Hi!  Sooooo it’s been awhile since I have done a travel post here on the blog, so since the hubby and I planned a quick two-day trip to Santa Cruz recently, I wanted to make sure I did a little blog post on where we stayed, ate and what we did during the two days we were in Santa Cruz, California!

WHERE TO STAY

SUPER 8 SANTA CRUZ/BEACH BOARDWALK EAST

338 RIVERSIDE AVENUE – SANTA CRUZ, CA

Visiting Santa Cruz during the off season meant great prices on hotels.  After much deliberation, and hesitation, I actually booked our room at the Super 8.  James gave me a few sideways glances about my choice, but it got good reviews on Expedia and it was cheap and looked clean.  I paid $220 total for two nights.  Free parking on site, as well as a free continental breakfast.

So if you are super into the hotel you stay in, probably get something more expensive and less motel-like.  We just literally sleep in our hotel and then leave for the rest of the day, so I would rather spend money on eating amazing food than on the hotel.

But the hotel room was clean, looked to have been recently updated and the room had a fridge, coffee maker, microwave and television.  The air conditioner worked AMAZING, which is a total must for me too.  Staff there is very nice too.  Checking in and out took less than 5-minutes!!

Bathroom was small, but clean!

WHERE TO PLAY

THE SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK

Santa Cruz is probably most famous for its Boardwalk.  We visited during the off season, so the rides were not running, but the Boardwalk part was still open for walking, as was the arcade and some shops.

Our hotel was a just a quick 5-minute walk to the Boardwalk, which is great if the Boardwalk is your ultimate destination.  Then you don’t have to worry about parking!  The hubs and I enjoyed a nice evening walk along the Boardwalk before it closed for the night.

SHOPPING

Whenever we travel we inevitably end up shopping.  The first day we were in Santa Cruz, we decided to shop Downtown Santa Cruz.  By far the best shopping of the day and tons of cute shops and restaurants and cafes along the way.

If you love to read, then definitely do not miss Bookshop Santa Cruz!  We love to read and I could have spent hours in there looking through all the books.  It’s Sugar is a fun candy shop where all the candy bars are GIANT!!  So much fun!

Next we were off to Capitola, which is a quick 15-minute drive down the coast.  Beautiful scenery along the way!  Capitola Village is known for its shopping.  We weren’t that impressed, but it was still fun to walk around, especially because it borders on the Pacific Ocean with beautiful views.

ROARING CAMP RAILROADS

Who doesn’t love a fun train ride?!  We decided to take the 75-minute steam train ride through the redwood forest the second day of our trip.  Roaring Camp is in Felton, which was just a quick 20-minute drive from our hotel.  I bought tickets online ahead of time, which is a MUST because even though we rode the train at 11AM on a Thursday, the train looked to be at capacity.  Two adult tickets cost less than $70.  Oh but ya gotta pay $10 to park in their dirt lot.  #ripoff.

Take a step back into time!!  The grounds include a general store, a restaurant, games to keep you occupied while you wait for the train and nice bathrooms.

The steam train…

There are open cars and covered cars.  The weather was perfect when we went and the open car is definitely the way to go….otherwise the views of the magnificent redwoods and other trees is limited to what you can see from the sides.

There is a train conductor who narrates during the entire trip, so it is interesting to hear the history of the railroad and the train.  Once you reach the top of the hill, the train stops and you get to get off and use the bathroom or walk around.  After a quick 10-minute break, we were off back to camp!

Roaring Camp is definitely a fun, however very slow, train ride through the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains.  Definitely worth doing!!

NATURAL BRIDGES STATE BEACH

WEST CLIFF DRIVE – SANTA CRUZ, CA

Natural Bridges has an amazing vista point, that has magnificent views of the ocean, sea life and the rock formations know as Natural Bridges.  James and I walked the 7-mile (roundtrip) walk from our hotel to Natural Bridges, but you can drive there or take a Jump Bike.

We enjoy walking because you take in so much more of the scenery, the people, the surfers and the beautiful houses along the way.  The walk is easy and all on a paved walkway.  It took us just about 2-hours to complete the walk, but we both walk really fast.

WHERE TO EAT

WALNUT AVENUE CAFE

106 WALNUT AVENUE – SANTA CRUZ, CA

When we arrived in Santa Cruz on day #1, it was lunch time, but James and I are suckers for breakfast anytime, so we decided to try the Walnut Avenue Cafe in downtown Santa Cruz (breakfast served all day!).  Cute cafe that was busy, but we were seated quickly and the service was quick and efficient.

