Laura's Guidebook

Laura
Laura's Guidebook

Food scene

Super delicious açaí bowls, fresh pressed juices, tasty salads.
9 locals recommend
Amazon Juices
1066 41st Avenue
9 locals recommend
Super delicious açaí bowls, fresh pressed juices, tasty salads.
A local institution; offering delicious baked goods, breakfast and lunch.
133 locals recommend
The Buttery
702 Soquel Ave
133 locals recommend
A local institution; offering delicious baked goods, breakfast and lunch.
Their Bowl of Soul not to be missed! Great coffee, breakfasts, and pastries by Manresa Bread. Located in Pleasure Point.
220 locals recommend
Verve Coffee Roasters
816 41st Ave
220 locals recommend
Their Bowl of Soul not to be missed! Great coffee, breakfasts, and pastries by Manresa Bread. Located in Pleasure Point.
A short walk from the room and usually busy.
13 locals recommend
Peoples Coffee
1200 17th Ave
13 locals recommend
A short walk from the room and usually busy.
Located just down the street and right next to Sunny Cove Beach.
29 locals recommend
Starbucks
21620 E Cliff Dr
29 locals recommend
Located just down the street and right next to Sunny Cove Beach.
Our favorite sushi spot - huge portions, fresh food and a great Happy Hour!
54 locals recommend
Akira Sushi
1222 Soquel Ave
54 locals recommend
Our favorite sushi spot - huge portions, fresh food and a great Happy Hour!
Delicious vegetarian and meat options. Inexpensive, organic yummy food.
80 locals recommend
Charlie Hong Kong
1141 Soquel Ave
80 locals recommend
Delicious vegetarian and meat options. Inexpensive, organic yummy food.
Some of the best food in Santa Cruz County. Local, seasonal, and simply delicious.
32 locals recommend
HOME
3101 N Main St
32 locals recommend
Some of the best food in Santa Cruz County. Local, seasonal, and simply delicious.
Farm to table Italian featuring some amazing Italian wines. Quant and romantic.
62 locals recommend
La Posta
538 Seabright Ave
62 locals recommend
Farm to table Italian featuring some amazing Italian wines. Quant and romantic.
Comfortable and approachable, upbeat yet casual. Yummy food.
32 locals recommend
East End Gastropub
1501 41st Ave
32 locals recommend
Comfortable and approachable, upbeat yet casual. Yummy food.
Another really good Italian restaurant and very close to the room. The polenta appetizer is so rich and decadent.
22 locals recommend
Lago di Como
21490 E Cliff Dr
22 locals recommend
Another really good Italian restaurant and very close to the room. The polenta appetizer is so rich and decadent.
Fine dining. Offering a Chef’s tasting menu and wine pairings.
25 locals recommend
Persephone
7945 Soquel Dr
25 locals recommend
Fine dining. Offering a Chef’s tasting menu and wine pairings.

Beaches

A locals beach a short walk down 17th Ave, past the Starbucks. The cliffs offer protection from the wind.
33 locals recommend
Sunny Cove
33 locals recommend
A locals beach a short walk down 17th Ave, past the Starbucks. The cliffs offer protection from the wind.
Another very close beach right next to the Harbor. You might even see a sailboat or two.
65 locals recommend
Twin Lakes Beach
995 Live Oak Avenue
65 locals recommend
Another very close beach right next to the Harbor. You might even see a sailboat or two.
If you’re visiting in October or November you can see the monarch butterflies at the Eucalyptus grove.
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff Dr
261 locals recommend
If you’re visiting in October or November you can see the monarch butterflies at the Eucalyptus grove.
Our personal favorite beach - there’s a convenient parking lot right across the street and super easy access. A short bike ride away.
23 locals recommend
Moran Lake County Park
22775 E Cliff Dr
23 locals recommend
Our personal favorite beach - there’s a convenient parking lot right across the street and super easy access. A short bike ride away.

Surf Spots

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Lovely place for a walk along the cliffs and to see the surfers at “The Hook”.
116 locals recommend
Pleasure Point
116 locals recommend
Lovely place for a walk along the cliffs and to see the surfers at “The Hook”.
A favorite place for a walk on West Cliff and to see lots of seasoned surfers. There is also a surfing museum and iconic surfer statue.
81 locals recommend
Steamer Lane
700 W Cliff Dr
81 locals recommend
A favorite place for a walk on West Cliff and to see lots of seasoned surfers. There is also a surfing museum and iconic surfer statue.

Breweries

Great atmosphere, a variety of beers, light meals.
15 locals recommend
Sante Adairius Santa Cruz Portal
1315 Water St
15 locals recommend
Great atmosphere, a variety of beers, light meals.
A fun place to hang out.
42 locals recommend
New Bohemia Brewing Co.
1030 41st Ave
42 locals recommend
A fun place to hang out.
On the west side of town and serving up beer and ciders.
50 locals recommend
Humble Sea Brewing Co.
820 Swift St
50 locals recommend
On the west side of town and serving up beer and ciders.
A short walk from the room and great beers.
8 locals recommend
East Cliff Brewing Company
21517 E Cliff Dr
8 locals recommend
A short walk from the room and great beers.

Wineries

A local winery that’s specializes in sparkling wine methode champenoise.
10 locals recommend
Equinox Sparkling Wine
334 Ingalls St
10 locals recommend
A local winery that’s specializes in sparkling wine methode champenoise.
Offering a large selection of wines and great atmosphere to catch some live music.
17 locals recommend
Stockwell Cellars
1100 Fair Ave
17 locals recommend
Offering a large selection of wines and great atmosphere to catch some live music.
A delightful restaurant with an extensive wine bottle shop featuring many international wines.
55 locals recommend
Soif
105 Walnut Ave
55 locals recommend
A delightful restaurant with an extensive wine bottle shop featuring many international wines.

Sightseeing

Get up close to our massive, gorgeous redwoods.
335 locals recommend
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
101 N Big Trees Park Rd
335 locals recommend
Get up close to our massive, gorgeous redwoods.
After hiking in a bit, you’ll find a gorgeous swimming hole and usually many college kids from UCSC.
17 locals recommend
Garden of Eden - Henry Cowell Redwood State Park
California 9
17 locals recommend
After hiking in a bit, you’ll find a gorgeous swimming hole and usually many college kids from UCSC.
Such a unique experience with the tram down to the restaurant.
205 locals recommend
Shadowbrook Restaurant
1750 Wharf Rd
205 locals recommend
Such a unique experience with the tram down to the restaurant.
This is a good restaurant but really the views are the main attraction. Right on the harbor. Offering nightly entertainment.
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff Dr
276 locals recommend
This is a good restaurant but really the views are the main attraction. Right on the harbor. Offering nightly entertainment.
A fun place to spend a day!
745 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach St
745 locals recommend
A fun place to spend a day!
Optical illusion or energy vortex?!? You decide.
208 locals recommend
The Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot Rd
208 locals recommend
Optical illusion or energy vortex?!? You decide.

Neighborhoods

A lovely little promenade with restaurants, bars, shops, and a beach. What more can you ask for?
151 locals recommend
Capitola
151 locals recommend
A lovely little promenade with restaurants, bars, shops, and a beach. What more can you ask for?
Great views, surfing, restaurants and shops. Experience the Santa Cruz vibe.
116 locals recommend
Pleasure Point
116 locals recommend
Great views, surfing, restaurants and shops. Experience the Santa Cruz vibe.
Our neighborhood! Visit the Harbor and many great beaches here.
Twin Lakes
Our neighborhood! Visit the Harbor and many great beaches here.