uc santa cruz walking tour

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Celebrated for its extraordinary beauty, our oceanside campus is a center of learning, research, and the free exchange of ideas. We are near the Pacific Ocean, Silicon Valley, and the San Francisco Bay Area -- an ideal location for internships and future employment.

Please note that from April 1 through 19, admitted students and their families will be prioritized for tours. If you are unable to make a reservation during that time, please consider a virtual tour or a self-guided tour . Parking is likely to be highly impacted during the spring season. For a smoother arrival, plan to arrive early, and download the ParkMobile app in advance.

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The Santa Cruz Area

A popular seaside tourist destination, Santa Cruz is known for its warm Mediterranean climate, its scenic beaches and redwood forests, and its lively cultural scene. We are also within a short drive to Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area.

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UC Santa Cruz, located just above Monterey Bay on California’s Central Coast, is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and agriculture. Just 45 minutes from the high-tech center of Silicon Valley and 25 minutes from the fertile farmlands of Watsonville, our geographic placement has helped us practice our social justice values as we seek to develop technology for the social good. 

In addition, the Santa Cruz area’s diverse community and vibrant cultural scene mean students live among towering redwoods and misty ocean fog while also being close to city happenings, social engagement, cultural events, and opportunities for learning, growth, and recreation. 

One campus, many sites

In addition to the 2,000-acre main residential campus, UCSC sites include: 

• Westside Research Park
• Coastal Science Campus
• Silicon Valley Campus
• Scotts Valley Center
• Monterey Bay Education, Science and Technology (MBEST) Research Park

Details…

Closest airports

UCSC is about 75 miles south of San Francisco. The closest airport is San Jose Mineta International Airport . San Francisco International Airport is also an option. Highways 1 and 17 serve Santa Cruz.

Get a feel for the lay of the land before you step foot on campus. 

Transportation and parking

Walking is often the best way to experience campus. Shuttles and buses provide convenient transportation across campus and between the colleges and academic centers.

Find all the information you need about parking and getting around .

Campus destinations

We welcome your visit to UC Santa Cruz! Many places and programs on campus are open to the public to tour, attend, and enjoy. Make sure to include some of these iconic campus spots on your visit for the full UCSC experience.

While you’re here

Find an event or experience some of the creative and intellectual energy on campus. Explore the options and choose your adventure.

Campus art galleries

campus theaters

Quarry Amphitheater

Special events

See for yourself

“From the trees to the seas”: UC Santa Cruz is famed worldwide for its r edwood forests, breathtaking vistas, and the kind of serenity that expands the mind. Take a tour—in person or virtually—and see for yourself. 

Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories

• Free Navigation on your Smartphone
• Entry/Admission - University of California at Santa Cruz
• Entry/Admission - Santa Cruz
• Parking Fee (5 USD)
• East Field House, 420 Hagar Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA Please head to the entrance of UC Santa Cruz, and a short drive up to the East Field house. You can take the loop bus up, or drive to this parking lot.
• Oakes College, 231 Oakes Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA The tour ends at Oakes College
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Stroller accessible
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• University of California at Santa Cruz

Similar experiences

• You'll start at East Field House East Field House, 420 Hagar Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA Please head to the entrance of UC Santa Cruz, and a short drive up to the East Field house. You can take the loop bus up, or drive to this parking lot. See address & details
• 1 University of California at Santa Cruz Stop: 30 minutes - Admission included See details
• 2 Cowell College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 3 Stevenson College Stop: 20 minutes - Admission included See details
• 4 Crown College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 5 Merrill College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 6 McHenry Library Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 7 Science Hill (UCSC) Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 8 Porter College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 9 Rachel Carson College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 10 Oakes College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• You'll end at Oakes College 231 Oakes Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA The tour ends at Oakes College See address & details

• travel L 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Enjoyed the tour of 17 mile drive We were given the option to do the tour through the brochure or the app. The app is much better — you get step by step navigation and interesting commentary. Read more Written January 7, 2024
• 751erikai 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles INEXPERIENCED DRIVER AND CONFUSING APP RUINED THE DAY The tour was very disappointing, especially for the amount of money I paid for it. The driver was unfamiliar with the app given her by the assigned tour company, “Pintours.” She said that it was new, and she was not given any instructions on how to use it other than "download the app and follow the directions." At one point, we sat in front of a building that looked to be abandoned in a residential area with a dead-end cul-de-sac. My husband and I, as well as the driver, just kind of sat there looking out the window very confused. The whole point of me selecting the private driver tour is that I was promised the tour guide would be very knowledgeable about the area and be able to give details on things as well as take away the stress of us having to drive on our own. Not only was the driver not knowledgeable, but the app narrator was over the top and very confusing. At one point the driver was in a near accident with another vehicle and kept apologizing. The directions on the app were very confusing, so it didn't surprise me that she was confused as well. Overall, it was not the romantic, relaxing day with my husband I had eager anticipated. On the contrary, it was very stressful. I would have been much better off saving my $600 plus the tip we gave the driver and just driving around in circles on my own arguing about directions with my husband. Pintours/Trip Advisor should be embarrassed that you charge people $600 for something like this. It’s awful. Read more Written January 5, 2024
• Rchappening 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles A Day Get-a-way Quiet nice little place. We stayed at Monarch Inn Suite bed & breakfasts. Shared patio a little intrusive viewing into rooms & ceiling squeaked as people moved around in the night hours. Nice quiet grounds. Nice walk to beach front and Market place shoppes. Friendly community. The ShadowBrooks Resturant was awesome. Impeccable SERVICE Read more Written June 24, 2023

Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories provided by Pintours

UC Santa Cruz Private Walking Tour

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the enchanting redwood forests and scenic landscapes of UC Santa Cruz with our exclusive Private Walking Tour! Immerse yourself in the rich history and fascinating culture of this iconic university as our expert guide leads you on an adventure like no other. Walk in the shadows of towering redwoods, explore peaceful meadows, and breathe in the crisp, invigorating mountain air. Discover hidden spots and secret viewpoints that only locals know, while uncovering the captivating stories behind each landmark. Whether you're a prospective student, an alumni longing for a nostalgic trip down memory lane, or simply a spirited explorer, this tour will leave you awe-inspired and with a deeper connection to the delightful spirit of UC Santa Cruz!