James got the Chilaquiles which consisted of scrambled eggs, cheese, tomatoes and chili’s over tortilla chips, with a side of sourdough toast and potatoes.  James loved it!

I got something I have never had before (this will be shocking…I know….) Classic Eggs Benedict (but without hollandaise sauce)!  I opted for fresh fruit instead of potatoes too.  It was good.  Not my favorite of breakfast dishes I have ever had, but I would attribute that to the fact that I opted to eat it without hollandaise sauce.

SHADOWBROOK RESTAURANT

1750 WHARF ROAD – CAPITOLA, CA

Dinner on day #1 was at the historic Shadowbrook Restaurant.  Definitely make a reservation ahead of time if you want to dine here in their amazing dining room!!  James and I always like to have a “nice” meal out at least one night on the trips we take, and this place is definitely special.  The grounds are beautiful and there’s an amazing water view if you are lucky enough to score tables by the windows.

James had the artichoke soup to start with.  He said it was okay….

I had some wine instead hehehehe.  And maybe enjoyed one of their hot, fresh sourdough rolls too 😉

Our server was AMAZING!!  I have a few dietary restrictions and when I started to ask our server if I could make changes to the standard filet mignon meal listed, he interrupter me halfway through my question to tell me they would make me whatever I wanted!  Yay!  So I order the petite filet mignon, simply grilled, with steamed veggies (no butter or oil on anything).  I was ALL about those veggies!  SO YUM.  The filet mignon was good.  Not the best I have ever had, but good.

James also got the filet mignon, but ordered it as it was list on the menu, which came topped with butter, a side of potato gratin and mushroom ragout.  He said the sides were kind of bland and agreed that the filet was good, but not the best he had ever had.

James also got the Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée, which apparently I forgot to get a picture of?!  It had a nice sugar coating to crack, but the custard inside was kind of ehhhh.

Shadowbrook is a beautiful old-school type of restaurant with impeccable service.  If you get Brent as your server then consider yourself lucky.  He was personal, knowledgeable and made dining there fun!

LINDA’S SEABREEZE CAFE

542 SEABRIGHT AVENUE – SANTA CRUZ, CA

This place opens early (6AM!) and we got there a little after opening.  No wait since we got there so early, but the cafe was already full of customers who were obvious regulars as well as a couple of Santa Cruz Police Officers….so you know this place is going to be good!

James got the Florentine omelet with spinach, bacon and cheese inside topped with sour cream.  James got a side of sourdough toast and smothered it with some of there homemade blackberry jam that they have on every table.  The jam was “legit” according to James!

I got an egg white omelet with just ham inside and a side of fruit instead of potatoes and a dry English Muffin.   Omelet was delicious and FULL of ham.  Cooked perfectly!  The coffee was also hot and plentiful, which is numero uno to me when it comes to breakfast!!

Definitely a MUST EAT for breakfast if you visit Santa Cruz.  Just remember this place is cash only!!  We were still full from breakfast so we decided to skip lunch and wait for dinner.

Dinner was at El Palomar Mexican Restaurant with another couple that we are friends with that live in Santa Cruz.  The dining room was soooooo dark, so I did not get any pictures!  I got a grilled chicken salad that was just lettuce, tomatoes and grilled chicken breast with a side of salsa as dressing.  It was delicious and there was quite a bit of grilled chicken in my salad.  Everyone else at the table went with the fajitas!  El Palomar also has a great happy hour if you get there in time!!

ZACHARY’S

819 PACIFIC AVENUE – SANTA CRUZ, CA

We were up early and got to Zachary’s right as they opened at 7AM, because we were hitting the road home after breakfast.  This cafe is in downtown Santa Cruz and the parking for us was easy because downtown was like a ghost town at that time.

James decided to get the pancake breakfast, which was sourdough pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon and homemade sourdough toast.  He said it was good and really liked the sourdough pancakes!

I got….wait for it…..wait for it….. yes.  An egg white omelet with just ham and a side of fruit and their special house made chipotle salsa (YUM!!!!).  No English Muffins here, but I did try their house-made molasses-oatmeal bread.  It was okay.  Coffee was hot, but not as good as the coffee at Linda’s.  Our waitress was amazingly friendly and quick….really great service!

And after our breakfast, we were off for the two-hour drive back home!  Santa Cruz is a fun and kick back place to visit….those hippy vibes wafting through the air?!  Life just seems to go at a slower pace here, which makes for a nice, relaxing get away.

And if you are looking to live it up, but don’t want to worry about driving, why not indulge in some luxury by hiring Limo Find for all your transportation needs!  Or better yet….make it a party and rent a party bus!

XOXO,

Kelly