Walking distance from the famous pier but you can rent bikes form them as well. The Comfort Inn hotel in Watsonville, CA is near Capitola Beach, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay Aquarium offering free hot breakfast & more! I've put together a San Francisco city guide to give you some ideas. Nobody remembers that this was happening all over the country. Monterey is a quintessential north California ocean town in the USA and has a great population of marine wildlife and fresh seafood. Continue on to Pacific Grove and stay at Asilomar (again) or. I'd love to see that hippie vibe back in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Should we. I would also use this term to describe the Haight Ashbury neighborhood generically. What is the most breathtaking part of hwy 1? Whether or not it is worth it for your family depends on your interests and what you would otherwise be doing with the time spent at the aquarium. You won't regret it. Take a photo at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay for some great memories without a hefty price tag. Natural Bridges and other beach parks. Take 101, it's much more pleasant than I-5. It is especially good if this is your first time visiting. Even if your kids don''t surf, it is fascinating to watch tht surfers from the bluff. Get a quote below or read our in-depth review! I always put up overflow family at the Holiday Inn Express during Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most major cities along the coast including San Francisco, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles have the presence of most hotel chains and it is easy to find a place to stay for all budgets. It will be warmer here, so if you want a beach day this is your place. Monterey (Spanish: Monterrey; Ohlone: Aacistak) is a city located in Monterey County on the southern edge of Monterey Bay on California's Central Coast. Tucked throughout the neighbourhood are a good variety of galleries and shops that showcase the excellent works of local artists, musicians, actors and writers. You might want to consider two adjoining rooms. Best Boutique Hotels in Monterey. Edited: 01 June . Theres also an outdoor swimming pool and a Jacuzzi. Even the hostels in Santa Barbara are upscale. Answer 11 of 17: We (myself & two young sons) are making our way up from LA to San Francisco next month & want to spend a night in either Monterey or Santa Cruz. I second the idea of overnighting in Santa Barbara, perhaps taking in Solvang en route. It is our pick for the best neighbourhood to stay in Santa Cruz if youre visiting for the first time because it has plenty of cultural attractions; is packed with bars, restaurants and shops; and, allows for easy access throughout the city and the wider county. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Both are good choices. Oceana Inn Santa Cruz is one of our favourites in Santa Cruz, California but theyre not taking guests right now. You can whale watch from either town. The Rio Vista Inn is our favourite hotel in Santa Cruz. The downtown areass of Monterey and Carmel are nicer. A great way to access transportation options in Santa Cruz is to visit www.Cruz511.org. Midtown is an eclectic neighbourhood located east of the city centre. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. I do not recommend staying at a hotel right near the Boardwalk, but there are some good ones nearer the Municipal Wharf, specifically the joie d'vivre Dream Inn, the Seaview Inn, the West Cliff Inn (a Victorian Bed and Breakfast) and a couple more. Downtown is quite historic - Monterey was the first capitol of CA and there are several buildings from that time in the Monterey Historic Park and through downtown. Looking for exceptional deals on Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Westside Santa Cruz vacation packages? That is, as long as you don't get stuck in traffic. Home; For Rent. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Monterey is more coastal than beachy, if that makes sense. If you have a map, start at the San Lorenzo River and go south the the Yacht Harbor. If you are coming by Air or Train, San Jose is the best destination. Thanks! Sip drinks and enjoy cheap bars games at lively One Double Oh Seven Club. You also have the Boardwalk, which is a seaside amusement park - rides, including an historic wooden roller coaster, games, waffle cones. And yes, the water is cold. It is one of the most . Browse the tiny but interesting Aptos History Museum. Capitola is a beachside neighbourhood bursting with a European flair. Seattle's most famous hotel, The Edgewater, is right along the waterfront, and a perfect way to relax before a long multi-day drive. Right now, It's all a bit overwhelming so if anyone could help me figure out what's best I would really really appreciate it! Of course, Henry Cowell state park is closer to Santa Cruz, so SC would be more convenient for that. at the end of (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? This nature-rich . . Visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Roaring Camp Railroads, the Santa Cruz Wharf, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and other . In this guide, weve looked at the best places to stay in Santa Cruz. We are pretty active so we like hiking and kayaking, but we also like to stay in nice accommodations at the end of the night with good food and a nice glass of wine. It is the bordering town to Monterey. The Continental Inn is set at the heart of Santa Cruz. Travel south from here and youll arrive in the busy and buzzing Boardwalk neighbourhood. Monterey has a great bike path. Monterey or Santa Cruz. Delve deep into history at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Cheer on the D-League Santa Cruz Warriors or the Santa Cruz Derby Girls at the Kaiser Permanent Area. With the ages of your children, I highly suggest Santa Cruz, due to the amusement park right on the beach, the beach itself and the cute shops on the wharf. Would you recommend one? As a member of our team, you can too.We haveSee this and similar jobs on LinkedIn. This contemporary hotel has comfortable rooms with excellent features and amenities. This is the longest stretch. A lot of people try to do the drive with only 1 or maybe 2 overnights, so splitting the trip more or less evenly becomes important, but with your plan, that's not an issue. On the first leg, we are trying to decide if we should sleep in Santa Cruz or