Benicia+ Santa Cruz

Benicia

Exploring

SANTA CRUZ

"Stepping out of your car after the short hour and a half drive to Santa Cruz feels like stepping into the past. You can immediately imagine the space around you as it had been in 1975, a light and moveable, culturally evolving community working to heal from the violently dark Eisenhower era by focusing on love and passion for the Earth and the experiences that come with being alive.

Most Benicia residents will have at least heard of this mellow beach town even if they’ve yet to visit it themselves. Santa Cruz is a unique spot found along Highway One that offers a wide range of experiences. About as Californian as it can get, Santa Cruz is a combination of vintage and modern, beautiful redwoods and historic surf, kid-friendly and romantic, relaxing and full of excitement. Santa Cruz is the perfect place for some family fun with it’s sandy beaches and historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Then there’s Downtown Santa Cruz, which is a great place for adults to browse for vintage clothes, discover one-of-a-kind restaurants, and bar hop with friends.

Whether you’re looking to play volleyball, eat churros on the boardwalk, and rent kayaks from the wharf or you’d rather take a scenic drive to see the ancient redwood trees and visit some local wineries, Santa Cruz is a great option for your next vacation.

Let's Explore!

"Santa Cruz is a combination of vintage and modern, beautiful redwoods and historic surf, kid-friendly and romantic, relaxing and full of excitement.

WHERE TO STAY

The Dream Inn

Everybody looks for something different when it comes to where they stay. Personally, I prioritize location, comfort, and, most importantly, a poolside bar. The Dream Inn ticks all of those boxes and more which is why it’s my go-to place to stay in Santa Cruz. Matching the towns’

stop and sip some coffee, or mimosas, while enjoying the view.

*Parking tip* The Dream Inn offers valet parking or self-parking in a secure lot across the street. If you plan to take a few drives up into the mountains or down the coast then I suggest skipping the valet. Although they have the sweetest crew, a lot of guests come and go throughout the day so avoiding the line will save a lot of time (especially during the summer season).

When it comes to comfort, it can’t get much better than the soft bed and cozy robes at the Dream Inn. One of the top things I look forward to as my Santa Cruz vacation approaches is the feeling of shimmying into some fluffy white sheets and falling asleep to the sound of the

“vintage meets modern” aesthetic with it’s colorful retro style and up-to-date amenities, this beachfront hotel can make anyone’s vacation feel like…well…a dream!

Let’s start with the location. The Dream Inn is Santa Cruz’s only beachfront hotel, offering nothing but gorgeous ocean view rooms. If you can pull yourself away from the sunrise and seals visible from your balcony, this stay is only a block away from the wharf, two blocks from the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and one short mile from downtown. So much to do, see, and experience within walking distance makes being bored an impossibility. Bikes are another great way to get around. You can bring your own and either check them with the valet or keep them in your room, or use the complimentary beach cruisers that the hotel offers. My favorite little morning routine is riding up the coast to the lighthouse and surfing museum. This scenic route is suitable for all fitness levels and has a bunch of beautiful benches looking out over the ocean where you can

ocean waves on that first night. I also know that I can rely on the Dream Inn to have my favorite spa robe ready for me the second I check-in. It’s almost impossible to get me to wear anything else during my stay.

The pool at the Dream Inn has got to be one of my favorite pools of all time. Lounge chairs overlooking Cowell Beach, pillowlined convertible cabana beds, fire pits, a heated pool, an over-sized hot tub, and a bar offering the best mai tai you’ll ever drink…need I say more?

Although the Dream Inn is on the pricier side ($200-400/night in the off season, $400-700/night during the summer) it really does have everything you could possibly need. If you’re planning a summer visit you’ll definitely want to book early as the rooms tend to go fast. I personally prefer visiting the Dream Inn between October and March. The hotel and restaurants are less crowded, but the ocean is colder and the boardwalk closes the majority of their rides so do what you will with that information.

WHAT TO DO

Take a stroll down the Santa Cruz Wharf. There are plenty of stores for shopping and restaurants for snacking. Don't forget to say hello to the seals lounging and playing at the end of the walk. You can also rent a kayak from Venture Quest Kayaking if you'd like to get out on the water.

Visit The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Fun rides, good food, and plenty of photo ops. If you're feeling extra brave, be sure to check out the Fright Walk... be prepared to scream!

See who's first to get a strike at Boardwalk Bowl. Across the street from the boardwalk, this is the perfect spot to let the fun continue.

Bring a volley ball down to Cowell Beach. There are plenty of nets and people who'd love to join you in a game.

Head downtown to shop for some vintage clothes. I recommend Moon Zoom and Cognito Clothing.

Sign up for surfing lessons at Cowell's Beach Surf Shop.

Where to eat & drink

Abbot Square Market

There’s an overwhelming amount of great places to grab a drink in downtown Santa Cruz, but during my last visit I discovered a new favorite. Front & Cooper is an eccentric craft cocktail bar located on the corner of, you guessed it, Front St and Cooper St. I won’t lie, 80% of the reason I decided to visit this bar was it’s name. The other 20% was, of course, an Instagram photo of one of their very fancy looking cocktails.

The bar itself is in Abbot Square Market, a large business area with a number of eateries and even a stage where live bands perform. The outdoor seating area is gorgeous and has plenty of tables making it easy to find a place to enjoy your drink. Front & Cooper’s ambience is very prohibition era sophisticated and the drink menu is beyond impressive. With names like “Figgy Smalls” and “ 10,000 Emerald Pools” it shouldn’t be surprising that these cocktails are extremely photogenic, but I promise they taste just as good as they look.

The bartenders are polite and knowledgable, if you’re having trouble deciding on what you’d like to order first they’ll be more than happy to help you out. I tried the “Quentin Pear & Fino” (pear brandy, fino sherry, cinnamon and sage) as well as “Purple Rain” (vodka, blueberry, armagnac, flavors of violet, orange, lemon, and almond). Both were unique and tasted absolutely delicious. The signature cocktails cost $13, all four of their Gin Tonic options are $11, mocktails are $7, and they offer beer and wine as well.

If you’re looking for something to eat alongside your cocktails, Belly Goat is great for craft burgers and Veg on the Edge has some mouth watering vegan options. Both of these restaurants, as well as a few more, are located in the same square as Front & Cooper. It shouldn’t be too difficult to find something you’ll like.

I really wish I had discovered this place before my last night in Santa Cruz because I would have loved to go back and try a few more items on the menu. Let’s just say I’ll definitely be visiting Front & Cooper again in the near future. Be sure to checkout their Instagram (@ frontandcooper) to see some fun cocktail photos and stay up to date on their seasonal menus.