Expected Tour Length: 1 hour 35 mins

Number of Stops: 23

Tour Type: 🎓 college

Key Locations

• •  UC Santa Cruz  
• •  Cowell College  
• •  Stevenson College  
• •  Merrill College  
• •  College 9/10  
• •  Porter College  
• •  Rachel Carson College  
• •  Oakes College  
• • Private tour, completely controlled by you!
• • Pintours App allows for full personalization.
• • Pause or skip any stop on the tour.
• • Unlimited free time, stay as long as you want
• • Free access to secret info per stop

Designed By

Hey there! I've been doing this travel thing for a solid 30 years, and let me tell you, it's been a wild ride. I've explored all sorts of places and picked up some nifty tricks along the way. They even handed me a few awards for being a top-notch tour guide, which is pretty cool. From big cities to hidden gems, I've seen it all and can't wait to spill the beans on the best travel secrets. When you roll with me, it's not just a tour; it's like hanging out with an old friend who knows all the best spots. Let's make your trip epic!"

Tour Sample

Start location, $ 10 /tour ($5 per extra person), total: $ 10.

Experience University of California- Santa Cruz

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Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories

• Free cancellation available
• Mobile voucher
• Instant confirmation
• Multiple languages

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the enchanting redwood forests and scenic landscapes of UC Santa Cruz with our exclusive Private Walking Tour! Immerse yourself in the rich history and fascinating culture of this iconic university as our expert guide leads you on an adventure like no other. Walk in the shadows of towering redwoods, explore peaceful meadows, and breathe in the crisp, invigorating mountain air. Discover hidden spots and secret viewpoints that only locals know, Whether you're a prospective student, an alumni longing for a nostalgic trip down memory lane, or simply a spirited explorer, this tour will leave you awe-inspired and with a deeper connection to the delightful spirit of UC Santa Cruz!

This tour is completely tailored to you with the App!

With our app, you can pause the tour, and check out the locations as long as you want! You can skip a stop you don't like, and you have all the best information about each stop at your fingertips.

Activity location

• 1156 High St,
• 95064-1077, Santa Cruz, California, United States

Meeting/Redemption Point

• 420 Hagar Drive
• 95064, Santa Cruz, California, United States
• Sat, May 25 $20
• Sun, May 26 $20
• Mon, May 27 $20
• Tue, May 28 $20
• Wed, May 29 $20
• Thu, May 30 $20
• Fri, May 31 $20
• Sat, Jun 1 $20
• Sun, Jun 2 $20
• Mon, Jun 3 $20
• Tue, Jun 4 $20
• Wed, Jun 5 $20
• Thu, Jun 6 $20
• Fri, Jun 7 $20
• Sat, Jun 8 $20

Campus Tour Only in Multilingual

• Activity duration is 3 hours 3h 3h
• Opening hours: Sat 6:00am-10:00pm

What's included, what's not

• What's included What's included Free Navigation on your Smartphone
• What's included What's included App Guide
• What's excluded What's excluded Parking Fee (5 USD)

Know before you book

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Activity itinerary

University of california at santa cruz.

• Admission ticket included

Cowell College

Stevenson college, crown college, merrill college, mchenry library, science hill (ucsc), porter college, rachel carson college, oakes college, best deals on things to do, top experiences in santa cruz.

Text / Self guided walking tours of the University of California, Santa Cruz campus

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Home / Commute Options / Walking

Walking - The Green Way To Get Around Campus

Walking is often the most direct and quickest way to travel around campus. Once you learn your way around on foot, you'll avoid arriving late to class because you waited for a shuttle. You will also discover the unique features that make UCSC a special place, many of which can't be seen from the roadways.

It's Easy Being Green

Getting around by foot dramatically reduces our carbon footprint. Less reliance on motor vehicles helps reduce green-house gas emissions while conserving fossil fuels. You don't have to walk every trip; even a few walking trips will reduce your carbon footprint, save transit fee dollars by reducing impacts on the campus shuttles, and provide you with some great exercise.

Traffic Control

Be on the lookout for the campus traffic controllers: this program is helps shuttles and buses move around campus faster. Teams of students wearing bright yellow gloves facilitate turn-taking at key campus intersections during class breaks. Vehicles move more efficiently, cars spend less time idling in traffic, and pedestrians are provided a safe passage through crowded areas. If the Traffic Control program isn't operating at an intersection you need to cross, take a moment and look at the traffic situation. If you can help ease the traffic backup by letting a car go through, please do. Keeping buses and shuttles moving through campus helps everyone.

PDF of UCSC Walking Routes and Distances

Download a copy of the  Campus Walking Map  and start exploring!

