Staying at one of the many Santa Cruz vacation homes is the best way you can enjoy a spectacular holiday in this relaxed town. Whether it is the beach that is your haven, or it is wine tasting that tops your itinerary, you will find plenty of options here to keep you busy throughout the day. Of course you must not forget surfing and sailing, Santa Cruz's prime attractions, and even if you do not sail, you may not want to give the weekly yacht races a miss.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
This historic landmark is a great place to spend the day with your family, with its rides, games, restaurants, shops and free concerts. Amusement Today magazine had named the place "Best Seaside Amusement Park" in the Golden Ticket Awards 2007. Add to the fun with local treats like deep fried artichoke hearts sold at the food stalls, and for friends back home, you can shop for candy apples or saltwater taffy.
Santa Cruz Wharf
Take a walk down the West Coast's longest wharf, go kayaking, or enjoy a leisurely meal at a family-run waterfront restaurant. Love seafood? You are at the perfect place, as the Santa Cruz Wharf is where you can taste the most delicious seafood, or buy the freshest catch straight off a fishing boat. At the end of the wharf you will be greeted by cheerful sea lions, who will entertain you with their playful maneuvers.
Hiking Trails
If you enjoy hiking, you will love the colorful trails in this town, as they meander through lush redwood forests and waterfalls, and take you right to the beach. You will find numerous trails at places like the Big Basin Redwoods State Park, or the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. If you are hiking at Natural Bridges State Park, look out for the bright orange and black Monarch butterflies.
Mystery Spot
Some say that this place is just about optical illusions and there is actually no mystery, but know this - during peak tourist seasons, they have to often shut their doors as the place gets too packed. In fact, your best bet is to either go early to beat the crowds, or book your tickets in advance over phone.
Farmer's Markets
If you are into healthy eating and love decorating your living spaces with fresh cut flowers, Santa Cruz will not disappoint you. There are farmer's markets held almost daily, so you can take your pick from farm-fresh strawberries and apples, organic vegetables, fresh goat cheese, seafood, flowers and many more locally grown items. Do not miss the Downtown Santa Cruz Farmers' Market with its colorful art and crafts fair, held on Wednesday afternoons.
When at your Santa Cruz vacation home, you will find that Santa Cruz is a great place for family vacations. There are plenty of attractions and activities to keep even your little ones happily occupied. You can take them to Seymour Marine Discovery Center or Gilroy Gardens, sign them up for surfing lessons, or just let them spend fun times and make new friends at the skate park. Use Vamoose.com to search for a vacation home by tailoring your search criteria according to location, amenities, price, number of bedrooms, etc.