I came here to start my drive down West Cliff Drive. I was interested in just covering it and not…read moregoing too deep so it worked out perfectly that there is a free 20 minute parking lot. From there, the view is good of the water, but you need to walk down to the beach into the sand to get a good view of the natural bridge. I was able to do that and get back to the car in 20 minutes (wink wink). But seriously, it can be done and it is not monitored that closely. Or you can just pay to park inside, but for me just wanted to snap a pic, it wasn't worth it to pay. The beach is large and there were families hanging out and there is also a bathroom inside the park just back from the sand.

Do not hesitate to bring the whole family! Wheel chair friendly too! The trail to the Monarch…read moreviewing is easy... and there are trails going right down to the beach where you can see an arch in the water still standing. The gift shop is full of interesting fair trade items. And the museum display is well done and informative. Parking is on the street free or in the lot for $10.00. Facilities are available.

This was a quick and easy way to take in the scenic coastline of Santa Cruz. You can walk, jog, or…read morebike the path that is about 3 miles long. I was running short on time so drove it, but was meticulous in stopping at each parking spot and taking in the sights. I started at Natural Bridges and went from there. I did the whole thing by car in about 30 minutes. There are small lots 10 cars or so along the way and I had no issues finding a spot at each one. Some of it has street parking as well. The coast curves delightfully and there are benches to sit and relax and at some places you can walk down to the beach itself or just sit on the rocks. Other places have steep drops and that's what makes it great! You'll also see surfers along the way.

West Cliff Drive is a scenic route starting downtown at the pier that winds along the rugged…read morecoastline northward to the Natural Bridges Park. This beautiful path is approximately 3 miles long which can be enjoyed by walking, biking or a slow ride in one's vehicle. A good portion of the route is wheelchair accessible. It is a great route to enjoy the sights and sounds of the abundant marine life including seals and dolphins, the waters of the Pacific ocean and Monterey Bay, fantastic views of the rugged coastline, and the waters full of surfers at iconic Steamer Lane. There are a few parking spots along the way. The parking lot at the north end of West Cliff Drive can fill up quickly.

It's a busy beach with stunning views of the pier and boardwalk. Parking can be difficult. Parking…read morefeels far from the beach. Water is cold.

Always a good time at Twin Lakes beach but it can get very busy when eatger is hot and even busier…read moreon holiday weekends. We live in Los Gatos so we typically grab a sandwish from Los Gatos Meats to take over the hill and hang out for the day.

Seabright Beach always holds a special place in my heart as it's our family's comfort beach which…read morewe always go to for fun family outdoor events and a running place for my beloved puppy Butter. I like the fact that this beach is super close to the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History with the giant whale (in iron) in front and the Walton Lighthouse as well the Boardwalk is just walking distance. In fact, during low tide, though not recommended, you can cross under a cave and get right onto the Boardwalk :) There are decently clean public restrooms and trash bins here, which are a plus in my opinion. The sand is in earthy yellow tones and if you're lucky, the sky looks amazingly. The waves are not too strong here either. Perfect spot for beach picnic or a simple stroll. There are so many dogs running around and everyone is so friendly. This beach is deep and spacious! There are spaces for everyone, even in the weekends. There are street parkings all around :) Love this beach and highly recommend!

It's been awhile since I was last at Seabright Beach. So, as we were driving back home, we pulled…read moreoff to the side and parked the car. Taking in a quick look at this beach. It was nice to see some people and dogs taking a walk on the beach or some people chilling around the bonfires.

The only reason this is 4 stars is because of insane parking and lack of accessibility. The parking…read moreis in a dirt lot, and if you turn your car facing the entrance to the beach, it's quite hard to turn around when you're leaving, especially when crowded. You literally have to scale a cliff to get to and from the beach, which is a little difficult if you're hauling things or very difficult if you're physically disabled. Once you're on the beach though, it's gorgeous. Plenty of room to spread out, and the waves are super big. The Saturday we went (7/17) it was clear and sunny- perfect weather! Would recommend this beach if you are able-bodied and want to get away from the crowds at Santa Cruz and Capitola.

Beautiful stunning beach! Parking is a challenge but it is wonderful once you get to the beach…read more Note that the waves and tides can get rough, so be careful out there.

If you love lighthouses come see this one…read more Food and coffee close by. Closed to look at but the view is worth it. Lots of parking Lots of places to sit and listen to the water.

Lighthouse Field State Beach is located in the city of Santa Cruz at the north end of Monterey Bay…read more The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, housed in a 1967 lighthouse, is also in there. This is a spot to visit, relax, and enjoy the scenery and landscape, and a great spot to watch the surfers. Parking is free, but parking lots can fill up quickly, especially on weekends.

