Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz County, CA
Outdoors in Santa Cruz
Scout analyzed 71 Santa Cruz places and surfaced the ones that actually fit outdoors.
Places analyzed
71
Matches
16
Typical spend
—
Typical visit
1.5 hr
Best neighborhoods for outdoors
Ranked by how many matching spots Scout found in each area.
Scout-verified spots
Seabright
Ocean View Park
Outdoors
DeLaveaga Park
Grassy space includes picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields, bocci ball courts, trails & a creek.
Outdoors
Seacliff State Beach
Versatile state beach offers a variety of outdoor activities such as camping & hiking.
Outdoors
Pogonip Open Space
Scenic open space offering a hiking & biking trail network amid redwood & oak forests & slopes.
Outdoors
Neary Lagoon Park
Wildlife refuge with trails & floating walkways, bird-watching areas, tennis courts & a playground.
Outdoors
Harvey West Park
Sporty park with swimming pools, baseball fields, a bike pump track, playground & picnic areas.
Outdoors
Cotoni - Coast Dairies State Beaches
A series of small beaches with bluffs & rock formations following a stretch of the Coastal Trail.
Outdoors
Año Nuevo State Park
State park with views of the shoreline showcases the unique geology of California's Central Coast.
Outdoors
Lighthouse Field State Beach
Iconic spot with a lighthouse offers a variety of vistas & pathways for dog walking & strolling.
Outdoors
Natural Bridges State Beach
Compact sandy patch with rock bridges & tidepools, popular for spotting seabirds, whales & seals.
Outdoors
The Mystery Spot
Opened in 1941, this roadside landmark is a tilt-induced visual illusion with tours & a gift shop.
Outdoors
Anna Jean Cummings County Park
95-acre park featuring athletic fields & a modern playground, plus a pavilion for BBQs & picnics.
Outdoors
Chanticleer Ave County Park
Outdoors
San Lorenzo Park
Outdoors
UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Vast collection of rare plants with a succulent garden, a butterfly area & a eucalyptus grove.
Outdoors
Patio, trail, or open-air.
No reservation needed
Walk in tonight.
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Book tours and tickets in Santa Cruz
Lock in the parts of the plan that sell out — tours, tastings and timed-entry tickets across Santa Cruz.
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Make it a night out
Staying over in Santa Cruz?
Hotels, resorts and vacation rentals across Santa Cruz — book the stay and make a full weekend of it.
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