This is the best mini-golf course I've ever been to! The pirate theme makes it feel like a fun…read moreadventure from start to finish. It wasn't crowded when we visited on a Sunday morning. If you're looking for something fun to do, it's a great way to spend a couple of hours. We went there with guests from Japan and it was such a unique cultural experience for them! We especially loved the dark rooms with the colorful lights. They added a lot to the atmosphere. Although it was a bit pricey, it was definitely worth it!

It was fun. Probably the cheapest arcade I've seen since the 90s. Most games were $1. Which is a…read morelot compared to the quarter games we had. But compared to other places where you don't even get a fraction of that. They have a good enough variety to entertain the kids.

Wow this location have the best light and breezy environment. You truly feel you're in a different…read moreworld once you start a project here. They even gave some cute seating areas, front by the window, back as if you're having a private party, really great location and parking isn't as bad as I had anticipated. The staff is 100% more helpful; a lady from LG - Haley - I think, directed us to this location as it had the pieces we were looking for in their inventory. I wish the Bay had such relaxing places. So many grandparents with kids, new moms for footprints, and everyone else who was so kind and pleasant as we looked through colors and waited in line for questions. This is my happy place.

Went here for Mother's Day and we were immediately able to get a table to start painting our pots…read moreand bowls. The colors turned out more vibrant than expected and overall we like our work.

The goats have moved on to greener pastures and I'm ecstatic with the results! There is not a…read moresingle square inch of green less than 6 feet off the ground anywhere. We thought this would take a week but it took 3 days - those goats take their work seriously. The good: -Billie and the goats and dogs (and emu) are all delightful. Billie was extremely accommodating and hard working. The goats and dogs are absolute sweethearts and all come running when they see you for pets. -Poison oak is now extinct on my property. -The ground is fertilized and there is nothing to clean up other than sticks. The bad: -Noise. The "baaa"-ing was one thing, but the guard dogs were pretty brutal through the night. We had some coyotes hanging around so there was lots of barking. So that's it, thanks for following. I'm really happy to finally be able to present this and I'm actively brainstorming on how we can get a goat co-op going in our neighborhood.

Lost Emu Farms run by Billie was one of the best decisions we had made. She came out to the…read moreproperty promptly on time to meet with us for an estimate. Her assessment was spot on and we decided to go with her services. She was kind, compassionate, extremely thorough and just plain fun to be around. The result of her services left our property so much safer and useable. We are so grateful for Billie and will have to have her back sooner than later! Thank you again!!! To anyone in the market for her services, we have recommended her to all of our close friends, if appropriate for your needs, you will be beyond satisfied! Best value ever!!!

Stopped there on our way to the boardwalk. It was nice and educational, kid and adult friendly (we…read morewent without kids). The staff was super friendly and informative. Admissions was free and there's an optional donation and a nice gift shop.

A fun place to visit if you have some time before hitting the Boardwalk or pier! Located right…read moreacross the street from the pier, know that it is FREE to visit! This is not affiliated with the Monterey Bay Aquarium but it is tied to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). The docents/volunteers here are friendly and engaging and it is fun to learn about the oceans surrounding Santa Cruz. Great for kids, it's a quick 30 minute visit kind of place to pop in and learn something new!

Great place for pier fishing with friendly locals! There's touristy shops for all your beach and…read morevacation needs. Multiple delicious places to eat.

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."

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.

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.

They do NOT heat this theater! Just tried to watch the Spingstein movie. I left after a half…read morehour. Colder inside than outside. If you go, where heavy winter clothing. I'd like to support this theater, and I know it's struggling, but comon.

It's one of the best places to visit in the area. I really appreciate that there are plenty of…read morebenches and picnic tables available for everyone. It's easy to find a spot to rest with a baby or enjoy a snack with your children. When we visited on a Sunday morning, all of the outdoor rides were closed, so be sure to check the operating schedule if you're planning to go on any rides. There are also some public restrooms, and they are quite clean. The area has a beautiful beach, souvenir shops, excellent local restaurants, and many fun rides and activities. It's a great destination for a day trip with family, friends, or as a couple!

