Free & Cheap Things to Do in Santa Cruz, CA

  • The list below includes 175 free or cheap things to do in or near Santa Cruz, California, including 101 different types of inexpensive activities like Beaches, Movie Theaters, Fishing and Walking Trails.
  • From West Cliff Drive to Wilder Ranch State Park, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in Santa Cruz and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Cupertino, Capitola, Aptos and Saratoga.
  • The list below includes 175 free or cheap things to do in or near Santa Cruz, California, including 101 different types of inexpensive activities like Beaches, Movie Theaters, Fishing and Walking Trails.
  • From West Cliff Drive to Wilder Ranch State Park, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in Santa Cruz and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Cupertino, Capitola, Aptos and Saratoga.
Showing 431-440 of 688
33.8 Miles
77% 214 votes
Farms & Ranches 1 Old Ranch Road, Carmel, CA 93923 MoreLess Info
The Carmel Valley Ranch Resort is a 500-acre resort that has a golf course, a spa, a social lounge, a nine-court tennis complex, and two saltwater swimming pools. The resort can be used for hiking, equestrian activities, and mountain biking.
33.9 Miles
85% 33 votes
Gardens 80 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025 MoreLess Info
Visitors can enjoy a self-guided walking tour at Sunset Magazine Headquarters and Gardens. Complete with hundreds of different trees, flowers and plants, this facility is where the editors and staff of the magazine test out of all their revolutionary gardening ideas.
34.1 Miles
90% 21 votes
Skate Parks 700 Alma Street, Menlo Park, CA 94025 MoreLess Info
A 15,000-square-foot facility, Burgess Skate Park offers skateboarders a space to learn and practice skills with a variety of ramps, elevations and obstacles. The park offers skateboarding classes and is also available for rental.
34.1 Miles
73% 40 votes
Movie Theaters 949 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025 MoreLess Info
A single-screen facility built in 1926, the Guild Theater offers showings of major film releases, independent and foreign films. The theater also offers monthly midnight screenings of 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show.'
34.4 Miles
74% 113 votes
Parks 3100 Calaveras Rd, Milpitas, CA 95035 MoreLess Info
Traditional features of an urban park like fishing and picnic areas are combined in the Ed Levin County Park with a complex wilderness trail system. Situated along 1,541 acres of land, the park even has an adjoining 18-hole golf course.
34.4 Miles
33% 6 votes
Parks Willow Rd & Coleman Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025 MoreLess Info
Offering recreation for both humans and dogs, Willow Oaks Park features an open play field, tennis court and playground. An off-leash dog park offers dogs and their owners an opportunity for socialization and exercise.
34.8 Miles
100% 7 votes
Farms & Ranches 185 Verde Road, Half Moon Bay, CA MoreLess Info
At Arata Pumpkin Farm, choose and pick your own pumpkin. Their 6 acre property also includes a large corn field.
34.8 Miles
88% 69 votes
Horseback Riding 3375 Calaveras Road, Milpitas, CA 95035 MoreLess Info
The Chaparral Ranch is an equestrian farm that provides boarding services, horseback riding lessons, camps, and training. The facility offers trail rides that can last up to 2 hours long.
35.0 Miles
96% 877 votes
Beaches US Higway 1, Carmel, CA MoreLess Info
A haven for sea birds, fish and small crustaceans, the Carmel River State Beach is a one-mile strip of sand and surf on the shores of a lagoon. It is a popular fishing spot and launching point for small watercraft.
35.2 Miles
93% 14 votes
Parks Maddux Dr at Kensington Road, Redwood City, CA 94061 MoreLess Info
Redwood City's Maddux Park sits on a little over half an acre of land. The park features an extensive play area with a variety of playground equipment, as well as picnic areas.
Showing 431-440 of 688
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