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Last modified: September 14, 2017 128.114.113.87

UCSC Arboretum: First Saturday Tours

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Around the World in 60-90 Minutes! The first Saturday of each month, the Arboretum offers a docent or staff-led tour of the Arboretum. Sometimes you will see New Zealand, South

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Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories

• Free Navigation on your Smartphone
• Entry/Admission - University of California at Santa Cruz
• Entry/Admission - Santa Cruz
• Parking Fee (5 USD)
• East Field House, 420 Hagar Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA Please head to the entrance of UC Santa Cruz, and a short drive up to the East Field house. You can take the loop bus up, or drive to this parking lot.
• Oakes College, 231 Oakes Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA The tour ends at Oakes College
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Pushchair accessible
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• University of California at Santa Cruz

Similar experiences

• You'll start at East Field House East Field House, 420 Hagar Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA Please head to the entrance of UC Santa Cruz, and a short drive up to the East Field house. You can take the loop bus up, or drive to this parking lot. See address & details
• 1 University of California at Santa Cruz Stop: 30 minutes - Admission included See details
• 2 Cowell College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 3 Stevenson College Stop: 20 minutes - Admission included See details
• 4 Crown College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 5 Merrill College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 6 McHenry Library Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 7 Science Hill (UCSC) Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 8 Porter College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 9 Rachel Carson College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• 10 Oakes College Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• You'll end at Oakes College 231 Oakes Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA The tour ends at Oakes College See address & details

• travel L 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Enjoyed the tour of 17 mile drive We were given the option to do the tour through the brochure or the app. The app is much better — you get step by step navigation and interesting commentary. Read more Written 7 January 2024
• 751erikai 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles INEXPERIENCED DRIVER AND CONFUSING APP RUINED THE DAY The tour was very disappointing, especially for the amount of money I paid for it. The driver was unfamiliar with the app given her by the assigned tour company, “Pintours.” She said that it was new, and she was not given any instructions on how to use it other than "download the app and follow the directions." At one point, we sat in front of a building that looked to be abandoned in a residential area with a dead-end cul-de-sac. My husband and I, as well as the driver, just kind of sat there looking out the window very confused. The whole point of me selecting the private driver tour is that I was promised the tour guide would be very knowledgeable about the area and be able to give details on things as well as take away the stress of us having to drive on our own. Not only was the driver not knowledgeable, but the app narrator was over the top and very confusing. At one point the driver was in a near accident with another vehicle and kept apologizing. The directions on the app were very confusing, so it didn't surprise me that she was confused as well. Overall, it was not the romantic, relaxing day with my husband I had eager anticipated. On the contrary, it was very stressful. I would have been much better off saving my $600 plus the tip we gave the driver and just driving around in circles on my own arguing about directions with my husband. Pintours/Trip Advisor should be embarrassed that you charge people $600 for something like this. It’s awful. Read more Written 5 January 2024
• Rchappening 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles A Day Get-a-way Quiet nice little place. We stayed at Monarch Inn Suite bed & breakfasts. Shared patio a little intrusive viewing into rooms & ceiling squeaked as people moved around in the night hours. Nice quiet grounds. Nice walk to beach front and Market place shoppes. Friendly community. The ShadowBrooks Resturant was awesome. Impeccable SERVICE Read more Written 24 June 2023

Self Guided UC Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Unlock Secret Stories provided by Pintours

You are here

Ucsc radical history walking tour.

Join us for a UCSC Radical History walking tour led by Will Parrish (PhD candidate in History of Consciousness) and Janina A. Larenas (Little Giant Collective). Histories of Indigenous people, strikes, communes, feminists, anti-imperialists, land defenders, and the land itself come to life through stories and songs. Tour begins at Bay Tree Plaza and concludes at the Sesnon Gallery to view Remove by X: UC Santa Cruz Protests in Print. 1 mile walking tour.

Additional transportation offered for folks with limited mobility. Please reserve accommodations via email by contacting [email protected] .

• 1.1 Climate
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.4 By train
• 3.1 By foot
• 3.4 By bike
• 5.2 Beaches
• 7.2 Mid-range
• 7.3 Splurge
• 8.2 Coffee and tea
• 10 Stay safe

Santa Cruz is a coastal city (population about 65,000 in 2019) in Santa Cruz County , at the north end of Monterey Bay in California , about 40 miles (64 km) south of San Jose and 75 miles (120 km) south of San Francisco .

Understand [ edit ]

Santa Cruz is best known as a countercultural hub, with a bohemian feel and youthful vibe, and fun weekend tourist attractions like the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the dubious Mystery Spot . The rather relaxed beach lifestyle is supplemented by some remaining high tech industry and a vibrant university culture. The University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) is regarded as one of the premier centers of higher learning in the region and was once well known for its strong emphasis on the arts and humanities.

The beaches north and south of Santa Cruz are considered some of the more pristine areas of natural beauty in central California. The beautiful beaches and the rather mild climate play a central role in local culture. Most visitors leave Santa Cruz amazed by the city's beauty and ambiance.

Climate [ edit ]

Get in [ edit ].

By plane [ edit ]

The nearest airport is in San Jose ( SJC  IATA ). To get to Santa Cruz, take either the Santa Cruz Airport Flyer, or the free airport shuttle to Santa Clara, the train or bus to Diridon Station and the Highway 17 Express bus. San Francisco International Airport ( SFO  IATA ) and even Oakland ( OAK  IATA ) aren't much farther away, and sometimes have cheaper flights. The Airport Flyer goes to SFO and Caltrain provides a route from SFO to San Jose, though with a transfer with BART in Millbrae . For private aircraft, there'a 2,000 ft (610 m) runway about 10 mi (16 km) northwest of downtown, near Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park.

By car [ edit ]

By bus [ edit ].

