Central Coast Adventures

Boating

Santa Cruz Harbor hosts thousands of visitors each year. Other anchorages are Capitola Wharf (May 1 to Sept. 30); Moss Landing Marina; Monterey has two Marinas; Monterey Municipal; and Breakwater Cove all within walking distance of excellent restaurants, old Monterey, historic Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Just north you'll find Asilomar Beach and famous Pebble Beach.

Kayaking

Kayaking tours of Elkhorn Slough will take you into one of 17 estuarine reserves in the United States. Elkhorn Slough is home to saltwater, freshwater and marshland wildlife where you might see seals, otters, loons, egrets, pelicans and even small sharks. Along Monterey Bay there are open coast paddling tours, overnight sea kayaking trips and the thrill of surf kayaking.

Paddle Boarding

Santa Cruz County has become one of the most popular destinations for paddleboarding. With our breathtaking coastline there are many sights to see when out on the blue water. You never know when you might get a show or a visit from a whale, dolphin, seal, or one of the creatures that live in our ocean. There are many facilities in Santa Cruz that rent paddle boards and they are always willing to help out if you are a newcomer to the. Don’t miss out! Get on a paddleboard and experience the sights our area has to offer!

Climbing & Hiking

There are more than 20 recognized hiking trails in Santa Cruz County that traverse the coastline, beaches, mountains and the redwood forests of this unique corner of the Central Coast. From Big Basin Redwoods State Park there is the famous Skyline to the Sea Trail. Up the mountain there is Henry Cowell State Park nestled in the redwoods of Felton as well as numerous hiking trails leading to and fro Highway 1 between here going north or south for miles and and miles in either direction.