5-STARS FOR SEACLIFF STATE BEACH! Home from our beach day…read moredate, and I have to say... this beach was BEACHING! Today was exactly what we needed--relaxing, mood-boosting, peaceful, and simply enjoyable. Sometimes a day by the ocean really does feel like a reset button for the soul. We arrived early, chose our spot wisely, and settled in for the day. The weather was absolutely perfect! The waves were crashing and hugging the sand like a long-lost friend. The birds were birding (including one beautiful little feathered friend whose name I couldn't remember--and unfortunately, I couldn't get a picture either ‍). The dogs were out there pupping around in the water, happily retrieving balls and sticks their humans tossed for them. And the kids were everywhere--playing, splashing, laughing, and having the absolute BEST time in the sun. One of the things I really appreciate about Seacliff State Beach is how accessible and accommodating it is. Beach accessibility Handicap parking available Clean restrooms Working showers Clean changing rooms Covered picnic areas Pet-friendly amenities, including dog bowls with clean, fresh water And the parking is very reasonable at $10 for the day, with seniors receiving $1 off. That's a pretty great deal for spending an entire day at the beach! We even got lucky enough to see dolphins swimming by! We also spotted a healthy seal enjoying the water. Unfortunately, we did see another seal on the beach that appeared very lethargic and remained there for much of the day. That part was heartbreaking to see. I sincerely hope someone was able to get the appropriate wildlife professionals involved. And then there was our little tent adventure. Packing it up was easy enough... until we tried getting it back into its bag with the wind fighting us every step of the way! So we decided to bring it home and fold it back up in the garage where Mother Nature couldn't interfere with our packing skills. After a full day of sunshine, fresh ocean air, good food, beautiful scenery, wildlife, and just enjoying each other's company, we came home feeling relaxed, refreshed, and grateful. And if you know the area, Seacliff State Beach is also conveniently close to some great local spots, including Manuel's Restaurant, Marianna's Ice Cream Parlor, and Snow White's, just to name a few. WOULD ABSOLUTELY VISIT AGAIN! Seacliff State Beach checked all the boxes for us: accessibility, amenities, family-friendly fun, pet-friendly spaces, beautiful scenery, and a perfect place to spend a relaxing day by the ocean. The beach was beaching.The birds were birding.The waves were waving.The dogs were pupping.And we were just grateful to be there. Sometimes you don't need anything fancy. Just a beach, a picnic, someone you love, and a beautiful day. Until the next beach day...

I saw pictures of Seacliff State Beach online and wanted to check it out. I drove out there and it…read morewas pretty crowded. Parking is $10 but if you come late in the day, there's no parking in the lower lot. I parked in the upper lot and walked down the long step of stairs. It wasn't too bad. The view was incredible especially with the sunken ship. It used to be a restaurant and entertainment venue. However, the pier leading to the ship is long gone. There is a visitor's center where you can buy gifts and also learn the history about Seacliff State Beach and also look through a telescope to see the sunken ship much better. The beach was very packed and if you're going there to relax and swim, it's the best place to do so. There's not much to do around. There's no restaurants or shops next to the beach but that's fine because it keeps it natural. There was still a lot of damage to the parking lots and parts of the beach from previous floods and storm damage. There are plenty of bathrooms along the beach but bring your own soap and toilet paper because there isn't any. Overall, it was a nice beach and good place to relax and frolic in the sand and water.

Go on a weekday; the parking areas fill up quickly on weekends. It's $8 to park, and it's best to…read morebring exact change. The redwoods are not as magestic as the ones at Henry Cowell, but it's just as relaxing. There are a lot of loop trails around the ranger station. You can hike next to the stream going north, and cross at various points. You will find bridges, as well as clusters of rocks that are crossable. There is poison ivy that intrudes into the pathway; take precautions. Also treat your shoes with tick-repellent.

Beautiful forest with creeks, huge trees and banana slugs. Cool and shady. Many trails are…read morerelatively easy even if you're tired like I was. We've actually been here twice and enjoyed both times.

Capitola Wharf is such a beautiful place to visit! The views of the Pacific Ocean, Capitola Beach…read moreand the colorful village are absolutely gorgeous. It's a lovely place for a relaxing walk, watching the waves, enjoying the fresh ocean air and taking photos. We also enjoyed watching people fishing and looking out for marine life. The atmosphere is very peaceful and quintessentially California. It's especially beautiful around sunset, when the light over the water and the colorful buildings make everything look even more magical. Definitely worth stopping by if you're visiting Capitola. It's an easy and relaxing way to enjoy the coast and the beautiful views!