Define Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - a destination that never disappoints. I have been coming here…read moresince a kid. Now I return with my thrill seeking, adventurous lil one who enjoys the beach, food and rides. For frequent visits, the season pass is the best option - it pays for itself in two visits. Get the season pass during the holidays, save yourself a few extra dollars off. The beach, sand / water play, and just existing are a few things you can do. Sea lions are nearby, birds flying over head, waves coming ashore for everyone to enjoy. Seashells are everywhere to find. Bring a blanket to lay on, the sand can hurt after a while and get pretty hot during warmer months. A sun umbrella for shade is ideal along with snacks to have nearby for easy access. The boardwalk rides are diverse in age, size and thrill seeker levels. Our daughter has outgrown the smallest of rides, there are others she continues to enjoy while gaining height to now ride others she could not previously. There are numerous rides our daughter - now 6, first time visiting 4 years old, could enjoy. The boardwalk can get pretty packed and hectic, so arrive early for parking and go to your favorite rides first. There is plenty of parking surrounding the boardwalk, you have to walk further for some than others. There is metered street parking and parking lots. There are lots of photo op locations throughout the boardwalk and beach to record memories. Food is diverse, ICEEs and fountain drinks can be made refillable for a small additional fee, there are lots of stands throughout including clothes, souvenir, bubble wands, blankets and treats. The arcade area is a spacious, multi tier experience featuring mini golf, arcade games, air hockey, and food vending machines. This is one location you are guaranteed to locate a restroom usually with minimal lines in comparison to the boardwalk. The stalls are well maintained as well. A boardwalk card can be purchased then reloaded to play, just remember it on each visit or have a pile like I do. Miniature golf is purchased in person. Make a week, weekend or day out of your visit - we do!

The arcade ended up being the perfect way to pass the time during the rainy storm. They have air…read morehockey and a great variety of games, so there was plenty to keep us entertained. We even cashed in our tickets and picked out some fun prizes!

My kids all had a blast from 15, 13 and 9 years old. $40 lasted us about a solid hour. That was $20…read moreon 2 cards. We even got ice cream inside at a little shop. Location is excellent, tons of games to pick from. I have to mention within that hour we stopped to get ice cream. A nice start to the day at the boardwalk. Pretty busy for a Saturday but not overwhelmingly pack. The atm machines inside didn't work. It kept giving me an error code but luckily I didn't need cash you're able to purchase tickets from the kiosk. Overall a cool experience and must see when coming to the boardwalk. Even if you just browse and check it out it's worth the visit. I enjoyed a round of air hockey was able to purchase a margarita while the kids played. Good times for sure.

You need a whaling of a good time... This is the place to go…read more Pro tip: it's past past the butterflies Parking is free in weekends but there are plenty of park to pay machines around Things to touch, yes! Walking paths, yes! Gift shop, yes! Super friendly staff, yes! Support science! Highly recommend!

B A C K G R O U N D:…read more This place is the true definition of a hidden gem! It is a small but mighty center I wish I had found sooner! My family and I enjoyed ourselves so much that we knew-within ten minutes of visiting-that we would be back! I can't compare Seymour to Monterey Bay Aquarium since I haven't been to the latter for many years, but my husband recalls this center being more interactive: there are cheerful staff sharing their knowledge all around the center, and there is a mini tour that offers gorgeous views (this tour is included in cost of admission, so be sure to do it!!). V A L U E: -Exceptional value for all ages (and free for children under age 3). L O G I S T I C S: -You can book tickets ahead of time online, but it also seems you can pay at the door. -Parking is free on weekends and holidays. There is a spacious lot right by the entrance. E D U CA T I O N A L E X P E R I E N C E: -highly informative for all ages. I especially appreciated the climate change focused information. -Staff led a great tour that was interesting but not too long. They even had props to pass around while we listened, which kept my small kids engaged and quiet. Thank you, Kade and Shannon! G O O D T O K N O W: -You can pet a swell shark! -There are microscopes for children to see seashells up close. -There are plenty of books, coloring sheets, games, and toys in a corner if you have small children who you'd like to keep in one space.