Favorite beach. Love the walk to and around. Took my wife there for the first time a few months…read moreback and she loved it

OMFG...I finally made it to the swing at the Davenport Beach?! :D…read more I did not read any reviews about this spot before coming here. I just bookmarked for a couple of years, and I finally visited it. My boyfriend and I along with his doggie were having a day out in Santa Cruz. I told him that we should visit this place so that we can swing on the beach. He was down for it, but once we found the way to get down to it--he said, "No way, I'm doing that." I *did* not let that stop me from going down there to experience the swing though. My boyfriend and his doggie stayed at the top of the cliff and watched me climbed down to the beach. Yes, it was pretty treacherous. Thank goodness there was a rope with knots to hold onto. Otherwise, I don't think I would be able to do it successfully without that lifesaver rope. Thank you so much to whoever secured that rope there! Also, I do want to point out I did this in a dress and flipflops?! Crazy right.. Then again.. I'm crazy, I do admit it. ;) There were a four gals and guys down there chilling. I asked them if there was another way to get in and out of here, but they confirm that that was the only way in and out. I got to swing on the swing and took some videos. The swing looked cool from the photos that I seen, but it doesn't swing well straight. It does swing sideways. Lol... It took me about 7 minutes to go down and about 4 minutes to climb back up. I know this because my boyfriend recorded me. Lol... I'm very grateful that I was determined to do this despite the company that I had didn't want to do it. Years ago I let someone that I was with who didn't want to do it influence me to also not do it when we visitied Alamere Falls so I won't let that happen anymore. If there is something I want to do, it's okay to do it alone when other people don't want to do it. That's on self-love, baby! There is two parking areas. We initially parked in the one right across the post office, but then we follow this group to the other one right next to it because it was closer. We walked across the railroad tracks and found the opening to the climb to the beach. I was sore for a few days afterwards in my legs from climbing the side of the cliff, but oh gosh... It was so worth it!

What a delightful State Park with medium and short trails that are coastal. We went at the end of…read morethe day, so we couldn't hike very far-- thus, we plan on returning another day when we could arrive earlier with the right gear (snacks, water, sunscreen, hat, camera, etc) because there is SO MUCH to see here! The trails aren't super long to get to cool sites, like seal pups and fern caves, and you get to gaze at beautiful wildflowers and bushes along the way, like giant calla lilies and blackberries. There were also many frogs croaking and birds singing while we were hiking, which created such unexpected symphonies. It also wasn't very crowded. We saw a few groups of casual hikers and a few joggers. There was some construction in areas close to the parking lot that was unsightly and a parking fee, but other than that, everything was just lovely. I can't wait to return to Wilder Ranch for a deeper exploration! [TIP: If you're a serious hiker who's looking for an all day trip, this isn't the location for you. Wilder Ranch is on the easy to medium hike level with trails that are fairly short, like 2.5 miles for one of the popular beach loops. You can, of course, make it a longer hike but exploring multiple trails or crossing the freeway to the other trails, but it is not the kind of location you can get lost. It's perfect for families and people who have a couple hours to spare.]

Great for hiking. Provided some great scenic views. Got some great photos and felt the ocean mist…read moreright at the edge of some cliffs. After parking you made about a mile walk to where the cliffs overlook the ocean. There is no beach access at this location. Parking with access was $10. Good price for the experience for my family of 3. After the 3 hour drive from Sacramento this visit was the perfect way to stretch our legs and also get some much needed steps in.

Pleasure Point, on the northern Monterey Bay in Santa Cruz County, California, is a world-renowned…read moresurf location, traditionally defined as the area along the coast from 41st Ave to Moran Lagoon, up 30th Ave to Portola and over to 41st Ave down to the sea at the "Hook". It has a firmly rooted surf culture. We regularly spend time in the Pleasure Point area renting vacation houses there in June. We recently got back from renting a property right on East Cliff named, "The Cabin." Great rental with an awesome view of the Bay and surfers. We enjoy seeing all the locals and tourists walk, ride their e-bikes, or surf there. It's location is near Capitola, the Santa Cruz Boardwalk , and many local restaurants, bars, coffee spots you'd expect. They have an annual neighborhood festival there every June also that's very fun to attend. Over 100 vendors sell arts, crafts, local services, food and beverages. They have a kids zone, beer garden and local bands perform a variety of styles of music on two stages including Americana, Blues, Rock, Reggae and Surf Music. Pleasure Point is a great area!

Such a great spot with a beautiful viewpoint for surfers. Limited spot mainly for surfing…read moreactivities. The stairs that lead down to the beach are perfect for surfers to easily get to the water. Today, they hosted a youth surfing competition, which was awesome to watch -- so much talent! The vibe is laid-back and the view of the ocean is just stunning. Whether you're a surfer or just enjoying the sights, it's a fantastic place to hang out. Careful of the sneaker waves though!

This is a beautiful little beach that's great for letting your dog get sandy, wet and tired from…read moreromping around with other doggy buddies or chasing a ball. It's not the kind of beach for quiet relaxation. Only bring your kiddos if they are comfy around running dogs. The stairs leading from the sidewalk down to the beach are kinda steep so beware if that's an issue for you. With patience, parking is ok in the nearby lots. No lifeguard. No restrooms on the beach but there is one within a 10 min walk. BYO poop bags and enjoy the entertaining show!

Walking along west Cliff, we found the beach for dogs to romp, swim, explore, fetch, play in the…read moresand and just enjoy the beach waves. We went around what seemed to be high tide with crashing waves and lots of sea birds that flew by that we enjoyed. Plenty of parking along West Cliff drive and it's a lovely walk no matter where you walk to get to the beach... just be aware of the steep stairs to go down and up from the beach.