Welcome back, monarchs! The monarch butterflies are already here at Natural Bridges State Beach, and numbers are expected to grow! Peak viewing is typically late-November to early-December, so start planning your visit to see these delegate creatures flutter on the coast of Santa Cruz.

Have you seen the monarchs at Natural Bridges before?

For more info on visiting the monarchs, check our story! 🦋

Video 📹 | @impactcreative
Photo 📸 | @jennday77

#monarchs #monarchbutterflies #monarchbutterfly #santacruz #naturalbridgesstatebeach #naturalbridgestatepark #naturalbridges #monarchgrove

Have you tried any of these? Here are 3 must-try spots in Capitola!

1. Boba Bay 🧋- their boba is top-notch! The classic milk teas and fruit teas were an easy 10/10. Pictured here is the Tiger Milk Tea and the Strawberry Milk Tea with added boba. 💯
📍 @capitola.boba.tea, 110 Capitola Ave #3

2. LG Meats 🥪🍨 – meat is their specialty and this Pistol Pete order showed they know EXACTLY what they’re doing! Slow smoked pulled pork, bacon, avocado, and more, this sandwich was a beautiful, delicious mess! Highly recommend trying this or another tasty sandwich on their menu! 😋
📍 @lgmeatscapitola, 200 Monterey Ave #1

3. Mijo’s Taqueria 🌮🌯 – you can’t go wrong with an order at Mijo’s! The fast, friendly, and affordable eats are perfect for on-the-go beachside eats. Many of their street tacos are 2 for $5! Everything is fresh, tasty, and the perfect pop of flavor (and color!) to your Capitola adventures. 🌊
@mijostaqueria, 200 Monterey Ave #2

This is just the beginning of the delicious finds in @capitolavillage. What are you going to try next?

#capitola #capitolavillage #beachsideeats #beach #beachday #capitolavacation #visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcounty

King Tides are almost here! Don’t miss the lowest (and highest) tides of the season: November 5-7, December 4-6, and January 1-3!

We’ll list the low tides below – but remember, extreme lows and highs can happen on the surrounding couple of days as well!

The extreme low tides expose tide pools rarely seen and allow for miles of beach walking and extended exploration. PLEASE remember to watch your step, leave the creatures alone, and be ocean safe! Check the @visitsantacruz story and bio link for more on King Tides, where to go, and how to enjoy them responsibly! 🌊🐚🦀

Low Tide Dates & Times:

November 5: Low tide @ 4:11pm; -1.1
November 6: Low tide @ 5:02pm; -1.3
November 7: Low tide @ 5:56pm; -1.3

December 4: Low tide @ 4:04pm; -1.6
December 5: Low tide @ 4:54pm; -1.8
December 6: Low tide @ 5:45pm; -1.7

January 1: Low tide @ 3:08pm; -1.5
January 2: Low tide @ 3:55pm; -1.7
January 3: Low tide @ 4:41pm; -1.7

Cover Photo 📷 | @thecuratedfeast, Liz Birnbaum

#santacruz #kingtides #tidepools #tidepooling #californiakingtides #starfish #seastar #visitsantacruz #lowtide #kingtides #pleasurepoint

We like simple pleasures. Like watching the sunset over the Pacific. 🫶 Santa Cruz County.

Video 📹 | @dgsc

📍 Seascape Beach in Aptos

#visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcalifornia #santacruzcounty #aptos #seascape #seascapebeach

The streams are flowing, the leaves are falling, and the forest is calling. Who’s in? 🤚

This autumn hike is brought to you by yesterday’s stroll at the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. To get these views yourself, park in the lot off Felton Empire Road, take the Bennett Creek Trail ➡️ Fall Creek Trail (keep left at fork) ➡️ South Fork Trail. That’s your route for all this fall beauty. 🍁🌲🌿

Please note, no dogs, no bikes, and as always, pack your trash.

#fallhikes #autumnhikes #hiking #fallcreek #henrycowell #santacruzcounty #felton #visitsantacruz #santacruz

Fall sunset walk in Santa Cruz County: predictable, but anything but ordinary. 🌅

Have you ever seen a fall sunset on the coast?

#santacruzcounty #santacruz #aptos #fallsunset #fall #fallinsantacruz #aptos #seascape #seascapebeachresort #seascapebeach #sunset

Fall sunset walk in Santa Cruz County: predictable, but anything but ordinary. 🌅

Have you seen a fall sunset on the coast this year yet? How many and from where?

#santacruzcounty #santacruz #aptos #fallsunset #fall #fallinsantacruz #aptos #seascape #seascapebeachresort #seascapebeach #sunset

What do you rate Santa Cruz County fall sunsets? 🌅

📍 Seascape / @seascapebeachresort

Videographer 📹 | @dgsc

#fall #fallsunset #sunsets #sunset #sunsetseason #santacruzcounty #aptos #santacruz #visitsantacruz #sunsetchasers

Have you been back to Big Basin Redwoods State Park since the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex fires? Five years later, the park continues to heal, grow, and flourish. 🌱 The fires burned over 97% of the state park, yet so many of the resilient redwoods remain and are ready to be explored! 🌲

Want to visit the park? Check the @friendsofscstateparks website for reservations and to see what trails are open – and there are quite a few trails and fire roads open! Most recently, an additional 7.5 miles of trails, reconnecting Big Basin Redwoods State Park to Castle Rock State Park and the regional trail network are now open. This includes segments of Skyline to the Sea Trail from the park’s Main Day-use Area to China Grade Road and beyond to Castle Rock. Also, along Opal Creek the Hihn Hammond connector trail can now be accessed via a newly restored bridge on Redwood Loop Trail.

