Santa Cruz County

Best of Santa Cruz County

Santa Cruz County Must-Sees

Santa Cruz County features a diverse landscape ranging from the ancient groves of Henry Cowell and Big Basin Redwoods to the rugged coastline of Wilder Ranch. This selection includes the historic Santa Cruz Wharf, known for its sea lion colony, and the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, which houses the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. Coastal highlights include the colorful Mediterranean-style architecture of Capitola, the iconic rock formations at Natural Bridges State Beach, and the expansive protected waters of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Santa Cruz County Must-Sees — Map

Intothewoods29 / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Municipal Wharf

The Santa Cruz Wharf is a wharf in Santa Cruz, California, United States, known for fishing, boat tours, viewing sea lions, dining,…

Brocken Inaglory / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Natural Bridges State Beach

Natural Bridges State Beach is a 65-acre California state park in Santa Cruz, California, in the United States.

Ken / CC BY 2.0

C

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a state park of California, United States, preserving mainly forest and riparian areas in the watershed…

Pinecar / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of California, located in Santa Cruz County, about 36 km northwest of Santa…

ravas51 / CC BY-SA 2.0

E

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum

The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is a museum which was established in May 1986 to document the history of surfing.

F

West Cliff Drive

A favourite place of both locals and tourists where you can walk or ride a bike along the Pacific Ocean.

NOAA / Public domain

G

Town of Capitola

Capitola is a small seaside town in Santa Cruz County, California. Capitola is located on the northern shores of Monterey Bay, on the…

Kip Evans. / Public domain

H

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a federally protected marine area offshore of California's Big Sur and central coast in the…

BoltSnypr / CC BY 3.0

I

Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area

Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area is one of two adjoining marine protected areas off the coast of San Mateo County and Santa…

Grey3k / CC BY 3.0

J

Wilder Ranch State Park

Wilder Ranch State Park is a California State Park on the Pacific Ocean coast north of Santa Cruz, California.

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