Today I want to bring you my guide to spending 36 hours in Santa Cruz, California. Right on the Central Coast, it’s a great place to soak up the sun and surf. But there’s more to it than that. From great shopping to delicious restaurants and markets, this city on Monterey Bay has a lot to offer visitors. Read on for my itinerary. I’ve included a map, too.
36 Hours in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz needs no introduction. The famous spot on the Pacific Ocean is known the world over for surfing. But my experience with Santa Cruz has always been a bit different.
My family had a boat in the harbor here when I was growing up, and most of my childhood weekends were spent sailing out into Monterey Bay. When we weren’t on the water, we were usually at the beach, and when we weren’t there, we were exploring the rest of the city.
While the boat is a thing of the past, I still visit Santa Cruz every chance I get. From the fun downtown area to the beautiful historic houses, stunning coastline, and great beaches, it’s hard not to love this place. I can’t wait to show you all the exciting things I’ve discovered here.
Hotel in Santa Cruz
On this trip I’m spending 36 hours in Santa Cruz with a friend. We’re staying at Hotel Paradox, a unique place with decor that strikes a balance between natural beauty and urban design.
Hotel Paradox is located a short drive from the Pacific Ocean and the downtown area. It eschews the stereotypical Santa Cruz beach vibe for a forest ambiance. It’s a great nod to Santa Cruz County’s abundance of redwood trees and mountainous terrain.
The front desk is made from a giant single piece of wood, and every room is done in a natural color scheme. There’s even a swimming pool outside. If you want to follow in our footsteps, you can book a room here.
Day 1
After checking into the hotel, we start our itinerary for 36 hours in Santa Cruz with coffee. We drive downtown and go to a place called Verve Coffee Roasters on Pacific Ave. They serve all kinds of caffeinated beverages and espresso drinks, and we enjoy them as we get ready to kick off a big day of sightseeing.
Natural Bridges State Beach
Energized, we continue our day with a drive around the city. Heading out along West Cliff Drive, which borders the Pacific Ocean, our first stop is Natural Bridges State Beach. This place is famous for its huge rock formations, and we walk out to admire them from the cliffs.
Also in the area, impressive numbers of seasonal monarch butterflies and tide pools draw locals and visitors to see the Santa Cruz wildlife.
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum & Steamer Lane
After taking in the scenery, we head back along the waterfront and stop at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. It’s housed in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse at Lighthouse Point, and it’s the perfect place to learn about the history of the sport.
Next to it is Steamer Lane, one of the most famous surf spots in the city. We watch the surfers ride the waves, then walk over to admire the big Santa Cruz Surfer statue on the cliffs.
Downtown Santa Cruz
After soaking up the beach culture, we drive past the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an oceanside amusement park with roller coasters and fun fair rides that I went to regularly as a child.
But instead of stopping, we continue our itinerary for 36 hours in Santa Cruz by going for a walk around the downtown area.
First we do a bit of shopping. This place is famous for it, especially the surf shops on Pacific Ave. From Berdels to O’Neill, we pop in and out as we channel our inner beach bums.
When we get hungry, we stop for lunch at Laili, a restaurant specializing in flavors from the Mediterranean and the Silk Road. From Indian and Pakistani cuisine to Afghan dishes, it has it all. The flatbreads we order are excellent, and we eat our fill after a busy morning.
Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers’ Market
We need the sustenance, too, because our itinerary is busy in the afternoon. Leaving the restaurant, we walk over to the weekly farmers’ market in Downtown Santa Cruz. It takes place year-round on Wednesdays from 1 to 5pm. Located on Cedar St and Lincoln St, it’s the largest and oldest market in the city.
Established in 1990, a lot of the farms that have stalls here have been part of the organic and ecological farming movement since the beginning. That means there’s an abundance of fresh seasonal produce for sale, including fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other local products.
We browse the stands, all the while being introduced to local farms and producers. The experience reminds me how lucky I am to be from a place where fresh produce is available year-round.
Penny Ice Creamery
After the market, our itinerary for 36 hours in Santa Cruz continues as we head over to explore more of the shops downtown.
