Once abandoned and in ruins, when we first moved to the Bay Area it was a desolate and decayed huge…read morelot with a pet goat and a caretaker in a mobile home to shoo off explorers and vandals. Built in the 1930s by Kenneth Kitchen. It's inspired by romanticized Hindu mysticism as well as the arcane and occult. Because of this the site is covered in symbology and hidden meaning. From the obvious all seeing eye at the front gate to the mini details in the brick there is an esoteric design language that keeps it all unified and cohesive. The legend is also complemented by the fact that the owner and brothers were bricklayers and stone masons and it was only constructed under moon light. It was purchased in 2016 and lovingly restored and developed by the new owners to preserve the local folk-art style architecture. The new main house is next to the "court of mysteries" and a lot of the missing abalone and smashed brick has been painstakingly replaced.

The Court of Mysteries (which also goes by The Red Brick Castle, among other names) is a beautiful…read moremonument and home in Santa Cruz, which not many people know about. It has a very interesting history to it, and though you cannot go inside the house or on the property itself (because it is a private residence), you can still appreciate the architecture from out front, including a lovely fountain in the courtyard, and learn about the stories and mysteries that have defined this unique landmark. These stories can easily be found online, but some of the most interesting details are that the original builder (Kenneth Kitchen and his brother) built it only during the night, modeled it after a Hindu temple, and incorporated hidden messages throughout, using shapes, astrological symbols, and dashes and dots resembling morse code, with possible connection to the occult. Also, there is no historical record of Kenneth Kitchen after he left Santa Cruz in the 1950's, so yeah a lot of oddities to drive your imagination and make you wonder. One of the most intriguing parts of the Court of Mysteries is the "Gate of Prophesy" which has two magnificent towers and an intricately designed archway with the mysterious triangular structure at its center. Beautiful trees and vegetation surround the brick and abalone "temple" and entire site, creating a picturesque scene overall. Apparently the property was restored a few years ago by the previous owners (I'm pretty sure that rebuild didn't occur "only at night"). They even built a house on the left side to live in while reconstructing the Court of Mysteries. The property was subsequently sold in late 2021. If you're interested in a quick visit, it's easy to just park right on the street, take a few photos of the amazing archway and towers, and peek through the gate to see what the Court of Mysteries looks like today... and then maybe amuse yourself with the legend and history behind this strange phenomenon.

This hidden shopping center is a favorite of santa cruz locals. kelly's bakery, santa cruz yoga,…read morescmb and numerous wine tasting opportunities abound here. there's a hair salon and lighting shop to boot. West end tap and brew provides food options. It's just short walk to Habitat for Humanity restore. Street and Humble Sea brewing is just behind the shopping center as well. Parking ample.

I love this little courtyard!! It's full of small local shops/businesses (there's a boutique, a…read moreyoga studio, a lighting store, a bakery, a brewery....and not importantly, a whole bunch of wineries). There's plenty of parking both in the lot itself (which extends out behind Bonny Doon so don't give up) as well as along Swift and Ingalls Streets. When my husband and I end up in Santa Cruz, we usually find ourselves here for a couple hours or so. It's great for some leisurely browsing and wine sipping! Out of everything, my favorite stops are the Vine Hill Barrel Room (incredible Chard & Pinot) and Kelly's French Bakery (macarons, /drool). Check it out if you haven't already!

I love this place. It has a huge history, and you can read about it's history on various signs put…read moreup in the cemetery. The only thing is that there is unfortunately trash scattered about the cemetery, and there are homeless people that sleep on some of the graves.

It's about as nice as a cemetery can get, really. Aside from the homeless people camping out there…read morenow and then, and honestly I don't blame them for gravitating to it. It's in a very pretty location, and there's a lot of history to be found there. My only concern is the girl with her hand stuck in the wall by the street. Someone should go ask if she's okay.

