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Santa Cruz Outdoors

Articles: Exploring Santa Cruz County's Great Outdoors

In the place nicknamed "Surf City," you'll definitely want to dip into the Santa Cruz surf scene. Cowell Beach next to the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and Capitola Beach are two of the best places to learn to surf. Surf instructors provide wetsuits and surfboards and get you up on the waves. Once you're ready, grab your big stick and head to one of Santa Cruz County's mellow beaches.

If you're not ready to hang ten but want to capture the surfing spirit, stop by Lighthouse Point and watch surfers glide over the waves. The Point overlooks Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz's legendary surfing spot. Another great surf spot is Pleasure Point, where experienced wave riders challenge themselves at "The Hook".

But a surfboard isn't the only way to enjoy the waves. Skim boards, paddle boards and body boards are available for rent at most surf shops. Surf kayaking and paddle boarding are sports gaining in popularity. Kiteboarding combines windsurfing and wakeboarding with kites. Waddell Beach, north of Santa Cruz, is a popular spot for this adrenaline-packed sport. Or opt for a mellow paddle around the Monterey Bay in a kayak.

Skateboarding has been part of local culture for nearly half a century. Visiting skaters can grind at four area skateboard parks: the Ken Wormhoudt Skate Park at Mike Fox Park in Santa Cruz, Ramsay Park in Watsonville, the Jim Keefe Skate Park at Highlands County Park in Ben Lomond, and the Tim Brauch Memorial Skate Park at Skypark in Scotts Valley.

Santa Cruz County is also a veritable mecca for bicyclists. Winding single tracks through shaded redwoods, and climbing roads with stunning vistas of the Monterey Bay provide a full range of trails for all skill levels. Cyclists flock to Big Basin, Nisene Marks, Henry Cowell, and Wilder Ranch State Parks for epic biking opportunities for both athletes and novice riders. Bonny Doon Road north of Santa Cruz and Soquel's Demonstration Forest are also hot spots for passionate bikers. Families will enjoy scenic, mellow rides along East Cliff and West Cliff Drives in Santa Cruz. And the trails at U.C. Santa Cruz are popular with all riders and skill levels.

Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton features a few options for guided narrated bike outings and hikes. Cyclists can choose to pedal up the mountain and back, or ride the steam train up and then coast the downhill trail past auburn redwood trees.

Visitors to state parks can explore the hundreds of miles of hiking trails along coastal terraces, mountain meadows and majestic redwood groves. One popular path is the Skyline to the Sea Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The 30-mile trail threads its way along a lush, riparian corridor from the mountains to Waddell Beach.

Birders will enjoy the pathways of the Wetlands of Watsonville and Elkhorn Slough to the south, some of the few undisturbed coastal wetlands remaining in California. Located along the globally significant Pacific Flyway, the wetlands are one of the largest remaining freshwater marshes on California's Central Coast. Serving as a year-around habitat for over 200 species of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds, the Wetlands of Watsonville provides a resting stop for birds on their migratory journeys. A variety of birds can also be spotted in the county's many state parks.

A different kind of green space can be found at Santa Cruz County's golf courses. Designed by Scotsman Alister MacKenzie, the Pasatiempo Golf Course is ranked among the nation's top 100 courses by Golf Digest. The PGA-rated Seascape Golf Course in Aptos has attracted its own share of champions. And in the San Lorenzo Valley, the Boulder Creek Golf and Country Club is the place to give your set of irons a workout amidst a forested piece of paradise. More public courses include DeLaveaga Golf Course in Santa Cruz, a championship par-72 course known for its natural beauty and challenging layout. Spring Hills Golf Club in Watsonville offers enjoyment for all levels of golfers, while Scotts Valley's Valley Gardens is an executive 9-hole course.

And the new 18-hole Pinto Lake Championship Disc Golf Course in Watsonville offers a free way to try out another type of golf - just bring a Frisbee® and you're set!

Fishermen drawn to the sea can rent a skiff or take a chartered excursion from the Santa Cruz Harbor or the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. For fishing, boating and hiking from March to September, the Loch Lomond Recreation Area provides countless ways to spend a perfect afternoon.

One of Santa Cruz's most soothing sporting events, the "Wednesday Night Sailboat Races" happens April through October at Harbor Beach near the Crow's Nest restaurant. Relax with a glass of wine at one of the harbor's eateries and watch the colorful regatta. Or catch a ride from the Harbor and be part of the action.

With these and many more sporting options awaiting you, make a game plan to take in Santa Cruz County's great outdoors.