Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz or other for week's vacation? (Sacramento: 2013, rent)

[ecsdude]

We are 4 adults and 2 kids 5&7, looking to go to Santa Cruz
to do the train ride thru the trees, hang out at the hotel pool,
go scooter/bike riding and maybe visit the beach.

we have been there before and also been to Monterey Bay around Cannery Row for half a day. we like the ocean side an both offer that. didn't go to the aquarium last time in Monterey.

would be nice to go somewhere we haven't been before but wondering if there is any place else that woukd have lots to see and do over 7 days that isn't a drive all the eay to LA. We are coming from Sacramento so 4 hrs max drive is preferred. we did SoCal last year.

carmel, half moon bay were a couple other options considered. we have already been to the sf bay area.

any suggestions?

[Ruth4Truth]

Someone pointed out on another thread, that SC has a marine science center that's interactive, and great for kids. https://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu

As far as going to the beach goes, there's the main beach in town, but if you walk or drive up the hill to West Cliff Drive and park (there are small parking lots at the crest of the hill facing west, and side streets for parking), you can walk along the wide sadewalk-promenade there, and find other beaches that are nice, and nowhere near as crowded as the main beach. It's a nice area to explore. It can also be explored by bike/scooter/skateboard. The best beaches IMO are one near the crest of the hill, and another one toward the other end of the promenade, maybe a half-dozen blocks away. One of the advantages of having a week in the area, is you can leisurely explore the beaches and just hang out and relax, letting the kids play. They won't get bored. Bring a book to read.

You can check the local events calendar, to see fi there's anything else interesting happening. For example, the beach at the boardwalk has a movie night periodically.https://www.google.com/search?client...&htivrt=events

You could drive up to Big Basin Redwoods State Park, for a picnic and a walk on the trails. They have an easy one-hour trail that goes past the oldest two trees in the park. There's a ranger station with info, and usually there's a ranger hanging around to ask questions of. The park is at an elevation, so it's cooler up there. Big Basin Redwoods SP

You've been there before, so you probably already have been to the Mystery Spot? Great for kids.
https://www.mysteryspot.com

You could take a day, and drive down to the Monterey aquarium, since you haven't seen it, and on to Pfeifer Beach state park, which has purple sand, from garnets in the rock formation above, that wash down to the beach. There's a bit of a walk to the beach, from the parking area. https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/lpnf...a/?recid=10918 Be very careful to avoid traveling during anything close to commute times.

PFEIFER BEACH

[MtnSurfer]

If you've only been to Monterey and Cannery Row for a 1/2 day then you really haven't seen the best of what Monterey has to offer. That is unfortunately all that some visitors see which really is not much. Its like going visiting Santa Cruz and only going to the boardwalk which is ok, I guess, for some carnival rides. But for those who live there or know the area its probably the least most exciting thing to see or do. Same with Monterey. It sounds like you've spent more time in SC already and so more know about some of the other spots beyond the primary tourist attraction at the boardwalk.

For Monterey, I could write a whole book after raising our kids there. But I don't have time for that on the forum. When speaking of Monterey I'm talking about from Moss Landing to Big Sur and everything in between which is a lot. Here's just a few things. But it will require more research and googling.

Moss Landing/Elkhorn Slough: You have to go here to see the sea otters up close. Its awesome. I highly recommend getting out on the water and renting some kayaks or paddleboards. If you only go in the water one place this should be it.






Spend a day in Carmel. Check out all of the art galleries. Go to the beach at Carmel River State beach. This is my favorite beach in Monterey for its natural beauty, not counting Pfeiffer in Big Sur above. If you rent a paddleboard or kayak you can paddle up the Carmel River which is amazing.






Go to Point Lobos State Park which has some incredible nature walks, views and sea life.







Drive to Big Sur and get out of the car. Go to Garrapata and hike into the redwoods via the Soberanes trail.
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/c...s-canyon-trail





For the daring you can get the best view of your entire trip from this trail.






Drive the Big Sur coast and stop at Peiffer Beach referenced R4T above. Check out the many sites along the way including Bixby Bridge, Hurricane Ridge, etc...

And you could take a visit to the Monterey Aquarium if you've never been. Then spend some time in Santa Cruz too.

Derek

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

If you decide on Santa Cruz, another thing to add to your list that's fun is The Mystery Spot. It's a total hoax but really fun, where you take a tour and they tell you that weird magnetic stuff happens in that location, and there are optical illusions where you see balls roll uphill and that kind of stuff. It's totally overpriced, but really fun and there is kind of a right of passage for Santa Cruz tourists to go there, pay the ridiculous price and then proudly put one of their bumper stickers on their cars. Totally fun and weird.

https://www.mysteryspot.com/

There's also a Big Food museum - it's really small, but if you are going to the railroad rides, it's kind of in that area anyway and you might get a kick out of it.

https://www.bigfootdiscoveryproject.com/

[Hawk J]

Many years ago, On hot summer days we really enjoyed going over to the Los Laureles Lodge in Carmel Valley.
We cooled off in the pool & swam, played.
We layed by the pool, had a few cool drinks.
played pool.
Enjoyed a delicious dinner.
https://www.google.com/search?source...67.E0CB3SUUgy0


Sometimes we fished/took a dip in the Carmel River, or over by Los Padres Dam.(sometimes we saw rattlesnakes by the dam).

We enjoyed the beautiful drive thru Carmel Valley over to Arroyo Seco.
Fished, went swimming, camped over by Miller's Lodge area, or Fred's Camp,
Government Camp,
The Gorge,
The Indians
Sometimes even drove over to Lake Naciemiento or Lake San Antonio for fishing, swimming, camping.


We had many wonderful times & have many Awesome Memories.....


Have a Wonderful Adventure.
Drive Safely.

[SFBayBoomer]

In addition to those already mentioned, you might consider one of my family's old favorites, Capitola.

Capitola beach houses and beautiful sunsets:

https://capitolaartandwine.com/wp-co...2-1024x731.jpg

Pier fishing on Capitola Wharf:

https://www.pierfishing.com/capitola-wharf/2/

[Hawk J]

When we lived in Monterey/ in the area, our young'uns always enjoyed playing at The Dennis the Menace Playground at El Estero Park, Monterey. They had mucho fun & have many great memories of fun times there.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...alifornia.html

https://www.google.com/search?source...4dUDCAc&uact=5

Enjoy Yourselves...

[Clark9272]

Head out to the Pinnacles National Park. Great caves to explore and the kids will love it (and it wears them out).