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Attractions near Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz to see, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk first

Yearly visitors to Golden Gate National Recreation Area number about 15.7M. We list 5 places to visit inside Santa Cruz and 75 within 40 miles. Among them are 42 museums, 11 gardens and 5 stadiums & arenas. If you have a day, head to USS Hornet, 57 mi away.

Attractions nearby
161
within 60 miles
The big one
in town
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
National park units
3
parks & monuments
Big draws
5
100K+ Wikipedia readers a year
Theme park · in town

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Amusement park in Santa Cruz, California.

The towns around it, and where to stay →

The map

The layout

Out of town, most of the 75 are to the north.

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Orange: Santa Cruz. Numbers: the best-known places, matching the list below. © OpenStreetMap contributors

Everything nearby

Every place, in and near Santa Cruz

The 5 inside Santa Cruz come first, then 156 more within 60 miles.

The places inside Santa Cruz lead. The rest are ranked by how many people look them up, so the famous places come first and the local favorites follow.

Parks and trails in Santa Cruz → · Santa Cruz’s history →

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Josta Photo, CC BY 2.0 · Natural Bridges State Beach: Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Santa Cruz Surfing Museum: ravas51, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Arboretum at the University of California, Santa Cruz: Mike Fernwood from Santa Cruz, California, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Museum of Art and History: WCCasey, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Levi's Stadium: Matthew Roth, CC BY-SA 2.0 · USS Hornet: kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0 · Chase Center: Gregory Varnum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Oracle Park: User Coasttocoast on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · California's Great America: Oleg Alexandrov, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Oyster Point Marina/Park: Sharon Hahn Darlin, CC BY 2.0 · Cow Palace: Dante Alighieri , CC BY-SA 3.0 · Oakland Arena: Mike Disharoon, CC BY-SA 2.0 · SAP Center: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Monterey Bay Aquarium: Meij.kobayashi, Public domain · Monterey Museum of Art: Sgerbic, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Filoli: Sukuru, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pinnacles National Park: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Children's Fairyland: Wordworking, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Computer History Museum: Dzou, CC BY-SA 3.0 · PayPal Park: Jbburgess0, CC BY-SA 4.0 · M. H. de Young Memorial Museum: Mark Miller, Public domain · San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: Magnus Manske, CC BY-SA 3.0 · California Academy of Sciences: Buzzlovestravel, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stanford Research Park: Coolcaesar, CC BY-SA 3.0 · 17-Mile Drive: Humanoid one, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Bill Graham Civic Auditorium: J. Ash Bowie, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pigeon Point Lighthouse: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Lake Merritt: Dcoetzee, Public domain · Union Square: Aude, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Golden Gate National Cemetery: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0 · CEFCU Stadium: Sjsualum at English Wikipedia, Public domain · San Francisco Bay Salt Ponds: Doc Searls from Santa Barbara, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Shoreline Amphitheatre: Coolcaesar at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mission San Juan Bautista: MARELBU, CC BY 3.0 · Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum: No machine-readable author provided. Zarathustra~commonswiki assumed (based on c, CC BY 2.5 · San Francisco Zoo: Brocken Inaglory, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Golden Gate National Recreation Area: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mission San José: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0 · McWay Falls: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0 · War Memorial Opera House: Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Alamo Square: Simon Cobb, CC0 · Big Basin Redwoods State Park: jjron, GFDL 1.2 · Mission Dolores Park: Artico2, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Gilroy Gardens: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall: J. Ash Bowie, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Roaring Camp and Big Trees Narrow Gauge Railroad: Josh Hallett, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Martin's Beach: Jay Huang from Pleasanton, USA, CC BY 2.0 · The Warfield: Photo: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0 · National Steinbeck Center: LordHarris at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Oakland Zoo: Todd Dailey, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Paramount Theatre: sierra jane from oakland, ca, CC BY 2.0 · Sunset Dunes: BriefEdits, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Asian Art Museum of San Francisco: LPS.1, CC0 · Conservatory of Flowers: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain · Japanese Tea Garden: Grombo, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park: Bmp713, Public domain · Ardenwood Historic Farm: Mactographer at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5 · Chabot Space and Science Center: The original uploader was Daniel Olsen at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.5 · Curran Theatre: Photo: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0 · Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco: Cullen328, Public domain · Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose: LPS.1, CC0 · Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park: Wordydave, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Stanford Mausoleum: Jawed