Page 18 - Demo

18 SUMMER | 2016
OUR BEST BEACHES
There is no ner way to spend your Santa Cruz vacation than to explore our beautiful, coastal environment. From desolate, lonely stretches for romantic picnics to the main stage beaches for water sports, volleyball or simply checking out the scene, our beaches provide something for everyone.
Natural Bridges State Beach
This beach is named for its ocean-pounded cliffs offering visitors a close-up look into the unique habitat of marine plants and animals. An expansive tidal pool network is fun to explore. Visit the Nature Center and bring your lunch to the picnic tables overlooking the beach. On the Natural Bridges hillside, the eucalyptus trees host Monarch butter ies on their migration path. On West Cliff Drive 2.5 miles from the Santa Cruz Wharf.
Cowells and Main Beaches
On either side of the Santa Cruz Wharf you will nd the two most popular beaches in
the county. At Cowells you can learn to surf, or stretch out to laze away the day watching sailboats around the wharf. On the other
side of the wharf, Main Beach plays host to volleyball games, people watching and also is an entrance to the boardwalk.
It’s Beach
Located just north of the Mark Abbott Lighthouse Museum, this picturesque beach features a wicked reform shore pound, and is a favorite with bodysurfers and Boogie boarders. Designated hours for people attached to dogs.
Seabright Beach/Castle Beach
Around the point to the south of Cowells and Main Beaches lies Seabright Beach where kite ying is a local hobby. The Santa Cruz Harbor is at the end of this beach and is home to sailboats and motorboats. Bon re rings are
available for those marshmallow roasts or just to keep warm on a summer evening.
Twin Lakes Beach
Kite ying is an art here. This beach has volleyball courts, bon re rings, and a view
of the Boardwalk and the lighthouse. The Harbor Boat Ramp is available for watercraft.
Pleasure Point
The Pleasure Point is actually a string of excellent sur ng reefs dotted with little pocket beaches. Most famous as the neighborhood of Jack O’Neill, the inventor of the modern sur ng wetsuit.
Capitola Beach
Capitola Beach is marked by the Venetian Hotel and the Soquel Creek river mouth. Capitola provides an eclectic mixture of restaurants, shops and nightlife along its esplanade. A free parking shuttle can take you into the Village. Look for the signs near the Park Avenue exit.
New Brighton State Beach
Surf shing and digging for clams are popular sports here. With long walks at low tide you can nd yourself in Capitola Village in time for a bite to eat, but don’t forget to watch
the tides for your return trip. The tall coast cypress trees provide privacy between the campsites on the hill.
Seacliff State Beach
Located off State Park Drive this beach is home to the “Palo Alto” cement ship. Once
a oating nightclub that sank, it now plays host to seabirds. Halibut and surf perch are caught from its side and no shing license
is required. The history center tells more of the story of this ship. Fossils are imbedded
in the cliffs along the southern edge of the beach. First come rst serve picnic tables and B-B-Q”s; RV campsite area with hookups is available with reservations required.
Rio Del Mar Beach
Aptos has another wide open expanse of beach—a wonderful walking beach, and you can relax on the sand and let your toes wade in the lapping surf.
Manresa Beach
Enjoy these wide stretches of sand that go on for miles in La Selva Beach. Watch the pounding surf, but keep your eyes peeled for dolphins cavorting in the waves. Children delight in picking up sand dollars. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months because of the rip tides. Bon re rings are provided for beach cookouts.
Sunset State Beach
Surrounded by fertile farmland, this beach feature wooded campgrounds, picnic area, a group campground, and 200-foot high dunes. Sunset stretches down to the mouth of the Pajaro River, giving it three miles of unobstructed and spectacular shoreline. In the summer and autumn, it’s also possible to see large groups of bottle nosed dolphins. Located 16 miles south of Santa Cruz. Take
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