• 36.97095 -122.02509 1 Santa Cruz Metro , 920 Pacific Ave ( map marker is at customer service office at Elm and Pacific ), ☏ +1 831 425-8600 . Santa Cruz Metro serves as public transportation in Santa Cruz and to adjacent cities & communities around Santa Cruz County. The Santa Cruz Metro Center serves as both an Amtrak and Greyhound bus station. ( updated Oct 2022 )
• 17- Amtrak Hwy 17 Express to San Jose Diridon Station where passengers transfer to Greyhound , Amtrak , Altmont Corridor Express (ACE) , Caltrain , and VTA . This route serves as the Amtrak Thruway bus and a Greyhound Connect (partner) route between San Jose and Santa Cruz. Therefore, tickets for this route can be part of an onward Amtrak or Greyhound ticket to/from Santa Cruz booked through their respective sites or paid for separately.
• 35 to San Lorenzo Park via Boulder Creek in Scotts Valley on CA-Hwy 9
• 40 to Davenport on CA-Hwy 1
• 71 & 91x to Watsonville where passengers transfer to the Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) bus to Salinas (MST #28 or 29). Route 71 goes towards Watsonville on Soquel Dr & Freedom Blvd while 91x travels on CA-Hwy 1.
• Santa Cruz Airport Flyer , ☏ +1 831 423-5937 . Operates a direct (door to door) shuttle from the bay area airports to Santa Cruz. ( updated Sep 2016 )

By train [ edit ]

There is no train service in Santa Cruz. The nearby San Jose Diridon Station is the central station for Amtrak , Altmont Corridor Express (ACE) and Caltrain . Metro's "17 Express" bus serves as the Amtrak Thruway bus (#35) between San Jose and Santa Cruz (see By bus in above).

Get around [ edit ]

By foot [ edit ].

The main downtown strip is pedestrian friendly, and it's a 20-minute stroll from there to the beach. Walking to the University of California Santa Cruz from downtown is a little more difficult with a steep climb.

Santa Cruz Metro provides bus service within the city.

While driving is certainly an option, parking is tight, so be careful to not get ticketed.

By bike [ edit ]

Santa Cruz can be a wonderful town for cycling, but be careful because drivers are no better here than in many other places. Around town and along Highway 1 is easy, but roads in the Santa Cruz Mountains are steep, winding and challenging for many cyclists. Be careful. Collisions between bicycles and cars are often reported. A number of pedestrian and car collisions have also happened in the downtown area.

See [ edit ]

• 36.96439 -122.01724 2 The Beach Boardwalk , 400 Beach St . 11AM to 10PM or 11PM . Founded in 1907, it is the only original boardwalk amusement park still operating on the West Coast. It features one of the oldest wooden rollercoasters still in use in the US as well as numerous modern attractions. Entrance is free, rides cost between $2–4 each (but less than $1 on selected summer evenings). Day, month, and yearly passes available.  
• 36.96023 -122.02021 3 Municipal Wharf , 21 Municipal Wharf . Restaurants, gift shops, sea lions and pelicans, and great views.  
• 36.95143 -122.02668 5 Surfing Museum , 701 W Cliff Dr ( in the lighthouse at Lighthouse Point ). Th-M noon-4PM . Memorabilia from the introduction of surfing to California by Hawaiians in 1885 to the present day. A statue of an early surfer is a few yards from the museum. Free .  
• 36.9493 -122.06497 6 Seymour Marine Discovery Center , 100 Shaffer Rd ( End of Delaware Ave ). Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM . Has exhibits focusing on ocean conservation and marine science, big tanks full of native species, a guided tour with a dolphin overlook area, and amazing views of Monterey Bay at sunset. $6 .  
• Downtown Santa Cruz . Lots to see and do here all day and night; "SantaCruz" character mixed with some great restaurants and lots of cool shops. Mostly it's a great people watching center. The nightlife is worth sticking around for. Pacific Ave is the main street downtown.  

Do [ edit ]

• Road Biking - Road cyclists in central Santa Cruz can escape the big city by going out Empire Grade, taking Branciforte to either Glen Canyon or Granite Creek, or even going out Hwy 1. A little to the east, two not so steep roads are Old San Jose Road (bit trafficky / better for descending, reachable from Branciforte via Laurel Glen) or Eureka Canyon (from Corralitos). Good connectors are Bear Creek, Smith Grade, Ice Cream Grade, Hwy 35, or even Mt. Hermon (from Granite Creek to Felton Empire). The worst traffic will be on Graham Hill or most of Hwy 9. To avoid Hwy 9 you'll need to do some climbing, but if that's your thing then try Empire Grade, Mountain Charlie, Zayante, Felton Empire, the wonderful Jamison Creek up from Big Basin Park, or the ridiculous Alba Road. Roads in Santa Cruz can be steep, and expect most to have some extended pitches of over 10%.
• 37.0054 -121.99595 1 Delaveaga Disk Golf Course . This frisbee golf course is very challenging. Saturdays are busy, especially in the morning. The course is awesome and the hikes in the area are spectacular, even if you don't play. Beware of the Poison Oak. Free.  
• 36.979025 -122.009833 3 Santa Cruz Roller Palladium , 1606 Seabright Ave. , ☏ +1 831 423-0844 . see website for session hours . Classic rollerskating experience in this roller arena that is over 65 years old. Afternoons $6.50, evenings $7.50 (skate rental included - $3 extra for inline skates) . ( updated Aug 2017 )

Events [ edit ]

Santa Cruz County is home to talented artists, musicians, and writers. Check out some of the locals' favorite art, music, and literary events:

• Open Studios Art Tour . A program of the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County which was created in 1985 to give the public with an opportunity to collect art and to meet and learn from Santa Cruz County artists. Approximately 275 artists open their studios (which are usually in their homes) to the public. The tour runs for three consecutive weekends each fall.  
• Santa Cruz County Fair .  
• Salsa By The Sea . Santa Cruz boasts a lively salsa dancing scene, with Salsa By The Sea a key attraction. Every Sunday year round (weather permitting), locals come to the Boardwalk to dance in the open air by the beach. Hours vary by the time of the year, but sometime in the afternoon, and always free. Other regular events are at the Vets Hall every Tuesday and the Palomar every Friday.  
• Cabrillo Music Festival . The Cabrillo Music Festival, Marin Alsop at the podium, is an internationally acclaimed celebration of contemporary orchestral music that opens during the end of July. Musicians from key orchestras around the country attend without pay for the experience of playing new works by the leading composers of our time who are usually in attendance. Many rehearsals are open and free to the public, as are workshops for new composers and conductors. The Festival, which began in 1962, lasts two weeks and is perhaps the most exciting and prestigious festival of contemporary music anywhere.  