Monterrey? Both are stunningly beautiful, but the city beach is safer than the River beach. The aquarium is but one attraction in that area. The coastline is rockier and generally more scenic, and although there are some beaches, Monterey isn't really a beach town - its focus is more on sailing/boating, fishing, and marine life. Is Monterey safer? Part of the trip will include a trip up hwy 1. I consent to my personal information being processed in accordance with The Broke Backpackers. Are there a lot of must dos in Santa Cruz? Whether or not it is worth it for your family depends on your interests and what you would otherwise be doing with the time spent at the aquarium. Another excellent option is the Rio Vista Inn & Suites Santa Cruz. Find quality homes and apartments for rent and property management in Santa Clara, San Jose, Monterey and elsewhere in coastal Central California. Carmel Gate: The south gate into Pebble Beach, this entrance can be accessed by following San Antonio Avenue through Carmel-by-the-Sea. It is centrally located and within walking distance of the beach. Do you have any recommendations? Monterey is more coastal and less beachy. It has shifted to meth heads and needles. Situated south of Downtown, the Boardwalk spans the seaside and is home to buzzing attractions, busy restaurants, and cosy cafes. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-63172030', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car ride. This historic motel in Santa Cruz is one of the best places to stay in Santa Cruz. Los Angeles to Monterey via Hwy 101/1 - concerns Best places to eat in Monterey and or Carmel area, Holiday Inn Express Monterey-Cannery Row, an IHG Hotel, InterContinental the Clement Monterey, an IHG Hotel. Driving from LA to Monterey - First time - help. Do check that the Boardwalk is open when you are there as the hours are starting to be shorter as schools are starting to go back into session. We saw the Hearst Castle. KSCO Live Show: 831-479-1080 KSCO Office: 831-475-1080 Important! Now I'm hearing all of this great stuff about Monterey Bay also. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance. I'm wondering with four kids (11,9,7,5) should we stay in Monterey or Santa Cruz? Downtown Santa Cruz is the best neighbourhood in Santa Crus to stay in if youre visiting for the first time. It is a really vibrant and colourful area of Santa Barbara, and it reallys really unique. It is known for its European style houses, cosy cafes, and luxe restaurants, which is why Aptos is one of the best places to stay in Santa Cruz. Best Areas to Stay in Santa Cruz Santa Cruz is a quintessential California beach town, facing the Pacific some 70 miles south of San Francisco. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-63170412', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');California early next August. Forecasts the expected snowfall amount, snow accumulation, and with snowfall radar. If looking at sea life excites you, you must visit the ocean-view decks to spot humpback whales. Of course, Henry Cowell state park is closer to Santa Cruz, so SC would be more convenient for that. My website describes local beaches in further detail: http://www.montereypeninsula.info/guide/beaches.htm. Don't know if your kids would be that interested in that, mine were 20 and 17 so it was different for us. Situated south of Downtown, the Boardwalk spans the seaside and is home to buzzing attractions, busy restaurants, and cosy cafes. Compare 578 hotels, room rates, hotel reviews and availability. Aptos is a serene and stunning neighbourhood located just east of Santa Cruz. Inspirational places to stay near beaches, redwood forests or in quaint seaside towns offer an array of choices when it comes to amenities and settings. . There are beaches, but the coastline is more rocky, which is beautiful and means that you have more opportunity to see sea animals. This charming Inn is centrally located in Santa Cruz. The Monerey Bay Aquarium is not to miss there. Princess or sanctuary cruises (Whale watching). Santa Cruz is more beachy - lots of wide, sandy beaches, a good surf culture, historic seaside amusement park, eclectic downtown, etc. Highway 1 is washed out and closed. It is worth a half day plus to go to Monterey, see the acquarium, (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? And for transparencys sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. View details, map and photos of this residential lots property with 0 bedrooms and 0 total baths. Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf are touristy, but downtown isn't really - they are all close together though. Located in Santa Cruz, California, 10 minutes from Lighthouse Field State Beach, this hotel features an outdoor pool, a sauna, and bright, contemporary rooms with a 42-inch flat-screen TV. This is our first trip alone in quite a few years & I want it be fun, romantic & relaxing! I think Monterey probably has the edge for lodging and restaurants within walking distance to more lodging. Alternatively, you may use, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Santa Cruz, an IHG Hotel. I am considering whale watching and hiking in the Henry Cowell Redwood park among other things. Carmel Beach is beautiful for romantic walks and just enjoying the view, but the water is cold and rip currents are common. Thank you for your input. Instead of staying "in Monterey" you might enjoy Carmel by the Sea or even Pacific Grove more as they are small towns by the water. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). We were in CA last June and stayed in Santa Cruz, and visited the Aquarium. My home beach is Seabright, which is just over the river. A big construction project is starting on the bridge over the Santa Cruz harbor in September. This post has been removed at the author's request. Once you hit Ventura, then you'll be on the coast through Santa Barbara. (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Answer 1 of 19: Driving the coast from SF to LA. 7.7 Good 206 reviews. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-41178035', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');California beaches are hot and sunny all the time. Monterey is more coastal - there are some beaches too, but the coastline is rocky so the focus is more on scenery and wildlife. Monterey is best for families and budget-conscious travellers, while Carmel is best for couples, foodies and shoppers.