J & G's Guidebook for Santa Cruz
Food Scene
Avanti is a 4 block walk from us and is our favorite neighborhood restaurant because of the food, the owners and Katie the bartender, sit with her if you can.
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Avanti Restaurant
1917 Mission StAvanti is a 4 block walk from us and is our favorite neighborhood restaurant because of the food, the owners and Katie the bartender, sit with her if you can.
Companion Bakeshop Westside Santa Cruz
2341 Mission StAMAZING pastries and coffee...
Bantam
1010 Fair AveReally great pizzas and small plates, SUPER fun scene.
Enjoy the bar for great cocktails and bar menu.... Enjoy in the dining-room for a fine dinning experience.
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Oswald Restaurant
121 Soquel AveEnjoy the bar for great cocktails and bar menu.... Enjoy in the dining-room for a fine dinning experience.
La Posta
538 Seabright AveAmazing Italian food in the Seabright neighborhood, very romantic
Hipster scene, fun pub food and cocktails, walking distance from the apartment.
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The Parish Publick House
841 Almar AveHipster scene, fun pub food and cocktails, walking distance from the apartment.
A MUST! Sit in the bar, order Bloody Mary's, the cioppino, the artichoke soup and the AMAZING bread. This is a fantastic day trip....(Pescadero)
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Duarte's Tavern
202 Stage RdA MUST! Sit in the bar, order Bloody Mary's, the cioppino, the artichoke soup and the AMAZING bread. This is a fantastic day trip....(Pescadero)
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st AveAwesome coffee, breakfast and lunch.... Across the street from Steamer Lane aka "The Lane" where you will observe world class surfing...
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Steamer Lane Supply
644-670 W Cliff DrAwesome coffee, breakfast and lunch.... Across the street from Steamer Lane aka "The Lane" where you will observe world class surfing...
Harbor Café
535 7th AveAMAZING breakfast/brunch!
High-end steak house with a killer happy hour, $10 for a burger and a beer!
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Alderwood Santa Cruz
155 Walnut AveHigh-end steak house with a killer happy hour, $10 for a burger and a beer!
11th Hour Coffee
1001 Center StStockwell Cellars
1100 Fair AveSUPER fun place for wine tasting!
Humble Sea Brewing Co.
820 Swift StHip brew pub with fun food trucks.
We like to go here for breakfast or as a stopping point whilst on a walk or bike ride for a refresher.
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Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge
175 W Cliff DrWe like to go here for breakfast or as a stopping point whilst on a walk or bike ride for a refresher.
Venus Spirits
200 High RdDelicious food and cocktails. Fun spirits tasting room.
Gabriella Café
910 Cedar StRomantic and delicious!
Zachary's Restaurant
819 Pacific AveGreat breakfast in a funky part of town.
Linda's Seabreeze Café
542 Seabright AveLocal's favorite for breakfast.
James Beard awarded Chef David Kinch did it again! Awesome pizza, cocktails and small plates.
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Mentone
174 Aptos Vlg WyJames Beard awarded Chef David Kinch did it again! Awesome pizza, cocktails and small plates.
BAD ANIMAL
1011 Cedar StA unique and rare bookstore and Cafe.
The Penny Ice Creamery
913 Cedar StDrinks & Nightlife
West End Tap and Kitchen
334 Ingalls StGreat food an lively scene.
Fun and on the beach, great live music and comedy on Sundays..
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Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrFun and on the beach, great live music and comedy on Sundays..
Sones Cellars
334-B Ingalls StThere are MANY wineries in this area, check it out for sure!
Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial WayGreat music scene.
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard
334 Ingalls StHumble Sea Brewing Co.
820 Swift StLupulo Craft Beer House
233 Cathcart StSupper yummy food and a fun scene..
The Catalyst
1011 Pacific AveApéro Club
402 Ingalls StreetSUPER fun, hip wine bar with unusual snacks.
Vino by the Sea
55 Municipal WharfOn the Municipal wharf. BEAUTIFUL views and lovely wine scene.
Walking distance from the apartment this is our local “dive bar“. The owners arm very nice and the bartenders are on/point.
Mission West
2405 Mission StreetWalking distance from the apartment this is our local “dive bar“. The owners arm very nice and the bartenders are on/point.
Essentials
New Leaf Community Markets
1101 Fair AveOur local Organic Market
Herb Room
1130 Mission StFor vitamins
If you want a fabulous haircut, color service or simply a blow dry and style with AMAZING customer care...
Kinship Hair Co.
114 Pearl AlleyIf you want a fabulous haircut, color service or simply a blow dry and style with AMAZING customer care...
Well Within Spa
417 Cedar StFor massage and hot tub, really nice!
U Save Liquors
930 Almar AveDowntown Santa Cruz Info Kiosk
1130 Pacific AveLOTS of information!
Shopping
Pacific Avenue
Pacific AvenueOur downtown outdoor mall with mostly small, local businesses...
Really amazing clothing, accessories and home goods, a must see. Enjoy wine tasting at the many wineries in this area and lunch a Kelly's French Bakery while you are there.
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Cameron Marks
402 Ingalls StReally amazing clothing, accessories and home goods, a must see. Enjoy wine tasting at the many wineries in this area and lunch a Kelly's French Bakery while you are there.
Pacific Trading Co.
