Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
Akira Sushi
1222 Soquel AveGreat sushi and an easy walk :)
Midtown Cafe
1121 Soquel AvenueNutella Toast. Enough said.
Best coffee in town, and this location is on your way to the beach.
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Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveBest coffee in town, and this location is on your way to the beach.
Awesome breakfast. Get there early, or grab a coffee at Verve on the way and wait in line with the locals!
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Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright AveAwesome breakfast. Get there early, or grab a coffee at Verve on the way and wait in line with the locals!
A snazzy date night you can walk to. This place is great if you are looking for something a little nicer than your standard beach town fare.
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La Posta
538 Seabright AveA snazzy date night you can walk to. This place is great if you are looking for something a little nicer than your standard beach town fare.
Be sure to check out http://heypopup.com/ before your visit to see what the hipsters will be eating ;) I make fun of the trendiness, but it's always delicious!
POPUP
1108 Pacific AvenueBe sure to check out http://heypopup.com/ before your visit to see what the hipsters will be eating ;) I make fun of the trendiness, but it's always delicious!
Famously hard to get in to (make a reservation!) but an absolute favorite of locals.
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Lillian's Italian Kitchen
1148 Soquel AveFamously hard to get in to (make a reservation!) but an absolute favorite of locals.
Good food and, frequently, awesome live music! Check out their schedule at http://thecrepeplace.com/
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The Crêpe Place
1134 Soquel AveGood food and, frequently, awesome live music! Check out their schedule at http://thecrepeplace.com/
Really fun place for the whole family, with ping pong and ice cream bars along with your pizza.
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Engfer Pizza Works
537 Seabright AveReally fun place for the whole family, with ping pong and ice cream bars along with your pizza.
Secretly my favorite breakfast spot in town. Don't tell anyone else about it because I don't want to lose my regular seat in the camper outside!
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Paula's
3500 Portola DrSecretly my favorite breakfast spot in town. Don't tell anyone else about it because I don't want to lose my regular seat in the camper outside!
Half bakery/half cafe, this place has something for everyone. If you'll be celebrating a special occasion during your stay, a chocolate ganache cake from the Buttery is a must. Also great for lunch or breakfast.
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The Buttery
702 Soquel AveHalf bakery/half cafe, this place has something for everyone. If you'll be celebrating a special occasion during your stay, a chocolate ganache cake from the Buttery is a must. Also great for lunch or breakfast.
Awesome pasta and pizza, salads, etc. It's also easy to walk to and tends not to be super crowded at lunch time.
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Tramonti
528 Seabright AveAwesome pasta and pizza, salads, etc. It's also easy to walk to and tends not to be super crowded at lunch time.
Drinks & Nightlife
515 Kitchen & Cocktails
515 Cedar StFormerly "The Blue Lounge". I'm not a bar person so I can't vouch for it, but it's walkable and I like to know my guests can party responsibly and get home safely!
The Blue Lounge
529 Seabright AveFormerly "The Blue Lounge". I'm not a bar person so I can't vouch for it, but it's walkable and I like to know my guests can party responsibly and get home safely!
Parks & Nature
Dolphins! Bright blue water! Less crowded! Worth the drive :)
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Spiaggia Statale di Manresa
1445 San Andreas Rd Dolphins! Bright blue water! Less crowded! Worth the drive :)
One mile walk from the house. Eat at The Crow's Nest or El Palomar, both right on the beach, and take in the sunset here.
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Seabright State Beach
One mile walk from the house. Eat at The Crow's Nest or El Palomar, both right on the beach, and take in the sunset here.
Terra del Buddha della Medicina
5800 Prescott RdGreat place to explore the tide pools!
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Spiaggia Statale Natural Bridges
2531 W Cliff DrGreat place to explore the tide pools!
My favorite playground for kids in the area. Bring some wax paper to ride down the tall metal slides if you want to look like a local ;)
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Ocean View Park
102 Ocean View AveMy favorite playground for kids in the area. Bring some wax paper to ride down the tall metal slides if you want to look like a local ;)
Arts & Culture
Must see exhibit there now is "30 Screaming Years". Check out some genuinely cool skateboard art by local hero Jim Phillips along with homages from all over the world.
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Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StMust see exhibit there now is "30 Screaming Years". Check out some genuinely cool skateboard art by local hero Jim Phillips along with homages from all over the world.
Locals call this the "whale museum" because it has an awesome, life size whale statue outside. Don't miss the iconic photo with your kids :)
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Museo di storia naturale di Santa Cruz
1305 E Cliff DrLocals call this the "whale museum" because it has an awesome, life size whale statue outside. Don't miss the iconic photo with your kids :)
Pet a shark and squeal over the decorator crab dressed in pom poms. There is also an epic blue whale skeleton!
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Seymour Marine Discovery Center
100 McAllister WayPet a shark and squeal over the decorator crab dressed in pom poms. There is also an epic blue whale skeleton!
This art deco theater is gorgeous inside and out. They play a mix of mainstream and small release films, but the real fun is the midnight movie on Fridays and Saturdays.
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Del Mar Theater
1124 Pacific AveThis art deco theater is gorgeous inside and out. They play a mix of mainstream and small release films, but the real fun is the midnight movie on Fridays and Saturdays.
This is a really fun place for young children to explore hands on exhibits in a playful setting. There is even an area for babies and toddlers!
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Santa Cruz Children's Museum of Discovery
1855 41st AveThis is a really fun place for young children to explore hands on exhibits in a playful setting. There is even an area for babies and toddlers!
Shopping
I find all malls kind of a bummer, but this place is easy to get to and has a Target. What else do you need?
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Capitola Mall
1855 41st AveI find all malls kind of a bummer, but this place is easy to get to and has a Target. What else do you need?
Support your local bookstore! Ok, support OUR local bookstore.
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Bookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific AveSupport your local bookstore! Ok, support OUR local bookstore.
So much to browse... huge used selection and great children's section.
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LOGOS BOOKS & RECORDS
1117 Pacific AveSo much to browse... huge used selection and great children's section.
Essentials
Sweet neighborhood market with pretty much everything you need! Within walking distance from the house, and the best wine selection in town.
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Shopper's Corner
622 Soquel AveSweet neighborhood market with pretty much everything you need! Within walking distance from the house, and the best wine selection in town.
Health-centered grocery store, an easy walk from the house. Lots of great prepared foods and a popular spot for working on laptops.
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Staff of Life
1266 Soquel AveHealth-centered grocery store, an easy walk from the house. Lots of great prepared foods and a popular spot for working on laptops.
Entertainment & Activities
Great selection of indie films and great matinee prices. Right downtown.
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Landmark's Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln StGreat selection of indie films and great matinee prices. Right downtown.
Come on, you've gotta experience it once :) Get some taffy, ride the Giant Dipper, and instagram some adorable photos. They also have an arcade with new and classic games, pirate themed minigolf, and free summer concerts.
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Parco divertimenti di Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
400 Beach StCome on, you've gotta experience it once :) Get some taffy, ride the Giant Dipper, and instagram some adorable photos. They also have an arcade with new and classic games, pirate themed minigolf, and free summer concerts.