Santa Cruz, California Tourist Attractions

Mystery Spot. Describing the Mystery Spot is not easy. Located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz, it’s an area that’s about 150 feet in diameter where the laws of physics and gravity clearly do not apply. Find out for yourself why all those who check it out are baffled beyond belief. For more information, visit www.mysteryspot.com.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Visit a working marine laboratory. Tour exhibit halls and aquarium. View unsurpassed vistas of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Examine the world’s largest whale skeleton. And it’s all just a few miles away on the UC Santa Cruz campus. For more information, visit www2.ucsc.edu/seymourcenter/visitor_information.html.  [Top]

Roaring Camp Railroads. Take a ride on two authentic 19th century trains. The beach train travels through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge, across a 1909 steel truss bridge, and through an 1875 tunnel before arriving at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Steam trains make their way over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain. For more information, visit www.roaringcamp.com.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California’s oldest amusement park. Take a wild ride on the gyrating Giant Dipper. Or slow down the pace on the family-oriented Bulgy the Whale. Fun and games abound at the old-style arcade. Plus, the sensational surf of the Pacific Ocean beckons at Santa Cruz Beach. For more information, visit www.beachboardwalk.com.  [Top]

Bonfante Gardens. Opened in 2001 by Michael and Claudia Bonfante, Bonfante Gardens is California’s only horticulture theme park. Perfect for families, the park features over forty rides, attractions, educational exhibits and majestic gardens. For more information, visit www.bonfantegardens.com/.

Santa Cruz Wharf. Art shows. Jazz concerts. Clam Chowder cook-offs. Up-close-and-personal looks at sea lions and harbor seals. Incredible seafood restaurants. It’s all happening on the Santa Cruz Wharf. For more information, visit www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pr/wharf/.  [Top]

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. This park features 15 miles of hiking and riding trails through a forest that looks much the same as it did 200 years ago. The tallest tree is about 285 feet tall and about 16 feet wide while the oldest trees range from about 1400 to 1800 years old. For more information, visit www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=546.

Holy Cross Catholic Church. Destroyed in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, Holy Cross Catholic Church has been extensively rebuilt and repaired. What’s more, in the last ten years, there has been an expansion of all its ministries. For more information, visit http://holycrosssantacruz.com/.  [Top]

Monterey Bay Aquarium. It’s an aquarium like no other. Experience the largest marine sanctuary in the United States. Explore the bay’s different habitats through a variety of exhibits that recreate shallow tide pools, sandy beaches and the deep blue sea. Examine outrageous outer bay creatures such as soup fin sharks, yellow fin tuna and sea turtles. For more information, visit http://mbayaq.org/.

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. Home to the Santa Cruz County Symphony, the Civic also plays host to a variety of world-class performers in all walks of entertainment life-from singers to dancers to comedians. Plus, it’s a popular venue for conventions and trade shows. For more information and schedule of events, visit www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pr/civic/.  [Top]