Beeline Blooms: You-Pick Dahlias
Beeline Blooms 220 Stephens Ln, Ben Lomond, CA, United StatesGo for a walk amongst the dahlias, take pictures and enjoy the beauty that has risen from the ashes of the CZU wildfire. Bring your own or purchase a quart jar for the ability to purchase dahlias you pick yourself. Farming is way more fun with friends! No dogs please.
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium: Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesIn late July and early August each year, audiences are joined by both preeminent and emerging composers, spectacular guest artists, and an orchestra of dedicated professional musicians from across the globe to give voice to works which are rarely more than a year or two old, and sometimes still wet on the page. The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, even at a seasoned 60 years old, is all about the new—the here and now of contemporary works for orchestra. To quote Financial Times music critic Allan Ulrich, “…in the surf mecca of Santa Cruz, 75 miles south of San Francisco, the Cabrillo Festival has made the contemporary repertoire sound urgent, indispensable and even sexy.”
Big Basin State Park: 2-Day Guided Car Camping Excursions
Big Basin Redwoods State Park 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, CA, United StatesEnjoy the very first public camping opportunity in Big Basin Redwoods State Park since the 2020 CZU fire! This car camping weekend will allow you to venture out on day hikes without all the gear in tow, a great option for folks of all skill and camping experience levels. Evenings will feature community, conversation and games, and special guests will join us to discuss the past, present, and future of the park! As such this 2-night, 3-day adventure is family-friendly, allowing youth aged 11 and up to join with a parent or adult family member. The CA park system is even offering a discount for all youth aged 11-17 at just $100 each (adult price $200 each)! Parents please give them a call at 831-291-8273 to reserve your child’s spaces or visit www.parks.ca.gov/backpacking for more information. Don’t miss your chance to join Big Basin’s first camping comeback since 2020!
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Birdwatching
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground, 2591 Graham Hill Rd, Scotts Valley, CA 95060, USAWe are offering a bird watching program on August 3rd at 8:00am. Join us to learn all about life histories, behaviors, field markings, etc. On this 1-mile walk, we will make specific observations about characteristics that will certainly help us quack the case for many bird identifications! Let's plan to meet in the parking lot of the campground. Hope to see you there! Make sure to bring binoculars and weather appropriate attire. RSVP for this event at this page.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Birdwatching Hike
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground 2591 Graham Hill Road, Scotts Valley, CA, United StatesSpend the morning with resident and migratory birds of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park! On this 1 mile stroll, which will last approximately 1.5 hours, participants have the opportunity to observe, and listen to, a handful of bird species in the park. This program is recommended for ages 8 and up. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The meeting location changes on a monthly basis, so please register for free through the link below for more information.
Cabrillo College: Aptos Farmers Market
cabrillo college 6500 Soquel Dr, AptosMarket customers appreciate the bountiful selection of top quality produce and specialty foods as well as the opportunity to connect with the farmers and vendors who produce it. Ninety vendors, of which most are certified organic or use sustainable farming methods, offer pastured grass fed meats and poultry, sustainable fish, oysters, handcrafted cheeses, locally produced olive oil, fresh pasta and gourmet sauces, organic juices, handmade sauerkraut, Corralitos smoked sausages and bacon, artisan breads and baked goods, organic honey, mushrooms, sprouts and microgreens, farm fresh eggs, flowers, potted plants, seedlings, herbs, and an unsurpassed selection of certified California grown fruits, vegetables and nuts.
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.
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.
Scotts Valley: Farmers Market
Joe and Linda Alberti Clubhouse 5060 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA, United StatesEstablished in 2009 with the City of Scotts Valley, this market has become a seasonal treasure to the local community and to those visiting the area looking for a place to slow down and unwind. Here, every Saturday 9am-1pm, from late spring through the fall, a circle of regional farms, local food businesses and other makers set up their stands to offer shoppers and diners an array of delicious edibles. The market is a resource for nutritious food and agricultural education, providing a gathering place for families, friends and neighbors. Whether your a weekly shopper or just passing through, find what you’re looking for amidst the robust selection of organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, pasture-raised chicken and duck eggs, flowers, artisanal meats, breads, seafood, pastries and ready-to-eat cuisine.
