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Old 04-16-2010, 11:25 AM
 
31 posts, read 59,046 times
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We are moving to San Jose at the end of May, and I'd like to take my teenage daughter out for a weekend trip - to sell her a bit more on the move. I figure taking her to the beach for the day or overnight might be a good way....recommendations?

Thanks!
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Old 04-16-2010, 11:37 AM
 
Location: SF Bay Area
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Santa Cruz has a nice beach and boardwalk and is about a 30-45 minute drive from San Jose.
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Old 04-16-2010, 02:57 PM
 
Location: Northern California
3,722 posts, read 14,722,363 times
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I agree, go to Santa Cruz (about 40 min drive from San Jose and you don't need a hotel). The boardwalk rides don't open until after Memorial Day (I think ?) but there are other beaches in the area if you don't like the amusement park theme. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - Millions of Memories at California's Beachfront Amusement Park There is a wharf with restaurants near the boardwalk.
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Old 04-16-2010, 05:59 PM
 
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Take her over the hill to Santa Cruz county.

For a more sane / mellow experience , instead of staying in a hotel in Santa Cruz itself, consider the Capitola Inn ... just off HWY1 and within walking distance to both downtown Capitola and the center of Soquel.
The Capitola Inn
Request a room in building #1 and ask them for a room on the 2nd floor.
It's not a fancy place but it's clean and the rooms are nice and the staff are friendly, it's well run and relatively inexpensive.
If you want to spend more money you may want to spend the weekend in downtown Capitola but i don't have the experience to recommend lodging there.
Here's a good vacation rental company though which is another option but a pricier one (relative to the Capitola Inn).
Capitola Beach House Vacation Rentals, Santa Cruz Furnished Vacation Rental, Condo, Apartment, Cottage

Santa Cruz proper is a bit frenetic/chaotic and i don't recommend lodging there if you're not familiar with the scene / layout of the town.
If you stay at the Capitola Inn you'll be able to easily access the boardwalk Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in Santa Cruz by car or bus and you'll also be within walking distance (there's also a shuttle bus) to the center of Capitola which is a cute little beach town (the oldest beach resort on the west coast) ... cute little clothing and other shops, quaint little beach houses, restaurants ... surfers to watch ... etc.

Manresa Beach (about 8 miles from Capitola Inn south on HWY1) is the most beautiful beach in the county, imo, and if you go during low tide you can walk forever and if you're lucky you'll see some happy Pacific ocean life ... sea lions, seals, sea otters and sometimes dolphins.
santa cruz state parks - manresa

If you and your daughter like to hike or walk and want to experience the redwoods, Nisene Marks Park is in Aptos and it's just a ten minute drive from the Capitola Inn. You can explore on trails or just walk up a friendly dirt road.
The Forest of Nisene Marks SP

The Mystery Spot is another fun thing to do depending on your daughters age and what she's into.
The Mystery Spot Official Website

If you are driving from San Jose to Santa Cruz on a Friday (or any weekday) leave before the afternoon / evening commuter times otherwise your entry into Santa Cruz will not be a fun one ... very heavy traffic especially on a Friday and by the time you arrive you may be very grumpy.
Leave San Jose by 2:00 - 2:30.

Last edited by coyoteskye; 04-16-2010 at 06:19 PM..
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Old 04-18-2010, 09:31 AM
 
31 posts, read 59,046 times
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We fly into San Jose Friday and will be viewing homes Saturday morning - I figure we will drive out to Santa Cruz sometime in the afternoon. I'd like to overnight in Santa Cruz and drive back to San Jose for the flight home Sunday afternoon.
Manresa beach sounds great - we'll definately get there.
Any more hotel suggestions?
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Old 04-18-2010, 12:10 PM
 
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Let me google that for you


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Old 04-18-2010, 02:21 PM
 
Location: Northern California
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Santa Cruz Hotels | Dream Inn | Beachfront Santa Cruz Hotel It's right on the beach, next to the boardwalk and wharf.
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Old 04-18-2010, 03:44 PM
 
Location: Northern California
3,722 posts, read 14,722,363 times
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Another place worth visiting is Capitola, a few miles down the road from Santa Cruz Capitola Village, Shopping, Dining, Activities, Find Businesses, Events Lots of interesting shops near the beach. There is also a wharf there.

PS: You will find that about all hotels on or near the beach to be expensive.

Last edited by humboldtrat; 04-18-2010 at 03:59 PM..
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Old 04-18-2010, 06:58 PM
 
Location: West Coast
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I second the Capitola recommendation. Check out both Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Capitola.
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Old 04-19-2010, 12:43 AM
 
31 posts, read 59,046 times
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Quote:
You will find that about all hotels on or near the beach to be expensive
That's ok - I'm trying to make an impression on a kid that is not completely onboard with her parents moving to California. I've found a couple of hotels that I tried to book and even in the first weekend in May - have a two night minimum stay. I called the Dream Inn and asked if I called on May 8, would they let me stay one night if they had availablity and they couldn't answer yes or no.
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