The Court of Mysteries (which also goes by The Red Brick Castle, among other names) is a beautiful…read moremonument and home in Santa Cruz, which not many people know about. It has a very interesting history to it, and though you cannot go inside the house or on the property itself (because it is a private residence), you can still appreciate the architecture from out front, including a lovely fountain in the courtyard, and learn about the stories and mysteries that have defined this unique landmark. These stories can easily be found online, but some of the most interesting details are that the original builder (Kenneth Kitchen and his brother) built it only during the night, modeled it after a Hindu temple, and incorporated hidden messages throughout, using shapes, astrological symbols, and dashes and dots resembling morse code, with possible connection to the occult. Also, there is no historical record of Kenneth Kitchen after he left Santa Cruz in the 1950's, so yeah a lot of oddities to drive your imagination and make you wonder. One of the most intriguing parts of the Court of Mysteries is the "Gate of Prophesy" which has two magnificent towers and an intricately designed archway with the mysterious triangular structure at its center. Beautiful trees and vegetation surround the brick and abalone "temple" and entire site, creating a picturesque scene overall. Apparently the property was restored a few years ago by the previous owners (I'm pretty sure that rebuild didn't occur "only at night"). They even built a house on the left side to live in while reconstructing the Court of Mysteries. The property was subsequently sold in late 2021. If you're interested in a quick visit, it's easy to just park right on the street, take a few photos of the amazing archway and towers, and peek through the gate to see what the Court of Mysteries looks like today... and then maybe amuse yourself with the legend and history behind this strange phenomenon.

Once abandoned and in ruins, when we first moved to the Bay Area it was a desolate and decayed huge…read morelot with a pet goat and a caretaker in a mobile home to shoo off explorers and vandals. Built in the 1930s by Kenneth Kitchen. It's inspired by romanticized Hindu mysticism as well as the arcane and occult. Because of this the site is covered in symbology and hidden meaning. From the obvious all seeing eye at the front gate to the mini details in the brick there is an esoteric design language that keeps it all unified and cohesive. The legend is also complemented by the fact that the owner and brothers were bricklayers and stone masons and it was only constructed under moon light. It was purchased in 2016 and lovingly restored and developed by the new owners to preserve the local folk-art style architecture. The new main house is next to the "court of mysteries" and a lot of the missing abalone and smashed brick has been painstakingly replaced.

For my first review of 2010, i've decided to do a review on something that holds a special meaning…read moreto everyone who has visited it. Tree 9. This majestic and gorgeous tree towers above all the other redwoods around it. once you make the hike up and enter the clearing, the branches beg you to climb it and look at the view it has to offer. The first time i visited the tree, it was in the middle of the night. But the day i saw it in broad daylight, i was blown away by its presence. The branches are smooth from the hundreds who have climbed it before. They stick out in all directions to give even the most fearful the chance to brave it and climb up. 2010 is a new year for me, and it is a new year for this tree. This tree has so far survived all who has wanted to cut it down for the purpose of expanding ucsc. The Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) has been put on hold so far, giving this tree another year to bask in the sun. Contrary to what people think about the name, whether a girl died by hitting 9 branches on the way down, that 9 people died so far, to the fact that it's located above College 9, the name comes from the fact that way back in the day, the tree was actually stop #9 on the ucsc trail tour. and so now the winter is slowly drawing away and the branches call out again to all the banana slugs. I will be back soon. and this time i'll make it to the top! If this tree falls, we will all fall with it. but keep standing tall Mr. Tree 9. another amazing thing: the tree is minutes away from the open field where full moon drum circles are held every month. *wolf howling*

Once upon a time there was a tree where the residents of ucsc could swing on and have fun. Times…read morehave changed, however, and they removed the swing set because of safety reasons or other things. Either way, it is no longer there, and for this reason I have decided that this tree in particular deserves one star out of five.

this light house is so beautiful during sunset. also very close to other tourists spots.read more

Lovely location in Santa Cruz - a bit off the tourist path which makes it special…read more We were in the area as we had booked a memorial cruise with extended family. There are plenty of parking spots ($2 per hour) and bathrooms are available. Beautiful little harbor, with a lot of good animal and bird watching (harbor seals, pelicans, cormorants, et cetera). Good restaurants and coffee shops as well, with excellent beach access. Will be back!

One of the classic theaters still remaining in Santa Cruz and is a wonderful treat to witness a…read moreshow or performance if you have the choice. I've seen a few movies here and each time have had a good viewing experience. They usually offer both popular hits as well as Indie films that may just be starting to gain some traction. Widescreen theater with ample, comfortable seating and pretty good sound system. The interior of the theater is beautiful and really takes you away from the outside world for just a bit. Staff here were friendly and the restrooms are clean. Can't really ask for more! Tip: You likely don't need to pre-order tickets especially if you're not watching during premier week.

Watched Disclosure Day this past weekend at the Landmark Del Mar Theatre in Santa Cruz. Before the…read moremovie, I was looking for an outlet to charge my phone and found one next to the elevator near the theater entrance. Standard food and drink offerings were available at the concessions stand with no lines on a slow Saturday afternoon, and a few small tables with seating in the lobby. The auditorium opened about 25 minutes before the listed showtime, then 12 minutes of previews before the start of the feature film. For a non-busy day, auditorium 1 wasn't cleaned very well. Found popcorn and crumbs on my seat and the one next to me, even on the one in front of me, as well as on the ground... not a lot, but it was noticeable. The elevation is minimal, so if someone was sitting in front of me, their head would have probably blocked my view. I did however appreciate that there was ample space between rows. No reclining seats, but they were comfortable and in good condition, with cupholders. No problems with picture or audio, and perfect comfortable temperature inside. A no-frills theater with old school charm and lovely artwork and decor to add a nice touch to my viewing experience. And the movie I saw was out of this world, just what I would expect from Steven Spielberg.

