Santa Cruz, California Things to Do

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Mission Santa Cruz California
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Santa Cruz Catalyst Club

Enhance your vacation in Santa Cruz, California by engaging in all sorts of cool things to do. Spend time trying to unravel the mysteries of the Mystery Spot. Ride thrill coasters and try your luck at arcade games at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Take a train ride along an historic route courtesy of Roaring Camp Railroads. Find out all about these and several other attractions in the below list.

Mystery Spot -

Explore the Mystery Spot, which can be found in redwood groves on the outskirts of Santa Cruz. About 150 feet in diameter, this inexplicable circular area truly defies the laws of gravity and physics. Discovered in 1939 and opened to the public one year later, the Mystery Spot is a puzzle that no seems to be able to solve. www.mysteryspot.com

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk -

The oldest amusement park in California, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a true treasure. No doubt your heart will be racing when you climb aboard the granddaddy of thrill coasters known as the Giant Dipper. There are also family-friendly rides plus an old-fashioned arcade featuring games galore. www.beachboardwalk.com

Natural Bridges State Beach -

Stop along the natural bridge that gave this state beach its name to view everything from whales and shore birds to otters and seals. During low tide, you'll be able to catch glimpses of crabs, anemones, and sea stars. Visitors in the spring will see beautiful wildflowers blooming in the coastal scrub meadows. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=541

Mission Santa Cruz -

Check out Mission Santa Cruz, the 12th of 21 historic missions found along the California coast. Discover a museum that boasts an array of vestments from the original Mission. In addition, there are sacred vessels used in the Catholic Mass along with beautiful silver candle sticks. www.holycrosssantacruz.com/mission.html

Seymour Marine Discover Center -

Home to the largest whale skeleton in the world, this working marine laboratory offers enough things to do to keep visitors busy for an entire day. There are many exhibit halls and an aquarium. Plus, the views of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary are incredible. www2.ucsc.edu/seymourcenter/visitor_information.html

Santa Cruz California Roaring Camp Railroads

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park -

Outdoor enthusiasts will be very enthusiastic about Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Enjoy 15 miles of hiking and riding trails through a redwood forest featuring trees 285 feet tall and 16 feet wide. Some of these grand old redwoods date back as far as 1800 years. www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=546

Roaring Camp Railroads -

The tracks that Roaring Camp Railroads travels opened in 1875. While they once brought locals and tourists to the Big Trees and Santa Cruz, today's trains wind their way through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, across a 1909 steel truss bridge, and through a tunnel en route to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. www.roaringcamp.com

Catalyst Club -

Musicians as widely respected as Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Ice T, Alanis Morissette, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Pearl Jam have played the Catalyst Club. As many as 800 people can fill the main dance hall that boasts a bar. There's another bar upstairs along with pool tables and a jukebox. http://catalystclub.com

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum -

The University of California at Santa Cruz is known for an unbelievable arboretum. Australian and South African plants abound along with an eclectic collection of eucalyptus, a multitude of conifers and other trees, and a whole host of flowers from California and New Zealand. http://arboretum.ucsc.edu

Wilder Ranch State Park -

With 34 miles of trails, hikers, bikers, and horseback riders will have a field day at Wilder Ranch State Park. In addition, there are several restored buildings, Victorian homes, and gardens. The park also provides tours and living history demonstrations. www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549