![]() Parking: $10 for the state beach parking lot.Lastly, Natural Bridges offers campsites (although these are currently closed due to COVID-19), hiking trails, a picnic area, and a long beach to explore and relax at. The butterflies usually come around October and leave in February, with November usually being the best time to visit. ![]() This is where thousands of orange and black butterflies make their home each year during their annual migration. Next to the beach, you’ll find the magical Monarch butterfly preserve. Besides its most well-known attributes, the beach has some of the best tide pools in Santa Cruz County (just make sure to go at low tide). Natural Bridges is most famous with photographers for its attractive sea arch and wildlife spotting – seals especially love to hang out on the rocks at Natural Bridges. Not too far from Main Beach, you’ll find a much less crowded beach at the end of West Cliff Drive – Natural Bridges State Beach. Just make sure to wear some good travel shoes since you’ll be walking a lot and the Boardwalk is much larger than people realize.Īs a bonus, there are a few volleyball courts on the beach near the arcade if you want to get some exercise while enjoying the sunshine. Lastly, grab dinner from the Santa Cruz Wharf at sunset. In the afternoon once the fog rolls off, head to Main Beach for a few hours. Finish off your day bowling across the street at the Boardwalk Bowl, playing games in the arcade, or mini-golfing at Neptune’s Kingdom. Make a day of it by enjoying the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk early in the day before the bulk of the crowds arrive. ![]() If you’re up for braving the crowds, especially in summer, this long stretch of sand is a convenient option to experience the Santa Cruz beach scene. These are my top 9 picks and why each one is worth a visit.īy far the most popular beach in Santa Cruz, Main Beach is located right next to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Finish a beach day with a visit to Santa Cruz brewery or taproom and you’ve just about got a perfect day!Īfter growing up in Santa Cruz and coming back to visit multiple times throughout the years, I put together my picks for the best beaches in Santa Cruz. Whether you’re looking for the most popular and central beach in Santa Cruz, a good surfing beach, or the best local sandy hideaways, there’s a beach for every type of visitor. There are plenty of activities to enjoy in Santa Cruz, but having a full beach day at a few different beaches around town is one of the best ways to experience the beauty of Santa Cruz. People come from all over the world to experience the city’s laid back surf culture, scenic hiking, redwood trees, and the numerous sandy beaches along the Santa Cruz coastline. Since it’s only an hour and a half drive south of San Francisco, it’s an ideal weekend getaway from the Bay Area. Tucked into the northern part of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a well-known surf town on the Central Coast. If you’re looking to experience some of the best beaches in California, a good place to start is Santa Cruz.
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