After a bit of browsing, we stop at Penny Ice Creamery on Cedar St to try some of their inventive seasonal flavors. The shop works with local farmers, foragers, and food artisans to make ice cream that reflects the local land and community.
As we savor our cups and cones, we learn that the creamery makes all its ice cream from scratch. They do everything from the pasteurization process to the finished product. The result is both unique and delicious.
Historic Houses
After leaving the ice cream shop, we walk a few blocks away to see some of the stunning historic homes that grace the streets of Santa Cruz. Built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a number of the most beautiful of them can be found on Walnut Ave.
We stroll along Walnut between Rincon St and Center St, taking in the Eastlake, Stick-Eastlake, Colonial Revival, and Queen Ann-style homes as we go. Their colorful facades and fanciful details have me reaching for my camera at every step.
Santa Cruz Wharf
After seeing the houses, we hop in the car and drive over to Santa Cruz Wharf. Built in 1914, it’s the longest wooden pier on the West Coast of the United States. It has lots of restaurants and shops to enjoy, not to mention resident sea lions.
The wharf offers great views of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Opened in 1907, it’s the oldest amusement park in California. It’s home to two National Historic Landmarks, too. One is the 1911 Looff Carousel, and the other is the 1924 Giant Dipper, a wooden roller-coaster.
We walk out to the end of the wharf, taking in the scenery and peering down at the lazy sea lions. The sound of their barking travels far and wide, and there are tons of them sunbathing on wooden planks.
Dinner in Santa Cruz
When we’re done checking out the wharf, we drive over to Seabright Ave for dinner at a beloved local restaurant called La Posta. This Italian place serves dishes made from seasonal local ingredients like the ones we saw at the farmers’ market downtown.
We tuck into a feast in the intimate dining room, enjoying everything from freshly baked bread to pasta and pizza. The desserts are delicious, too.
Day 2
The next morning our itinerary for 36 hours in Santa Cruz continues with a trip down memory lane. We check out of Hotel Paradox and drive over to Santa Cruz Harbor. We’re here to have breakfast at Aldo’s, a family-run restaurant on the Mariner Park Lawn.
I grew up eating breakfast here, and I come back as often as I can. Aldo’s was established in 1963 and it’s been a local Santa Cruz institution ever since. It’s even featured on Guy Fieri’s TV show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Everything from eggs Benedict to the restaurant’s famous Bloody Marys goes down a treat, and the meal sets us up well for our second day in Santa Cruz.
Seabright Beach
After breakfast we walk over to Seabright Beach (which I used to think was called “Aldo’s Beach” as a child). It’s a beautiful day for sunbathing, and we spend the morning soaking up the rays.
When it’s time for lunch, we head across the mouth of the harbor to Twin Lakes State Beach. We eat at a Mexican place called Cafe El Palomar, which is right on the sand. They serve all the classics, from nachos to burritos and quesadillas.
Catamaran Cruise in Monterey Bay
After lunch and a stint at the beach, it’s time for a sunset catamaran cruise from Santa Cruz Harbor. The boarding area is conveniently located a short walk from where we’ve been sunbathing, and we can’t wait to see the shoreline from the bay.
The 1.5-hour trip takes us past the Santa Cruz Breakwater Lighthouse (also called the Walton Lighthouse), alongside Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, over to the sea lions on Santa Cruz Wharf, and by Seabright Beach and Twin Lakes State Beach.
It’s a unique way to see the coast and relive childhood memories, not to mention a fun way to end our 36 hours in Santa Cruz.
36 Hours in Santa Cruz
As we leave, I’m sad to go but happy I’ve gained an even greater appreciation for the city I spent so much time in as a child. Beyond the surfing and sailing lies a place full of beautiful landscapes, great food, and creative culture.
And while this trip has come to an end, my time discovering Santa Cruz isn’t over yet. From the wineries in the mountains to neighboring towns like Capitola, there’s a lot more to see and do around here. I can’t wait for my next visit. I hope this blog post has inspired you to visit, too.
Santa Cruz Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive Google map of all the places on my Santa Cruz itinerary. You can find it here. I hope it helps you plan your trip to the city!
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