20 Great Things to Do in Santa Cruz with Kids

(Last Updated On: April 9, 2021)

There are many things to do in Santa Cruz with kids that many people don’t know. When you have kids with you, Santa Cruz can be a good choice of attractions for you as well as for the kids.

They will love this place hen you plan the trip well. Want some concepts for how one can maintain them entertained on the trip? This article will discuss about 14 things to do in Santa Cruz with kids.

Things to do in Santa Cruz with kids

You’ve come to the proper place for find out useful things to do in Santa Cruz with kids. Santa Cruz and Capitola are filled with locations your children will love!

As an added bonus, they’re additionally completely enjoyable for adults, too! Take a look at these household pleasant things to do in Santa Cruz Country with kids.

1. Santa Cruz Seaside Boardwalk

If you’re coming to the Santa Cruz space, you most likely already know in regards to the boardwalk. Odds are, your children do too, and in the event that they’re not already begging you to go, the boardwalk will make an amazing shock.

The boardwalk has an enjoyable, old-style really feel, that includes the historic Massive Dipper curler coaster, in addition to a fantastic hand-carved carousel from 1911.

The boardwalk is acceptable for little children and older ones alike, with a wide range of age-appropriate rides and actions.

2. Santa Cruz Museum of Pure Historical past

Affectionately known as “the whale museum” by locals, the Santa Cruz Museum of Pure Historical past options a formidable concrete whale sculpture in its courtyard.

This whale is a child magnet. It’s virtually uncanny how universally beloved the whale is; it appears to be unimaginable to withstand the urge to climb up its again.

The Museum highlights the area’s various plant, animal, and human communities of the Monterey Bay space and is full of tons of enjoyable reveals that youngsters will love!

There’s a tide pool exhibit the place you possibly can contact hermit crabs, sea stars, and anemones (make sure that to remind children to be mild).

There’s additionally an exhibit in regards to the lives of the Ohlone folks, who lived in Santa Cruz earlier than the arrival of European colonists is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids.

The Ohlone exhibit provides a chance to grind up acorns in a stone mortar and pestle. Just like the whale, the acorns are sometimes an enormous hit with children is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids.

3. Seymour Discovery Middle

The Seymour Discovery Middle is a small aquarium. It shows sea life curated from the Monterey Bay, from proper outdoors the home windows. A brand new exhibit provides the chance to pet a swell shark; it’s fully protected and fully cool.

4. Santa Cruz Youngsters’ Museum of Discovery

The MOD is situated within the Capitola Mall, options tons of interactive reveals geared in direction of children ages 0-12. There’s a new tinker lab the place science, artwork and expertise intersect, permitting children to “tinker” around with instruments to create their very own artistic contraptions is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids.

5. Roaring Camp Railroads

Hop aboard the Roaring Camp Railroads’ 1880 Steam Practice and revel in scenic views of the Santa Cruz Redwoods and Mountains. This Spring, the Easter Bunny can be alongside for the trip and there can be a sweet egg hunt and an opportunity to win prizes!

6. Go to the State Seashores

Santa Cruz’ miles of lovely seashores are an apparent alternative for a day of enjoyable stuffed issues to do in Santa Cruz for youths is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids.

Deliver a picnic to take pleasure in while you take a break from constructing sandcastles, flying a kite, or swimming. Go to a state park or think about Half Moon Bay’s leisure space.

7. Thriller Spot

Do you’ve youngsters who’re continuously asking questions? Who doesn’t, proper? Strive to take them to a spot for which you won’t have the solutions. Thriller Spot, situated within the redwood forest simply outdoors Santa Cruz, will make you query your understandings of the legal guidelines of physics and gravitation. The tickets are $6 prematurely, $5 on the door, and kids three and beneath get in free. Go to http://www.mysteryspot.com/ for extra particulars.

8. UCSC Arboretum

For a low price, stunning afternoon, take pleasure in a picnic on the arboretum on the campus of the College of California, Santa Cruz. The abundance of flowers and a few wildlife will be sure you amaze your toddler or give household bonding time to you and your older youngsters. their motto, “Take solely notes, depart solely footprints,” is a robust trace that youngsters ought to be supervised- these aren’t flowers to choose. And, sorry, no canines allowed. Admission to the arboretum is $5 for adults, $2 for youngsters. Guided excursions are $Eight per individual. http://arboretum.ucsc.edu/

9. Seymour Marine Discovery Middle at Lengthy Marine Lab

Your baby will marvel on the world’s largest whale skeleton; they’ll bounce on the likelihood to carry a sea star. The smaller measurement of the Seymour Marine Discovery Middle will maintain your baby whereas not being overwhelming.

Your baby is free to discover and be taught by means of the numerous reveals, aquariums, and contact tanks. Take part in each day craft initiatives provided for youngsters between 1 pm and 3 pm.

When you have older youngsters, think about the Marine Mammal Analysis “behind the scenes” tour provided on choosing Thursdays and Sundays. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 AM to five PM; Sunday, midday to five PM. Admission for adults is $6, youngsters ages 4-16 is $4, and senior adults 64 and older is $4.

