Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 40

MontereyCounty’s Santa Cruz Bay protected habitat
One of Santa Cruz County’s most exquisite points of interest is an underwater

Beneath its deceptively passive surFace, an unparalleled diversity and aBundance oF sea liFe Flourishes.

world rich in biological resources. Santa Cruz County proudly serves as the gateway to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The sanctuary, designated by the Federal Government under the authority of the National Marine Sanctuary Act, is one of only 14 federally protected marine sanctuaries in the country. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is the second largest in the United States, and covers 5,322-square miles of ocean, nearly a quarter of the California Coastline. The sanctuary was established to increase awareness, understanding and stewardship of the Monterey Bay. The sanctuary features an underwater canyon that stretches out over 60 miles from the coast and plunges to depths of over 10,000 feet – more than twice the depth of Arizona’s Grand Canyon. The constant upwelling of nutrients from the canyon sustains the world’s most diverse collection of marine plants and animals. Beneath its deceptively passive surface, an unparalleled diversity and abundance of sea life flourishes. Otters pluck abalone from the rocks while sea lions search for fish. Expansive kelp forests serve as a safe haven for sea creatures hiding among the foliage. The sanctuary is also home to several threatened and endangered marine species. From the water or the shore, there are countless ways to enjoy the natural treasures of the bay. Venturing out by boat affords some of the best views of sea life. Dolphins swim in the bow’s wake, while jellyfish glide just below the water’s surface. In the winter months, massive gray whales pass through the sanctuary on their annual migration from Alaska to Mexico. In the spring, humpback whales frequent the bay searching for food. In addition to whale watching tours, test your angling ability aboard a fishing boat, or take a sailing charter on a luxury yacht. Many charters journey out from Santa Cruz Harbor, while boat rentals are also available at the harbor and the Santa Cruz and Capitola wharfs. Get a closer look at the bay in a kayak where a multitude of birds, seals, sea otters, fish and other wildlife call this area home. Kayak and Stand Up Paddling rentals and lessons are available at the Santa Cruz Harbor and the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. Divers can explore the lush kelp forests and rocky reefs of the sanctuary’s underwater marine environment. Many visitors and locals alike explore the sanctuary by boogie boarding, surfing, windsurfing or kiteboarding. Back on shore, the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail welcomes pedestrians and bicyclists to experience the Monterey Bay from vantage points on land. Interpretive displays dot eight points of significance along the trail, which travels from Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz south to Seacliff State Beach in Aptos. The scenic trail is also a great way to explore Santa Cruz County’s coast side towns. Visitors will soon get the chance to experience the wonders of the Monterey Bay in a new Sanctuary Exploration Center – set to open in 2012. Tide pools along the rocky sections of the beach reveal a fascinating tiny world of sea stars, tiny fish and crabs, sea anemones and barnacles. Perched on the edge of the Monterey Bay, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center at Long

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Photo: Paul Schraub

2 0 1 2 O f f i c i a l S a n ta c r u z c O u n t y t r av e l e r ’ S G u i d e



Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012

Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012
Contents
Welcome to Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz
Your Wildlife Watching Destination
Field to Table
Locally Made
From the Mountains to the Sea
Culture and Creativity
2012 Events Calendar
Maps
A Wine Lover’s Paradise
Monterey Bay
Galleries and Museums
Exploring Santa Cruz County’s Great Outdoors
Capitola and Soquel
Pajaro Valley and Watsonville
San Lorenzo Valley
Scotts Valley
Pleasure Point
Aptos
Davenport
Restaurant Guide
Lodging Guide
Visitor Activities
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Intro
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Cover2
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 1
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 2
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 3
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 4
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 5
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 6
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Contents
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 8
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Welcome to Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 10
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 11
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 13
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 14
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 15
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 16
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Your Wildlife Watching Destination
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 18
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Field to Table
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 20
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Locally Made
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - From the Mountains to the Sea
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 23
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 24
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Culture and Creativity
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 26
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 2012 Events Calendar
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 28
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 29
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 30
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 31
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Maps
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 33
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 36
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 37
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 38
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - A Wine Lover’s Paradise
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Monterey Bay
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 41
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Galleries and Museums
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 43
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Exploring Santa Cruz County’s Great Outdoors
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 45
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 46
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Capitola and Soquel
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 48
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 49
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 50
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Pajaro Valley and Watsonville
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 52
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - San Lorenzo Valley
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 54
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Scotts Valley
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 56
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Pleasure Point
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 58
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Aptos
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Davenport
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 61
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Restaurant Guide
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 63
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 64
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 65
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Lodging Guide
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 67
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 68
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 69
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 70
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Visitor Activities
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 72
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 73
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 74
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 75
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - 76
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Cover3
Santa Cruz Travel Guide 2012 - Cover4
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