Beaches [ edit ]

Santa Cruz is a beach town, with a beach to match almost any interest. 36.96373 -122.01724 4 Main Beach and 36.96122 -122.02464 5 Cowell Beach attract large crowds to the boardwalk area on sunny summer weekends. Flocks of novice surfers balance on their boards in the quiet waters just north of the municipal wharf, in front of the big hotel that locals still call the 36.96183 -122.02509 1 Dream Inn . Volleyball nets are strung just south of the wharf. The boardwalk amusement area is adjacent to main beach. Heading north, 36.9517 -122.02612 6 Steamers Lane isn't a beach, but the famous surf break in front of the lighthouse. In the summer, its sometimes hard to see what the fuss is about, but the winter can bring big waves and spectators line the rail watching the surfers and the sea lions.

North of the lighthouse are a series of little pocket beaches, some that disappear entirely in the winter. The first one, 36.95205 -122.02943 7 It's Beach , and across the street at Lighthouse Field (see www.folf.org) are two of the few places in town that dogs can be run off leash ( before 10AM and after 4PM only ) you will often dozens of dogs are chasing sticks, balls, and each other. 36.95291 -122.04079 8 Mitchell's Cove , just north, also allows dogs. Natural Bridges State Beach , whose famous monarch butterflies are discussed above, is a popular windsurfing beach. Natural Bridges is also known for its tide pools - little pockets in the rocky formation just north of the main beach that are exposed at low tide and house all sorts of small marine creatures. Kids love them but keep a close eye on them as the rocks can be slippery and the ocean unpredictable. The name is misleading: one of the two stone bridges collapsed a few years ago. Just south of Natural Bridges is the tiny clothing-optional 2222 Beach .

Heading further north along the coast, you leave the city limits and pass through agricultural fields for 11 mi (18 km) before reaching the small town of Davenport, which has a couple of restaurants, a B&B, and a huge cement plant that dominates the skyline. Each turnout along the road marks a beach, many of which are prime surf spots. 36.96078 -122.08336 9 Wilder Ranch State Park can be reached by a new bike path from just north of Natural Bridges. Its several nice beaches include 36.96159 -122.11271 10 Three Mile Beach and 36.96674 -122.12273 11 Four Mile Beach , named after their distances from town. 36.98336 -122.15601 12 Laguna Creek Beach (with parking on the east of highway 1), 36.99299 -122.17049 13 Panther and 36.99224 -122.16992 14 Hole-in-the-Wall Beach (connected by a passage that closes at high tide), 37.00035 -122.18152 15 Bonny Doon Beach (another famous clothing optional spot), and 37.00894 -122.19283 16 Davenport Beach . For those who want to tour the beaches, Highway 1 has wide shoulders that are generally safe for cycling.

The beaches north of the Boardwalk, especially those on the open ocean instead of the bay, can have huge waves and strong currents, so care should be taken in the water, even by strong swimmers.

There are lots of beaches south of Main Beach as well, but you'll need another guide for them.

Hiking [ edit ]

Santa Cruz is also surrounded by a great number of open space parks. There are two types of parks to choose from. There are inland wooded parks, (like Henry Cowell State Park) with redwood groves, and swimming in the river and open space preserves built on the coastal hills.

Wilder Ranch is a state park sitting in the hills adjacent to the coast (just west of town on Hwy 1). It has expansive views of the Monterey Bay as well as sweeping views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The ranch also includes many old historic building, staffed with docents to demonstrate the workings of the historic ranch.

The Pogonip is within the city boundaries adjacent to the university and accessible from Spring Street and from Highway 9 (via Golf Club). The Pogonip is an old country club which has reverted to a fairly natural state. It sits on the side of a hill and has great views as well as great natural items. Numerous springs fill the creeks, as well as a special fish pond along the Spring Box Trail.

Buy [ edit ]

Shopping on Pacific Avenue includes surf shops, plant shops, clothing and various boutiques.

• 36.97574 -122.02681 1 Toque Blanche , 1527 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 426-1351 , [email protected] . High end kitchenwares catering more to the well-heeled as opposed to starving students.  
• 36.97541 -122.02672 2 Sock Shop , 1515 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 429-6101 . 10AM-6PM daily . Socks, shoes and hosiery.  
• 36.97406 -122.02644 3 Paper Vision , 1345 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 458-1345 . 11AM-4PM daily . Gifts, calendars and posters.  
• 36.97545 -122.02643 4 Book Shop Santa Cruz , 1520 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 423-0900 . 9AM-9PM daily . A large independent bookstore that has been in downtown Santa Cruz since 1966. 20,000 ft² (1,900 m 2 ) of new, used, and sale books, magazines, cards, gifts, and toys. It has comprehensive children’s and new release sections, and strong sections in travel, politics, cooking, science, and fiction. ( updated May 2021 )

Eat [ edit ]

The city imposes a 25¢ fee on all disposable cups – even for a cup of water, which would otherwise be free. You can bring your own water bottle, cup, or coffee mug to restaurants to avoid paying this fee. Some restaurants and cafes may also serve drinks in a non-disposable cup if the order is explicitly placed "for here."

