24 hours in Santa Cruz, like a local
The drive to Santa Cruz is quick— just 2 hours from Sonoma through the East Bay and then the scenic Santa Cruz Mountains. The road trip is definitely part of the experience to this coastal college town. The destination as a whole is made of a grouping of small towns known for it’s own unique culture, including Capitola, Soquel, Aptos, and Santa Cruz itself. Visit Soquel and Aptos to experience the vineyard-laden countryside and Capitola and Santa Cruz for surfing, food, music, and shopping.
Surf Pleasure Point in Capitola
Pleasure Point is a great surf spot if you’re a beginner. If you need to rent a board, head to Freeline Surf Shop on 41st Ave. and Portola Dr. just blocks from the beach. If you’ve never surfed before and really want to check it out, book a lesson with Capitola Beach Company. You’re guaranteed to catch a wave! This beach is not much of a beach at all. You’ll take a long set of stairs down to the water and need to get in from the rocky coastline. Don’t plan to chill out with a book on the beach here. We’ll get to that in a bit. Tip: You’ll certainly want to wear a wetsuit in these cold Northern California waters!
Poke Bowls at Seabright State Beach
Pono Hawaiian Kitchen is also in Capitola and not far from Seabright State Beach, which is an expansive family-friendly beach with plenty of sand for everyone to play volleyball, make sandcastles, suntan or picnic. Pono’s menu is seriously Hawaiian, and their vibe is seriously Aloha Spirit. My favorite midday meal is a fresh poke bowl and I highly recommend the ones at Pono. They also serve amazing Katsu, Kahlua Pork, Coconut Shimp, and even Spam Musubi! Enjoy at the beach for the best sensory experience. Tip: they also have an amazing selection of local beers and kombuchas!
Stay at the Historic Rio Vista Inn
This place really isn’t as fancy as it sounds. It is in a historic building preserved by the Santa Cruz Historical Society, the service is lovely, and the rooms have amenities like plush robes, espresso machines, and a fireplace, but they are small and not worth planning to spend a lot of time in the room. It’s close to downtown Santa Cruz and the Boardwalk; you won’t want to spend time inside anyway! I personally thought it was “cool” and would stay there again and again.
Afghan Dinner in Downtown Santa Cruz
I must’ve researched every restaurant in the vicinity for the perfect experience and I’m pretty sure I found it at Laili! The menu is described as Mediterranean Afghan and you’ll see familiar dishes like tabbouleh, hummus, lamb, flatbread, and kabob but primarily, you’ll see totally new dishes that you’ve probably never heard of. I made sure to pair each of my courses with a local wine. I recommend starting with the Grilled Chicken Flatbread with apricot chutney, medjool dates, pomegranate, mint, and parmesan paired with a Viognier, and then moving to the Mantoo (beef and onion dumplings, tomato sauce, yellow split peas, qurut yogurt) and Maush-awa Soup (three bean soup, lentils, split peas, braised lamb, qurut yogurt) paired with a Cabernet. They have PLENTY of vegan and vegetarian options as well. For dessert, I indulged on the Rose Meringue with balsamic strawberries, chantilly crème, pistachio crumbles and mint oil. The meal should be finished off with some hot cardomom coffee served in a silver tea kettle.
Morning Run along W. Cliff Dr.
This road meanders along the coastal cliffs to the north of the Boardwalk. There is a dedicated pedestrian path making this an easy route to walk or bike. It’s just over 3 miles from the Boardwalk to Natural Bridges Tidepools and along the way you’ll see the Surf Museum, hidden staircases to the ocean, barking seals, and lots of places to stop for a break and photos.
Boutique Coffeeshops
Besides surfing and craft beer, Santa Cruz has a strong boutique coffee culture. There are a lot of options, including Lulu Carpenter’s, Cat Cloud, Jack’s, Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Co., and Java Junction. I opted for Verve. There are multiple locations around the area. I subconsciously ordered my usual decaf oatmilk latté, walked back to my car, got in, turned it on, took a sip… turned off my car, and walked back to the coffeeshop,to tell the barista that it was the best latté I’ve ever had. Seriously, it was and I couldn’t help but to let the world know!
Best. Cinnamon Rolls. Ever.
Linda’s Seabreeze Café has a really awesome looking breakfast and lunch menu. I also heard that they have the best cinnamon rolls ever, so of course I had to order one. I actually ordered 3 so I could take some home! They bake them in muffin tins (rather than loose on a baking sheet). They stay wrapped up tighter so the inside remains moist yet the top is still airy and light and the outside kind of crispy. I like that there wasn’t an overload of the cinnamon sugar syrup so you could taste the brioche itself. They also aren’t glazed in frosting. I picked these up and parked at the nearest beach to enjoy while overlooking the ocean.
The Drive Back
Hwy. 17 back into San Jose is really a treat. If you have an appetite on the way back, I’ve been told to stop at Jia Tellas for authentic Cambodian food. I wasn’t able to stop, but I certainly will next time!
Conclusion: looking for a short getaway with epic scenery, fresh seafood, Afghan cuisine, craft coffee and beach views all in 24 hours— visit Santa Cruz.