Youngsters three and beneath admitted freed from cost is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids.. Go to http://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/visitor_information.html for tour occasions and instructions.

10. West Cliff Drive / Lighthouse Subject

This stunning seashore and bike path alongside the cliffs is large and preferred for strolling, strolling, biking and skating. Households, surfers, vacationers, and wintering monarch butterflies are drawn to this spot. Sit, chill out, and take within the breath-taking views of Monterey Bay. Or, watch surfers at Steamer Lane with a historic lighthouse in your view.

11. Gilroy Gardens

When you have youthful youngsters and are searching for a theme park geared towards the little ones, take a look at Gilroy Gardens.

The park options over forty rides, points of interest, instructional reveals, and majestic gardens. You may eat in the park or carry your personal snacks and drinks.

Remember to carry water for those who go to in the summertime time- it will get actually scorching on the market is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids.! Name (408) 840-7100 or go to http://www.gilroygardens.org/ for particulars.

12. The Santa Cruz Seaside Boardwalk

Whereas there are numerous bigger, scary trip choices, the boardwalk has developed extra actions lately for youthful youngsters.

With the seashores and wharf close by, you’ll have choices if the rides or the gang will get to be an excessive amount is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids.

For trip info and particular occasions, go to http://www.beachboardwalk.com/.

13. Roaring Camp & Massive Timber Railroad

What may very well be extra enjoyable than a seashore practice? This spherical-journey tour travels alongside San Lorenzo River, over a 1909 metal truss bridge, although an 1875 tunnel, and down metropolis streets to the boardwalk of Santa Cruz.

Or, go for the narrow-gauge steam locomotive that operates from Roaring Camp and travels into towering redwood groves, over trestles, and up a winding narrow-gauge grade to the summit of Bear Mountain is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids.

Select from a wide range of trains and routes, or go to their web site to pick out a particular occasion weekend. Open from 10 to five each day; ticket pricing varies, $8/automobile to park. Go to http://www.roaringcamp.com/ for occasion schedules and pricing.

14. Hidden Villa

A nonprofit working farm, Hidden Villa stretches throughout 1600 acres within the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

With a mission to teach the neighborhood on the surroundings and social justice, natural gardens and animals present the lesson materials. Your baby may have the chance to pet and play with chickens, cows, pigs, and extra.

Hidden Villa is open to the general public Tuesdays- Sundays from 9 am to nightfall. There’s a $5 parking charge that’s waived with the acquisition and use of a season cross. http://www.hiddenvilla.org

15. Whale watching

In case your youngsters are college age, think about a day on the water. Kayak Connection provides each day kayak leases, kayak excursions, wetsuit rental, boogie board leases, and get up paddling lessons. That includes guides who double as marine biology college students at UCSC, in order that they’re filled with enjoyable information on marine life. Yelp evaluations word that the workers are pleasant and patient- excellent for households.
telephone: 831-479-1121
workers@kayakconnection.com
http://www.kayakconnection.com/

16. Wetlands of Watsonville Nature Middle

Presents reveal on wetlands animals & historical past, household actions, chook watching, and extra. Exploration walks Sundays at 1:30.

17. Agricultural Historical past Mission

Get pleasure from a tour of instructional reveals, historic archives, and profit from the agriculture analysis on the Codiga Middle & Museum is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids. Whereas there, schedule an enjoyable hayride, and revel in an on-site lunch. $2 donation requested per individual.
http://www.aghistoryproject.org/index.html

18. Monterey Bay Aquarium

One other enjoyable exercise for youths is the Monterey Bay Aquarium. With tons of lovely reveals, contact swimming pools and alternatives to be taught in regards to the marine life within the Monterey Bay, it is a cannot miss the tour.

19. Capitola Seaside Home 4100

If you‘re trying to go to for a few days or perhaps a couple of weeks, there are many seashore home leases in Santa Cruz and Capitola to select from. If you‘ve acquired a smaller household, a quaint Capitola rental on the seashore is likely to be finest for you. And if you‘ve acquired a bigger crew, there are additionally bigger seashore homes with ocean views for the entire gang!

20. Seasonal Stuff

Spring & Summertime Months

1) Berry Selecting
Throughout the berry selecting season, most of the native farms around Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay open their information to the general public. Remember to put on closed-toed sneakers as fields perhaps messy or muddy is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids.

Late September- October

1) Santa Cruz Pumpkin Patches
Costume your little ones up of their fall colors for a visit to the pumpkin patch. You’ll not solely have the ability to choose the proper fall pumpkin, you possibly can sneak in a photoshoot when the children are sporting their pure smiling faces. Some farms additionally supply hay mazes, petting zoos, pony rides, and haunted homes.

2) Half Moon Bay Artwork and Pumpkin Pageant
From face portray to pumpkin carving contests, the pumpkin competition has quite a bit to supply the little ones. Remember to carry your urge for food for some pie consuming enjoyable and is one of the great things to do in Santa Cruz with kids!

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