Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Redwood Loop Tour

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

Every 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!

Free

Nicholson Vineyards: Summer Series

Nicholson Vineyards 2800 Pleasant Valley Road, Aptos, CA, United States

Enjoy 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

$20 – $45

Wilder Ranch State Park: Historic Ground Tours

Wilder Ranch State Park 1401 Coast Rd, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Discover 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 States

Discover 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, 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]

Davenport: Flower Farm Party

Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center 3600 Hwy 1 at Waddell Creek, Davenport, CA, United States

Before the party, farmer Kelly Brown, and technical advisor, Jessica Vaughan will be summarizing the projects and their approach to pests for these key crops.  This presentation is geared towards organic farmers. This presentation will be followed by a farm party open to the public which growers are welcome to stay for. Bring your own picnic and water! The farm party will include a bouquet bar (please bring cash), photo booth, music and a self-guided farm tour.  If you would like to attend and require Spanish translation, please email [email protected].  Parking Instructions:  Do Right is near Waddell Beach in Rancho del Oso-Big Basin State Park. Follow GPS instructions to Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center and then follow signs to parking. Parking will be 3/4 miles from the Do Right field. Give yourself an additional 20-30 minutes from parking to the start of the event. If you have accessibility needs that require parking in their field, please email [email protected] to make that arrangement.  There is no cell phone or wifi access at the farm.  Schedule:  11-11:30 arrival  11:30-Noon walking to field  Noon-1pm Presentation by Kelly Brown and Jessica Vaughan  1pm-2pm Questions and discussion  2pm-5pm Farm party 

$20

Roaring Camp Railroads: Starlight Evening Dinner Party

Roaring Camp 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton, CA, United States

Evening 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.

$69.95

The Ugly Mug: Live Music

Ugly Mug CoffeeHouse Soquel Drive, Soquel, United States

Head to the Ugly Mug in the heart of Soquel Village! Since its opening, The Ugly Mug has successfully hosted a menagerie of performances, art installations, open mics, movie nights, lively discussions, and quiet revelations of the community which it represents.  There will be beer, wine, coffee, tea and soft drinks available, plus the usual coffee shop food.  6/1 – Peter Janson & Adam Traum  6/8 – Bonny June & Bonfire   7/6 – Dan Frechette & Laurel Thomsen 7/12 Stephen Benson  7/20 – According to Bazooka  7/21 – Late for the Train

$20 – $35

Pleasure Point Park: Sharks Cove Surf Classic

Pleasure Point County Park E Cliff Drive and 33rd Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Registration starts at 7 a.m. on the beach at Sharks Cove. Competition begins at 8 a.m. Lunch, sponsored by Pizza My Heart, will be served to all participants.  Be sure to bring a board that you don’t mind SHARING with someone else!  Or just enjoy the show and beautiful scenery from the walkway above the cliffs!  Limited edition event T shirts and hoodies will be available to buy on the day of event. Supplies always sell out fast so come early if you want to purchase some killer Sharks Cove Classic memorabilia!! 

Gizdich Ranch: Olallieberry U-Pick

Gizdich Ranch 55 Peckham Rd, Watsonville, CA, United States

Plants 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.

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 – Kids at Pigeon Point – Jr. Rangers

Would you want to live at a lighthouse? After chores and homework were done, what kind of games would you play? Come play a popular children’s game from the 1800s and make your own craft to take home with you.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 States

Enjoy 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 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