Santa Cruz Harbor: Free Water Taxi
Santa Cruz Harbor 135 5th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesThe free, inner-harbor water taxi operates between 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM, on summer weekends and holidays. In addition to weekend service, the water taxi will operate on Thursday evenings during the Crow’s Nest beach barbecues from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Passengers may be picked up and dropped off at the following locations: X1 Gate (northeast harbor) AA Dock (southwest harbor) Launch Ramp (southeast harbor) Please visit the Port District’s website to view the map for all water taxi pick-up and drop-off locations in the harbor. Visitor parking is available for water taxi passengers in the north harbor near X Dock.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Redwood Tour
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton, CA, United StatesCoast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed! Every Saturday at 12:00pm, we are taking folks on a guided walk through the Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest together. On this 1-mile stroll, we will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among these giants. Click here to RSVP. Let's plan to meet in the front of the Visitor Center, we hope you can join us!
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Redwood Loop Tour
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton, CA, United StatesEvery weekend day at noon, the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks will be taking folks on a guided walk through the Old Growth Redwood Grove to talk about coast redwoods and to experience the forest. On this 1-mile stroll, you will be chatting about life histories, ecology, etc. and sharing a wonderful adventure among those old-growth giants over 200 feet tall. They say that the Coast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed!
Nicholson Vineyards: Summer Series
Nicholson Vineyards 2800 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos, CA, United StatesEnjoy summer weekend afternoons at the beautiful Nicholson Vineyards! They will be featuring local food vendors. Saturdays from noon to 5pm – Enjoy perusing art from local artists Sundays from noon to 5pm – Enjoy listening to local musicians July 6 & 7: Epoch Eats & True Blue Studio Music by R&B July 13 & 14: Mattia Pizza & Scout + Sea Music by Sam Kellerman July 20 & 21: Chubby Tacos & Luna Dorada Music by Dave Tate July 27 & 28: My Mom’s Mole & Natalia Aandewiel Music by Tom Jacobs August 3 & 4: Areperia 831 & Nathan Goldsmith Music by Will Breman August 10 & 11: The Pesce Veggie & Papelline Music by Kip Allert August 17 & 18: SC Eatery & Sierra Evans Music by Michelle Lambert August 24 & 25: Taquizas Gabriel & Desert Moon Designs Music by Wild + Blue August 31 & September 1: Real Taco & The Clay Chalet Bottle Bash Event
Wilder Ranch State Park: Historic Ground Tours
Wilder Ranch State Park 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesDiscover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, horse barn, uniquely constructed 1860’s cow barn, 1858 farmhouse, and 1897 Queen Anne Victorian home. *This is a 1 hour tour that starts at 1PM on both Saturday and Sunday *Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call (831) 426-0505
Wilder Ranch: Historic Grounds Tours
Wilder Ranch State Park 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, United StatesDiscover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hour-long tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, horse barn, uniquely constructed 1860’s cow barn, 1858 farmhouse, and 1897 Queen Anne Victorian home. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call (831) 426-0505. Please reserve your spot online.
Wilder Ranch State Park – Ranch History Tour
Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USAWant to learn about the rich dairy history of Wilder Ranch State Park? Dreamt of peeking inside our beautiful Victorian homes and barns? Join us weekly on Saturdays and Sundays for a 1.5 hour long tour of the historic buildings of Wilder Ranch! Meet at the visitor's center at 1 pm. Pre-register here or join us on the day-of. This tour is free. Parking in Day-use lot is $10. Questions? Call (831)426-0505 or email wilderranch@ports-ca.us
Annieglass: Wildflowers Watercolor and Ink Workshop
Annieglass 310 Harvest Drive, Watsonville, CA, United StatesJust in time for some summer creative fun . Enjoy one of the most popular workshops at Annieglass with local artist, Heidi Michelle. The class starts with basic watercolor techniques to warm up, then moves into a demo, followed by a step-by-step process of painting florals with watercolors and adding ink. Items provided: good quality paper (10”x 14”) a board and tape a brush palette paint Best of all, you leave with a beautiful finished painting. Wine or sparkling beverages are provided. Take 15% off in our retail store for first-quality Annieglass products. *You must cancel 48 hours before the event to receive a full refund if you are unable to attend.
Annieglass: Flower Plate Workshop with Annie
Annieglass 310 Harvest Drive, Watsonville, CA, United StatesDon’t miss this chance to craft with award-winning artist & our founder Annie Morhauser to make this whimsical 7” square glass plate using stencils, powdered glass color, and 24k gold for the flower center. In 90 minutes, you will decorate and load into the cold kiln your very own flower plate. You can pick it up or arrange for us to ship it to you once it’s been fired the following week. Be the first to work in this new workshop directly with the 2022 Artist of the Year. She will guide you with stencils and humor, provide you with all supplies, encouragement, and snacks, and a beverage of your choice!
Sanctuary Saturday
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center 35 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, CA, United StatesDiscover all the fun ways you can get into your sanctuary at the Exploration Center's Sanctuary Saturday! View fishing-inspired paintings by local artist Amadeo Bachar, meet and greet with the artist himself, and enjoy a variety of family friendly activities from local organizations like seaweed printing. This event is free and open to all ages, hosted at the Sanctuary Exploration Center from 2-4pm (artist keynote at 2pm). For more information, reach out to us at explorationcenter@noaa.gov
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Tree ID
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA 95018, USALearning about different tree species? How in-tree-guing! During this 1 mile walk, we'll be chattin' about a handful of trees that reside in the park, and giving you the tools you need to identify species during your future park visits. Beleaf us, it'll be a great time!This free program will meet in front of the Visitor Center and meander down River Trail and back through the Redwood Grove. Hard rain cancels! Hope to see you there! Click here to RSVP.
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Tree Identification
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton, CA, United StatesDuring this program, you’ll learn about a few in-tree-guing plant species residing in the Santa Cruz Mountains! On this 1 mile walk, you’ll be chattin’ about tree identification with a local expert and observing a handful of species along River Trail and in the adjacent Redwood Grove. Beleaf us, it’ll be a great time!
Roaring Camp Railroads: Starlight Evening Dinner Party
Roaring Camp 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton, CA, United StatesEvening train and dinner excursion departs from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and travels along the San Lorenzo River through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to Roaring Camp. Upon arrival, a delicious steak dinner awaits you. After dinner, get up and move to a live band. On the return trip to Santa Cruz, the train ride brings the forest to life with dazzling color and light. The evening event is four hours, returning to the Boardwalk when the stars are overhead.
Cabrillo College: In The Heights
Cabrillo College Crocker Theater 6500 Perimeter Dr., Aptos, CA, United StatesThe musical, In the Heights, tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures. Where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.
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.