A refuge for wintering Monarch Butterflies, this park boasts a sandy cove, tidepools, a nature trail through the Butterfly Preserve, and several hiking trails. There is also a bicycle path around the perimeter of the park.

This popular beach, with killer waves, is known as one of the top surfing spots in the world.

Website: http://www.parks....

For more than a hundred years, Santa Cruz has been a hot spot for hard-core surfers. This museum tells their stories through photographs, surfboards and other related items.

See a wide variety of marine animals at the University of Californias research lab.

Spanish for "passing of time," this delightful 18-hole golf course overlooks scenic Monterey Bay providing both beauty and challenge to amateur and pro golfers alike.

This enigmatic place draws curious visitors who come to witness its gravity-defying properties.

The Santa Cruz campus offers an attractive blend of notable architecture and panoramic views.

One of the best and most popular beaches in the United States for learning to surf.

Don't be fooled by the name, this isn't an indoor mall. Instead, it's a very pretty shopping zone filled with interesting shops and restaurants including three large bookstores, some chain stores...

Houses the art and history museums and hosts various traveling art exhibits.

This museum's exhibits feature Ohlone Native American artifacts and local flora and fauna.

This historic lighthouse, rebuilt in the 1960s, is a great place from which to check out the local surfing culture.

Native American pottery and modern beach photos all on exhibit.