Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Chuck
Guidebook for Santa Cruz

Food Scene

Great for breakfast and lunch. The closest restaurant to our cottage, and a family favorite for 30 years. Go early, or you'll be waiting for 30-45 minutes. Still worth it.
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Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright Ave
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Great for breakfast and lunch. The closest restaurant to our cottage, and a family favorite for 30 years. Go early, or you'll be waiting for 30-45 minutes. Still worth it.
Good local brew pub with a pub menu. Outdoor dining in the summer.
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Seabright Social
519 Seabright Ave
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Good local brew pub with a pub menu. Outdoor dining in the summer.
Extremely popular, and for a good reason. Excellent food, outdoor drinks and dining in good weather, and great view of the harbor and ocean.
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Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff Dr
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Extremely popular, and for a good reason. Excellent food, outdoor drinks and dining in good weather, and great view of the harbor and ocean.
Closest fine dining to our home. Extensive wine list and Italian food selection. My wife's favorite place.
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La Posta
538 Seabright Ave
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Closest fine dining to our home. Extensive wine list and Italian food selection. My wife's favorite place.
Fish restaurant with a commanding view of the yacht harbor. Sandwiches and fresh fish, cooked several ways. Full bar.
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Johnny's Harborside
493 Lake Ave
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Fish restaurant with a commanding view of the yacht harbor. Sandwiches and fresh fish, cooked several ways. Full bar.
Organic Asian food that is delicious and very reasonably priced. A favorite of students and those who love healthy food.
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Charlie Hong Kong
1141 Soquel Ave
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Organic Asian food that is delicious and very reasonably priced. A favorite of students and those who love healthy food.
A very nice, mature place to have a cocktail or a tasty select of unique dishes. We like the bar menu, but a complete menu is available. Quiet, convenient, with nearby parking. Limited but delicious menu.
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Oswald Restaurant
121 Soquel Ave
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A very nice, mature place to have a cocktail or a tasty select of unique dishes. We like the bar menu, but a complete menu is available. Quiet, convenient, with nearby parking. Limited but delicious menu.
Fun sushi restaurant with some Santa Cruz-themed rolls. Large convenient parking lot shared with Trader Joe's.
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Mobo Sushi
105 River St S
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Fun sushi restaurant with some Santa Cruz-themed rolls. Large convenient parking lot shared with Trader Joe's.
One of the three great bakeries in Santa Cruz. Wonderful breads, desserts, and custom sandwiches. Across from Shopper's Corner, another Santa Cruz institution.
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The Buttery
702 Soquel Ave
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One of the three great bakeries in Santa Cruz. Wonderful breads, desserts, and custom sandwiches. Across from Shopper's Corner, another Santa Cruz institution.
Great view of the city and Monterey Bay, about a dozen restaurants, fresh seafood, relatively inexpensive parking on the wharf.
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圣克鲁斯码头
21 Municipal Wharf
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Great view of the city and Monterey Bay, about a dozen restaurants, fresh seafood, relatively inexpensive parking on the wharf.
Nice, family-owned restaurant with excellent food and some reasonably priced wine. A family favorite, and also a UCSC hangout.
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Sabieng
1218 Mission St
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Nice, family-owned restaurant with excellent food and some reasonably priced wine. A family favorite, and also a UCSC hangout.
This is the closest Starbucks, and there are a variety of other local coffee shops as well. Also one at Portola and 17th, which is walkable if you want a stroll.
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Starbucks
21620 E Cliff Dr
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This is the closest Starbucks, and there are a variety of other local coffee shops as well. Also one at Portola and 17th, which is walkable if you want a stroll.
Our own local coffee roasting company, VERVE is about two blocks away. Very strong, locally roasted coffee and pastries. You can smell the coffee roasting in the morning.
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Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st Ave
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Our own local coffee roasting company, VERVE is about two blocks away. Very strong, locally roasted coffee and pastries. You can smell the coffee roasting in the morning.
Nice Italian restaurant with good service and reasonable prices. About 7 minutes away by car.
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Lago di Como
21490 E Cliff Dr
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Nice Italian restaurant with good service and reasonable prices. About 7 minutes away by car.
Intimate Italian restaurant with good service, traditional food, and a homey feel.
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Star Bene
East Cliff Drive
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Intimate Italian restaurant with good service, traditional food, and a homey feel.
Very good Mexican restaurant downtown with full bar. Broad menu including seafood. Also check out the Taco Bar, just outside of the bar, with excellent tacos and burritos, freshly made. M-Th low $$.
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El Palomar Restaurant
1336 Pacific Ave
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Very good Mexican restaurant downtown with full bar. Broad menu including seafood. Also check out the Taco Bar, just outside of the bar, with excellent tacos and burritos, freshly made. M-Th low $$.
We tend to forget this waterfront restaurant, but it has reasonably good food and it's right on the Twin Lakes Beach. Watch the surf and volleyball, and enjoy a broad menu of breakfast and lunch/dinner entrees.
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Cafe El Palomar
2222 E Cliff Dr
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We tend to forget this waterfront restaurant, but it has reasonably good food and it's right on the Twin Lakes Beach. Watch the surf and volleyball, and enjoy a broad menu of breakfast and lunch/dinner entrees.
(Currently closed for renovation.) Right ON the harbor, with views of the channel and passing boats. Smaller inside dining for inclement weather. Breakfast menu, sandwiches, fresh fish, and burgers. Dog friendly. Bring a hat.
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Aldo's Harbor Restaurant
790 Mariner Park Way
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(Currently closed for renovation.) Right ON the harbor, with views of the channel and passing boats. Smaller inside dining for inclement weather. Breakfast menu, sandwiches, fresh fish, and burgers. Dog friendly. Bring a hat.
Our favorite, hands down. Excellent food and drinks, comfortable, and not at all a "chain" restaurant. Call for reservations most nights. Snapper Special on Friday is muy bien! 688-4848
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Manuel's Mexican Restaurant
261 Center Ave
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Our favorite, hands down. Excellent food and drinks, comfortable, and not at all a "chain" restaurant. Call for reservations most nights. Snapper Special on Friday is muy bien! 688-4848
Youngish scene, full bar, and good menu. Burgers, tacos, fish. A little loud for intimate conversations, but a favorite among our adult children. Easy parking off Portola.
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Süda
3910 Portola Dr
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Youngish scene, full bar, and good menu. Burgers, tacos, fish. A little loud for intimate conversations, but a favorite among our adult children. Easy parking off Portola.
Breakfast-lunch place that is a harbor favorite. Big breakfasts, including three egg omelets that will keep you reaching for your statins. Nice servers, extensive menu.
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Harbor Café
535 7th Ave
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Breakfast-lunch place that is a harbor favorite. Big breakfasts, including three egg omelets that will keep you reaching for your statins. Nice servers, extensive menu.

