The Santa Cruz Mountains are a special part of Northern California that almost feels hidden and secret, as so many people drive right from Los Gatos to Santa Cruz Boardwalk without every stopping to see anything else.
And don’t get me wrong, the boardwalk is always a fun time but there are tons of hidden things to do in the Santa Cruz Mountains that are worth a stop. I just visited (again) last week with my husband and had to share all these secret places with you.
1. Hike & Zen Out At The Land Of Medicine Buddha
Did you know there’s a Buddhist template hidden in the California redwoods? Land of Medicine Buddha is a totally free-to-visit Buddhist center open to the public during the day.
There’s plenty of prayer wheels, temples, and hiking trails across their 108 acres, along with mediation rooms available. Robin and I checked it out for the first time last week and I was bummed I’ve been sleeping on this special center.
We got to spin 3 prayer wheels on our hike, along with visiting the Ksitigarbha Pure Land site and the 100,000 Stupa Project, which literally feels like you’re stepping into another country. The entire center has this calming energy and is a great place to start the day. Highly recommend!
2. Ride A Historic Stream Train At The Roaring Camp Railroads (This Is Great With Kids!)
Do we have kids? No. Did I drive us all the way from San Francisco to San Lorenzo Valley just to ride the Roaring Camp Railroads Thomas The Tank Engine train during Halloween this year?
Yes, yes I did. Roaring Camp is open year-round and provides guest with the chance to ride a 100 year old steam train through the Redwoods. The route is really fun – you pass towering trees and end up high above the creek with an epic view down the cliff.
They also have a cafe, general store and some children’s activities available in the village. Since we went during their Halloween party for Thomas and Percy, they had a live children’s musician playing songs, too.
But again, you don’t need to come for Thomas, they have train rides for adults, too. It’s a whole lot of fun!
3. Eat The Best Burger Of Your Life At Emerald Mallard
Emerald Mallard in Felton is a newish restaurant that’s mastered upscale dining for the common man. Their menu changes seasonally, but you can expect dishes like rabbit, rack of lamb, truffle mac & cheese, and of course smash burgers.
I ordered the Oklahoma Smash Burger and gobbled it up so fast. We also took a to-go order of tiramisu back to our Airbnb for dessert and it was the biggest, best tiramisu I’ve ever had.
The whole vibe of the place is original and fun. The interior is painted green (very similar shade to my Whimsy Homes cabin so I loved it!) with taxidermy hanging on the walls and flowers styled in olive oil tins. Robin described it as a trendy hunting lodge and I think he’s right.
Plus, on a random Thursday evening at 5pm, the place was packed with locals. You’ll love coming here for a meal and I’ll be back!
4. Grab Traditional Diner Fare At Rockys Cafe
I love a good, classic dinner breakfast and Rockys Cafe is a local spot in Felton that knocked it out of the park. Their restaurant is located in an old house next to towering trees, with tall windows to let in light.
The inside feels like you’re walking into a Grandma’s house who lives in the forest, and all the food feels homemade from Grandma, too. Robin ordered pancakes, which were delicious, and I tried a scramble with hashbrowns. Such a great start to the day!
5. Explore The Trails Of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
I love living in California since there’s just random Redwood parks everywhere (including some in the middle of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco!)
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is such a gem with so many great loops and trails (and like, really good mushroom hunting in the winter but you didn’t hear that here).
There’s over 1750 acres to explore, which is a lot!
- Redwood Grove Loop Trail: most popular trail at .8 loop which features the tallest tree in the park which stands at over 277 feet.
- Fall Creek Unit Trails: best in the rainy season since it has tons of waterfalls!
- Ox Road Trail to Garden of Eden: if you love to mountain bike, this is the most popular trail.
6. Cool Off At The Garden of Eden, A Natural Swimming Hole
Speaking of Henry Cowell, during hot summer days you need to check out the Garden of Eden swimming hole! I still actually haven’t been yet, but locals love this swimming spot.
While on the Roaring Camp train, we passed by tons of Santa Cruz college kids hiking back from a day swimming at the Garden of Eden and it made me have fomo.
