Outdoor
Natural Bridges State Park: Free Public Tidepool Tours
Natural Bridges State Beach 2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesExplore the ocean without getting your feet wet on this exciting tidepool tour! Join an interpretive docent to climb up the rocky trail and out to view the amazing animals that make their home in Santa Cruz tidepools. King Tides tidepool tours will be held on January 10, 11, 12 @ 3pm. King Tides are when the ocean’s tides are the lowest they will be that year, so it’s one of the best times to go tidepooling!
Natural Bridges State Park: Free Public Tidepool Tours
Natural Bridges State Beach 2531 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesExplore the ocean without getting your feet wet on this exciting tidepool tour! Join an interpretive docent to climb up the rocky trail and out to view the amazing animals that make their home in Santa Cruz tidepools. King Tides tidepool tours will be held on January 10, 11, 12 @ 3pm. King Tides are when the ocean’s tides are the lowest they will be that year, so it’s one of the best times to go tidepooling!
Winter Wonderland
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesGet in the holiday spirit – celebrate the season at the beach! Activities Include Selection of Boardwalk Rides, Games, and Arcades Festive Holiday Decorations and Lights (Including a 3-story tall Christmas tree!) Delicious Boardwalk Treats Photos with Santa (Operating Days: Nov. 24 – Dec. 24) Fire Pit Rentals & Holiday S’Mores Holiday Shopping Winter Wonderland Package (includes MyBoardwalk Card and one 6X8 printed photo with Santa. Available operating days Nov. 24 – Dec. 24) And don’t forget the breathtaking beach view! Hours and Dates 12pm – 5pm Thursday – Sunday: November 23-26 Saturdays – Sundays: December 2-10 Every Day: December 16-31 Special Dates December 2 & 3 – Mini Nutcracker performance at Colonnade Stage at 2pm December 10 & 11 – Roaming Carolers
Farley’s Christmas Wonderland
Farley’s Christmas Wonderland 108 Seaview Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThis is a walk-in Christmas display located in the midtown of Santa Cruz, CA. Their exhibit is very traditional: lots of Christmas trees, garlands, sleighs, an elf village, miniature village’s, and a log cabin that Santa uses for his rest stops. Being Irish, where you have elves you have fairies, so there is a fairy grotto with 2 waterfalls and fairies that can be viewed on special nights. Also, on those special nights, there is a special California version of snow here!
UCSC Arboretum: First Saturday Tours
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesAround the World in 60-90 Minutes! The first Saturday of each month, the Arboretum offers a docent or staff-led tour of the Arboretum. Sometimes you will see New Zealand, South Africa, California, or Australia. Sometimes you might see combinations of several gardens, the developing World Conifer Collection, or Rare Fruit Garden. Tour length varies depending on what’s in bloom and what the participants request.
Santa Cruz County: King Tides
All of Santa Cruz CountyCalifornia King Tides are coming to the shores of Santa Cruz County this winter! These naturally occurring and predictable events are when the highest and lowest tides hit our shores and create an even more dramatic coastline. At high tide, the powerful waves often crash against seawalls and extend beyond their usual natural borders. The extreme low tides, expose tide pools rarely seen and allow miles of beach walking and extended exploration. The upcoming official King Tide dates are January 11 and 12, 2024, and February 9, 2024, however, there are even more dates with these extreme tides! Extreme low tides (and high tides) will be present on the days leading up to and after the dates listed above.
Downtown Santa Cruz: Makers Market
Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market Pacific Ave and Lincoln St, Santa CruzVisit the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market featuring 40+ local makers & artists in beautiful Downtown Santa Cruz! Located on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets, this monthly market hosts a wide range of locally handmade goods! *In the event of rain, the market will be held on the following Sunday
Seymour Marine Discovery Center: Younger Lagoon Reserve Tour
Younger Lagoon Reserve 130 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThis 90-minute, behind-the-scenes hiking tour takes visitors into Younger Lagoon Reserve adjacent to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Part of the University of California Natural Reserve System, Younger Lagoon Reserve contains diverse coastal habitats and is home to birds of prey, migrating sea birds, bobcats, and other wildlife. Come and see what scientists are doing to track local mammals, restore native habitat, and learn about the workings of one of California’s rare coastal lagoons. A tour is offered on selected Thursdays and Saturdays of each month beginning at 10:30 AM. Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Space is limited to 18 participants. Advance reservations are highly recommended. Tours are best suited for children 10 years of age and older. Participants must be physically able to walk up and down steep inclines. Water and weather protection is strongly suggested.
