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Santa Cruz for Free
If today’s economy paired with the rising cost of gas means that you’ll be on a budget this summer season, take heart: California’s Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) is among the top 10 free attractions in the U.S. and Europe, according to TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel community. Highway 1 runs along a large length of the Pacific coast of California and is famous for taking drivers past some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, including some of Santa Cruz County’s 29 miles of coastline. This summer, as travelers watch their budget when planning a vacation, there are other free activities and events to indulge in that won’t even cost you your spare change. Although Santa Cruz may be known as a Nuclear Free and Hate-Free area, that’s not all that’s free! Listed below are the top 12 free things to do and see in Santa Cruz County this summer: 2. Concerts and Movies in California’s Oldest Seaside Resort Town: On Wednesday evenings, you can unwind at Capitola’s Esplanade Park at a free twilight concert. And movie buffs can gather on the sand August 29 and 30 for free movies. Capitola also offers a free weekend shuttle, which stops every 15 minutes, taking visitors from the village to the mall. 3. Sample Fine Wine: Dozens of wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains offer free wine tasting. Chart your next wine tasting adventure with free maps and guides from the Santa Cruz County Visitors Council. 4. Tour the Historic and Eclectic: A variety of free walking tours bring to life the history of Capitola, the logging days of Boulder Creek, the Victorian homes of Watsonville, the outdoor art of Santa Cruz and more. Tour brochures are available at the Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Council. 5. Wildlife Watching: Free weekly guided nature walks of the Wetlands of Watsonville hosted by the Nature Center are an up-close way to experience the area’s bird population. The Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Council’s new official Birding and Wildlife Kit is a great way to get your bearings on where to go and what to look for while viewing wildlife in town. Or, stroll to the end of Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and watch lumbering sea lions suddenly acquire a ballerina’s grace the moment they hit the water.
6. Discover Museums: Learn about Santa Cruz surfing legends, the farming methods of a bygone era, the old logging days and more at admission-free museums such as the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, Agricultural History Project, San Lorenzo Valley Historical Museum, Capitola Museum and the Aptos History Museum. The Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab in Santa Cruz offers free admission on the first Tuesday of every month, and the Museum of Art & History at the McPherson Center is admission-free on the first Friday of every month. 7. Savor Fine Art: Peruse galleries exhibiting rare glass paperweights, electronic interactive art, and the work of local printmakers and watercolor painters. The Pajaro Valley Arts Council, Mary Porter Sesnon Gallery at U.C. Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Art League, and Santa Cruz Mountain Arts Center are just some of the galleries offering a glimpse into Santa Cruz County’s visual arts world. Capitola’s Art at the Beach July 6th and 20th and August 3rd and 17th and Santa Cruz’s Art on the Wharf on Sunday, July 20th are other ways to satisfy your cultural cravings. 8. Take in a Summer Concert: Summertime means at least two opportunities for free seaside concerts! Friday nights on Main Beach, original artists and bands from the '60s '70s and '80s, sponsored by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, will have you singing along and dancing in the sand to your favorite hits. And in Capitola Village, every Wednesday evening, you can unwind at Esplanade Park at a free twilight concert while enjoying a picnic supper on the sand. Thursday nights in July, swing by Downtown Santa Cruz for a free summertime concert in the park. 9. Hike Amid Towering Redwoods: A number of Santa Cruz County parks with great hiking trails are admission-free, including DeLaveaga Park, Quail Hollow Ranch and others. State parks like Big Basin Redwoods State Park or Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park only charge a $6 parking fee. 10. Enjoy the Beach: With 29 miles of coastline, finding an admission-free beach for playing in the surf or lazing away on the sand is easy. Favorites include Main Beach, Capitola Beach, Rio Del Mar Beach, Twin Lakes Beach and Seabright Beach.
11. People Watch and Window Shop: Stroll the vibrant streets of Downtown Santa Cruz, where there’s always something happening. The pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined streets are populated with unique shops, exquisite art galleries, outdoor bistros, public art and a cadre of sidewalk performers. On Saturday, July 19th, the City of Santa Cruz will offer a free downtown tree walk with the city’s arborist, to view some of Santa Cruz’s most unique and grandest trees. Sunday nights in August, bring your lawnchair downtown and enjoy free outdoor movies. 12. Explore Magical Gardens: Wander through bamboo gardens, smell the scents of rare roses, and see exotic plants from around the world. Bamboo Giant Nursery, Roses of Yesterday and Today, UCSC Arboretum, Sierra Azul Nursery and many other gardens are free to explore. In addition, visitors who choose to travel mid-week can save money on lower hotel rates. And, the Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council is making it easier than ever to plan a vacation on-line with packages and specials on www.santacruz.org. Special summertime activities like surfing, kayaking, visiting the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or Roaring Camp Railroads or taking in a performance of Shakespeare Santa Cruz can all be arranged on-line. If you’re on foot, head over to the year-round visitor center at 1211 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz can provide free information on a variety of topics, as well as Santa Cruz County Traveler’s Guides, Bicycle Adventure Kits, and Birding and Wildlife Viewing Kits. If you’re coastside, the Beach Area Visitor Center adjacent to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf can provide you with all the information you need to make this year’s vacation a memorable experience. For more FREE ideas, you can search by month or type of event at Santa Cruz County Travel, or call (800) 833 3494 (toll-free, of course!)
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