Unique wildlife.

Santa Cruz Overview Santa Cruz is located in California, USA, and includes different tourist destinations such as Santa Cruz Island and Santa Cruz Town. Santa Cruz Island is the largest island in the Channel Islands, with unique natural landscapes and rich wildlife. A quarter of the island belongs to Channel Islands National Park, while the rest is part of a nature reserve. Santa Cruz Town is a classic seaside resort, known for its unique geographical location and natural scenery, as well as mysterious phenomena such as the Mystery Spot and the Mystery Shack. Best Time to Visit The best time to visit is from September to November, when summer tourists have returned home, and the beaches, trails, and other attractions are less crowded, with pleasant weather. Transportation To get to Santa Cruz Island, you can take a ferry from Santa Barbara, which takes about 1 hour. To get to Santa Cruz Town, you can drive. It is located 75 miles south of San Francisco and 35 miles southwest of San Jose. Attractions - Santa Cruz Island: From Scorpion Canyon Campground, you can hike to Cavern Point to watch whales, or hike to Smugglers Cove to enjoy the scenery and the endemic island scrub-jay. In addition, the island is the best place to see the island fox. It is also a great place for kayaking, where you can explore hundreds of sea caves, such as Painted Cave. - Santa Cruz Town: The Mystery Spot and Mystery Shack offer experiences that defy the laws of physics. Scientists have many theories about this, but no conclusions. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a famous seaside amusement park with rides for all ages and free admission. West Cliff Drive is a 3-mile walking and biking trail with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and iconic landmarks such as the Surfer Statue. The Santa Cruz Wharf is 2,745 feet long and has many restaurants and shops, where you can rent a boat or go whale watching. Other attractions include Roaring Camp Railroads, Natural Bridges State Beach, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum. Food Recommendations - Saltenas: A local specialty made by wrapping diced meat, chives, raisins, potatoes, hot sauce, and pepper in dough and baking. - Empanadas: A delicious pastry filled with cheese and olives. - Humitas: Fresh corn and cheese wrapped in corn husks and steamed, light yet delicious. - Seafood: There are various seafood delicacies near Fisherman's Wharf, such as crab sandwiches. Accommodation Santa Cruz Town offers a variety of accommodation options, such as Chaminade Resort & Spa, Dream Inn, and Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley. If you are on Santa Cruz Island, you can choose to camp overnight at the eucalyptus grove campsite at Scorpion Canyon Campground.