Entertainment & Activities

Last of the Pacific seaside resorts with fun rides, free access, and a wide safe beach. Great for people watching, thrilling rides, and junk food. If it isn't fried, you won't find it at the Boardwalk. Great beach, too.
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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach St
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Last of the Pacific seaside resorts with fun rides, free access, and a wide safe beach. Great for people watching, thrilling rides, and junk food. If it isn't fried, you won't find it at the Boardwalk. Great beach, too.
Our local renowned climbing gym is only two blocks away! 50' walls, friendly service, and a fun atmosphere. Yoga is also available there.
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Pacific Edge Climbing Gym
104 Bronson St
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Our local renowned climbing gym is only two blocks away! 50' walls, friendly service, and a fun atmosphere. Yoga is also available there.
Nearby park is dog-friendly, and has nice climbing structures for kids. Gateway to the upper yacht harbor.
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Frederick Street Park & Dog Park
168 Frederick St
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Nearby park is dog-friendly, and has nice climbing structures for kids. Gateway to the upper yacht harbor.
Cute park, also nearby, which looks over the river and Boardwalk. Good for picnics, and a walking path leads to the river.
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Ocean View Park
102 Ocean View Ave
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Cute park, also nearby, which looks over the river and Boardwalk. Good for picnics, and a walking path leads to the river.
World famous for a good reason: it totally rocks for kids, adults, anyone! Gorgeous facility on the bay with the most amazing exhibits. Allow three hours.
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蒙特雷湾水族馆
886 Cannery Row
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World famous for a good reason: it totally rocks for kids, adults, anyone! Gorgeous facility on the bay with the most amazing exhibits. Allow three hours.