1224 Pacific AveEothen Circle
402 Ingalls StreetLovely apothecary around the corner from Cameron Marks.
Capitola Beach Company
131 Monterey AveLots of lovely locally owned boutiques and cafés 
Stripe Design Group LLC
107 Walnut AveOur local “Anthropologie“.
Jade
117 Walnut AvenueBeautiful clothes and jewelry, some from local artisans 
Botanic and Luxe
110 Front StAmazing apothecary, jewelry, home goods and beautiful plants.
Two boutique stores next-door to each other with beautiful trendy clothing, hats, jewelry and shoes 
Wallflower Boutique
107 Locust StTwo boutique stores next-door to each other with beautiful trendy clothing, hats, jewelry and shoes 
Bookshop Santa Cruz
1520 Pacific AveWonderful local book store ❤️& event space.
Sightseeing
Start at Natural Bridges State Park and walk to the lighthouse to watch the surfing... Across from the lighthouse is a fun coffee/sandwich shop...
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West Cliff Drive
West Cliff DriveStart at Natural Bridges State Park and walk to the lighthouse to watch the surfing... Across from the lighthouse is a fun coffee/sandwich shop...
Opal Cliff Drive
Opal Cliff DriveChardonnay Sailing Charters
790 Mariner Park WayO'Neill Sea Odyssey
2222 East Cliff DriveArts & Culture
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History
705 Front StRadius Gallery
1050 River StFantastic art gallery
Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center
1010 River StRio Theatre
1205 Soquel AveAwesome concert hall...
Carmel ved havet
San Antonio AvenueThis is a must if you love kitschy, quirky mystery in the redwoods....
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The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot RdThis is a must if you love kitschy, quirky mystery in the redwoods....
Parks & Nature
Wilder Ranch State Park
1401 Coast RdBEAUTIFUL views and wonderful hiking trails.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground
2591 Graham Hill RdAMAZING redwoods and hiking.
Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak AvenueFantastic amenities too...
Awesome for watching the surfers... Go across the street to Steamer Lane Supply for coffee, breakfast or lunch...
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Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff DrAwesome for watching the surfers... Go across the street to Steamer Lane Supply for coffee, breakfast or lunch...
Our favorite hangout beach, a super mellow vibe with mostly locals as most tourists don’t know about it. It’ll behoove you to get there early. Blackpoint Market is a few blocks away and a great place to get everything you could possibly need for your beach experience. Their deli and beverage selection is on-point. We like this beach because it’s literally in a cove so the wind that comes from the north will be blocked to keep you nice and warm. This is a great hang out beach year around but parking is tricky.
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Sunny Cove
Our favorite hangout beach, a super mellow vibe with mostly locals as most tourists don’t know about it. It’ll behoove you to get there early. Blackpoint Market is a few blocks away and a great place to get everything you could possibly need for your beach experience. Their deli and beverage selection is on-point. We like this beach because it’s literally in a cove so the wind that comes from the north will be blocked to keep you nice and warm. This is a great hang out beach year around but parking is tricky.
Lovely, small beach just north of Davenport, 10 mi north of Santa Cruz. Public restrooms available. No parking after 10:00 pm.
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Davenport beach
446 CA-1Lovely, small beach just north of Davenport, 10 mi north of Santa Cruz. Public restrooms available. No parking after 10:00 pm.
Although there remains only one ‘natural bridge’, this is a nice beach, at times a good surf spot and has restroom facilities. Seasonally, the monarch butterflies winter in the eucalyptus groves just beyond the sand. The visitor center and butterfly viewing path is free. Be sure to go north on the beech to the tide pools...
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Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrAlthough there remains only one ‘natural bridge’, this is a nice beach, at times a good surf spot and has restroom facilities. Seasonally, the monarch butterflies winter in the eucalyptus groves just beyond the sand. The visitor center and butterfly viewing path is free. Be sure to go north on the beech to the tide pools...
Multiple small beaches punctuate this beautiful pedestrian, bicycle path extending 3 miles from Natural Bridges to the Municipal wharf. Not to be missed, this treasure boasts the world famous Steamer Lane surf spot, the surfing museum and frequent opportunities to spot whales, otters, dolphins and seabirds. The people watching is pretty good too! This is a great place to take the bikes!
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West Cliff Drive
West Cliff DriveMultiple small beaches punctuate this beautiful pedestrian, bicycle path extending 3 miles from Natural Bridges to the Municipal wharf. Not to be missed, this treasure boasts the world famous Steamer Lane surf spot, the surfing museum and frequent opportunities to spot whales, otters, dolphins and seabirds. The people watching is pretty good too! This is a great place to take the bikes!
A fabulous walking beach that goes on for miles, you could literally walk all the way to Monterey if you wanted to. Also there is a lovely deli near the parking lot to get provisions for your walk.
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Rio Del Mar State Beach
A fabulous walking beach that goes on for miles, you could literally walk all the way to Monterey if you wanted to. Also there is a lovely deli near the parking lot to get provisions for your walk.
You are 1/4 mile from the entrance. UCSC is a beautiful place to walk, hike and meander.
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University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum RoadYou are 1/4 mile from the entrance. UCSC is a beautiful place to walk, hike and meander.
Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadBEAUTIFUL hiking through the redwoods.
Soquel Demonstration State Forest
29400 Highland WayStunning hiking and mountain bike riding.
A VERY mini Monterey Bay Aquarium with beautiful walking paths along the bluffs.
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Joseph M. Long Marine Laboratory
115 McAllister WayA VERY mini Monterey Bay Aquarium with beautiful walking paths along the bluffs.
Handcar Tours
SUPER fun tour of Monterey