VISIT SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
FIND YOUR AWE.
From a hotel on the beach, to a quaint inn or bed and breakfast, to a vacation rental for the family or a rustic campground, you can rest easy in Santa Cruz County. Opt-in for a hip boutique property or a classic resort with a view. And donโt forget your dog: many properties are pet-friendly!
Santa Cruz County
Destinations
70 miles south of San Francisco, 35 miles north of Monterey, and unabashedly left of center, youโll find great surf, sandy beaches, redwood-covered mountains, laid-back towns, organic farms, and a burgeoning beer and wine scene. Itโs impossible to pick one place to visit in Santa Cruz County. Take a quick cruz of them all!
Picture Yourself Here
Get inspired and start planning your next visit to Santa Cruz County. #VisitSantaCruz
Fall has us leaning for the coastline of Davenportโฆ
Here are some iconic spots and must-see stops along the way:
๐ A minute into the drive just north of Santa Cruzโs Westside, youโll quickly see the drive feels like the destination. Ocean to your left as you go north and hillsides and farm stops to your right.
๐ @rodoni_farms_santacruz opens its iconic pumpkin patch with ocean views on September 26, but in the meantime, stop by their farm stand with a variety of fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, snacks and cold drinks, frozen treats; locally made goods like soap, honey, and more. Open daily from 10-6pm.
๐ @swantonberryfarm is a must-stop. Grab a slice of pie, fresh strawberries, jams, apple cider and more. Theyโve got great swag for sale and seasonal u-pick berries as well!
๐ Bonny Doon Beach, Davenport Landing, Shark Fin, and Greyhound Rock are just a sampling of the gorgeous beaches in the northern coast of Santa Cruz County. Whatever one you pick, youโll quickly see how the north coast does it a little different.
๐ฝ๏ธ @roadhousedavenport and @whalecitybakery are classic stops in the tiny coastal town of Davenport. Whale City Bakery is known for its casual meals, quick and delicious pastry case options, and coffee on the go or on the patio. Davenport Roadhouse is a one stop shop for everything from cafe delights (open at 9am everyday accept Wednesdays), lunch, dinner, plus, a bar! The food scene here is buzzing and itโs the perfect spot to cap off a Davenport day. And big bonus, they are also an inn, so feel free to keep the Davenport exploring going and book a stay!
Photos ๐ธ | @desireexc
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #davenport #highway1 #santacruzcounty
On a scale of 1 to 10, how obsessed are you?
Santa Cruz County skies can change in a blink. Whether youโve got the ocean backdrop or are perched on a mountaintop, the clouds, fog, birds, waves, and trees make for a one-of-a-kind sky every single day. And big bonus, in fall and winter, they get even better. ๐ฅ
Video Clips ๐น | @dgsc + @visitsantacruz
#santacruz #visitsantacruz #santacruzcounty #clouds #sky
Favorite color pallet is Santa Cruz. ๐จ What about you?
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcounty #color #visitcalifornia
Taking our time to catch the moments. โจ Whatโs your favorite: sunrise or sunset? Coast or redwoods?
Video Clips ๐ธ | @dgsc + @visitsantacruz
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcounty #sunrise #sunset
Mark your calendars, Open Studios Art Tour is back for the first 3 weekends of October!
Celebrating its 41st year in 2026, the Santa Cruz County Open Studios Art Tour brings together more than 350 artists for three weekends of free, self-guided exploration. From Watsonville to Davenport and the coast to the Santa Cruz Mountains, artists open their studios, homes, workshops, and shared creative spaces to the public, inviting visitors to see where and how their work is made, experience the creative process firsthand, and purchase original art directly from its makers. More than an art tour, Open Studios is one of the best ways to experience the creative community that makes Santa Cruz County so distinctive.
Want to learn more? Check our bio link or story for the scoop on Open Studios 2026! And be sure to check the @artscouncilsc website for artist directory, locations, and more!
Dates & Times:
October 3โ4 | South County |Studios Located South of Santa Cruz Harbor | 143 studios
October 10โ11 | North County | Studios Located South of Santa Cruz Harbor | 211 studios
October 17โ18 | All County | 250 studios
Saturdays & Sundays | 11amโ5pm
Photos ๐ธ | @thecuratedfeast + @beningramphoto
#visitsantacruz #openstudios #santacruz #openstudiosarttour #supportlocalartist
Fall in the vinesโฆ ๐๐ฝ๐ท๐ Estate wineries like @nicholson.vineyards on the Corralitos Wine Trail are absolutely beautiful this time of year! Explore our regionโs wines this fall and raise a glass to the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA – one of the oldest in the country!