This summer, I’m making it my mission to go!
7. Sleep In A Treehouse Under The Redwoods And Roast Marshmallows
Did you know there’s a secret treehouse Airbnb right in the Santa Cruz Mountains? I’ve been glamping a ton in California, I love it, but the Redwood Ridge Treehouse Fort knocks it out of the park.
They have an accessible treehouse with epic views, a kitchen to make meals and store wine, a heated tent witha heated blanket to stay cozy at night, and a bathroom with a shower! Plus, a firepit to roast marshmallows next to all night long.
Robin and I spent a night here in January and loved every bit. As a fellow Airbnb host, I love when I meet others who are setting the standard for the industry. If you haven’t tried glamping (or even camping) yet, this is a great way to dip your toes into that world.
8. Climbing The Treetops At Mount Hermon Adventures
Have you ever heard of the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver? Well, we kind of have one of our own here in Northern California.
Tucked in Scotts Valley is Mount Hermon Adventures, a treetop canopy and zipline adventure company. You can soar high above the forest floor or traverse rope and timber obstacles suspended between the redwood trees.
If you love adventure and thrills, this is such a fun place to check out!
9. Ride The Sky Glider On The Santa Cruz Boardwalk
There’s something so nostalgic about the Sky Glider to me. Feels so 1950’s in the best way. Head to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk not only for carnival games and rides, but to glide on one of the colorful, iconic chairs high above the beach.
If you’re looking for things to do in Santa Cruz for couples, this is such a romantic day date! Grab cotton candy afterward.
10. Take Photos Of The Iconic Colorful Houses In Capitola
Capitola is an adorable beach town next to Santa Cruz that’s famous for their colorful row of bungalows right on the beach. While it’s not in the mountains, it’s still so fun to come here for lunch in the day time to soak up sunshine, see these cutie houses and smell the ocean air.
We always make sure to swing by downtown Capitola when we’re visiting the Santa Cruz Mountains!
11. Feast On Margaritas And Seafood At Zelda’s on the Beach
While in Capitola, we love to grab lunch and Zelda’s is the best spot on a sunny, warm day. Grab a table outside with epic views of the beach and colorful houses.
We swung by last week after Land of Medicine Buddha for fish and chips with a side of lemonade, and it just hit the spot.
12. Yes, The Mystery Spot Is Real (Not Just A Bumper Sticker)
One of the most unique things to do in Santa Cruz is visit the famous Mystery Spot. And yes, this is a REAL place, not just a bumper sticker!
After a decade of living in San Francisco, we finally paid a visit to The Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz. Tickets are only $10, and you can buy them online or at the door, and they offer many tours throughout the day so you can always catch one.
The tour lasts about 45 minutes and they’ll guide you through what the Mystery Spot is, which turns out is a gravitational anomaly that is truly weird. Sometimes demonstrations felt like an optical illusion but other times I couldn’t explain what I was seeing.
Plus, you’ll get to step inside the famous sideways house and walk on walks like spiderman. It’s touristy as heck but absolutely worth a visit.
Note: if you get motion sickness easily, I recommend taking motion sickness medicine before you do this!
13. Spot Wintering Monarch Butterflies Natural Bridges State Beach Park
Natural Bridges State Beach Park is a bit of a drive from the mountains, but easy to hit if you are coming to the area down Hwy 1.
This park is famous for thousands of wintering Monarch Butterflies that you can spot, along with an iconic arch rock, tide pools and caves.
You can also go tide pooling at nearby West Cliff. Monterey Bay is famous of tide pooling, but you don’t have to leave the Bay Area and drive all the way down there to find tide pools (ok, technically Santa Cruz county isn’t the Bay Area since it doesn’t touch The Bay, but it’s an honorary member!)
Of course, downtown Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz beach boardwalk is always fun. In fact, we have another trip to planned next month so we can spend a night in the city proper this time.
It’s always such an easy drive down from San Francisco and it feels a world away from the bustling city life.
What’s your favorite thing to do in the area? Leave a comment below and I hope this helps you plan your weekend trip to the mountains!
