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 [email protected]

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Native Plant Garden Workday

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Felton, CA 95018, USA

This is a Native Plant Garden Workday, in which we maintain and nurture native plant specimens and give the garden an overall sprucing-up! Participants should be prepared to get their hands dirty and spend time with some neat, native plants.This workday will meet in front of the Nature Store at the head of the main parking lot. If possible, please bring work gloves. Parks offers a limited supply. Click here to RSVP and be sure to cross reference the above details with the date of choice.

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Native Garden Workday

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

Take your heritage tourism to the biological level!  Maintain and nurture native plant specimens and give the state park garden an overall sprucing-up! Participants should be prepared to get their hands dirty and spend time with some neat, native plants. This workday you will meet volunteers in front of the Nature Store at the head of the main parking lot. If possible, please bring work gloves. Parks offer a limited supply.   Click here to RSVP and be sure to cross reference the above details with the date of choice. 

Free

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium: Whose Live Anyway?

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Get ready for 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and songs all based on audience suggestions. Go see the current cast members of the Emmy-nominated TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?,” Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray will leave you gasping with the very witty scenes they invent before your eyes.

$57.95 – $74.75

Cabrillo College: Traditions of Veracruz

Cabrillo College Crocker Theater 6500 Perimeter Dr., Aptos, CA, United States

The “Raíces del Pueblo” (Roots of the Town) program was the vision of the late Maestro Miguel Vélez Arceo with the purpose of capturing, through songs and dances, the customs, celebrations and traditions of the varied geography of the state of Veracruz. The variety of choreography include the recreation of an indigenous wedding in Chicontepec, the Huasteca Fair with dances and huapangos, the Corpus Christi Festival in Papantla, with traditional dances such as that of Moors and Spaniards, Negritos and Guaguas (dance of the four cardinal points), along with the ceremonial Nimbe, a wedding. The program ends with the traditional “sones jarochos” from Sotavento Veracruzano such as The Bruja, El Jarabe Loco, El Palomo, El Zapateado and La Bamba.  August 24th 8PM & August 25th 3PM 

$25

Skypark: Free Motorcycle Show and Concert

Skypark 361 Kings Village Road, Scotts Valley, CA, United States

Head to Skypark in Scotts Valley for a free classic motorcycle show and dance the afternoon away to a free music concert.  There will be food, wine, beer and other concessions for sale while you are there.  8am – 3pm: Classic Motorcycle Show  1:30 – 3pm: Santa Cruz band, American Underdog, will perform original material, classic rock, Blues, folk rock and Americana.  3:30 – 5pm: Headliner, Jive Machine, will take listeners on a sonic roller coaster that fuses old-school funk, progressive rock, blues and soul. 

Free

Half Moon Bay – Guided Walk at Burleigh Murray Ranch

Join State Park Docents on a leisurely two-hour walk. Take a journey back in time along Mills Creek at Burleigh H. Murray Ranch State Park. This walk will be a 2.5 miles round trip hike with only a small gain in elevation. Along the way you will learn about the lives of early pioneers and farming families who first settled here in the 19th century.  Enjoy one of our area’s hidden treasures. Meet in the parking lot. For more information, call (650) 726-8814.Click here to make your reservation today!

Elkhorn Slough: Free Tour of the Preserve

Elkhorn Slough Reserve 1700 Elkhorn Road, Watsonville, CA, United States

Docent-led tours of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve are every Saturday AND Sunday, at 10 am and 11 am. Tours are on a first-come, first-serve basis – visitors may sign up at the Visitor Center front desk, or call ahead the morning of using the phone number (831) 728-2822. The Docent will craft a walk that meets the groups needs and abilities.

Free

Santa Cruz Beach Train

Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United States

From Trees to Shining Seas – Felton to Santa Cruz. Departing from the Santa Cruz Mountains, travel through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, down the scenic San Lorenzo River Gorge, across a 1909 steel truss bridge, and through an 1875 tunnel before arriving at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Reverse roundtrips departing from the beach in Santa Cruz to Roaring Camp and back may be purchased from the conductor on the train departing from Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz Big Trees & Pacific Railway operates passenger and freight services on one of the oldest and most historic lines in California. When the route opened in 1875 it carried lumber as well as picnickers and tourists to the Big Trees and Santa Cruz. Today’s Beach Train passengers can start their roundtrip journeys from either Roaring Camp in Felton or from the beach in Santa Cruz. Departs from both the beach in Santa Cruz and Roaring Camp. See departure times for more information. Please note that the 4 p.m. train leaving Santa Cruz is one-way only. There is no return train to the beach.

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!

Roaring Camp Railroads: Redwood Forest Steam Train

Roaring Camp Railroads 5401 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA, United States

Travel 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 – Thar She Blows! – Jr. Rangers

Every year hundreds of whales migrate past Pigeon Point! Conduct a mini-experiment and explore how different whales use teeth or baleen to eat their favorite foods.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

Watsonville: AAPI Identity Art Show

Pajaro Valley Arts 37 Sudden Street, Watsonville, CA, United States

What is Identity? Enjoy an exploration of identity through the lens of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists. From traditional forms to contemporary expressions, each work offers a unique perspective inviting you to ponder the complexities of culture, heritage, and self-discovery.  Sunday, August 11 from 2-4pm at 37 Sudden St; Opening Reception  Sunday, August 11 at 2:30pm at 37 Sudden St; Watsonville Taiko Performance  Saturday, August 17 from 2-3pm at 280 Main St; Storytelling Matinee  Saturday, August 24 from 2-3pm at 280 Main St; Storytelling Matinee  Sunday, September 8 from 2-3pm at 37 Sudden St; Poetry Reading & Artist Talk with Shirley Ancheta  The Gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

Free

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

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park – Redwood Loop 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!