I love surprises. When they involve travel, I love them even more. Which is why I’m excited to tell you about a surprise trip my other half has planned for me. He’s created an itinerary for 24 hours in Santa Cruz and Aptos, parts of the Central Coast known for everything from surfing to seafood and shopping. With an abundance of beaches and plenty of natural beauty, they’re ideal places to spend time in California. We’re here now and I’m excited show you what we experience. I’ve included a map, too.
24 Hours in Santa Cruz and Aptos
Situated on Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz and Aptos are two of my favorite places to visit on the Central Coast. I grew up sailing in Santa Cruz, and I spent time in Aptos with friends as a teenager. I’ve been visiting this part of the Golden State ever since, and I’m excited to be back here again now.
Santa Cruz is famous the world over for its surfing, but it has more to do besides riding the waves. From great shopping to delicious restaurants and world-class beaches, the city has a lot to offer. Aptos is also known for its beaches, and there’s a laid-back local vibe as well.
24 hours is a good amount of time to discover the highlights of both places. On this trip I’m looking forward to experiencing a range of surprises that show off the best of the Central Coast.
Where to Stay
There are lots of great hotels, vacation rentals, B&Bs, and other types of accommodation in Santa Cruz and Aptos. On this trip my other half has booked us a night at Seascape Beach Resort in Aptos. He’s stayed here before, and he liked it so much he’s brought me back with him.
We’re fans of everything from the coastal location to the pools, hot tubs, and amazing beach just below the property. Our spacious room comes with a kitchenette, and we can see Monterey Bay from our balcony. Best of all, it’s less expensive than many of the area’s other hotels. If you want to follow in our footsteps, you can book a stay of your own here.
There are plenty of other options for accommodation in the area as well. From the famous Capitola Venetian to the Dream Inn in Santa Cruz, this part of the Central Coast has lots of places to call home-away-from-home. You can see a range of choices and find accommodation that fits your style here.
Itinerary
My other half and I arrive in Santa Cruz on a Saturday morning and start our itinerary as any good day should start: with coffee and food. My favorite place for breakfast in Santa Cruz is Aldo’s Harbor Restaurant. I came here all the time as a child, and I still love their classic dishes.
Aldo’s serves all kinds of breakfast foods, from omelets to Benedicts and buttermilk pancakes. The Italian fugasa bread is worth a special trip, too.
We sit at an outdoor table and tuck into a great meal under the California sun. It’s the perfect way to kick off our trip.
Whale Watching
After eating, we’re off on a whale watching tour. Despite having sailed in Monterey Bay nearly every weekend during my childhood, I’ve never been whale watching in Santa Cruz. I’m thrilled my other half has planned it for us, and I can’t wait to get out on the water.
Aldo’s is right next to Santa Cruz Harbor, so we walk over and board our boat. Childhood memories come flooding back as we pass the Santa Cruz Breakwater Lighthouse (aka Walton Lighthouse) and cruise by Seabright Beach and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Soon we’re making our way past Santa Cruz Wharf and heading out into the Pacific Ocean. It doesn’t take long to start seeing humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins, harbor seals, and California sea lions. There are more of them than I imagined there’d be, and they’re closer to the shore than I expected.
For the next few hours, we follow the marine mammals and watch as they swim, breach, and show us their tails. The weather is gorgeous, the sea air refreshing, and the scenery hard to beat. It’s the perfect afternoon.
Aptos
After arriving back at the harbor, we drive to Aptos to check into our room at Seascape Beach Resort. The property overlooks the bay, and our room is on the top floor. We like how spacious it is, not to mention the views of the water.
After getting settled in, we head across the street to a shopping center called Seascape Village. It has restaurants and shops, as well as a cute grocery store called Seascape Foods. We pick up wine, cheese, and crackers, bringing it all back to our room to have happy hour on our balcony.
It’s a beautiful evening, and we enjoy our food and drinks as the sun sinks to the ocean and paints the sky pink.
Tiki Bar
After watching the sunset, we get back in the car and drive to Santa Cruz Wharf. My other half loves a good tiki bar, and there happens to be one at the end of the pier. Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery whisks us off to a Polynesian-inspired paradise.
We sit at the bar and order drinks from the friendly staff. Around us we spot thatched banquettes, bamboo beams, message-in-a-bottle lamps, and other great tiki touches.
Dinner
After cocktails, we continue our itinerary with dinner in downtown Santa Cruz. We head to Gabriella Cafe, a famous Italian restaurant with a romantic atmosphere. The chef has good relationships with local farmers, and we can taste the freshness and quality of the produce in every dish.
Seascape Beach
The next morning we get breakfast at Seascape Village before walking down to Seascape Beach. There are trails leading right from Seascape Beach Resort to the sand, and it’s a fun way to get to the waterfront.
The beach itself is beautiful. A huge stretch of sand welcomes us when we arrive, and we spend an hour walking along the water. It’s a great way to start our day.
24 Hours in Santa Cruz and Aptos
After our walk we head back up to our room to pack our bags and check out. We’re not going home quite yet, though. We’re heading south to Big Sur, where we’re continuing our weekend getaway with a stay at the famous Post Ranch Inn.
But that’s the subject of another story. For now I’ll leave you with our Santa Cruz and Aptos itinerary and hope it’s inspired you to plan a Central Coast trip of your own.
Itinerary Map
If you want to follow our travel itinerary for Santa Cruz and Aptos, you can find an interactive Google map of all the places I mentioned in this blog post here. I hope it helps you get a feel for the area so you understand where things are in relation to one another.
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