growth redwood grove there or take the diesel train to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. So much fun! Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the steam train (check website to confirm).
150 locals recommend
Roaring Camp
5401 Graham Hill Rd
150 locals recommend
You can ride the narrow gauge steam train to Bear Mountain to explore the old-growth redwood grove there or take the diesel train to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. So much fun! Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the steam train (check website to confirm).
While the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk opened in 1907 and is one of the last seaside amusement parks on the West coast, you should go there because it is SO much fun! There are classic old rides, terrifying new rides, and everything in between.
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach St
745 locals recommend
While the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk opened in 1907 and is one of the last seaside amusement parks on the West coast, you should go there because it is SO much fun! There are classic old rides, terrifying new rides, and everything in between.
A great small aquarium with a nice touch tank. Down the street from Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz.
80 locals recommend
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
100 McAllister Way
80 locals recommend
A great small aquarium with a nice touch tank. Down the street from Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz.
Blue Water Ventures is a naturalist-led adventure team - kayaking and other sea-side outings. Reserve ahead or call to book an outing for your group.
Blue Water Ventures
127 Mason Street
Blue Water Ventures is a naturalist-led adventure team - kayaking and other sea-side outings. Reserve ahead or call to book an outing for your group.
The Mystery Spot is a local legend, a place that seems to defy the laws of physics, fun for kids especially.
208 locals recommend
The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot Rd
208 locals recommend
The Mystery Spot is a local legend, a place that seems to defy the laws of physics, fun for kids especially.

Arts & Culture

A free little museum with friendly curator - a fun place to spend some time if you are fascinated with Bigfoot.
22 locals recommend
Bigfoot Discovery Museum
5497 Hwy 9
22 locals recommend
A free little museum with friendly curator - a fun place to spend some time if you are fascinated with Bigfoot.

Shopping

Hard to explain how cool this store is! Everything from handmade local jewelry and textiles to heirloom seeds to do-it-yourself cheese making supplies to awesome outdoor sculptures! Traditional farm and feed supplies, too, plus friendly staff, live music sometimes, a cool old jukebox, and house-pressed ciders to sample.
22 locals recommend
Mountain Feed & Farm Supply
9550 CA-9
22 locals recommend
Hard to explain how cool this store is! Everything from handmade local jewelry and textiles to heirloom seeds to do-it-yourself cheese making supplies to awesome outdoor sculptures! Traditional farm and feed supplies, too, plus friendly staff, live music sometimes, a cool old jukebox, and house-pressed ciders to sample.