This wharf is a "must walk" when visiting the Santa Cruz Boardwalk…read more The far end of the wharf was damaged a few years ago by a storm, but it has since been rebuilt, and at least one of the seal viewing spots remains for visitors. The wharf offers a great selection of restaurants and stores, along with epic views of the ocean, the coastline, and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. We always stop to eat at Makai Island Kitchen during our walk. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating, and their drink menu is fantastic; I recommend the mai tai. You can drive onto the wharf and park, or just walk and burn off some of those cocktail calories. If you're planning a visit to Santa Cruz, check the wharf's event calendar to join in on the local fun.

I've always loved walking on the Santa Cruz Wharf. [Taken from the web] "The Santa Cruz Wharf is…read morespecial for being the longest wooden pier on the West Coast, a popular spot for dining, fishing, and viewing sea lions..." My earliest memory of going to the pier was with my family. My dad & mom piled us into our car and drove to Santa Cruz. After parking, we proceeded to walk on the pier, carrying our fishing poles and a crab net. It was a cold and miserable night but the anticipation of catching a fish or a crab in the crab net was exciting for my brother and I. We ended up catching a tiny boney fish and a whole bunch of seaweed and starfish. We threw those back into the ocean. Again, the pier is a nice stroll out to enjoy the ocean, sight-seeing the surfers, sea lions, fishing boats, and just enjoying the coastal landscape. "Annually, an estimated 1.5 million visitors come to the Santa Cruz Wharf to fish, shop, dine and sightsee."

If you love lighthouses come see this one…read more Food and coffee close by. Closed to look at but the view is worth it. Lots of parking Lots of places to sit and listen to the water.

Lighthouse Field State Beach is located in the city of Santa Cruz at the north end of Monterey Bay…read more The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, housed in a 1967 lighthouse, is also in there. This is a spot to visit, relax, and enjoy the scenery and landscape, and a great spot to watch the surfers. Parking is free, but parking lots can fill up quickly, especially on weekends.

best time to be here just after sunrise and during golden hours. so beautiful and amazing to see…read morethe surfers and waves.

Five stars for the point and three stars for the museum (since it's unclear which this refers to)…read more Since 1986, this little museum has housed artifacts honoring the more than 100 years of surfing history in Santa Cruz. It also gives credit to the birthplace of modern surfing: Hawaii. It's a fun 10 mins. BTW, when I say little, I mean tiny -- there's room for 6-8 people at once. You're visiting internationally renowned surfing hotspot Steamer Lane. This is the epicenter of a World Surfing Reserve: from Natural Bridges to Opal Cliffs just east of Pleasure Point. Santa Cruz is one of only four such sites: Malibu in SoCal, Ericeira in Portugal, and Manly Beach in Australia. The museum may be 10 mins but you can spend hours watching the surfers, the sea lions, and the waves. Bring your dog or even a picnic -- just no alcohol.

I really don't know whether to call the experience good or bad, and this review is simply to…read moreinform. Our son's fourth grade class went there this past week for a field trip. It was nice and the kids learned a lot. What I want people to know is that the staff there, Rangers and Docents, were a bit prickly and gruff. They seems to care more about keeping control than helping the kids learn. My wife used the word "aggressive" to describe one of them. So, if you're going there with a group, this might be your experience as well. Other than that, the kids had a great time!

A petite remnant of the Santa Cruz Mission. I knew about the Ohlone and Miwok from attending…read moreuniversities and pow wows in the Bay Area. The restoration and up-keeping of the Mission were remarkable! You can't miss the magnificent avocado tree with the giant hollow trunk. Oh, how I wished I could speak tree to listen to its narrative. I can't imagine just how much history it witnessed. I loved the 3-foot wide walls on the Adobe that would've been weather and humidity-proof for the year-round seasons. The roof in the adobe were made of tree-stuff. The structural integrity of the site was astounding even after experiencing the 1989 earthquake. The exhibits emphasized on agricultural manufacturing and processing that would've been taken place in the Mission and inside the Adobe. The stairs made sense, and also the use of leather to tie some of the tools. However, the iron-based tools made me wonder how these dwellers would have access to masonry and blacksmith. Until... well, I can't spoil everything here. Just come visit if you're so curious about it. There are limited street parking around the nearby park, school, and church. Alternatively, park in downtown and take a walk through the 40-some stairs of an alley just next to the park. The park is practically wheelchair accessible, but I wasn't sure if signs were posted.

A simple but great memorial in downtown Santa Cruise. A memorial makes you stop and think. It's…read morememorial did just that.

Lovely place, beautiful scenery and great trails…read more I drove up from Irvine,CA to this park. Driving 6 hours is painful, but the views were worth it. Campsites were overall clean and the bathrooms were new and not too rusty. Throughout the park, there were spigots of water to rinse your shoes and dishes. Also there were food shelters to store food and keep them away from animals, not many campsites have food shelters. You should come here, I really recommend camping here.

$10 day use fee. Henry Cowell has 3 great attributes:…read more- The old growth loop is stunning. It's a very short flat loop, but the trees are magestic. - It has fairly interesting hiking paths. There is an option to stay on a wider paved trail to avoid ticks and poison ivy. - Right next door is Roaring Camp railroad. You can pay for parking there, take a train ride, then hike the redwoods without paying the day-use fee.