Budget [ edit ]

• 36.96929 -122.0252 1 Taqueria Jalapeños , 206 Laurel St , ☏ +1 831 457-0159 . Mexican fast food. Seating is very cramped at Laurel St. location, so don't plan on being able to eat there with all your family and friends. $2–10 .  
• 36.97232 -122.02537 2 Pizza My Heart , 1116 Pacific Ave . Tasty cheap pizza by the slice or the pie, salads. $2–5. Great Santa Cruz souvenir: slice of pizza and Pizza My Heart T-shirt for $5.  
• 36.98152 -122.01052 3 Tacos Moreno , 1053 Water St . 10AM-9PM . Award-winning tacos, burritos and quesadillas. Family-owned. Limited dining and parking space. A local favorite and worth a visit. $2–5 .  
• 36.97649 -122.01644 4 Taqueria Vallarta , 608 Soquel Ave . There are many taquerias in town, but this one attracts Mexican-American families, college students, and visitors from up and down the coast who come just for the huge traditional style meals. $1–6 .  
• 36.96159 -122.04571 5 2215 Mission St , ☏ +1 831-423-0606 . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 36.97849 -122.01286 6 1002 Soquel Ave , ☏ +1 831-429-5193 . ( updated Mar 2023 )
• 36.98091 -122.01588 7 Top-A-Lot Yogurt , 738 Water St , ☏ +1 831 426-1375 . M-F 12:30 PM-10PM; Sa-Su Noon-10PM . Self-serve frozen yogurt shop. The flavors are changed daily and rather than paying for a size, you pay 42 cents an ounce for all the ice cream and toppings you want. Pick from pumpkin or jasmine yogurt to cheesecake and cookie dough toppings. If you do not like the taste of frozen yogurt, this is a good place. It tastes just like soft serve ice cream. Average cup is $3–5.  

Mid-range [ edit ]

• 36.99818 -121.98503 8 Chaminade Resort & Spa , One Chaminade Ln , toll-free: +1-800-283-6569 . Two amazing restaurants featuring menus using only the freshest produce from local farms. If you're in town on a Sunday, Chaminade's Sunset Restaurant has an award-winning Sunday morning Champagne brunch. Happy hour is every Tuesday-Thursday, 4-6PM.  
• 36.97991 -122.01087 9 Charlie Hong Kong , 1141 Soquel Ave . An oddly small colorful building which contains a restaurant of decent inauthentic Thai/Vietnamese fusion. There is half-outdoor seating complete with heat lamps, foliage, and colorful decorative lighting. Very vegan/vegetarian friendly. $4-6 for standard entree .  
• 36.97406 -122.02598 10 El Palomar , 1336 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 425-7575 . Open every day for lunch and dinner. Reservations are taken only for large parties on weeknights, and the wait can be very long on weekends. Great Mexican food in dramatic dining room, but not cheap. Brighter cantina in back is a good lunch spot that becomes a bar at night, serves some of the best tacos in town for $2.50 a pop and has specials on Tuesday nights. Lots of seafood specialties. Homemade tortillas are excellent, as are the margaritas. Strolling guitar players some evenings. Kid friendly. Typical entrees $10–16 .  
• 36.97198 -122.02529 11 Kianti's , 1100 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 469-4400 . This is a great downtown Italian spot. The food is quite good, and it's a very entertaining place to eat. On weekend evenings, you may even get a fully choreographed performance by the entire staff. $8–10 .  
• 36.97253 -122.02414 12 Malabar , 514 Front St , ☏ +1 831 423-7906 . Excellent curried mangos and Kofta Joe. The service can be surly, but don't worry about it. Eat and be happy. Sunday night dinner is a fixed menu consisting of naan, salad, various curries and rice (in small amounts) and a dessert; however, the price is determined by what you think it is worth. Only have $5? It's okay. Feel like it's worth $20, that works too.  
• 36.97519 -122.02465 13 Mobo Sushi , 105 River St ( San Lorenzo Park Plaza Shopping Center ). Innovative sushi and jazz club. Check local listings for music.  
• 36.97348 -122.02505 14 Oswalds , 121 Soquel Ave . Classy Californian cuisine using organic and fresh ingredients. Reservations recommended on the weekend. $8–25 .  
• 36.97511 -122.02816 15 Red Restaurant and Lounge , 200 Locust St , ☏ +1 831 425-1913 . 3PM-2AM . Features a plush lounge and an elegant dining room. Menu consists of happy hour bites (3-7PM) appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, salads, and nightly dinner specials. Organic local produce from the downtown farmer's market provides fresh, healthy, and delicious food. Chef Bobby Madrid. Exquisite cocktails featuring an array of house-infused liquors - you don't want to be in Santa Cruz without experiencing the Red. $6-30 .  
• 36.9683 -122.00777 16 Seabreeze Cafe , 542 Seabright Ave , ☏ +1 831 427-9713 . Still often called "Linda's" even though the personable owner sold this cafe to the her business partner Tex Hintze quite a few years ago. Often a wait on weekends but you can start your mug of coffee while you wait. Cinnamon Rolls on the weekend are a must! Best breakfast in town! Vegan-friendly, kid friendly.  
• 36.96751 -122.00843 17 Seabright Brewery , 519 Seabright Ave , ☏ +1 831 426-BREW (2739) . 11:30AM – 11:30PM daily ( kitchen closes at 10PM ) . Updated pub grub, and fresh beer made on the premises. Salmon fish and chips, with beer battered salmon fried in Japanese bread crumbs and served with sesame-wasabi tartar sauce and teriyaki garlic chili sauce is almost too rich to eat. Lots of vegetarian food. Big patio overlooks a busy road, but is a pleasant place to head after a day at the beach. Beer and pizza specials on some weekdays. $8–12 sandwiches and entrees .  
• 36.97236 -122.02593 18 Shogun , 1123 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 469-4477 . Excellent sushi restaurant in a convenient downtown location. The exceptionally fresh ingredients and talented sushi staff make this some of the best sushi available in Santa Cruz County. They offer all the traditional sushis, as well as lots of variations, some of which are veggie/vegan friendly. Of particular interest is the "korokke," a potato croquette served with tonkatsu sauce, which you won't find in many local Japanese restaurants. Serves lunch and dinner through the week, dinner Saturdays, closed Sundays. Sushi plates are $3–9 .  
• 36.98767 -121.97214 19 Silver Spur Restaurant , 2650 Soquel Dr , ☏ +1 831 475-2725 . It's letting the secret out of the bag to tell you that Linda of Seabreeze Cafe fame bought this larger venue to sling her famous fabulous food. Vegan-friendly, kid-friendly.  
• 36.976903 -122.015808 20 The Buttery Café , 702 Soquel Avenue , ☏ +1 831 458-3020 , fax : +1 831 458-1012 , [email protected] . 7AM-7PM . The café serves breakfast foods, sandwiches, salads, and, of course, delectable fresh bakery items. ( updated Aug 2017 )
• 36.97361 -122.02652 21 Walnut Avenue Cafe , 106 Walnut Ave , ☏ +1 831 457-2307 . American breakfast and lunch. Fresh ingredients, friendly service, and a complete lack of trendiness. A favorite of Santa Cruz locals—long waits on the weekends.  
• 36.96992 -122.02535 22 Zachary's , 819 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 427-0646 . Fantastic breakfasts featuring homemade bread French toasts, fruit salads, home fries, and more. Finishing Mike's Mess is a worthwhile challenge. Expect a line Saturday and Sunday. $1–10 .  
• 36.97608 -122.02648 23 Zoccoli's Deli , 1534 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 423-1711 . Amazing sandwich place. It's where all the locals go. The Castroville Italian sandwich and the tiramisu are to die for.  

