Santa Cruz "FAQ"
Glenn Nelson
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.
WHERE TO STAY:
The possibilities are too numerous and too varied in price to make
recommendations. For B&B call Bed and Breakfast Inns of Santa Cruz
County, 425-8212. Fancy and/or expensive "resorts" include Chaminade,
Pasatiempo, Seascape Resort and the Dream Inn.
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
gne...@megatest.com
************************ ADDITIONS FROM OTHERS **************************
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From joa...@hpcc01.corp.hp.com Thu Jun 24 14:41:12 1993
Return-Path: <joa...@hpcc01.corp.hp.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Jun 93 14:17:22 -0700
From: Joanne Petersen <joa...@hpcc01.corp.hp.com>
Subject: Re: Santa Cruz - Things to Do
You might consider adding a visit to Coastside Ranch (I think that's the
name of the farm!) on highway 1 between Davenport & San Gregorio.... they
have pick-your-own fruits at reasonable prices.
Also, Bonny Doon's wine that has some claim to fame (besides the ubiquitous
Le Cigare Volant :-) is the Muscat Canelli, an incredibly sweet dessert wine.
Wonderful stuff :-)
(GDN NOTE: They are now producing a Malvasia Bianca under the label
Ca' del Sol. This unique wine is produced by only one other winery in Calif.,
to my knowledge, and there has been nearly a 10 year absence of ANY production
since Novitiate of Los Gatos was sold in 1984).
I've always wanted to know if the Bonny Doon stained glass studio (the one
that made all those luscious stained glass windows for the McFly bars) does
tours. Have you heard anything about that?
(GDN NOTE: Lundberg's is a small place, see above for more info).
I live in La Honda (with a husband, 2 kids, 1 cat, 4 birds, 6 rabbits :-)
so I'm constantly looking for things to do locally. Thanks for your list!
===============================================================
FRISBEE GOLF:
There are two courses at DeLaveaga golf course and two on the UCSC
campus. I don't have more info about the campus folf and I have been
asked to delete specifics about DeLaveaga, since it apparently has gotten
totally out of control. Sounds like the mountain biking situation at
many formerly pastoral parks.
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From: ji...@contractor.EBay.Sun.COM (Jim Jones)
Newsgroups: ba.general
Subject: Re: A Santa Cruz "FAQ"
Date: 25 Aug 1993 18:18:51 GMT
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In article <CCA6C...@megatest.com> gne...@megatest.com (Glenn Nelson) writes:
>
>THINGS TO DO AROUND SANTA CRUZ
>
>PESCADERO: 30 miles north of Santa Cruz. Supposedly a Greek diner is there.
>Also Duarte's is actually a very good restaurant, noted for it's dessert pies.
>Butano State Park is just south of Pescadero.
Duarte's is great. The soup (artichoke or green chile) is as much an
attraction to us as the pie. Farther down the main street in Pescadero
is a grocery store/bakery that makes big round loaves of wonderful,
garlicky french bread.
About a mile past Pescadero (on the same road that leads you to Pescadero
from Highway 1) is Phipps Ranch, a classic old-style roadside attraction.
They sell organic produce, many varieties of beans that they grow themselves,
flowers, etc. There's a zoo with many varieties of birds, goats, and
other barnyard animals, old farm equipment, and U-pick berries. It's
a great place to chill-out a backseat full of bored children.
>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.
Some of these beaches are visible from the road, but others are not
visible and not marked from the road (or at least not marked clearly). If
you see a bunch of cars parked by the side of the road for no obvious
reason, that means that there's access right there to a coastside beach.
If you're interested, park your cars with the others and look for
the nearest well-traveled path to the ocean. It should lead you right
to where the other parkees are.
It seems to be legal to use these paths to get to the ocean, even though
they do pass through private farmland. Just don't go wandering off through the
farmers' fields.
>RESTAURANTS: Some are mentioned elsewhere, so skim this whole article.
Just to note: If you're in Santa Cruz and are _really_ low on cash, one of
the better deals in town in Taqueria Vallarta on Soquel at Branciforte.
A substantial burrito -- a full meal for most people -- can be had for
about $3.50 (vegetarian, $3.00). A "plato" of meat, rice, beans, guacamole,
salad and tortillas is $5.50.
GDN NOTE: He's right, this place is great, but we also have many other
wonderful taquerias. I should add that the famed local market "Shopper's
Corner" is a few doors down. For locals this is the place to shop and
socialize -- see how things were in your grandparents' day.
--
"I have the terrible feeling that, because I have a white beard and am sitting
in the back of the theater, you expect me to tell you the truth about
something. These are the cheap seats, not Mount Sinai." Orson Welles,
"Someone to Love."
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From: d...@crl.com (David A. Kaye)
Newsgroups: ba.general
Subject: Santa Cruz FAQ addition
Date: 15 Feb 1994 12:44:18 -0800
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And how could you forget the Mystery Spot! On Branciforte Drive off
Soquel Avenue (or is it Soquel Drive?), the Mystery Spot is one of the
old-fashioned tourist traps which used to dot the highways in the old
days before interstates and Dennys.
The Mystery Spot is a place where the law of gravity is supposedly defied
and balls roll uphill. (Take a level and measure it to be sure. They
have a level and invite people to measure to be sure.) Then there are
the two cement slabs where people can stand and look taller or shorter
than each other, depending on where they stand. And the trees -- look up
and they're going straight, but look WAY up and they're crooked toward
the top as if the whole ground shifted.
Sharen Rund-Bloechl
: THINGS TO DO AROUND SANTA CRUZ
: WHERE TO STAY:
: The possibilities are too numerous and too varied in price to make
: recommendations. For B&B call Bed and Breakfast Inns of Santa Cruz
: County, 425-8212. Fancy and/or expensive "resorts" include Chaminade,
: Pasatiempo, Seascape Resort and the Dream Inn.
also try Chateau Victorian in SC
: 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.
also in Capitola every Wednesday evening at the Esplanade - a concert -
thru August 3
: 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).
this is Sophie's and its excellent
: 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);
and just up the road from Bargettos is Soquel Winery (owned by Peter
Bargetto (a cousin)
: .....depending
: on your plans you might drive back to Silicon Valley along Old San Jose
: Road, which starts in Soquel.
: 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.
at Corralitos Rd & Freedom Blvd is 5-mile house and the Cadillac Cafe -
both places to check out too
: 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.
they have an excellent (and pricy) restaurant called Sanderlings - great
presentations of pastas & seafoods with a view of the Bay to boot
across the street is Palapas - good Mexican food which specializes in
grilled fish with salsas, black beans, etc - again they have the view
: 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
: gne...@megatest.com
--
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