Kids Activities
Fun Activities and Places
Santa Cruz Farmers Market
Open Wednesdays from 2:30pm-6:30pm
Downtown Santa Cruz at the parking lot between Lincoln and Cedar Street
UCSC Farm and Garden
1156 High St
Santa Cruz, CA 95064-1099
Open daily, 8am - 6pm
Westside Santa Cruz Farmers Market
Parking lot, corner of Western/Mission, Santa Cruz
Sat., 9am - 1pm, year-round
Aptos Farmers Market
6500 Soquel Dr
Aptos, CA 95003
Every Saturday 8am - noon
Felton Farmers Market
Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
Tuesdays, May - Oct., 2:30pm - 6:30pm
Scotts Valley Farmers Market
360 Kings Village Road
Scotts Valley, CA 95066-4026
Sat. 9am - 1pm, year-round
Westside Santa Cruz Farmers Market
Parking lot, corner of Western/Mission, Santa Cruz
Sat., 9am - 1pm, year –round
(For more information on these Farmers Markets visit: http://www.santacruzca.org/things/farms-and-markets.php?page=2#tpsearch)
Skyview Flea Market
2260 Soquel Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 462-4442
Open Days: Friday 7:00 a.m.
Saturday 6:00 a.m.
Sunday 5:30 a.m.
(For more information on buyers and sellers fees as well as reservation go to http://www.scgoodwill.org/pdf/fleamarketrules2.pdf)
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
400 Beach Street
Santa Cruz, CA
(831) 423-5590
http://www.beachboardwalk.com/
Museums
Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History
705 Front Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-1964
http://www.santacruzmah.org/
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History
1305 East Cliff Dr
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 420-6115
(For exhibits and operating hours, please visit http://www.santacruzmuseums.org)
Santa Cruz Surf Museum
701 West Cliff Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 420-6289
(Visit http://www.santacruzsurfingmuseum.org for visitor hours)
Nature
Beaches/State Parks
(For more information http://santacruzchamber.org/CWT/External/WCPages/visitors/beaches_and_parks.aspx)
Long Marine Lab
The Seymour Center hosts a working marine laboratory, with exhibits, touching tanks and tours.
100 Shaffer Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 459-3800
(For more information http://www2.ucsc.edu/seymourcenter/visitor_information.html)
Santa Cruz Mystery Spot
465 Mystery Spot Road
Santa Cruz, CA, 95065
(831) 423-8897
http://www.mysteryspot.com
The Arboretum at UC Santa Cruz
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
(831) 427-2998
http://arboretum.ucsc.edu/
The Alan Chadwick Garden
Just below Merrill College in UCSC
1156 High St.
UC Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA, 95064
(831) 459-3240
Santa Cruz/Monterey Bay Whale and Dolphin Watching (year-round)
Tickets/Check In: 500 7th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Boarding Location: 789 Park Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, F-DOCK
(832) 427-0230 http://www.santacruzwhalewatching.com
Chardonnay Sailing
704 Soquel Ave Suite A
Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
(831) 427-5064
http://www.chardonnay.com
Roaring Camp Railroads
Take a train through either the forest or the beach; enjoy barbeque, as well as special events such as a civil war reenactment.
In FELTON, six miles north of Santa Cruz on Graham Hill Rd. Exit SR 17 at Mt. Hermon Rd. (exit 3)
(831) 335-4484
(For information on train fares and schedules go to: http://www.roaringcamp.com)
Movies
Regal Cinemas Santa Cruz 9
1405 Pacific Avenue
Santa Cruz, CA
(831) 457-3505
Nickelodeon Theater
210 Lincoln St
Santa Cruz, CA
(831) 426-7500
Del Mar Theater
1124 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA
(831) 469-3220
Regal Cinemas Riverfront Stadium 2
155 South River Street
Santa Cruz, CA
(831) 429-7250
Theaters and Plays
Broadway Playhouse
526 Broadway
Santa Cruz, CA
(831) 429-2339
http://westperformingarts.com/
Kids on Broadway
131 Belmont Street
Santa Cruz, CA
(831) 425-3455
http://www.kidsonbroadway.org/
Rising Sun Dance and Theater
PO Box 7170
Santa Cruz (San Francisco Bay Area), CA 95061
http://www.risingsundancetheater.com/index.html
Santa Cruz Actors Theatre
1001 Center St. #12
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 479-8101
http://www.santacruzactorstheatre.org
Shakespeare Santa Cruz
A series of Shakespeare’s plays professionally done at UCSC during the summer, including performances on a grassy knoll with wine and cheese.
Theatre Arts/UC Santa Cruz
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
(831) 459-2121
http://shakespearesantacruz.org/
Teenagers
Skate Parks/Surfing/Rollerblading
For a great list of skate parks as well as rollerblading and surfing places visit:
http://www.santacruzparent.com/Resources/index.html?category=47&subcategory=443
Kayak Connection
Kayak in Santa Cruz Harbor, Elkhorn Slough, and near the Moss Landing
413 Lake Avenue, #3
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 479-1121
http://www.kayakconnection.com/
Venture Quest Santa Cruz
Kayaking whale tours, as well as moonlight kayaking
#2 Santa Cruz Wharf
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Kayaking Hotline: (831) 427-2267 Rental Office: (831) 425-8445
http://www.kayaksantacruz.com/
Adventure Sports Unlimited (includes kayaking, scuba diving, seafood foraging)
303 Potrero Street #15
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 458-3648
http://www.asudoit.com/
Zip Line
Tour the majestic redwood canopies and zip line for up to 440 feet from 150 feet above the ground over the course of two hours.
To Book, Call: (831) 430-4357
17 Conference Drive, Mount Hermon, CA 95041
http://www.redwoodcanopytours.com
Boardwalk Bowl
115 Cliff Street
Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
(831) 426-3324
http://www.boardwalkbowl.com
Casino Arcade at the Boardwalk (Available for rentals and parties)
400 Beach St Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
(831) 423-5590
http://www.beachboardwalk.com/02_casino_arcade.html
Santa Cruz Teen Center
Enjoy pool, air hockey, Ping-Pong, videogames, dances, band nights and other events.
Louden Nelson Community Center
301 Center Street, Room 8
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 420-5337
(For information on operating hours and upcoming events, visit http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=577)
EVENTS: Click here for a calendar list of annual events you won’t want to miss!
For a comprehensive list of family activities in Santa Cruz please visit:
http://www.santacruzparent.com/resources/index.html
Article by George Semfield, May 2011