Did you know that the Santa Cruz Wharf isn’t the only public fishing pier in Santa Cruz? Are you curious about what’s under the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk? Ready to investigate one of SoCal’s urban legends? Discover hidden gems in Santa Cruz that reveal the best-kept secrets of this coastal California destination.

Go off the beaten path on your next Santa Cruz visit. We’ll open your eyes to overlooked sights, provide alternatives to the typical Santa Cruz itinerary, and explore fun things that bring even more ‘weirdness’ to Surf City.

Make the most of your Santa Cruz vacation rental by adding these lesser-known activities to your trip itinerary.

1. See What’s Hidden Beneath the Santa Cruz Boardwalk

The ‘World’s Best Seaside Park’ instantly captures your attention with screaming riders on the iconic Giant Dipper, 65-foot Dream Wheel, Cyclone, Double Shot, and other signature amusement rides. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk attracts more than two million visitors, and only the in-the-know crowd ventures beneath it.

Even more amusement park rides await you beneath the pier. Ride the Cave Train for a glow-in-the-dark journey through boardwalk nostalgia dating back to the 1960s. Ready, aim, and fire at seaside ghouls in the Ghost Blaster attraction. Test your courage around every corner of spooks in the Haunted Castle—they can’t hear your screams from below!

2. Find an Alternative Fishing Spot to the Santa Cruz Wharf

There are plenty of spots to cast your line on the longest wooden pier in the USA. But if the fish at the Santa Cruz Wharf aren’t biting, a nearby hidden gem in Santa Cruz might give you more luck.

The Capitola Wharf is one of the hidden gems in Santa Cruz that locals go to escape the Santa Cruz tourist crowds. It’s three times shorter at only 855 feet, but both offer views and fishing in Monterey Bay. No fishing license is required at this public fishing pier. Pick up some live bait from Capitola Boat and Bait to reel in kingfish, mackerel, sardines, shiner perch, and halibut. This shop rents motorized skiffs, kayaks, and paddleboards.

3. Unfold an Urban Legend in the Bigfoot Discovery Museum

‘Keep Santa Cruz Weird’ was this city’s slogan for many years. Attractions like the Mystery Spot have boomed in popularity thanks to its weirdness. But if you think these vortexes and gravity-defying phenomena are strange, wait until you see what’s inside the Bigfoot Discovery Museum.

Uncover the secrets behind one of the most elusive North American urban legends at this museum, ranked one of the best free things to do in Santa Cruz.

Located in Felton, this quirky roadside attraction is packed wall-to-wall with everything you need to know about Sasquatch. See plaster renditions attributed to Bigfoot’s actual hand and footprint. Read archived newspaper clippings to learn about local sightings. Browse colorful toys and comic book covers to see Bigfoot depicted in pop culture. Browse books full of Bigfoot conspiracy theories.

Will you be convinced that Bigfoot is real by the end of your museum visit?

4. Find Santa Cruz’s Secret Garden of Eden

Giant redwood trees tower over the woodlands outside of Santa Cruz. The Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is one of the best places nearby to immerse yourself in these otherworldly redwood forest settings. The Roaring Camp Railroads takes you from Santa Cruz Mountains to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. But instead of ending your day after this train ride, escape to one of the park’s lesser-known spots.

The Garden of Eden is as magical as you’d imagine. If you’re lucky, you’ll have this low-key place to yourself to go for a dip in the secluded swimming hole.

For an alternative redwood grove, visit the Byrne-Milliron Forest.

5. Explore Natural Gems in the Natural Bridges State Beach

Nature photographers and selfie queens flock to Natural Bridges State Park to capture photos of Santa Cruz’s coastal rock formations. Don’t spend your entire visit trying to get the perfect shot of the iconic coastal arch because you might overlook some of the other natural wonders awaiting on this beautiful beach.

Low tide reveals the numerous tide pools on the coast. Skip your visit to the Seymour Marine Discovery Center because you’ll find abundant marine life in this designated Marine Protected Area. Sea stars, sea anemones, and shore crabs are just a few you’ll see.

Time your Santa Cruz visit from October to January to witness the grand Monarch Butterfly migration. The warm coastal climate is perfect for more than 10,000 butterflies to claim the park’s Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve as their temporary home.

6. Seek Out Soquel’s Secrets

Trade in Capitola’s colorful seaside buildings for a quiet village full of rustic charm. Soquel is one of the hidden gems in Santa Cruz for visitors looking for a change of scenery from the coastal views.

The diverse landscape in Santa Cruz County has more to offer than scenic rugged coastlines. Soquel is an inland village you can experience in a half-day trip. Feel the adrenaline of mountain biking in Demonstration Forest. Get a spirited taste of the Santa Cruz Mountains at Soquel Vineyards, one of the region’s best wineries. Stroll Soquel Drive to find eclectic furniture inside pleasant antique shops.

7. Find Under-the-Radar Coastal Views on the Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail

Everyone knows that the 3-mile-long West Cliff Drive is one of the best coastal biking and hiking trails in town. For even more Pacific Ocean views, see how the Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail takes you off the beaten path.

The Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail is a 2.5-mile section of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network extending between Davenport and Watsonville. It’s popular for hiking, walking, and biking in the Monterey Bay area. The paved route runs parallel with the railroad tracks past Wilder Ranch State Park and the Elkhorn Slough.

8. Discover Colorful Santa Cruz Murals

Attention art lovers. Santa Cruz is a hub for a thriving creative community that is excited to showcase its artistic talent to the world. The 7,000 objects exhibited inside the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History (MAH) is more than enough for the average art fan. But for the true art aficionados, discover the many overlooked works of art decorating Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz has nearly 150 credited murals. These murals depict ocean-inspired scenes, images showcasing surfer and skater subculture, or simply a pleasant splash of color while exploring Downtown Santa Cruz. Take a self-guided Santa Cruz mural tour with this handy mural map.

9. Unlock Access to Hole-in-the-Wall Beach

The receding tide at Panther Beach will reveal one of the hidden gems in Santa Cruz. Hole-in-the-Wall Beach takes perfect timing to arrive, and the coastal views will reward your agility.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the Santa Cruz Main Beach, head to Panther Beach and look for an unassuming opening in the sandstone cliffs. Run through the hole when the waters recede, and you’ll be transported to the hidden beach. It’s a small, idyllic coastal setting surrounded by scenic nature.

Swimming isn’t recommended at Hole-in-the-Wall Beach due to strong rip tides.

Book Your Coastal Getaway to Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz’s hidden gems await when you stay in one of our beautiful Santa Cruz vacation rentals. You’ll fit right in with the locals in your home away from home while exploring off-the-beaten-path.