Westside Santa Cruz: Farmers Market
Westside Farmers’ Market Mission St. Ext. and Western Drive, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThe Westside Farmers’ Market takes place every Saturday, year round at the corner of Hwy 1 and Western Drive. Here we serve the communities of the west end of Santa Cruz including Bonny Doon, the North Coast and the University of California, Santa Cruz campus. Sitting on the northern edge of Santa Cruz’s greenbelt this market is a great launching location for a day outdoors at Natural Bridges beach, Wilder Ranch or any adventure spot up the coast. It is also just a hop, skip and a jump, or bike ride, from Downtown. A community hub for over 15 years, the Westside Market showcases a great selection of 100% certified organic produce, artisan foods, beer, body products, tinctures, sustainable seafood, pasture raised meats, flowers and eggs along with cook-to-order cultural meals, live local music and a full espresso bar operated by Syllable. With an abundance of free parking and accessibility on its side, this market makes for a convenient and celebratory Saturday morning outing any time of the year.
Gizdich Ranch: Olallieberry U-Pick
Gizdich Ranch 55 Peckham Rd, Watsonville, CA, United StatesPlants are notoriously unreliable for sharing their arrival and departure itinerary, so please call the ranch in advance before you go! Experience the most fun part of growing fruits at the Ranch! Combined with fresh air, sunshine and a little sweat, it’s a whole lot of fun for the kids and the entire family. Don’t forget your camera. When everyone’s ready for lunch, picnic behind their sales barn and let the kids play.
Noble Harvest Farm: Lavender U-Pick
Noble Harvest Farm 1975 Cox Rd, Aptos, CA, United StatesCheck the Noble Harvest website to schedule a visit Fridays through Sundays at their boutique lavender field when its in full bloom and harvest your own bunches. Spend time snapping pix surrounded by the sweet scent of lavender and the gentle hum of bees. Feel free to bring snacks and relax under the sun sails, then browse their hand-crafted lavender products at their farm stand. Flowers are notorious for not sharing their itinerary, so check the link listed below frequently to secure your spot. Tickets will be limited, so you don’t want to miss out!
Half Moon Bay State Beach – Junior Rangers
Francis Beach Amphitheater, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, USADuring this 1-hour program for ages 7 to 12, kids become Junior Rangers by participating in hands-on activities to earn prizes while learning how to protect the natural world! Activities vary from nature walks, to games, to nature-inspired crafts and are based on a different theme each week. Register in advance here. Walk-ins are welcome. Meet at the amphitheater at the north end of the campground.Program is free. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.
Stroll to Aptos VIllage
Aptos Village Green Aptos Village Way, AptosFriends and neighbors, join us for a Stroll to Aptos Village! It's easy to participate! Just pick your starting point, choose your route, then walk or bike safely to the Aptos Village Green. When you arrive, we invite you to take a brief survey, meet with representatives from local pedestrian safety agencies, enjoy a snack from our event sponsor, New Leaf Community Market, and win prizes from Aptos Village merchants. We’ll send you home with information to audit your return trip and future walks you take so you can report pedestrian, bike and road hazards. We are excited to announce that this year’s stroll is being funded by a generous grant from America Walks. https://americawalks.org/ Welcome at 10:00 am, prize drawing at 11:00! The goal of the stroll is to increase awareness and accessibility for all non-drivers, and specifically students, seniors, transit riders, families, and those with mobility impairments. Commuters face a very challenging drive as traffic backs up through the Aptos choke point on both sides of Highway 1. Those who opt to use Soquel Drive through Aptos Village add to the congestion of locals trying to reach village businesses. Each of us who chooses to take our car off the road want drivers to appreciate this by respecting pedestrians and cyclists who use much less road space than a vehicle. Increased safety measures will help remind them to do so. Aptos residents love to walk and ride bikes and we want to do it safely. Please join us!
Cruise Coffee Cafe: Coffee Shopping Marketplace
Cruise Coffee Cafe 246 Kings Village, Scotts Valley, United StatesEvery first Saturday of the month, head to Scotts Valley for coffee, vendors and all the fun at Cruise Coffee Cafe!