Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Big beach with bonfire pits and a lagoon, good for kids and often fairly empty. It's off E
Cliff Dr.
Moran Lake County Park
BEACH
With a good surf break and bathrooms, this pretty all-around sandy spot is further east of
26th Ave off E Cliff Dr.
New Brighton State Beach
BEACH
831-464-6330;
www.parks.ca.gov
;
500 Park Rd, Capitola; per car $10;
8am-sunset)
Heading east of Santa Cruz to Capitola, New Brighton State Beach is a quieter place for a
swim, paddle boarding or camping on a forested bluff.
Seacliff State Beach
BEACH
( 831-685-6442;
www.parks.ca.gov
;
State Park Rd, Aptos; per car $10; 8am-sunset)
Seacliff State Beach harbors a 'cement boat,' a quixotic freighter built of concrete that
floated OK, but ended up here as a coastal fishing pier.
Manresa State Beach
BEACH
( 831-761-1975;
www.parks.ca.gov
;
San Andreas Rd, Watsonville; per car $10; 8am-sunset)
Near Watsonville, the La Selva Beach exit off Hwy 1 leads here to this sparsely populated
beach.
Sunset State Beach
BEACH
( 831-763-7062;
www.parks.ca.gov
; San Andreas Rd, Watsonville; per car $10; 8am-sunset)
The La Selva Beach exit off Hwy 1, near Watsonville, brings you here, where you can have
miles of sand and surf almost all to yourself.
Surfing
Year-round, water temperatures average under 60°F, meaning that without a wetsuit, body
parts quickly turn blue. Surfing is incredibly popular, especially at experts-only
Steamer
