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!
Butano State Park – Guided Hike
Join a State Park Educator and enjoy the flora and fauna of Butano State Park on this moderate 2.2 mile loop. This hike features creekside riparian habitat, redwood forest, and oak woodlands. Keep your eyes peeled for banana slugs and newts! Where: Meet at the Visitor Center near the front entranceTime: 10:00amParking: Parking is located by visitor center. Additional parking is located at the picnic area further down Butano State Park Road. $10 vehicle day use fee applies. Preparation: Participants should wear sturdy shoes and a hat, and bring plenty of water & snacks. Hike includes some slippery downhill in the winter; trekking poles are encouraged. Steady rain will cancel. Note that there is no running water in this park, so bring plenty!Contact: [email protected] or (669)758-1819
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
Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train
Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United StatesTravel over trestles, through towering redwood groves and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain as conductors narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest.
Pigeon Point – How Do Lighthouses Work?
How do you shine a light 20 miles out to sea? Come learn how Fresnel lens changed lighthouses forever and helped ships navigate the dangerous waters of the California coast. Conduct your own experiment and see if you can save the ship!Welcome Junior Rangers! Each program will last about 45 minutes and consists of a mini-tour of the lighthouse grounds and a hands-on activity. While children of all ages and their parents are welcome to participate in the activity and tour, only kids aged 7-12 are able to become Junior Rangers and earn badges.
Capitola: Sunday Art at the Beach
Esplanade Park Capitola Village, Capitola, CA, United StatesEnjoy an afternoon in Capitola at the Sunday Art at the Beach event this summer at Esplanade Park overlooking the Monterey Bay. Browse quality artwork including painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and mixed media from local artists. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.
Santa Cruz Mountains Firewise Festival
Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United StatesGet ready for an unforgettable day of fun, education, and community spirit at the iconic Roaring Camp in Felton, CA! Our Wildfire Preparedness Event is designed to bring together the best in fire safety and preparedness organizations, home hardening experts, and defensible space services, all in one amazing location. Event Highlights: 🚒 Fire Safety and Preparedness Organizations: Meet with local fire safety experts, including Cal Fire, and learn essential tips to protect your home and loved ones. 🍔 Delicious Food: Enjoy a variety of food from our fantastic food trucks provided by Food Trucks A Go Go, offering mouth-watering options for all tastes. hBSQupseOGdbd2U0b8TyJsMIbFbGpZNP8yTUHH5y.png KkzS3tCsILcukmFavjnXvxoQ2VLZA3irxrs7T5bA.png HFe0AefUlRDsHgdUIMxevxigR8Ax1x8sCf0I1OAW.png S & B Food Truck Tacos El Jesse The Rollin Snack Shack 🎟️ Raffles and Prizes: Take part in exciting raffles and stand a chance to win prizes, including home hardening and defensible space services. 🧠 Trivia Contests: Test your knowledge about wildfire safety and preparedness with our fun and engaging trivia contests. Win prizes and bragging rights! 🔨 Home Hardening Businesses: Discover the latest in home hardening technologies and services. Learn how to make your home more resistant to wildfires with expert advice and demonstrations. 🌳 Defensible Space Services: Get insights into creating defensible space around your property to reduce wildfire risk. Talk to professionals who can help you implement these crucial measures. 🎵 Live Music and Entertainment: Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere with live music and entertainment throughout the day. This is a family-friendly event, so bring the whole crew! Whether you're a long-time resident or new to the area, this is your chance to connect with the community, gain valuable knowledge, and have a great time at the historic Roaring Camp. 🎫 Event tickets are free: and thanks to our sponsor, Roaring Camp, if you purchase a parking pass ticket here, you can park in the Roaring Camp lot for half off. That's $5 instead of $10. 🚂 Discounted Train Tickets: Once you get your event tickets we will email you a discount code for $2 off each Roaring Camp Train ticket you would like to purchase. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to prepare for wildfire season while enjoying a day of fun and learning. Secure your tickets now and be part of a safer, more resilient community!
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 Loop 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, Felton, CA 95018, USACoast Redwoods offer a 100% satisfaction guaran-treed! Every Saturday and Sunday 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 Sunday at noon, the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks will be taking folks on a guided walk through the 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!
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 [email protected]
Butano State Park Guided Walk
Butano State Park Visitor Center, 1500 Cloverdale Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060, USAJoin a State Park Interpreter and enjoy the flora and fauna of Butano State Park on this moderate 2.5 mile loop. This hike features creekside riparian habitat, redwood forest, and oak woodlands. Hike includes a short section of steep terrain; trekking poles are encouraged.Meet at the Butano State Park Visitor Center. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.Remember to bring water as none is available in this park!Walk-ins welcome, pre-registration encouraged! Use this link to register.