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Watsonville & Pajaro Valley
Pastoral charm, scenic nature
Strawberry fields and apple orchards provide a gorgeous backdrop that welcomes visitors to Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley. A variety of options awaits; from an early morning bird watching excursion to an afternoon at a u-pick farm or museum, sunset stroll on an expansive beach or attending a signature festival. The region’s fertile soil and mild climate yield some of the nation’s finest produce. Berry fans flock to Watsonville every summer for the Watsonville Strawberry Festival at Monterey Bay to celebrate this delicious ruby gem. Agriculture has long been the main industry in Watsonville. The Agricultural History Museum at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds celebrates the colorful heritage of this industry. Restored horse-drawn equipment, interpretive exhibits and vintage items are all on display. The fairgrounds also host the annual Santa Cruz County Fair in September. The Wetlands of Watsonville Nature Center displays a diversity of wildlife habitats, including the Pajaro River, the Watsonville Sloughs and Pinto Lake. Over 200 species of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds live in and migrate through the wetlands, making it an ideal place for bird watching or walking one of the many trails winding through the area. Nearby, the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve is one of California’s last undisturbed coastal wetlands. The annual Monterey Bay Birding Festival each September is a captivating way to take in the sights. “Bird” watching in another form takes place during the Watsonville Fly-In. The largest air show in Northern California, the FlyIn features vintage planes and restored World War II war birds in an airborne extravaganza during Labor Day Weekend. The streets of downtown Watsonville are adorned with Victorian buildings and 1880s storefronts, as well as the town’s centerpiece, the Watsonville Plaza, which serves as a gathering place for celebrations and festivals. A few blocks away, the Henry J. Mello Center boasts the finest acoustics in the county. Other attractions include the Pajaro Valley Arts Gallery featuring rotating exhibits, and the Pajaro Valley Historical Museum rich with the region’s past. In southern Santa Cruz County, Manresa and Sunset State Beaches are often uninhabited, and are perfect for sunset walks along the water’s edge. Watsonville’s unique landscape is rich with options for fun and exploration.
Photo: Frank Balthis

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Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013

Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013
Contents
Welcome to Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz
Whale Watching and More
Find Your Perfect Beach
Play Around in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County Has Taste
2013 Events Calendar
Maps
Raise a Glass to County Wine
Monterey Bay
Capitola and Soquel
Live Creatively
San Lorenzo Valley
Scotts Valley
From the Mountains to the Sea
Pleasure Point
Make a Play Date
Aptos
Davenport
Watsonville and Pajaro Valley
Restaurant Guide
Lodging Guide
Visitor Activities
Free Things To Do
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Intro
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Cover2
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 1
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 2
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 3
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 4
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 5
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 6
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Contents
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 8
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Welcome to Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 10
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 11
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 13
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 14
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 15
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 16
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Whale Watching and More
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 18
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Find Your Perfect Beach
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 20
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Play Around in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 22
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Santa Cruz County Has Taste
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 24
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 25
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 26
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 2013 Events Calendar
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 28
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 29
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 30
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 31
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Maps
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 33
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 36
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 37
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 38
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Raise a Glass to County Wine
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 40
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Monterey Bay
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 42
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Capitola and Soquel
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 44
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 45
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Live Creatively
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 47
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 48
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - San Lorenzo Valley
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 50
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Scotts Valley
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - From the Mountains to the Sea
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 53
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 54
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Pleasure Point
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Make a Play Date
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 57
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 58
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Aptos
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 60
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Davenport
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Watsonville and Pajaro Valley
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 63
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Restaurant Guide
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Lodging Guide
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 66
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 67
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 68
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 69
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Visitor Activities
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 71
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 72
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 73
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 74
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - 75
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Free Things To Do
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Cover3
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2013 - Cover4
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