AIRBNB EXPERIENCES
Things to do in Santa Cruz
Book unique activities hosted by local experts on Airbnb.
Top-rated activities
View our most highly rated experiences, loved by guests.
4.95 out of 5 average rating, 141 reviewsExperience whale watching with a Naturalist
Join us for a lively day on Monterey Bay, spending time seeing diverse coastal animals.
5 out of 5 average rating, 99 reviewsTune in to Subtle Realms of Redwoods
Make a personal forest connection while energizing all your senses and enjoying yourself.
5 out of 5 average rating, 2 reviewsWalk Santa Cruz: A Local's Hidden History Tour
Walk historic Santa Cruz with a lifelong local and leave with insider stories, hidden gems, and an authentic connection to the city. Companion app with translations is included.
5 out of 5 average rating, 1 reviewsSanta Cruz Surf Walk
Discover the birthplace of mainland surfing on a relaxed 90-minute oceanfront walk to Steamer Lane—with scenic stops along the way—as your guide shares the history, culture, and stoke.
5 out of 5 average rating, 3 reviewsBeach Hill to Downtown Santa Cruz Walking Tour
Enjoy fresh air, fun exercise, and local stories on a loop from the birthplace of mainland surfing and the Boardwalk through downtown, then back along leafy Victorian streets.
4.98 out of 5 average rating, 53 reviewsRedwoods Forest Bathing
Mindful nature immersion in the ancient Redwoods. Shinrin-yoku blended with yoga, meditation and sensory awareness. Never more than six, unless booked as a private group or team offsite.
4.92 out of 5 average rating, 77 reviewsThe Hot Glass Experience
Join the only publicly accessible glassblowing facility in the area & shape molten glass.
5 out of 5 average rating, 2 reviewsEcosystemic Mushroom and Plant Foraging
Explore the fascinating world of fungal ecology, connect with nature, forage edible plants and mushrooms, and learn safe foraging and identification with a renowned regenerative mycologist.
5 out of 5 average rating, 6 reviewsMake Cheese on a Working Goat Farm min 3 per group
Learn to make cheese with a farmer-chef. Meet playful animals while exploring the subtle science and exact art of cheesemaking. Milk the goats from which we source the ingredients we will work with.
5 out of 5 average rating, 4 reviewsSee Great White Sharks with a Shark Wrangler
Explore the home of the Great White Shark. Search for Juvenile White sharks at SharkPark or or one of 350 Adult White Sharks at Año Nuevo Island in the southern part of the famous Red Triangle
Latest Activities
Explore new local experiences, activities for everyone.
New place to stayHike Wilder Ridge with a geologist
Walk a favorite ridge with a geology graduate who explains local rocks, formations and bay views, then pause together for snacks and refreshments.
New place to stayConnect with Animals at Kinderwood min 3 guests
Get up close and personal with cute farm animals on a coastal redwood homestead. Whether it’s your first time or if it’s just been a while, there is always something to learn and someone to cuddle.
New place to stayLearn the art of Silversmithing
Shape raw silver, solder each component and set a gemstone as a metalsmithing teacher guides every step at the bench.
New place to staySip kulhad chai with a chai kafe founder
Share freshly brewed masala chai in traditional clay cups as a regional chai kafe founder guides you through stories, curated bites and connections around the table.
New place to stayFind Your Scent: Formulate Your Own Perfume
You will be guided through a multi-sensory fragrance experience as you craft your own signature perfume from a curated selection of premium materials.
New place to stayYosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Tour from San Jose
Experience Yosemite National Park ahead of the crowds with early-bird arrival from San Jose. See Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan, and hike among giant sequoias.
5 out of 5 average rating, 2 reviewsStanford Insider Tours w/Seasoned Stanford Parents
Step into must see quads, lecture halls and dining with Stanford parents/students who share campus culture and hidden corners you would miss alone. Experience vary depends on different tour types.
New place to stayPerfume Making Workshop
Craft a personalized fragrance in an atelier guided by a science educator. Learn about fragrance notes and the art of balancing scents.
4.5 out of 5 average rating, 2 reviewsBike 17-Mile Drive with Monterey Bay Aquarium
Immerse yourself in the beauty of Ghost Trees, Spanish Bay, and Pacific Grove with your GPS-guided two hour e-bike journey. Enjoy included ticket to Monterey Bay Aquarium.
New place to stay⭐ Candle Making Workshop in San Jose
Create your own candle in a San Jose studio. Inspired by global candle-making traditions, melt wax, blend scents, and pour your unique design.
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