Nestled right on the picturesque Capitola Beach, this 855 foot pier was sadly damaged in 2023 by…read moresevere storms, ripping off part of the pier deck and eventually partially collapsing the two businesses housed at the end of this pier, Wharf House Restaurant and Capitola Boat and Bait. Since then, the wharf has thankfully been restored at a cost of $8M, of which $425K was raised through local efforts. And although Wharf House has not re-opened, Capitola Boat and Bait has fortunately resumed operations at a new, temporary location on the pier. I have fond memories of renting a skiff at the bait shop and heading out with my friends to do some fishing. And am really glad to see the business survive such a disaster and re-open after an extended shutdown. Addition to skiff rentals, you can rent kayaks and fishing gear here and do some fishing either on the pier or on the water. The pier now also hosts various local events and live music. Offering fun activities to enjoy in addition to the beach itself. A must-visit if you find yourself in or driving by the small but beautiful town of Capitola.

Volunteer service and they do a great job, food was great, very highly recommended [extra…read morecharacters to post this review]

Amazing hospitality by volunteers!!…read more Loved the vibe and food. Had a good time. Would love to revisit the place and will highly recommend it.

Quaint local park: tennis courts,baseball field, playground, soccer field, community garden and…read moreCommunity Center It is a safe day time spot to take your dog (or for others, your kids.) Minus one star for not being well lit at night. Especially when it gets dark early...

I enjoy their variety of classes. So glad to be attending…read moreZumba classes bi weekly as well as language classes: Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese for traveling, Visualization and Yoga.

From start to finish, Santa Cruz Bike Tours exceeded every expectation. The entire operation was…read moreprofessional, well-organized, and welcoming. Our guide, Marty, was outstanding--knowledgeable, full of integrity, and genuinely funny. He made everyone feel comfortable, shared interesting information throughout the ride, and, most importantly, kept the entire group safe while ensuring everyone had a great time. His attention to each rider, regardless of experience level, was exceptional. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous and made the ride even more memorable. If you're looking for a fun, scenic, and professionally guided cycling experience, I highly recommend SC Bike Tours. I can't wait to come back for another tour!

3.5 stars to be fair because the trail was beautiful. Let's get into to…read more My friends and I are from SoCal so we googled bike tours in Santa Cruz for an afternoon activity. Up pops up Santa Cruz Bike Tours- easy enough right? The website was pretty standard, nothing too flashy, professional and candid photos were shown. We called ahead to get some basic information about the Redwoods Tour and was greeted by Marty. Marty sent a very formal email confirmation and off we went to the meeting spot. Our meeting spot was Epicenter Cycling however the email indicated the tour wasn't affiliated with the Center. The guy inside the center even said and I quote, "oh yea that guy, he comes around here sometimes". We found Marty our tour guide parked on the street near the plaza, We walked up to his car and to our surprise were decade old bikes and helmets laid out in his truck to choose from. The quality was by far not what we expected but we rolled with the punches. Marty took us on a guided tour through the Redwoods which was beautiful. Offered water and 'snacks' during our ride and volunteered to be our photographer. All in all the tour was an event to remember. Did we get catfished? Yes. Will we have a story to tell and laugh about for a lifetime? Also yes. $65 a person for the tour. Marty accepts Cash or Check only. Parking in the plaza is a bit difficult as it is for customers only but the trail is easy enough to find.

It was my family's first time and I wish we went my toddler was a baby. This place was so cute and…read morehad a lot of activities for kids and adults too. My 4 year old loved the different zones and kept jumping from one section to another. While we were there we joined the science activity and my toddler made an interesting airplane. It was a little busy in the afternoon on a Saturday mainly due to birthday parties. They only have one bathroom so be aware that you might have to wait in line especiallyif theres a party. Other than that, for $10 my kid had a great time for a couple of hours. We'll come when we visit Santa Cruz again.

My kids love this place! It's in the Capitola Mall and easy to get to with plenty of parking. There…read moreis a lot of variety here and plenty of chances for the kids to use their imagination. There were plenty of things to do - a play kitchen, arts and crafts, dinosaurs, cars - it really tailors to a wide range of children. My daughter (6) and my son (3) were never bored - with a daypass, we had access to the facility all day and we actually came back later in the afternoon! I would say one con was that there was only one bathroom (not stalled bathrooms), so depending on how busy it is there may be a wait to use. We were there Saturday morning and it wasn't too busy but when we came back in the afternoon, there was a birthday party and it got busier. The museum closes at 5pm. Definitely a must-visit for when we visit Capitola again!

Great wine, great atmosphere, great service, thank you Jen, and just all around great place.read more

Service was awesome and the wines were all great! We will definitely be back :) Thank you for the…read moreawesome experience! The dog was a great companion during our tasting.