Splurge [ edit ]

• 36.96326 -122.00135 24 Crow's Nest , 2218 East Cliff Dr , ☏ +1 831 476-4560 . Steak and seafood restaurant. Ocean view and full bar that's a favorite of locals. In the top three annually for "best happy hour" award from the local weekly paper.  
• 36.97472 -122.0275 25 Gabriella Cafe , 910 Cedar St , ☏ +1 831 457-1677 . W-Su for lunch: 11:30AM-2:30PM & dinner 5:30PM-9PM . Amazing local, organic food and great wine list. $20–50 .  

Drink [ edit ]

For its size, Santa Cruz has a large number of drinking establishments from Irish pubs to nightclubs. Many of the bars are located along Pacific Avenue. A serious pub crawl can be done starting at either the Asti (listing below) and ending about 7 blocks away at the Rush Inn or the other way around.

Bars [ edit ]

• 36.96899 -122.02502 1 Asti , 715 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 423-7337 . End your pub crawl here and have a photo of your bare butt added to the lovely collage on the wall. Lots of cheap beer and college students in this dive bar. ( updated Apr 2021 )
• 36.97057 -122.0254 2 Blue Lagoon , 923 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 423-7117 . Also known as "the meat market." Has $2 drinks on Tuesdays, attracting a huge crowd of cheap drinkers. Thursday is 1980s night drawing a large college crowd. Monday is Goth/Industrial night.  
• 36.97726 -122.0267 3 The Rush Inn , 113 Knight St , ☏ +1 831 425-9673 . Has a reputation for allowing cigarette smoking indoors for many years after state law prohibited it. ( updated Apr 2021 )

Coffee and tea [ edit ]

• 36.97635 -122.02714 4 Lulu Carpenter's , 1545 Pacific Ave ( downtown ), ☏ +1 831 429-9804 . 7AM–9PM . Free WiFi access point. ( updated May 2022 )
• 36.97406 -122.02589 5 Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting Company , 1330 Pacific Ave ( downtown ), ☏ +1 831 459-0100 . ( updated May 2022 )
• 36.9637 -121.96847 6 Coffeetopia , 3701 Portola Dr , ☏ +1 831 477-1940 . Free WiFi plus computers available. Great espresso.  
• 36.9879 -121.9597 7 The Ugly Mug , 4640 Soquel Dr , ☏ +1 831 477-1341 . 6:30AM–2PM . Free Wi-Fi. The Mug is a full service coffeehouse down the road a little, in the Soquel neighborhood east of the city proper. It's a place where you can socialize, study, and conduct business meetings in a warm friendly atmosphere. All local, all organic. ( updated May 2022 )
• 36.97619 -122.02877 8 Verve Coffee Roasters , 1540 Pacific Ave ( downtown ), ☏ +1 831 600-7784 . 8AM–6PM . Free Wi-Fi. They roast to order so you can sample far-out blends from all around the world and not have to buy the 12 oz (340 g) bag just to get a taste. ( updated May 2022 )

Music [ edit ]

• 36.97138 -122.02561 9 The Catalyst , 1011 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 423-1336 . Large venue with bar/restaurant in the front and music venue in the back. Pool tables. Happy hour. Check local weekly papers for line-up.  
• 36.96986 -122.02624 10 The Kuumbwa Jazz Center , 320 Cedar St , ☏ +1 831 427-2227 . "Kuumbwa" (pronounced koo-um-ba, silent "w"), a Swahili word meaning "act of spontaneous creation." Kuumbwa Jazz is an internationally recognized nonprofit jazz venue. It's one of the longest weekly nonprofit jazz presenters on the West Coast, established in 1975. When we aren't presenting our own weekly jazz series, the venue is available for outside promoters to bring in acts such as bluegrass, folk, Celtic and world music. The venue is also available for special occasions such as receptions, private parties, and community events.  

