San Jose—Nestled between sandy coastside beaches and dense redwood forests, the surfer-forward, student-friendly vibe of Santa Cruz can feel a world apart from many of the more bustling, urban Bay Area communities. But it’s only about 30 miles from downtown San José—which makes it an easy destination for the perfect summer day trip.
Of course, planning the perfect summer day trip is a subjective art. Maybe you’re artsy, outdoorsy or a foodie. Perhaps you’re a traditionalist, dedicated to experiencing tried-and-true local institutions for yourself, or maybe you’re just trying to keep the kids entertained as school looms. Perhaps something that does not involve roller coasters and funnel cake?
Consider this a choose-your-own, mix-and-match Santa Cruz adventure with 21 fantastic options.
If You’re Artsy…
Santa Cruz offers all sorts of visual and performing arts temptations, from the Bard to indie concerts, fiber arts and literary events.
Want to see Shakespeare in the park? Catch a Santa Cruz Shakespeare performance. You can catch productions of “King Lear,” “The Taming of the Shrew” and “The Book of Will” at DeLaveaga Park through Aug. 27. For an extra-posh experience, check out the venue’s revamped concessions menu, which includes a charcuterie box ($30) or cheese board ($26) alongside local craft beer and wine offerings.
Want to get your dance on? Head to The Catalyst, which offers an eclectic selection of indie acts and dance parties. There’s a Gen Z-friendly Grimace Shake Rave on Aug. 19, plus weekly karaoke sessions from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Want to connect with fiber arts? Sign up for a class at Wallflower Santa Cruz, a downtown boutique that offers workshops on embroidery, sewing, crocheting and weaving.
Are your preferences more literary? Plan to hit up this downtown trifecta of bookish joy: Spend the afternoon browsing the extensive offerings at Bookshop Santa Cruz, then head next door to Comicopolis, where you’ll find nerd-approved graphic novels, games and puzzles. Round out your bookfest by walking around the corner to Bad Animal, a hip bookstore/wine bar/restaurant, currently hosting a restaurant residency by Hanloh Thai. There, you’re free to browse the erudite selection of musty bookshelves beneath a disco ball before taking your seat for dinner or bellying up to the bar for a glass of wine.
Details: Find more information on Santa Cruz Shakespeare, which performs at The Grove at DeLaveaga Park at www.santacruzshakespeare.org. The Catalyst is at 1101 Pacific Ave.; https://catalystclub.com. Sign up for craft workshops at various venues at https://wallflowersantacruz.com. And find all the bookish details on Bookshop Santa Cruz at 1520 Pacific Ave., www.bookshopsantacruz.com; Comicopolis at 829 Front St., https://comicopolis.myshopify.com/; and Bad Animal at 1011Cedar St., www.badanimalbooks.com.
