Enjoying Santa Cruz Area Beaches

Santa Cruz County’s 29 miles of sun-splashed, fun-filled beaches offer something for everyone. From dramatic windswept cliffs to the wide expanses of sand and sea, you’re sure to find your sweet  spot on the sand. Here are a few recommendations to help find the perfect beach for any activity:

Campfires:

Twin Lakes State Beach, Santa Cruz
Seabright/Castle State Beach, Santa Cruz
New Brighton State Beach, Capitola
Rio del Mar State Beach, Aptos
Sunset State Beach, Watsonville
Manresa State Beach, Watsonville

Camping:

Sunset State Beach, Watsonville
New Brighton State Beach, Capitola
Seacliff State Beach, Aptos (RV camping only)

Dogs (on leash):

Its Beach, Santa Cruz (before 10am and after 4pm)
Seacliff State Beach, Aptos
Rio del Mar State Beach, Aptos
New Brighton State Beach, Capitola
Manresa State Beach, Watsonville
Palm State Beach, Watsonville
Seabright State Beach, Santa Cruz
Twin Lakes State Beach, Santa Cruz

Fishing:

Seacliff State Beach, Aptos
Grey Hound Rock County Beach, Davenport

Families:

Main Beach, Santa Cruz
Capitola Beach, Capitola
Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz
Seacliff State Beach, Aptos

Kayaking:

Capitola Beach, Capitola

Kiteboarding:

Waddell Beach, Davenport

Learning to surf:

Cowell Beach, Santa Cruz

People watching:

Main Beach, Santa Cruz

Picnicking:

Seacliff State Beach, Aptos

Romantic sunsets:

Bluffs above Seacliff Beach, Aptos
West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz
Sunset State Beach, Watsonville

Scenic drives:

West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

Surfing:

Cowell Beach, Santa Cruz
Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz
Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz

Swimming:

Twin Lakes State Beach, Santa Cruz

Volleyball:

Main Beach, Santa Cruz
Capitola Beach, Capitola

Walking/running:

Any of the beaches in Aptos or Watsonville
West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

Whale watching:

Davenport Beach (bluffs), Davenport

Windsurfing:

Waddell Beach, Davenport

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