For more information on the extraordinarily resilient redwoods, check our story link! 🌲

Videos + Photo 📷 | @jennday77

#visitsantacruz #bigbasinredwoodsstatepark #bigbasin #redwoods #redwood #czulightningcomplex #czulightningcomplexfire #bouldercreek #trails #hiking #hike

Fall colors mean fall menus… ‘tis the season! Here are just a handful of spots that make fall in Santa Cruz County something to behold!

🍁 Leaf peeping and beautiful historic Victorians on Walnut Avenue in @downtownsantacruz.
🍸 @shadowbrook_restaurant with their incredible seasonal menu and award winning favorites.
🌅 West Cliff Drive for autumn sunsets in wide screen.
🍝 @lapostarestaurantsc’s seasonal menu that leans into their “farmer partners,” this neighborhood restaurant in Seabright is a true gem in any season!

What are your fall go-to restaurants and local spots? 🍂

#fallinsantacruz #fallcolors #fallmenus #autumn #santacruz #santacruzcounty #visitsantacruz

We’ve got ‘em and we couldn’t be more thankful. 🌲🙏 And to think, these beautiful redwoods are just a few minutes from the coast! 🌊

Did you know…
The coastal redwood tree, known as Sequoia sempervirens, is the world’s tallest tree, reaching heights of over 300 feet (equivalent to a 30-floor skyscraper) with widths of roughly 20 feet. Not only is the coastal redwood the tallest tree species, but it can live to be over 2,000 years old!

Here are just some of the places to hike, stroll, or ride through the redwoods in Santa Cruz County:
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton
The Forest of Nisene Marks, Aptos
Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Boulder Creek
Byrne-Milliron Forest, Corralitos
Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz
San Vicente Redwoods, Santa Cruz (between Bonny Doon and Davenport)
Miller Property County Park, Boulder Creek
Land of Medicine Buddha, Soquel

Enjoy! 🌲

Videos 🎥 | @beningramvisuals / @hellobeningram

#redwoods #redwood #forest #redwoodforest #santacruzmountains #sanlorenzovalley #sanlorenzoriver #felton #henrycowellredwoodsstatepark #henrycowell #santacruz #santacruzcounty #visitsantacruz

The October switch has been flipped. 🎃

October is full of fun & spooky Halloween events! Check our bio 🔗 and story for a list of all the Halloween happenings in Santa Cruz County!

Photo 📷 | @jennday77

#halloween #october #santacruz #visitsantacruz #santacruzcounty #happyhalloween #jackolantern #surferstatue #westcliffdrive #westcliff

Open Studios Art Tour is almost here! Mark your calendars for the first 3 weekends of October for art tours around Santa Cruz County!
Open Studios is a free annual event that allows visitors and locals alike the unique opportunity to see artists at work in their own spaces and buy directly from the source. From murals to mosaics, ceramics to glass, assemblage to woodworking, and everything in between, there’s plenty of amazing artistic creations to go around!
If you’ve never experienced this phenomenal event, check our bio link or story for a Guide to Open Studios. Be sure to check the @artscouncilsc website for artist directory, locations, and more!

Open Studios Art Tour 2025:
▪️October 4 & 5: South County artists – from the Yacht Harbor and South
▪️October 11 & 12: North County artists – from the Yacht Harbor and North
▪️October 18 & 19: All County

Video + Photo on this post: @impactcreative, @beningramvisuals, @__michaelbaba, @thecuratedfeast

Artist featured on this post: @most_funky_click, @ercilia_art, @charlesprentiss, @tombhala, @rhiahurt

#openstudios #openstudiosarttour #santacruzarts #santacruz #visitsantacruz #santacruzcounty #artscene #santacruzartists #santacruzopenstudios #arts #supportthearts

Just a slice of heaven on the California Coast. This is Santa Cruz County. 🫶

Video 📹 | @dgsc

#santacruz #aptos #seascape #santacruzcounty #beach #california #visitsantacruz #centralcoast #visitcalifornia #cinematic #widescreen #sliceofheaven

First day of fall and we hope you can make it. Fall is a great time to get into the forest, enjoy the warm weather, see the wildlife, sip wine al fresco, catch seasonal events, and watch the sunsets get better and better…
What’s your favorite sites, scenes, events, and things of fall in Santa Cruz County?

#visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcounty #fallinsantacruz #firstdayoffall #fall #sunset

Good ‘til the last drop! ☀️ Second summer is here and the sunsets just keep getting better. Who loves fall in Santa Cruz County? 🤚

PS, the 10-day forecast is all sun and 70s! Hello, fall! 🍁

#secondsummer #fallinsantacruz #fall@#santacruz #santacruzcounty #sunsetseason

September and October bring a slowdown worth savoring. Let the weather, nature’s rhythm, and beauty of the coast take your attention. Enjoy the fall moments in Santa Cruz County before they pass us by. 🫶

#slowdown #santacruz #santacruzcounty #visitsantacruz #bestolacetofall #fall #fallinsantacruz #fallvacation #visitca