Best places: Tourist attractions in Santa Cruz, United States

Iconic spot with a lighthouse offers a variety of vistas & pathways for dog walking & strolling.

Natural landscape with diverse activities including hiking trails, picnic areas & horseback riding.

Iconic red & white wooden roller coaster dating to 1924 overlooking the beach & wharf.

Interactive marine science museum & aquarium, with hands-on exhibits, a touch pool & a gift shop.

Beachside harbor with seafood restaurants, deep-sea fishing excursions & yacht charters.

👍👍 As you stand atop the towering lighthouse, the salty sea breeze whips around you, carrying with it the sweet tang of seaweed and brine. You take a deep breath, feeling your lungs fill with the crisp, refreshing air. Looking out towards the horizon, you see an endless expanse of deep blue water stre...

Beach shops, seafood restaurants, sea lions & fishing draw crowds to this landmark bayside pier.

Vast collection of rare plants with a succulent garden, a butterfly area & a eucalyptus grove.

Famous cliffside surfing spot since the 1930s, featuring a surfing museum inside a lighthouse.

Grassy space includes picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields, bocci ball courts, trails & a creek.

👍👍 The park was a welcome surprise. It is the best park in the county by a large margin. It is incredibly well designed with thought given to creativity, interaction and disabled access. The equipment includes many different climbing and play structures, bridges, slides, swings, spinners, tractors, mus...

👍👍 Always the best of time here at Ocean View Park! Dogs are welcome. Area for basketball. Restrooms are clean and people are always pleasant. Neighborhood parking. Locals are welcoming. Beautiful views. Clean. Picnicking is a plus here. I love to spend time relaxing here while my son plays. It’s very...

Educational multimedia exhibits include theater, touch pools & a remotely operated underwater robot.

👍👍 Came to Santa Cruz for beach but it was so windy so we decided to come visit this park. Really good park with cute little pond and lots of benches and picnic areas.

Galleries & interactive programs exploring flora, fauna, geology & peoples native to the Bay Area.

👍👍 Historic NorCal skatepark, which is a must skate visit for any skateboarding enthusiast.

Rotating exhibits on surfing culture & local history housed in a historic, preserved lighthouse.

Neighborhood park with a playground for children, plus picnic tables overlooking the harbor.

Spacious lakeside & oceanside park offering beach space for fishing, surfing & picnics.

Scenic open space offering a hiking & biking trail network amid redwood & oak forests & slopes.