- Our list of the best things to do in Santa Cruz, California, features the top 261 nearby activities — including 100 great attractions with user approval ratings of 90% or more!
- Santa Cruz, CA has a variety of great sights and experiences nearby. Top categories include: Outdoor Places, Food & Drink, Entertainment & Shows, and Amusement.
- The results below include the top 40 things to do within the city of Santa Cruz, CA , followed by 221 popular activities in nearby cities, including Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Watsonville, Capitola, Morgan Hill, Aptos, Gilroy, Campbell, Pacific Grove, San Jose, Marina, Los Altos, Big Sur, Half Moon Bay and Marina del Rey
Showing 231-240 of
934
24.3 Miles
Open from sunrise until one hour after sunset, Portal Park features a playground, family picnic area and small recreational building. The park also offers a reservable picnic area that accommodates up to 80 people.
24.4 Miles
Visitors can spend the entire day walking and exploring Santana Row. Along with specialty boutiques and several dining options, there is also a movie theater, spa and hotel in this shopping district.
24.4 Miles
100%
15 votes
Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35), Los Altos, CA
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Windy Hill Open Space Preserve is a 1,335-acre nature area that features several trails for hiking, dog walking, biking and horseback riding. The spot is ideal for kiting, while paragliding and hang gliding are allowed with a permit.
24.4 Miles
A 16-screen movie theater, AMC Cupertino Square 16 displays first-run feature films using digital projection and RealD 3D. The theater offers an IMAX auditorium, theater rentals, a party room and a concession area with food and drinks.
24.4 Miles
Founded in 1938, Bowlmor Cupertino is a popular bowling alley featuring a number of facilities and amenities for its guests to enjoy. These include a full menu of food, beer and cocktail selections, and party hosting, among many others.
24.4 Miles
With skates available for rent, Ice Center Cupertino offers visitors an indoor ice rink with freestyle skating sessions open to the public. The rink hosts skating school, camps, private lessons, and youth hockey leagues.
24.4 Miles
San Andreas Trail is a two mile trail suitable for hikers of all skill levels. The trail is mostly paved, and follows the I-280 for most of its length (which may be a downside for those looking for some quiet.)
24.5 Miles
Featuring 5 playing fields, Santa Clara Paintball offers visitors paintball courses with inflatable obstacles, box mazes, and urban barriers. The paintball center hosts a splatmaster event where kids can aim their paintball guns at physical targets.
24.6 Miles
90%
249 votes
Asilomar Avenue, Between Ocean View Boulevard and Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950
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Set on the rocky coast of the Monterey Peninsula, the Point Pinos Lighthouse is the oldest operating lighthouse on the west coast. Knowledge guides are eager to educate visitors on the landmark's history.
24.6 Miles
Situated on 51 acres of parkland, Christmas Hill Park offers trails for hiking, open grass areas and children's playgrounds. The park can also be used for playing baseball and horseshoes and has areas for picnics with barbecue grills.