Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz is known for its moderate climate, the natural beauty of its coastline, redwood forests, alternative community lifestyles, and socially liberal leanings.  It is also home to the University of Santa Cruz, California, as well as the Santa Cruz Boardwalk an oceanfront amusement park operating continuously since 1907. The present-day site of Santa Cruz was the location of Spanish settlement beginning in 1791.  It was chartered in 1866 and late in the 19th century, Santa Cruz established itself as a beach resort community.

Nap Time

A face only a mother could love

After having breakfast we went to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.  This was not on Mike’s itinerary, but Judy read about the park and we decided we would go there first today.  The park is located on a former land grant that the first owner acquired around 1846.  In 1868 an elaborate vacation resort was built that survived for fifty years.  The ancient trees attracted dignitaries from around the world including Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin Harrison.  There are about 20 miles of trails, all different in length and terrain.  We decided to take the Redwood Grove Trail, the most popular.  There was a nice temperature difference from the parking lot to the temperate rain forest.  The old-growth coast redwood trees can live to the mature age of over 2,000 years.  Rainy and foggy coastal conditions ensure there is enough moisture for their survival.  

We then drove to Santa Cruz to have lunch at Aldo’s, a restaurant Beverly and Harry recommended.  It is on the water, facing a lighthouse; we enjoyed eating inside since all the outside tables were in the sun.  We saw sailboats, private boats, a kayaker and someone standing on a surf board paddling side by side.  Mike enjoyed cioppino (fresh fish stew) and Judy tried Rock Cod which was grilled and served with asparagus. 

We then went to Natural Bridges State Beach where we parked and saw the only remaining natural bridge of three from the parking area.  An amazing site!  In the early 1900s, three arches carved by nature out of a mudstone cliff.  Wave action against the soft rock formed the bridges and also undercut them, eventually wearing them away and leaving only islands!  The outermost arch fell in the early part of the 20^th century and the inner arch broke during a storm in 1980.  We only saw the middle arch but it is being slowly eroded by the waves.

The next morning we drove to Santa Cruz for breakfast to at Zachary’s Restaurant, suggested in an article in the Bakersfield Californian  a while ago.  The staff was very friendly and Mike thoroughly enjoyed his huge “Mike’s Mess, Junior”.  It included mushroom, potatoes, bacon, cheese and all this was topped with tomatoes, green onions and sour cream.

Afterwards we walked up and down Pacific Street where there were many stores with clothing, jewelry, and gift items available.  There are also many restaurants and cafes with inside and outside seating.  Parking meters are all over but are very reasonably priced, only fifty cents an hour with a two hour limit!

We then headed to Capitola which is also by the ocean.  They also have many stores with gift and tourist items.  We walked up and down a few streets and even made a purchase!  Mike found a pelican with a fish in its mouth, made of wire.  It wasn’t something that Judy was ‘needing’, but we’ll find a place for it somewhere! 

We had parked right by the beach and still had time left on the meter, so we sat on a bench facing the sand and water and just relaxed soaking up the sun, watching people, boats, seagulls and pelicans!

In the campground Judy spotted what we missed on our walk through the redwoods yesterday.  By our campsite was what they call a family circle of redwoods which is a circle of trees around others.  Both of the center ones here no longer had anything above about 5-6 feet, but they were surrounded by about 7 others.