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APTOS
SEACLIFF STATE BEACH
PHOTO BY WAI-LING QUIST
Must
See
TOWN SQUARE
A newly built
pedestrian-friendly
town square in the
heart of Aptos Vil-
lage features retail
shops, destination
eateries, artisan ice
cream, craft coffee,
and a mid-county,
casual vibe.
SEACLIFF
STATE BEACH
The perfect spot
for a seaside pic
-
nic, complete with
barbecue grills
and shaded tables
along the sand.
Stop by the visitor
center and learn
about the Pacific
wildlife migration
pattern. A mile-
long paved path
runs parallel to the
ocean, adjacent to
fossils of extinct
marine creatures
embedded in
the bluffs. “The
Cement Ship” - the
S.S. Palo Alto
-
which celebrated
its 100th birthday
in 2019, is docked
at the end of the
Seacliff Pier. Built
as a tanker at the
end of World War
I, this experimen-
tal concrete ship
now serves as an
artificial reef for
marine life.
FOREST OF
NISENE MARKS
STATE PARK
Hikers, runners
and mountain
bikers enjoy the
30 miles of trails
where remnants
of mill sites and
trestles still exist.
The park, covering
10,000 acres and
once clear-cut by
loggers, is a testa
-
ment to forest re
-
generation where
second-growth
redwoods coexist
with new foliage.
Traces of the
once-bustling rail-
road and logging
industry can still
be found.
RIO DEL MAR
STATE BEACH
On the south side
of the pier, Rio Del
Mar State Beach is
THE spot for dog
lovers and beach
fires.
destinations