On the other side of the Santa Cruz Wharf, you’ll find Cowell’s Beach, which is a popular spot to learn how to surf in Santa Cruz.Īs a city beach, Santa Cruz Main Beach is free to visit (as is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk if you want to walk around), although parking in the area can be steep.įun Fact: Santa Cruz Main Beach played a big role in Jordan Peele’s movie, US. It’s also one of the best Santa Cruz beaches for swimming and if you’re visiting in the summer there’s a fun free concert series on the beach. The main draw to Santa Cruz Main Beach, besides its location, is its long sandy stretches, beach volleyball courts, and plenty of food options nearby at the Boardwalk and Santa Cruz Wharf. If the Boardwalk is open, you’ll probably hear distant screaming from the Boardwalk rides, so it’s probably not the best beach to visit if you’re looking for some peaceful time near the water. Its convenient location means that it’s one of the busiest beaches in Santa Cruz, so don’t expect to have the beach to yourself. It’s also near the Santa Cruz Wharf if you want to grab dinner at sunset from Riva Fish House or another delicious seafood restaurant. Santa Cruz Main Beach is located right next to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and only a short drive from West Cliff and downtown Santa Cruz. If you’re looking for a convenient beach to visit that’s right next to some of the most popular attractions in Santa Cruz, look no further than Santa Cruz Main Beach. Related: What to do in Santa Cruz in Winter Just walk along West Cliff Drive from Natural Bridges State Beach to see what you can find. The best time to see them is in November, although you might still see a few anytime between mid-October to mid-February.Īnd if you’re looking for more beaches to explore, the West Cliff Drive area is one of the best places to find hidden coves and rocky cliffs to watch the sunset from in Santa Cruz. Just a short walk from Natural Bridge State Beach, you’ll find a wooden boardwalk that takes you through the eucalyptus grove where as many as 8,000 Monarch butterflies live during the winter. If you have more time, one of the coolest things near Natural Bridges State Beach is the Monarch Butterfly Grove. Natural Bridges State Beach is also a popular place for birdwatching and to spot migrating whales, seals, and even otters.ĭuring low tide, look for the tide pools at the far end of the beach where you might come across some colorful sea life in the form of sea stars, sea anemones, crabs, and more. The most photographed sight at Natural Bridges State Beach is the natural bridge sea arch that can be found near the shore. Located at the end of West Cliff Drive, Natural Bridges State Beach is one of the best beaches in Santa Cruz for photographers, tide poolers, and sunset enthusiasts. Note: this article contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you so I can keep providing free travel advice and tips. Since there are so many beaches to choose from, I wanted to put together a local’s guide to my favorite sandy spots around Santa Cruz County.įrom the hidden coves to the convenient and most popular beaches to those that are a little bit of both, these are my picks for the best beaches in Santa Cruz! The water may not be as warm or the landscaping as pristine as what you’ll find in Southern California, but there’s a laidback charm and rugged beauty to the beaches in Santa Cruz that’s hard to beat. This is all to say that I’ve had a lot of time to get to know Santa Cruz beaches inside and out, from my childhood but also as an adult on the many visits I’ve made back to my hometown over the years.Īnd there’s a lot to love about Santa Cruz beaches. I guess it’s to be expected if you grow up in a beach town – most of your life will revolve around the beach. Growing up in Santa Cruz, many of my earliest memories involved birthday parties, bonfires, volleyball conditioning, and sunsets on the beaches in Santa Cruz. Seabright Beach is a popular swimming beach with showers, nearby restaurants, and a lighthouse.Natural Bridges State Beach is highly scenic with rock formations, tide pools, trails along the bluffs, and the monarch butterfly grove-perfect for photographers.Twin Lakes State Beach is a local favorite that has free parking, showers, and beautiful sunset views over the harbor. TL DR: The best beaches in Santa Cruz are Natural Bridges State Beach, Seabright Beach, and Twin Lakes State Beach:
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