Great place to walk around and enjoy the ocean views of Santa Cruz if you aren't interested in the…read moreboardwalk. Check out the surf museum and the lighthouse and watch all the surfers in steamer lane!!

No indoor seating but it's a great cafe with a fun and eclectic menu, want to try the kimchi…read morequesadilla next time. Coffee had a great flavor and was strong. Everything is surprisingly well priced too. Plenty of benches outside and out and about around the lighthouse.

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*

SO SO SO SAD!!! UCSC cut down the branches of the tree so you can't climb this magnificent tree…read moreanymore! LA SIGH!

Top of the stairs is near corner of Cliff Ave & Grand Ave and has quite a view. Set navigation…read moresoftware for 104 cliff Abe in capitola and it'll get you to top of stairs. DONT PARK HERE though. It's permit parking only. Park around the corner

Inevitably, these stairs are:…read more What you do after a long night in the Village. What you do after a few too many cupcakes (http://www.yelp.com/biz/sprinkles-cupcakes-palo-alto#hrid:F7yevLniXvWEebiGO8gBMg) What you do when you want to escape the parking nazis. But it will cost you in burn factor every time.

My absolute ideal day in Santa Cruz would be strolling the Santa Cruz Wharf. Talk about California…read moredreaming. This is it! It feels like home to me. Years of awesome visits to the wharf. Whether it is sunny, foggy, or raining... it is always magical. Each experience offers it's own beauty and is, indeed, a memorable slice of heaven. It boasts the longest wooden pier on the West Coast. Which by the way has been seriously damaged (and fixed) during crazy storms these past few years. Wonderful choices for dining. My favorite is Jack O'neill Restaurant and Lounge which provides not only fabulous food opportunities (casual and fine dining), but affords the best view of the wharf, the famous and iconic SC Boardwalk, and the big, blue, beautiful ocean. There are many great choices on the pier itself to enjoy yummy seafood, (as well as many other menu items) and the unforgettable coastal views. Makai Island... my favorite restaurant/bar on the pier is a must visit! Family friendly and great food in the dining room. But if you do not have the kids take a spin on the revolving bar in the back and just soak in the vibes of a good, strong cocktail and the Pacific Ocean :-)! Right? Fun, tourist shopping too. I am always a "tourist" on the pier. Love spending time crusing the wharf's nice shops when I want a cool SC ball cap or sweat shirt! Like any other popular tourist destination... nothing is cheap. Whether you are Just walking and feeling the ocean breeze, hanging with the large sea lions, watching peeps fishing off the pier, and of course hoping the dedicated surfers catch a wave...it is all good! You can even rent a boat. Everyone is happy on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. Especially with an ice cream cone in hand:). So much to explore. #EpicPhotoOpportunitiesToo!

A Walk Down Memory Lane--With Seagulls as Security Guards!…read more There's something special about walking the Municipal Wharf in Santa Cruz, especially when you grew up fishing from this very wharf. For me, this wasn't just another tourist stop--it was a little trip down memory lane. Years ago, I even went scuba diving underneath the wharf. Looking back, I'm not sure what I was thinking! I definitely would not recommend that today. Between boat traffic, fishing lines, and the possibility of getting tangled up in something that you really don't want wrapped around you, it's probably better to enjoy the view from above the water! We had a wonderful time strolling the wharf, visiting the various shops, and talking with the shop owners. Everyone we encountered was kind, friendly, and happy to engage with us. It was also encouraging to see that some areas that used to be pretty dirty have been cleaned up. There's still room for improvement, but overall, it was a pleasant day and a fun way to experience the beach. One area that kept this from being a five-star experience was the ticket booth. The woman working there seemed much more interested in her conversation on her cell phone than in engaging with the people she was serving. A little hospitality goes a long way, especially in a place that welcomes visitors from all over. The Municipal Wharf also gives you a completely different perspective of the Santa Cruz coastline and the area toward the Boardwalk. You get beautiful views of the beach, the water, and all the activity along the shoreline. And then there are the seagulls. Consider them the unofficial security team of the wharf. If you're carrying food, keep your eyes open--and your sandwich even closer! These birds have absolutely no respect for personal property, personal space, or the concept of "I paid for this." All in all, the Municipal Wharf is worth a stroll, especially if you want to see Santa Cruz from a different angle and experience a little history along the way. For me, it was even better because I got to revisit a place connected to some great memories from growing up. Just remember: walk the wharf, enjoy the view, talk to the locals, and leave the scuba gear at home! #YelpElite #SantaCruz #MunicipalWharf #SantaCruzWharf #SantaCruzCalifornia #CaliforniaCoast #BeachDay #SantaCruzBoardwalk #OceanViews #LocalHistory #FamilyMemories #YelpReview #SeagullWatch #CaliforniaAdventures

