THINGS TO DO AROUND SANTA CRUZ
The following article has been evolving for two years. It's a bit hacked up - some information in the wrong sections - but hopefully helpful to new visitors.
GETTING THERE:
First of all, you might plan a Coast Highway leg - down or back. I have a friend who has lived in Sunnyvale for 14 years and just saw the stretch from Hwy 84 to Santa Cruz for the first time! In my opinion this is the most beautiful stretch of California coast, esp. because it is accessible (as opposed to cliffs of Big Sur). Stop at Pescadero and walk on the rocks. Go down to San Gregorio or Pomponio Beach. Visit the lighthouse (Pigeon Point). So much to see!
PESCADERO: 30 miles north of Santa Cruz. Supposedly a Greek diner is there. Also Duarte's is actually a very good restaurant, noted for its dessert pies. Butano State Park is just south of Pescadero.
DAVENPORT: Cash Store is a pleasant tourist stop - a miniature Nepenthe. The old Spanish (mission?) style church is interesting. World famous (no exaggeration) Lundberg Glass Studio is down the hill from the church and a custom knife maker is there also.
BETWEEN: A number of beaches that you can walk onto. Also Red-White-and-Blue Beach, a privately owned nude beach. Look for the RWB mailbox - this is four miles north of SC City limits, so it must be about 6 miles south of Davenport.
SANTA CRUZ: drive along West Cliff Drive. Stop and walk a bit - watch out for bicyclists and skaters! The sidewalk IS legal for bikes. The lighthouse is a surfing museum and also a good place to watch surfers for a while. The museum is free and gratefully small. The Wharf - most restaurants OK, go for atmosphere and view; esp. Riva, Gilda's, Carniglia's and, the ultimate, the Sea Cloud. Boardwalk - maybe your parents wouldn't be interested, but they might just enjoy the scene of days gone by. On Monday and Tuesday eves all rides and hot dogs are only 50 cents and the crowd is much more local; parking is a bitch - you may have to fork over $5. Visiting downtown SC is a new experience
- the rebuild has really transformed it, and a plethora of coffee shops and a few bars keep the place hopping on most Friday and Saturday eves
- I mean BUSY! The Palomar hotel also houses a great Mexican restaurant called El Palomar (many seafood dishes). Coffee shops abound. Good shopping as well - wonderful bookstores, open late. The bar at El Palomar is a great place to hang out and there is also a late night taquiera there. Enter by going thru the Santa Coffee Roasting Company. Another popular bar is 99 Bottles - 1/2 block from Pacific on Walnut (south from Palomar, turn right) - this one seems to be for the 20-something crowd. Extremely hopping dance and music at the Red Room and Emi's at Locust and Cedar. The Crow's Nest, on the east side of the yacht harbor is also very popular for dancing.
Every Friday night in July and August at the Boardwalk there are live performances by once well known has-been bands of the 50s and 60s. Shirelles, Del Shannon, uh memory fails me. Also every night of the last week before Labor Day weekend.
RESTAURANTS: Some are mentioned elsewhere, so skim this whole article. I like the food, atmosphere and service, or I wouldn't be mentioning them. La Mission - Mexican on Mission near the west end of town; lots of seafood. Bocci's Cellar - Italian and Cajun - on Encinal St. next to the oil recycler; a fun place and you can sit outside by the bocci ball courts for drinks. El Palomar - mentioned elsewhere - mostly the thirty and up crowd; Seabright Brewery - good, cheap food and good beer - actually one of the most exceptional food deals in SC; located at Seabright and Murray, near the yacht harbor. Aldo's - mentioned elsewhere - the view says it all. Hollins House and Peachwoods - both are upscale but not too expensive with California cuisine; Peachwoods is at the Pasatiempo exit on 17 - last exit before getting into town; Hollins House is nearby on the golf course. Chaminade - the building and view say it all, but I'd skip the food and just go for a drink, or maybe quiet dancing with your sweetie.
GREEK RESTAURANT! Really! Located on Mission just east of Bay St. When you see the McDonalds, find a place to park, probably in McD's lot. The restaurant is Vassili's, same side of Mission as McD's, on the side street. Order one dinner and one appetizer for 2 people. And yet another (12/93), in Capitola Village, 2nd floor at north end of the parking lot next to the Capitola Theatre. This one claims to be the only full service Greek restaurant in the county. At the site of the former Antoine's Cajun (a trend that has now passed).
We have many more restaurants that are worthwhile. I'll be expanding this list and reposting from time to time. I'll also add a section on places to NOT visit.
WINERIES: Bonny Doon Winery on Bonny Doon Road (off of Hwy 1, just south of Davenport). Hallcrest Winery, on Felton-Empire Grade, about 1/2 mile from central Felton. Bargetto Winery on Main St. in Soquel (this place is esp. easy to get to and very congenial); depending on your plans you might drive back to Silicon Valley along Old San Jose Road, which starts in Soquel.
MUSIC, BARS: The Catalyst, downtown, south end of Pacific Ave. Some very good music, cheap. Some very bad music, cheap. Extremely entertaining for people watching. Food OK. Blues and jazz at Friday Happy Hour. Three local bands, $1 every Thursday. The Palomar, middle of Pacific Ave. (7 story hotel), mentioned under food. The Red Room and Emi's, Cedar St. at Locust; two bars, one building; extremely hopping on Friday; dancing and young crowds. The Crow's Nest, mentioned elsewhere; popular for dancing.
CORRALITOS: You need a map to get here, but there are two places of interest - the Corralitos Market which makes sausages that are famous thoughout the SF Bay Area, and Roses of Yesteryear (Brown Valley Rd?), who specialize in old style roses (pre-1920); they have a wonderful rose garden, naturally, a nice catalog, and can ship small plants within the US for approx. $10 each.
SAILING: For $35 each you can go out on the Chardonnay, a 70' sailboat. Price includes wine and some food. They sail Wednesday eves during the weekly sailboat race (spectacular! Approx. 70 boats, all flying their colorful spinnaker sails) and Friday eves. I don't have a Chardonnay ad here, but they sometimes advertise in the Living section of the Merc, and I'm sure that the SC Chamber of Commerce could get you the number. This also reminds me that Aldo's restaurant is open for lunch at the yacht harbor. Aldo's is on the west side of the harbor - cheap, good food and outdoor deck with view. Across the harbor is the Crow's Nest - more expensive and pretentious, but still enjoyable. Your visitors would probably enjoy just strolling along the docks at the yacht harbor. Directions: take Seabright Ave. nearly to the ocean, turn left, drive to boats and park.
FURTHER SOUTH: Opened in summer '93 is the Seascape Resort in the same town. An immense and ritzy resort, with room rates around $150. Looks like a place to visit.
Always happy to see tourists having a good time here - and how can you miss?! Hope their stay is fun. BTW, a weekend in SF without the host is nice for parents - I've done it and know many others who do the same. Gives you a short respite, too.
Glenn Nelson
Megatest, San Jose
[email removed]
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>From [email removed] Thu Jun 24 14:41:12 1993Santa Cruz, CA