Half Moon Bay State Beach – Junior Rangers

Francis Beach Amphitheater, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019, USA

During 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.

Live Earth Upper Farm: U-Pick Flowers and Bouquet Arranging Class

Live Earth Farm 1275 Green Valley Road, Watsonville, CA, United States

Head to the Live Earth Farm Discovery fields and pick your flowers for a bouquet-arranging extravaganza. Arrange bouquets with color theory, textures, and fresh scents for a sweet summer day.

$40

Loch Lomond: Aquatic Species Loch Walk

Loch Lomond 100 Loch Lomond Way, Felton, CA, United States

Take a scenic walk around Loch Lomond with City Ranger, John Roskelly, and environmental habitat surveyor, Michelle Tarian. They will be pointing out things to notice on your walk you may have never considered, discussing what has happened with invasive species throughout Santa Cruz County. They will talk about actions being taken at Loch Lomond for native species. This is your chance to explore with an expert at your side! The monthly “Loch Walks” are included in the entry fee for the Recreation Area. There is a $10.00 charge per vehicle for entrance to the park. Walk participants are encouraged to dress for variable weather conditions and to wear proper footwear for hiking on dirt trails and for changes in elevation. The Loch Lomond Recreation Area is a 180-acre reservoir and part of the 2,800-acre watershed land holdings that the City of Santa Cruz Water Department manages in the Newell Creek watershed. Loch Lomond serves as the City of Santa Cruz’s only drinking water reservoir. Loch walks are free and do not require a reservation, but the size of the group is limited to 25, and there is a sign-up sheet for first come, first served. Arrive early to sign up and remember the $10 parking fee to get into the area. Call (831) 335-7424 for any questions.

Free

DeLavega Park: Family Fun Day

DeLavega Park Branciforte Drive, Santa Cruz, United States

County and city park agencies have banded together to provide you with an epic free family fun day for all ages!  There will be:  Kickball  Bounce houses  Oversized board games  Food trucks  A candy booth  And more!  Delavega park is huge, beautiful, and has so many facilities to explore, take the family there for even more free fun than usual!

Free

Live Earth Farm: U-Pick Strawberries

Live Earth Farm 1275 Green Valley Road, Watsonville, CA, United States

Spots are limited for 2 hours at 10am, and 12:30 on Saturdays & Sundays. Dates are subject to change without notice.  Discounts apply to produce the more you pick! Bring buckets, boxes, or other containers to harvest into, or purchase containers from them for a small fee. Make sure to dress accordingly – layers, hats, sunblock. Load up the kids, pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it!

Roberts Ranch Vineyards: Wine and Lavender Workshop

Roberts Ranch Vineyards Roberts Road, Ben Lomond, United States

The fragrant harvest is coming in and you can learn how to successfully preserve it! Drying lavender is simple when you have a few methods at your disposal – and once you have done that, its uses are myriad. The folks at Roberts Ranch will show you how to set aside the dried lavender buds (unopened flowers) for culinary use throughout the year and taste some simple and delicious recipes to inspire your summer cooking.  Everyone goes home with a large bundle of fresh Roberts Ranch lavender, a bottle of dried culinary lavender, lavender lemon cookies and lots of ideas! This is a fun workshop for all (and there will be snacks & drinks for those under 21) A perfect gift idea for special occasions!   The Cottage kitchen will prepare some summer bites celebrating culinary lavender and the new 2023 Rosé of Pinot Noir and 2023 Sauvignon Blanc will be the featured wines!

$40 – $50

Big Basin Redwoods State Park: Guided Walk – Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Big Basin Redwoods State Park 21600 Big Basin Way, Boulder Creek, CA, United States

Come learn about the story of Big Basin: past, present, and future while wandering under the guardian old-growth redwoods that have seen it all! This program is a 1 hour walk on a 0.6 mile, flat and easy trail designed for all ages. We will be covering the cultural history of this unique area including Indigenous groups, loggers, and preservationists. Of course, we will also discuss natural history such as the amazing coast redwood and the CZU Lightning Complex Fire as well as the future of our park.Participation is free, however, a $10 vehicle day-use fee will be charged upon arrival, or you can reserve a parking spot by clicking here. Please plan to meet at the temporary visitor center area located next to the restrooms at 10:45 am. Bring your own water or purchase water from Parking Kiosk as there is no running water, electricity or cell service at Big Basin!For more information, questions, or concerns, please contact bigbasin@ports-ca.us.Click here to Register

Rancho del Oso- Guided Walk

REGISTER HEREThank you for joining us at Rancho del Oso! We're excited to explore with you.We will depart at 11 am. Please meet us at the Nature and History Center. Depending on group preference, there are several routes available.-The Marsh Trail- This seasonally available trail is a 0.8 mile round trip out across Waddell Creek and to our Welcome Center and native plant garden at the base of the Skyline to the Sea Trail (currently closed). When ready, visitors can then either return to the Nature and History Center via the Marsh Trail or walk down to Waddell Beach and cross a short bridge on HWY 1. The bridge on HWY 1 is brief but has a narrow shoulder, some visitors including those with smaller children may prefer to return via the Marsh Trail.-The Hoover Loop Trail- This 0.7 trail gives excellent views of the Waddell Marsh, Waddell Beach, and the Pacific Ocean. A variety of coastal plants decorate the side of the trail, before you eventually rise into the recovering Monterey pine forest.-If time allows, naturalists are happy to lead groups onto both trails.If you have questions, you can call (831) 218-5750 or email ranchodeloso@ports-ca.us.Please Note:Please dress in layers, wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring binoculars, snacks, water, and sun protection. Please pack in your water as there is not potable water available in the park. With water, it’s a good idea to bring more than you think you need (1-3 liters recommended). There are pit toilets at Waddell Beach and the far side (Welcome Center/Skyline side) of the Marsh Trail, and then standard restrooms at the Nature and History Center.We look forward to connecting with you at Rancho del Oso!

Butano State Park – Junior Rangers

Butano State Park Visitor Center, 1500 Cloverdale Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060, USA

Discover the wonders of the natural world through activities, crafts, experiments, and nature walks! Each week will feature a nature journaling workshop as well as a unique activity. This program is for 7 - 12 year olds. Meet at the Butano State Park Visitor Center.For more information, call (669) 758-1819.Program is free. Vehicle day-use fee is $10.Remember to bring water as none is available in this park!

Wilder Ranch State Park – Guided Coastal Walk

On this 2.5 mile family friendly walk, we’ll explore the plants, animals, and geology of our coastal bluffs. Bring water, hat, closed toe shoes, layered clothing, and binoculars if available. Sign up here!Meet next to park map in Wilder Ranch main parking lot. Rain cancels. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call (831) 426-0505.

Santa Cruz Harbor: Free Water Taxi

Santa Cruz Harbor 135 5th Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

The 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. 

Free

Hallcrest Vineyards: Solstice Art Market

Hallcrest Vineyards 379 Felton Empire Rd, Felton

2 days of music, over 85 vendors, wine, cider and food!!! What more could you ask for? Free admission and free parking? Ok, they’ve got you too! Activities for the whole family, and a beautiful day in the Santa Cruz mountains! It’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys. 11am to 5pm on both days.

Free

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Redwood Tour

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 101 N Big Trees Park Rd, Felton, CA, United States

Coast 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!

Downtown Santa Cruz: Gyro Pop-Up 2024

Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church 223 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Enjoy delicious Greek specialties, live music and be Greek for a day!  OPA!!

Wilder Ranch State Park – Ranch History Tour

Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA

Want 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