I visited this museum, in December of 2025. And it is almost Valentine's Day, 2026 so I am late to…read morerecord my experience, I understand that. But I rather take down the Christmas on Super Bowl weekend than wait to take the lights down near the 4th of July. I went to this place on my first trip to Santa Cruz. And I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of this place, and its focus on Santa Cruz Culture. Thorough out my life, I have heard that Santa Cruz is known for crystals, and forest green. But on my trip here, I learned that Santa Cruz is also famous for surfer culture, As some of the pictures, demonstrate surf boards, like cups, hair styles, and volcanoes, come in a variety of lengths, shapes, colors and purpose. I also learned that surfing has its origins from Hawaii, and even though I did not know that, it totally makes sense. I will never be on a surf board, catching a big wave, while the breeze hits my face, and pelicans fly above, but by visiting this museum I learned the historical value of the surf movement that waved hello, initially, in Santa Cruz by way of Hawaii. My favorite room was that one that reflected the beach and ocean vibe of Santa Cruz in place. The room was colored in a deep blue that did not resemble clear waters, more like the deep blue that is found when the ocean seems to be infinite. I am not sure the exact shade of blue that the room was painted in, but I will call it calming serenity blue, which is a close cousin to royal blue. If popcorn yellow and burnt cocoa brown are colors than mine can be colored too, I do not need Crayola level authority to christen colors. The pictures in the room continued my trance into serenity. The paintings showed these peaceful seascapes, where sky and sea became partners in a waltz, not interwoven as one, but paired into slow movement that induces stillness upon the viewer. Other pictures showed a calm beach, where the shore water had white froth as it met the sand. In the background, there was a rock formation and behind the rock formation was a tranquil sky brighten by subtle hues of a descending sun. Even as I reviewed the pictures for this yelp, I found the paintings to be, in a phrase: rest in ocean and pastel candy colored strokes. The room also had a speaker that played the sounds of the ocean, quietly about a chair. I allowed myself to transport myself to a beach shore, to experience the colors of the sea breeze. The museum also tried to educate others on its place in USA farm produce history. One of the pictures discusses the migration pattern by stating, "Today Mexican men, women and children cross the border voluntarily- but at great risk of violence and rape." This is just my opinion, but this sentence, is too broad yet to specific at the same time to accurately paint a picture of the migration experience of many Mexicans and by extension other people who seek to come to America to fulfill their version of the American dream. The way it is written, again from my interpretation, implies that the choice to come to America is one that is a "voluntary" decision like skipping or going to the gym, or using a credit card for a jacket when it does not fit your means. Meaning, that the word voluntary may ignore the vast conditions that push others to migrate, other than personal choice. But this is just one Yelper's opinion, if that makes sense. In another, poster, which I clipped, explains how Santa Cruz goes alternative. The poster explains that "Santa Cruz became a cauldron of cultural experimentation, neighborhood activism, intellectual exploration and environmental protection in the 1960s and 1970s." I think that the word cauldron here is not the right choice because a cauldron most often then not, holds a witches brew. And, most witches brews that are mixed in a cauldron, are meant to produce a potion that results in some type of calamity or curse. I know I may be nitpicking, but if a museum is going to report history, they should be prepared for a response, as history should be reported with objective caution, not editorial perspective. A better word, again in my opinion, would be site, like Santa Cruz became a site of.... this gives objective reporting, as a posed to imagery that a word like cauldron produces. I think, and thus I write. Angela Davis, said, according to a poster, I also clipped, " I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change, I am changing the things I cannot accept." I also really enjoyed playing with Christmas train models for about 10 to 15 minutes. I was not transported into the Polar Express, but, it was fun to turn on cabooses and view their speed and stops through the tracks. It was a zen kind of moment. The museum also had a sculpture garden and a picture of a man in front of a giant redwood that made me want to find a giant tree and walk inside its tunnel. I guess, what I am trying to say is that this museum has a lot to see and ponder about. I was stirred, and calmed, by it.

What a great find while visiting downtown Santa Cruz with my girlfriend! Such a relaxing experience…read morevisiting this museum, it wasn't busy and the exhibits are very simple. You really get to learn about the history of Santa Cruz and the surrounding cities. It was three floors and wasn't a crazy big museum. I enjoyed it a lot and it was affordable to enjoy. Definitely can be a cool add to your itinerary for Santa Cruz. Bathrooms are a bit spooky though haha, they are super dim and is very ominous! Could barely go anymore once I walked in.

Parking 808 Bay Ave in the Nob Hill parking lot near the back of the store. Nice easy walk. Good…read moretemperature because of clouds and shade because of the many many trees. I don't think it ever gets hot here. Looking good.

