4 days in Santa Cruz Itinerary

Santa Cruz remains synonymous with surfing, but this counterculture bastion offers plenty even if you don't plan to catch any waves.

Visit Carmel River State Beach and Natural Bridges State Beach for some beach relaxation. Bring the kids along to Point Lobos and 17-Mile Drive. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Santa Cruz: Monterey Bay Aquarium (in Monterey), Asilomar State Beach (in Pacific Grove) and The Shakespeare Society of America (in Moss Landing). And it doesn't end there: stroll through Pleasure Point Beach, kick back and relax at Santa Cruz Main Beach, stop by AiX, and immerse yourself in nature at Seabright State Beach.

To see more things to do, ratings, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Santa Cruz day trip planning tool.

In November in Santa Cruz, expect temperatures between 68°F during the day and 45°F at night.