Elkhorn Slough: Early Bird Tour
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserach Reserve 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (Royal Oaks), CA, United StatesAmateur and expert birders alike will find a place on the Early Bird Tour! Local guides lead these 2-3 mile walks, sharing the life histories of the birds that call Elkhorn Slough home, and giving tips on identifying species.
UCSC Arboretum: First Saturday Tours
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesAround the World in 60-90 Minutes! The first Saturday of each month, the Arboretum offers a docent or staff-led tour of the Arboretum. Sometimes you will see New Zealand, South Africa, California, or Australia. Sometimes you might see combinations of several gardens, the developing World Conifer Collection, or Rare Fruit Garden. Tour length varies depending on what’s in bloom and what the participants request.
First Friday Boulder Creek
lille æske 13160 Central Ave, Boulder CreekA free monthly mountain street fair in the name of creation & community. Local art, music and food lining the sidewalks of historic downtown Boulder Creek, California A Family friendly event - please visit our website for more details.
Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, Santa Cruz, March 1, 2 & 3, 2024
Rio Theatre 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesJoin UCSC Adventure Rec and the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz on March 1, 2 and 3, 2024. Each of the three nights will feature completely different films. Tickets are on sale starting December 18. The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world! Hot on the heels of the Festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road. With stops planned in over 600 communities and more than 40 countries across the globe, the Banff World Tour celebrates amazing achievements in outdoor storytelling and filmmaking worldwide. From the over 400 entries submitted into the Festival each year, award-winners and audience favorites are among the films that are carefully selected to play in theaters around the world. Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing topical environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2023/2024 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world. This event is a fundraiser for Adventure Rec, reducing UCSC students' trip costs by up to 50%, increasing financial accessibility to life-changing outdoor adventures. Last year, over $20,000 was raised and applied to lowering costs for hundreds of students. For more information contact Adventure Rec ([email protected]; 831-459-2806).
Early Bird Tour
Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserach Reserve 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville (Royal Oaks), CA, United StatesAmateur and expert birders alike will find a place on the Early Bird Tour! Local guides lead these 2-3 mile walks, sharing the life histories of the birds that call Elkhorn Slough home, and giving tips on identifying species.
Downtown Santa Cruz: Antiques Faire
Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Faire Lincoln Street (between Pacific and Cedar), Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThe Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 8am-6pm. Vendors offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items, vintage clothing, collectibles and more! Visit the Antique Faire on Lincoln Street between Pacific and Cedar.
Downtown Santa Cruz: Earth Day Celebrations
Downtown Santa Cruz Pacific Avenue Between Water and Locust Streets, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesEarth Day 2024 will be held at beautiful Downtown Santa Cruz on Cooper St, Pacific Ave, and Abbott Square. Local businesses and organizations will gather for a day of fun and environmentally focused activities and education. This event will feature: - Live music from Coffee Zombie Collective - Face Painting from Brenda's Facepainting - MotherSong with Joya Winwood (singalong for families with babies) shows at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. - Samba Stilt Walkers from Emotiv Dance - Photobooth - Local vendors - Educational booths This free, family-friendly event will have many activities for kids to take part in, like the interactive Passport Program where kids can earn a sweet treat from Mission Hill Creamery or Pacific Cookie Company by participating. There will be an environmentally focused fashion show featuring local kids from the Fashion Teens program. Celebrate Earth Day with us in Downtown Santa Cruz on Pacific Ave, Cooper Street and Abbott Square. ⭐ A big thank you to all of our sponsors for making this event possible ⭐ Joby Aviation GoodTimes KSBW Community Printers Santa Cruz County - Recycling & Solid Waste Allterra Solar GreenWaste Central Coast Community Energy Santa Cruz METRO Pacific Cookie Company Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery The Verve Coffee Roasters