In which our hero travels a bit
So I’ve been visiting Santa Cruz quite a bit, and it’s quite the tourist attraction. Usually large crowds every day, especially in downtown.
So I thought I’d take a break and write about the stuff I usually go do when I visit.
The General Atmosphere
If you’ve been somewhere like San Francisco, and also to somewhere like downtown Walnut Creek, it’s generally a cross between the two crowd-wise. There’s not as many people as SF, but nowhere near as little as downtown WC.
That being said, if you hate hectic drivers, getting nickel and dimed for parking, and generally large crowds, and hippies, you should probably avoid Downtown like the plague. There is a free parking garage, but it’s generally full.
tl;dr, carpool with someone or take the public transit.
Food/Dining
1. The Buttery
This place is pretty awesome, but it, like most others, is besieged by crowds quite a bit. But they do have awesome chocolate croissants, among other things. It’s like a Starbucks, but all around better. Highly recommended.
2. The Acapulco
This is a mexican restaurant in downtown. Their food is really good, and their prices are…decent. I always get the nachos (around $9ish), and I am always surprised when I get a LOT more nachos than I expect for $9.
Just one protip: Don’t sit outside unless you like getting ignored. The waiters I am sure are dynamite if you’re sitting inside, but if you’re sitting outside, you generally get ignored and/or slow as crap service. (Like, your drink will go hours without refills. bad.)
3. Chocolate (I think?)
I’m not actually sure of this place, since I’ve never actually had anything there besides a bottle of Martinelli’s. But it is worth it to note that you shouldn’t use any kind of debit card here unless you like playing $10+, since they won’t let you use a debit card otherwise.
4. LuLu Carpenter’s
Really good chai, typical coffeehouse culture (tons of people on their laptops, mostly Apple laptops of some sort). If you like your chai sweetened, prepare to dump enough sugar in it to kill a diabetic in one sip.
5. Starbucks
Obligatory, if you like them. There is one here.
6. The Saturn Cafe
Not a bad place in and of itself, but holy shit if this place isn’t a trap. You roll up to the building. They advertise things like burgers/sandwiches/etc, so you think this is a nice burger shop with an awesome atmosphere. Until they sit you down, get you your drinks, and you look at the menu.
Holy Garden Burger Batman.
Everything’s vegetarian or vegan. If that’s what you’re going for, then their food is bomb. I however was going for a nice hamburger. Imagine my shock.
I settled on nacho fries.
But other than that, it’s a decent restaurant. Just don’t go if you want anything that’s not vegan or vegetarian.
Other stuff
1. Thrift Store
Like a goodwill store, but way more awesome. It’s where I got my awesome Apple Education shirt. Stuff’s cheap, and they FREQUENTLY have 50% off deals. Recommended if you don’t mind picking up used stuffs. (I don’t.)
2. Bookshop Santa Cruz
Pretty interesting book shop, though I’ve only been through it in passing.
3. The Boardwalk
Obligatory that we go over this a little bit. First off, this is literally American Consumerism at it’s best. Shops everywhere. Insane theme park markups. It’s like a Six Flags positioned over a beach.
I’d avoid the beach if you like beaches with little to moderate crowds. There’s always, ALWAYS a clusterfuck of people here. The sand is like glue. It will stick to you until you wash it off, and then some. If you’re coming here just for the beach, stop. There’s better out there, and since you’re in SC, it’s not far.
They do have music occasionally there, though I’ve never actually seen it.
4. The Seymour Center
Think the Monterey Bay Aquarium miniaturized and without the insane entry fee. That’s this place. It’s got very few exhibits, but it’s an interesting place nonetheless.
The tour is pretty informative, and the cliffs in the back provide a nice scenery.
I’m sure I’m just scratching the surface of what SC truly has to offer, but this is what I have experienced so far.