The Corralitos Wine Trail is known for its collection of estate vineyards in the gorgeous countryside of south county. Sip wines, chat with the winemakers, and learn about the unique climate that makes Santa Cruz Mountain wines so special.
From the summit vineyards in the heights of the Santa Cruz Mountains to Big Basin wines amongst the redwoods, Santa Cruz County has a unique wine tasting experience around every corner of the county. Urban wine tasting or estate vineyards sprinkled throughout the region, award winning sips are waiting to be discovered!
Video Clips ๐น | @dgsc
Location ๐ | @nicholson.vineyards
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #visitcalifornia #californiawine #winetasting
Extra gold this time of year. โจ
September 6, 2026 | 6:58am | West Cliff Drive
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #goldenhour #september #california
Keeping it simple: the sights and sounds of West Cliff Drive this morning. ๐
Happy Labor Day Weekend. Hope itโs a good one!
#visitsantacruz #sunrise #goodmorning #santacruz #westcliff
September, youโre already a pleasureโฆ ๐ซ
๐ Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz
Photos ๐ท | @desireexc
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #pleasurepoint #september #sunset
Send this to yourย @santacruzcountyfair buddies! The 2026 Santa Cruz County Fair is happening Wednesday, September 16 – Sunday, September 20! Everything from adorable animals to tasty fair foods, live entertainment to local art, drone shows to Monster Truck shows, carnival games to @jamesdurbinlostboysโฆ there truly is something for everyone! What are you looking forward to seeing (or eating) at the fair this year?โจโจNeed more info? Check below!โจโจโฐ FAIR HOURS:โจโช๏ธWednesday – Friday, Noon to 11:00 PMโจโช๏ธSaturday 10:00 AM to 11:00 PMโจโช๏ธSunday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PMโจโจ๐LOCATION, PARKING & GETTING HEREโจโช๏ธ2601 East Lake Avenue, Watsonvilleโจโช๏ธParking is $10 for the main lot โจโช๏ธ5+ people per car PARK FOR FREE!โจโช๏ธ2026 Metro Bus Discount: To get this discount you need to ride the Metro bus. Make sure to get a validation coupon from the bus driver, bring the coupon to any Fair entrance ticket gate to get your discount. $7 discount for adults & $6 discount for youth (6-12 year olds)โจโจ๐๏ธ DAILY ADMISSION โจโช๏ธFair Admission: Adults 13+: $20โจโช๏ธChildren 6 to 12: $10 โจโช๏ธUnder 5: FREEโจโช๏ธSeniors 62 and better: $13โจ
๐ฐ SPECIALS:โจโช๏ธ Free Admission Days: Wednesday, 9/16 – Veterans with ID, Thursday, 9/17 – Kids 12 & under, Every Day of Fair – Active Military (with ID) and Kids age 5 & underโจโช๏ธ 2026 FunFair ADULT Admission Pre-Sale Special: Take advantage of the online-only offer and buy an adult pass and a carnival ride wristband together to save. Ages 13+: $40; Kids 6 to 12: $35โจโช๏ธ AT THE GATE OFFERS: Americaโs 250th Birthday Special Admission deal on opening day, โจThursday, and Friday: early bird savings until 5pm. To celebrate Americaโs 250th Anniversary, they are offering $2.50 per person admission tickets. This offer is ONLY GOOD AT THE GATE ON WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH -Opening Day. On THURSDAY AND FRIDAY September 17th and 18th, save $4.00 per ticket – ONLY GOOD FOR PURCHASE AT THE GATE from opening until 5:00pm.โจโจSee you at the fair! ๐๏ธ๐ช๐ก๐๐ท๐โจโจ#visitsantacruz #santacruzcountyfairย #santacruzย #watsonville #fair
Can you name all 5 locations? ๐ค Comment your answers below! ๐ฌ
Videos ๐ฅ | @dgsc
#visitsantacruz #wherearewe #santacruzcounty #santacruz #trivia
Itโs a beautiful thing. ๐ค๐ฝ
Clips ๐น | @dgsc + @impactcreative + @visitsantacruz
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #capitola #santacruzcounty #visitcalifornia
Sunset season is upon usโฆ Extra grateful for those pink and orange onesโฆ ๐ฉท๐
๐งก
Video Clips ๐น | @dgsc
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcounty #sunsets #sunset
Monday daydreams: sailing in Santa Cruz. โต๏ธ
Have you sailed in the Monterey Bay yet?