Everything Else

Nice hiking area north of the harbor. Enter by Santa Cruz Bible Church bridge, at the end of Broadway. Great 3-mile loop from our home.
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Arana Gulch Park
101 Mentel Ave
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Nice hiking area north of the harbor. Enter by Santa Cruz Bible Church bridge, at the end of Broadway. Great 3-mile loop from our home.
Hey, just another Costco, but I love Costco and this is our local location. They also have a gas station a block away.
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Costco Wholesale
220 Sylvania Ave
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Hey, just another Costco, but I love Costco and this is our local location. They also have a gas station a block away.
Large city park with golf, hiking, little league, biking, and picnics.
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德拉维加公园
855 Branciforte Drive
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Large city park with golf, hiking, little league, biking, and picnics.
One of the premier surf spots in California. Bring your camera and telephoto lens. You are perched 25' on a cliff with a panoramic view of the waves and surfers. Surving Museum is adjacent. Excellent.
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Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff Dr
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One of the premier surf spots in California. Bring your camera and telephoto lens. You are perched 25' on a cliff with a panoramic view of the waves and surfers. Surving Museum is adjacent. Excellent.
Closest yoga studio.
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Ashtanga Yoga Institute at Pacific Cultural Center
1307 Seabright Ave
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Closest yoga studio.

Essentials

Yes, we have a Whole Foods. Great produce and other organic products. Bring your checkbook...
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Whole Foods Market
911 Soquel Ave
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Yes, we have a Whole Foods. Great produce and other organic products. Bring your checkbook...
OK, just in case, here's the nearest ER and other hospital services. Susan has worked there for over 30 years. Great place to have a baby.
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Dominican Hospital
1555 Soquel Dr
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OK, just in case, here's the nearest ER and other hospital services. Susan has worked there for over 30 years. Great place to have a baby.

Shopping

One of Santa Cruz's oldest health food markets with a wonderful selection of fresh foods, including a hot select to take home. Loved by the community.
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Staff of Life
1266 Soquel Ave
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One of Santa Cruz's oldest health food markets with a wonderful selection of fresh foods, including a hot select to take home. Loved by the community.
Well-respected boutique grocery store that's been there for 80 years. Extensive wine and cheese selection, with full butcher shop, excellent produce. Friendly service and good parking.
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Shopper's Corner
622 Soquel Ave
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Well-respected boutique grocery store that's been there for 80 years. Extensive wine and cheese selection, with full butcher shop, excellent produce. Friendly service and good parking.

Parks & Nature

Our local beach, between the harbor and rivermouth. Broad sand beach with gentle surf, mostly, and fire pits if you want to cook out. Dogs on leashes! Bring your kite and skimboard.
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Seabright State Beach
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Our local beach, between the harbor and rivermouth. Broad sand beach with gentle surf, mostly, and fire pits if you want to cook out. Dogs on leashes! Bring your kite and skimboard.
Well, not actually the park, but the entire area around the lighthouse is special. Walk along the cliff on West Cliff Dr and you'll see why so many people love Santa Cruz.
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灯塔野外州立海滩
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Well, not actually the park, but the entire area around the lighthouse is special. Walk along the cliff on West Cliff Dr and you'll see why so many people love Santa Cruz.

Arts & Culture

Very highly acclaimed community college which has recently had a major facelift. Frequent dramatic and musical presentations. Nursing school has graduated many excellent nurses!
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Student Activities Center
6500 Soquel Dr
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Very highly acclaimed community college which has recently had a major facelift. Frequent dramatic and musical presentations. Nursing school has graduated many excellent nurses!
Major university in one of the prettiest settings every. Great views of Monterey Bay.
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加州大学圣塔克鲁兹分校
Arboretum Road
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Major university in one of the prettiest settings every. Great views of Monterey Bay.