Rispin Mansion Capitola CA Sat 10/30/21…read more The Rispin Mansion in Capitola California is a historic mansion, registered on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. I've been at this site countless times over the years, oh how I regret not to have posted my previously taken photos, lost in the mists of time (and annals of my old laptops somewhere)! Wish I had a review written back in a day. And I'll tell you why, in a second. Around 75% of the Rispin Mansion had been destroyed by fire about 10 years ago. It was soon after the Capitola City Council approved a 55-year lease that would repair the grounds and turn it into a 25-room boutique hotel, back in May of 2009. The project was billed at $14 million, however, just before the construction started, a fire broke out. And now you know the rest of the story! So the grounds are fenced with the chicken wire and abandoned on the day of my today's visit on Saturday October 30, 2021. The building was constructed in 1921 by San Franciscan Henry Allen Rispin. It was built with four stories, 22 rooms, and over 7,100 square feet, on the grounds of what was called "Camp Capitola". Described as being "cursed," Rispin Mansion was first used as a real-estate showroom, and then, at various times, as a residence, a nunnery, a SWAT practice ground, and even as a ghost hunting site! Why is it on the National Register, what's historic about it? Well, I'm glad that you asked. It's because Henry Allen Rispin was one of the founding fathers of Capitola. He saw its large potential as a vacation spot and tourist attraction. Rispin owned or controlled most of the land in the new city of Capitola. During the Great Depression, he lost his fortune and had to sell the mansion. It went to his business partner Robert Hays Smith through foreclose, then got sold to the Oblates of St. Joseph and became a convent, until 1959. For many decades thereafter, Rispin Mansion stayed unoccupied, neglected, vandalized with graffiti, ghosted. That is until the city purchased the property in 1985 for mere $1.35 million and eventually placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. It attracts supernatural interest from the ghost hunters who visit the property during the middle of the night, to film the paranormal activities. So I thought it was most fitting to pen my review on Halloween 2021 to bring your attention to Rispin Mansion and its ghosts of the past. Cheers! Review #654 posted with 6 pictures on October 30, 2021 Rispin Mansion Capitola CA Sat 10/30/21 ® It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah It don't mean a thing all you got to do is sing doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah It makes no difference If it's sweet or hot Just give that rhythm Everything you've got Rispin Mansion Capitola CA Sat 10/30/21

We haven't been to Lillians in a couple of years, and the quality has declined. We ordered bread…read morewith tapenade to start. While the tapenade was good, the bread seemed like tough grocery store bread. My husband's chicken was so dry, he had trouble chewing it. I ordered the salmon on risotto special. While the salmon was tasty, the risotto was sitting in a pool of olive oil. We were very disappointed.

The food hit the spot. I had the chicken Parmesan on a bed of rigatoni noodles and marinara. It was…read moredelicious. The service was very friendly. I was seated right away. I thought it was going to be a wait because the place was packed. The table service was very friendly and always timely. She checked backed on me more than just taking the initial order. Since the place was packed it was pretty loud inside. You could still hear the piano music in the background. Next time I am back in town, I will definitely recommend Lillian's for a dinner for the team I work with. I know they will enjoy it as much as I did.

The Santa Cruz Saturday Market in San Lorenzo Park offers much more variety than a typical farmers…read moremarket. In addition to hosting a certified farmers market and customary food booths, there are many vendors offering locally made products and art that reflect the unusual level of talent and creativity in Santa Cruz. There are also various holistic services, entertainment, and a kids village surrounding a large tepee. If you are looking for a nonprofit farmers market in a green setting that also offers various locally made products, art and services it's well worth a visit. The market is held in San Lorenzo Park every Saturday from early May through November from 10am to 6pm. Parking is free at the large county building parking lot or you can park on River Street and walk across the pedestrian bridge.

My family and I make our way up to Santa Cruz once a year, and have an annual dinner over at…read moreTramonti. I look forward to having the Gnocchi Tricolore all 364 days of the year that I don't get to eat it. The outdoor patio is a great area, with a fan for warm evenings and space heaters for cooler nights. Although Tramonti lacks a kid's menu, the staff is accommodating to children, offering to adjust portion size of pizza and pasta dishes.

Ok definitely a date spot. The lights were dimmed, the vibe was very romantic. But definitely still…read morecan take family here as well as bigger groups. We made a reservation ahead of time because we saw that it can get a bit busy for dinner. But as soon as we got there, we were seated immediately. The staff were very knowledgeable and warm to us. We ordered the lasagna and fettuccine and we shared it. The portion sizes are huge! But definitely worth the money. One of my new favorite Italian spots to go to when I'm out in the area.