Karim, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hiller Aviation Museum: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Fort Funston: Viriditas, CC BY-SA 3.0 · The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park: The original uploader was Mrwrite at English Wikipedia., Public domain · Oakland Museum of California: Cullen328, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pfeiffer Beach: Kace Rodriguez kace, CC0 · Blackhawk Museum: ShakataGaNai, CC BY-SA 3.0 · GLBT Historical Society: GKoskovich, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad: The original uploader was Lordkinbote at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.0 · Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0 · The Tech Interactive: The Tech Museum of Innovation, CC BY 2.0 · Contemporary Jewish Museum: Allan Ferguson, CC BY 2.0 · Happy Hollow Park & Zoo: Don DeBold from San José, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Alum Rock Park: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0 · San Francisco Botanical Garden: The original uploader was Berkbotanist at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5 · Hakone Gardens: The original uploader was Doopokko at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.0 · Yerba Buena Gardens: Sebastian Wallroth, Public domain · Stevens Stadium: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0 · McLaren Park: Allan Ferguson, CC BY 2.0 · San Jose Museum of Art: JaGa, CC BY-SA 4.0 · California Historical Society: Jllm06, Public domain · Montalvo Arts Center: Frecklefoot, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Golden Gate Railroad Museum: Grey3k, CC0 · Randall Museum: Jllm06, CC BY-SA 3.0 · San Francisco Railway Museum: Iandailey at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Cartoon Art Museum: User:Tfinc, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Intel Museum: Oleg Alexandrov, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Military Vehicle Technology Foundation: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Arizona Cactus Garden: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia: Willis Lam, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Japanese Friendship Garden: The original uploader was Niteowlneils at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Music Concourse: BrokenSphere, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Oakland Aviation Museum: Bill Larkins, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Pacific Pinball Museum: Michael Moore for the Pacific Pinball Museum, CC BY-SA 3.0 · San Jose Municipal Rose Garden: Grey3k, CC BY 3.0 · San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles: Daderot, CC0 · Children's Creativity Museum: D'Arcy Norman from Calgary, Canada, CC BY 2.0 · Moffett Field Historical Society Museum: Jets.hunt at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Museum of the African Diaspora: Jllm06, Public domain · San Mateo County History Museum: SPUCLA, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stanford University Arboretum: Daderot., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Alameda Theatre: Binksternet, Public domain · Alcazar Theatre: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bayview Opera House: Sanfranman59, CC BY-SA 3.0 · International Art Museum of America: B3May15, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Museum of Art and Digital Entertainment: Blz 2049, CC BY-SA 4.0 · St. James Park: Semiautonomous, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Triton Museum of Art: Tritonmuseum, CC BY-SA 4.0 · African American Museum and Library at Oakland: Oakland Public Library, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ainsley House: JaGa, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Alameda Naval Air Museum: tbo47, CC BY-SA 4.0 · De Saisset Museum: Matthew Hendricks (SCUMATT at en.wikipedia), CC BY-SA 2.5 · Forbes Mill: David Sawyer, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Lathrop House: Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Monterey History and Art Museum: Guylaen, CC0 · Morcom Rose Garden: Calibas, Public domain · Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana: Cristiano Tomás, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Museum of American Heritage: DanielPenfield, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pardee Home: Jack Boucher, Public domain · Viet Museum: San Jose Trip, CC BY 2.0 · Carmel Art Association: Greghenderson2006, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cayuga Park: Orin Zebest Camera location37° 42′ 49.69″ N, 122° 27′ 00.73″ W View this and o, CC BY 2.0 · Edenvale Gardens Regional Park: Cristiano Tomás, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Eugene J. de Sabla, Jr., Teahouse and Tea Garden: Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Los Altos History Museum: GualdimG, CC BY-SA 4.0 · NASA Ames Visitor Center: Oleg Alexandrov, CC BY-SA 3.0 · New Museum Los Gatos: Victoriaahalll, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Niles Depot Museum: Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History: Collin Knopp-Schwyn, CC BY 4.0 · Portuguese Historical Museum: The original uploader was Niteowlneils at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Berwick Manor and Orchard: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Campbell Historical Museum: Museummadness, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Guadalupe River Park & Gardens: No machine-readable author provided. Dvortygirl assumed (based on copyright clai, Public domain · Messina Orchard: Greghenderson2006, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Pine Lake Park: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Roberto Adobe & Suñol House: Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0 · San Mateo Arboretum: Daderot, Public domain · Wings of History Museum: Iluvplanes, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Labadie Arboretum: National Park Service, Joshua Tree National Park., Public domain · South Bay Historical Railroad Society: Pedro Xing, CC0

Know a spot visitors miss?Locals know the overlook without the crowds and the diner the tour buses skip.
Share a tip in Santa Cruz’s Town Square