Videos ๐น | @impactcreative
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #sailing #montereybay #summer
Right now in Santa Cruzโฆ ๐๐ฝ School may be back in session but summerโs still GIVING. โ๏ธ๐๐๏ธ
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzharbor #summer #beachday
Summer forever in the @capitolavillage. โ๏ธ๐ธ๐๐โโ๏ธ
#capitolavillage #capitola #visitsantacruz #santacruz #summerforever
We ๐ซถ๐ฝ our local shops! What stores and artists do you love to support in Santa Cruz County? ๐๏ธ
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #shoplocal #santacruzcounty #shopsmall
Have you visited Big Basin lately? A few months ago, the park opened the Sequoia Trail which leads to Sempervirens Falls. This is a huge feat for this historic park that was severely burned in the 2020 Lightning Complex Fires.
The 1.3 mile hike to the falls is well groomed and shows the resilience of the redwood forest. You can either do an out and back to the falls (approximately 2.6 miles) or opt for a 4-ish mile loop on the Sequoia Trail.
We look forward to continuing to see this park come to life as the resilient forest heals – and with the hard work of @castateparks, @friendsofscstateparks, @sempervirensfund, @savetheredwoods, @mountainparksfoundation, @santacruztrails, @parkscalifornia, and others who love Big Basin. ๐ฒ
Know Before You Go:
๐
ฟ๏ธ Parking is $10
๐ง Bring water and snacks
๐ Open 8am – sunset
๐ @santacruzmetro offers weekend service seasonally to the park
๐ฎ Pack your trash
๐ฅพ Be prepared with proper attire and layers
๐ฝ Bathroom onsite
โน๏ธ Visit their visitor center for questions about trails and general park info
#bigbasin #visitsantacruz #santacruzcounty #bouldercreek #santacruz
Whoโs due for a session? ๐๐
Video Clips ๐ฅ | @dgsc
#visitsantacruz #oceantherapy #beach #aptos #santacruz
Santa Cruz: a great place to add more life to your days. ๐ซถ
All photos ๐ท | @desireexc
๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ชป๐
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcounty #morelife #visitcalifornia
Which postcard do you want to step into right now?
1. Watch the sunset from the sand at Seabright Beach. ๐
All videos ๐ฅ | @dgsc
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #santacruzcounty #summer #august
2. Spend a sunny day at the beach, shopping, and at seaside restaurants in the @capitolavillage. โ๏ธ
3. Have some โme timeโ watching the waves roll in off West Cliff Drive. โ๏ธ
4. Watch the boats go by at @santacruzharbor and have dinner at a nearby restaurant. โต๏ธ
5. Get adventurous at Castle Rock State Park and rappel some boulders. ๐งโโ๏ธ
6. Head down to the sand at an Aptos beach where you can literally walk miles on the coast. ๐ฃ
7. Never lose sight of the ocean on a coastal path. ๐
8. Visit Rio Del Mar and enjoy the shorebirds and coastal town. ๐ฆ
9. Spend some time in the @capitolavillage and see why the colorful beach town is a photographerโs dream. ๐ธ
10. Trek to mountaintops and epic vistas at one of our local state parks: Castle Rock, Henry Cowell, Big Basin, and Nisene Marks are all great spots for hikes with a view. ๐ฅพ
A sneak peek at just a *few* things weโre looking forward toโฆ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ท๐
๐ The best weather tends to be fall (although this summer has been amazing!)
๐ Apple picking at Gizdich Ranch, @ldvorchard, @clearvieworchards, and @liveearthfarm (usually starts in September)
๐ฆ Monarch butterflies return in October!
๐ฒ Hiking a great all year long but fall brings some extra magic with changing leaves.
๐ท Wine tasting is so beautiful in the fall! Check out the Corralitos Wine Trail for a collection of wineries in south county or summit vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
๐
Sunset season is on in fall! And winter brings even more drama.
Thereโs a bunch more but weโll try and stick to the present a little longer. โ๏ธ
#visitsantacruz #santacruz #fall #sneakpeek #santacruzcounty
29 coastal miles means thereโs always a mellow spot to land.
Starting from the south of Santa Cruz County, weโve got peaceful Pajaro Dunes. ๐พ Moving a bit north, thereโs the expansive sunset view from the cliffs at Seascape. ๐
Inching a few miles north, we have Pleasure Point and those dreamy clouds. โ
๏ธ And finally, at nearly the top of county we have the pebble sand shores of Greyhound Rock Beach. ๐
Whatโs your favorite beach for a slow summer day?
Videos ๐ฅ | @dgsc + @visitsantacruz
#visitsantacruz #santacruzcounty #santacruz #santacruzcounty #summer
And it feels so good. ๐๐๐ฉต
๐ Santa Cruz, California
Clips ๐น | @dgsc + @visitsantacruz
#santacruz #visitsantacruz #santacruzcounty #blue #pacificocean
