Santa Cruz, California: More Than Just the Boardwalk

When you think of vacationing in Santa Cruz, California, the first thing that might come to mind is visiting the famous Santa Cruz Boardwalk, but did you know there are many more things to do in the beautiful central California coast city?

Having grown up in the area, I've put together a list of the many other fun things to do in this great city, proving that you don't have to spend your entire vacation at the beach boardwalk.

The Mystery Spot

The laws of gravity are defied as here you watch balls roll uphill, and become dizzy from a strange energy seems to permeate the area. Here how the spot was discovered 70+ years ago, and the theories as to why this bizarre mystery exists. Advanced tickets are only $6, and children under aged four are free.

Greyhound Rock Beach

The locals know, if you want to go to the beach and get away from the crowds, head to Greyhound Rock. It's about a 15 minute drive north of downtown Santa Cruz off of highway one. Here you'll walk down a steep staircase and into paradise. Even in the summer, there is hardly a soul on this endless sandy beach.

It's a perfect place to explore tide pools, watch pelicans, and even spot an elephant seal. There are narrow trails up Greyhound Rock, and you can climb up and view the expansive Pacific Ocean from above. The rock puts you further out into the ocean, where you can watch dolphins play as they swim past.

Pacific Garden Mall

I am not a fan of malls, except for this one. Pacific Garden Mall is an outdoor mall, and as we walk through the streets here, you'll see why it's one of the best places for people watching in the world. Santa Cruz is known for the strange, which is what I love about it, and you'll find lots of the unusual right here.

The Pacific Garden Mall also has some great used record stores, with old albums and CDs, and the best used clothing stores I've ever been to in my life.

Rent a bike

There are lots of bike shops that offer bicycles for rent, and this is one of the best cities to explore by cycling. Start by taking the scenic pathway that runs from the pier all the way to Natural Bridges State Park on West Cliff Drive. The trail runs along the Pacific Ocean, and you'll experience spectacular views of the water on one side, and fantasy beach homes on the other.

Sailboat tour

One of my favorite trips to Santa Cruz, included a sunset sailboat ride on the Chardonnay II. If you're with that special someone, this is also one of the most romantic things you can do.

As you glide across the water, sip your glasses of wine, and make a toast to the breathtaking sunset over Monterey Bay. Truly amazing.

You'll soon see why there is so much more than Santa Cruz then the beach boardwalk.