The romance in Santa Cruz is low-key and mostly outdoors: redwood air in the morning, a walk along the cliffs, and an evening on the water or at a table with a view. Below is one way to string those together as a Saturday for two, followed by notes on booking and where to stay. Prices are in US dollars and operators change schedules by season. A Saturday for Two Morning, among the redwoods.

Every day trip from Santa Cruz starts on one of three roads: Highway 1 along the coast, Highway 9 up the San Lorenzo Valley, or Highway 17 over the mountains. The table runs from nearest to farthest, and the sections after it are grouped by direction with the costs and rules that shape each outing. Money is in US dollars. Distances at a Glance Destination From Santa Cruz Notes Capitola Village A few miles east Easy half-day Henry Cowell and Roaring Camp About 6 miles Highway 9 Año Nuevo About 20 miles north Highway 1, winter walks Big Basin About 25 miles Highways 9 and 236 San Jose About 30 miles Highway 17 Mission San Juan Bautista 35 to 40 miles By road Monterey About 45 miles Roughly an hour without traffic Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Aptos slows a great deal on busy summer weekends, so give yourself extra time on those days.

A trip of two or three nights in Santa Cruz works in one of three ways: stay put and explore locally, use the city as a base for the Monterey side of the bay, or drive the coast between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. Each is laid out below with the practical details that decide it. Amounts are in US dollars and are subject to change. Option One: Three Days in Santa Cruz Day one.

Santa Cruz sits on the north shore of Monterey Bay, about 75 miles south of San Francisco, and its surf beaches, redwood groves and seaside rides are all within a few miles of one another. That makes it easy to build a day around the time you have, so this page sorts the options by the part of the day they suit best. Figures are in US dollars and operators change them through the year.

Santa Cruz attractions keep very different schedules. Some run every day, some close on Mondays or Tuesdays, and a few open only on weekends. This page starts with a day-by-day planner and then gives the fares, parking and booking habits for each stop. Amounts are in US dollars and may shift by season. Which Day Suits Which Stop Attraction Open days Roaring Camp steam train Daily Mystery Spot Daily Seymour Marine Discovery Center Tuesday to Sunday Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday Sanctuary Exploration Center Most days Thursday to Sunday Wilder Ranch free ranch tour Saturday and Sunday at 1pm A Monday is therefore a good day for the train, the Mystery Spot and the Mission, while a Tuesday or Wednesday leaves the train, the Mystery Spot and the Seymour Center.

The best way to see Santa Cruz is to follow the shoreline from west to east. Natural Bridges and Lighthouse Point come first, the Wharf and Boardwalk sit in the middle, and Seacliff State Beach lies farthest east. The stops below follow that order, with a few inland landmarks at the end. Prices are in US dollars. Natural Bridges State Beach Start at the western end. The beach has a sea arch, tide pools and a Monarch Grove, and the park is open from 8am to sunset for $10 per vehicle.

Families visiting Santa Cruz tend to ask the same handful of questions: what will it cost, which beach is safe, where can a stroller go, and what happens if the day turns out cold. The answers below are grouped that way, with figures in US dollars that can change by season. What Does a Family Day Cost? Walking onto the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is free, and only the rides need a wristband or tickets.

Most walking in Santa Cruz is self-guided, and the distances vary by source and by the route you pick. This page ranks the main walks by effort so you can match one to your legs, then covers the rules on dogs, drones and tides. Day-use fees are in US dollars. Routes Ranked by Effort Walk Distance Terrain Pacific Avenue and Mission Plaza Short Level city streets Redwood Grove Loop, Henry Cowell 0.