8 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.

Visiting Carmel River State Beach and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park will get you outdoors. For shopping fun, head to A Taste of Monterey-Wine Market & Bistro or Coast Gallery Big Sur. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Santa Cruz: Monterey (Spas & Casa Serrano, Historic Adobe), Pacific Grove (Pacific Grove Oceanview Boulevard, Asilomar State Beach, &more) and McWay Falls (in Big Sur). There's much more to do: cruise along West Cliff Drive, hike along Scenic Road Walkway, stroll through Capitola Beach, and take a memorable tour with Elkhorn Slough Safari.

For other places to visit, traveler tips, reviews, and tourist information, read our Santa Cruz travel route builder.

In February in Santa Cruz, expect temperatures between 65°F during the day and 43°F at night.