This is a very nice location to stop and stretch your legs, not to mention an awesome place for…read morephoto opportunities!! There is some construction going on near the light house but you can still walk around it and enjoy all the wonderful views. There are walking paths that you can go on and walk down to the beach area when the tide is low as well there are also paths that you can take along the cliff area. Don't worry about parking as there is plenty and there is no parking fee to park your car. Overall this is a must stop to just walk around, take some pictures and take in Gods coastal creation, soooooo beautiful and peaceful.

Sweeping vistas and interesting history. Had our dog so did…read morenot visit museum. Did check the vistas and watched the waves crash in.

I really don't know whether to call the experience good or bad, and this review is simply to…read moreinform. Our son's fourth grade class went there this past week for a field trip. It was nice and the kids learned a lot. What I want people to know is that the staff there, Rangers and Docents, were a bit prickly and gruff. They seems to care more about keeping control than helping the kids learn. My wife used the word "aggressive" to describe one of them. So, if you're going there with a group, this might be your experience as well. Other than that, the kids had a great time!

A petite remnant of the Santa Cruz Mission. I knew about the Ohlone and Miwok from attending…read moreuniversities and pow wows in the Bay Area. The restoration and up-keeping of the Mission were remarkable! You can't miss the magnificent avocado tree with the giant hollow trunk. Oh, how I wished I could speak tree to listen to its narrative. I can't imagine just how much history it witnessed. I loved the 3-foot wide walls on the Adobe that would've been weather and humidity-proof for the year-round seasons. The roof in the adobe were made of tree-stuff. The structural integrity of the site was astounding even after experiencing the 1989 earthquake. The exhibits emphasized on agricultural manufacturing and processing that would've been taken place in the Mission and inside the Adobe. The stairs made sense, and also the use of leather to tie some of the tools. However, the iron-based tools made me wonder how these dwellers would have access to masonry and blacksmith. Until... well, I can't spoil everything here. Just come visit if you're so curious about it. There are limited street parking around the nearby park, school, and church. Alternatively, park in downtown and take a walk through the 40-some stairs of an alley just next to the park. The park is practically wheelchair accessible, but I wasn't sure if signs were posted.

It was hard finding parking on a weekend. Luckily, people don't stay long. Unfortunately, there's…read moreonly one lane going north and one lane going south. The Bixby Bridge was absolutely beautiful. Great place to take pictures and watch the sunset.

This is just one of those iconic bridges you have to just stop, get out the car, and take a few…read moremoments to appreciate with it's stunning backdrop. Parking can be tricky and be careful of traffic. Do yourself a favor and don't just take in the view from the top. There is a little pathway which drops you down lower so you don't get as much of the crowds in your pictures. Also, hop over the otherside of the bridge for a different vantage point.

Lovely location in Santa Cruz - a bit off the tourist path which makes it special…read more We were in the area as we had booked a memorial cruise with extended family. There are plenty of parking spots ($2 per hour) and bathrooms are available. Beautiful little harbor, with a lot of good animal and bird watching (harbor seals, pelicans, cormorants, et cetera). Good restaurants and coffee shops as well, with excellent beach access. Will be back!

It's about a half mile walk there and back. This…read morelighthouse is very picturesque and great for photos. You can't go inside but it's nice just to walk there and take in the sounds of the waves breaking and the fresh ocean breeze in your face. It appears there are 2 lighthouses in SC. The other one is at the Pacific Surf museum. That one that one is closer to things and has a museum where the Walton one is just a standalone. I like the Walton better because it looks more like a classic lighthouse.

This bridge was made famous in the 1987 movie, The Lost boys…read more Fantastic old railroad bridge. There is a clean, smooth, safe pedestrian walkway right next to the bridge if you want an easy crossing. But walking across on the bridge is definitely better. Don't bring little kids, because they might die. You could fall through the wooden beams if you were small. From the bridge you have a fantastic view of Santa Cruz beach and the river. Here's a YouTube video I made that might help. https://youtu.be/dnkCGaeHHDU

A simple but great memorial in downtown Santa Cruise. A memorial makes you stop and think. It's…read morememorial did just that.