Sleep [ edit ]

Santa Cruz offers everything from cheap drive-up motels along Ocean Street to cute B&Bs to one somewhat shabby high-rise hotel on the beach.

A medley of factors allows for de facto legal camping throughout town on city-owned property. There are encampments scattered throughout town. Downtown alone features an encampment of dozens of tents adjacent to San Lorenzo Park. Many people sleep and live in cars and RVs throughout the area, though some neighborhoods may tolerate it less or more than others.

Hotels [ edit ]

• 36.96563 -122.02608 2 Bay Front Inn Hotel , 325 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 423-8564 . Free high-speed Internet access.  
• 36.96376 -122.02276 3 Casablanca Inn & Bistro , 101 Main St , ☏ +1 831 423-1570 .  
• 36.9982 -121.985 4 Chaminade Resort & Spa , 1 Chaminade Ln , toll-free: +1-800-283-6569 . 156 rooms & suites on a scenic mountain ridge, overlooking the Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Offers two restaurants, a spa, fitness center, heated outdoor swimming pool, two outdoor Jacuzzis, four lighted tennis courts, geocaching and 3 mi (4.8 km) of hiking trails.  
• 36.96414 -122.0211 5 Marea Sol Hotel , 301 Beach St , ☏ +1 831 426-0420 .  
• 36.967 -122.01823 6 Comfort Inn Santa Cruz , 314 Riverside Ave , ☏ +1 831 471-9999 , [email protected] .  
• 36.97361 -122.03124 7 Hinds Victorian Guest House , 529 Chestnut St , ☏ +1 831 423-0423 . Weekly European style lodging in a downtown 1888 Victorian mansion with private and shared baths. Full kitchen and laundry.  
• 36.99933 -122.02252 8 Inn at Pasatiempo , 555 Highway 17 , ☏ +1 831 423-5000 .  
• 36.96802 -122.02446 9 Pacific Blue Inn , 636 Pacific Ave , ☏ +1 831 600-8880 , [email protected] . This eB&B offers nine eco-friendly rooms, free Wi-Fi, bikes, parking and all rooms are ADA. from $149 + tax .  
• 36.96146 -122.02525 10 Santa Cruz Dream Inn , 175 West Cliff Dr , ☏ +1 831 426-4330 . Every room has a private ocean-front balcony.  
• 36.9656 -122.02337 11 Santa Cruz Hostel ( Hostelling International ), 321 Main St ( on Beach Hill ), ☏ +1 831 423-8304 . Housed in some of the city's oldest and most famous dwellings (the Carmelita Cottages). 14-day maximum stay.  

Camp [ edit ]

For our bohemian friends passing through (keep Santa Cruz Weird!), sleeping on city beaches cannot be recommended. Try the more chill beaches along the cliffs northwest of town, or along the sandy banks of the San Lorenzo, upriver in the gorge, along Highway 9.

• 36.91781 -121.84964 17 Manresa Uplands State Beach ( formally called Sand Dollar ), ☏ +1 831 724-3750 . Walk-in camp sites along a bluff overlooking the ocean. Closed winters.  

Stay safe [ edit ]

There is much crime in the downtown area, often drug-related. You will probably be safe during the day and early evening, but keep your wits about yourself. Mountain lions exist in the more rural areas, but are uncommon. Attacks by mountain lions on humans are much rarer still, but have happened. If you should see one, do not approach it, and if it approaches you in a seemingly aggressive manner, stand as tall as possible and wave your arms; this will usually intimidate it.

During most of the year, the ocean is cold enough to quickly give you hypothermia, and there are dangerous rip currents at many beaches. Unless you're a qualified diver and you've done your homework, you're best off leaving it to the local surfers, who typically wear full-body wetsuits and know what they're doing.

If you are a skilled surfer, be aware that Santa Cruz's surfing culture is unfortunately notorious for its "locals only" attitude, and while in reality most surfers there are perfectly reasonable and friendly, if you are surfing there and you do get into a confrontation, it's best to just walk away.

Go next [ edit ]

Nearby cities:

• Scotts Valley
• Watsonville

Nearby towns:

• Boulder Creek
• Felton - you can take a scenic train trip from Santa Cruz to Felton, see the Felton article for details.

Nearby attractions:

• Big Basin Redwoods State Park . The oldest state park in California. If features stately redwood groves and the Skyline-to-Sea Trail. Hike from Big Basin Park headquarters to Waddell Creek State Beach. Completely closed in 2020 due to catastrophic wildfire damage, with parts still smoldering six months later.

For a longer trip:

• Drive up to the mountains of Santa Cruz.
• Drive 50 minutes south along the coast of Monterey Bay to the city of Monterey .
• Head up the coast towards San Francisco via Half Moon Bay

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Navigation menu

Community efforts preserve, memorialize Chinese history of the Monterey Bay area

Reverberating bell chimes are part of the soundscape of Salinas’s Chinatown.

Larry Hirahara, who leads walking tours of the former Chinese enclave in the city, called it one of the “sounds of Chinatown.”

“You can hear it across Chinatown,” he said of the bell, adding, “Incense burning would have been the smell of Chinatown.”

Hirahara starts the tours at the Buddhist Temple of Salinas, where the bell rests in a tower in front of the building.

He sits on the board of the nonprofit Asian Cultural Experience of Salinas, which works to educate people about the area’s history — much less visible today, with the former Chinatown district populated largely by unhoused people and services that support them. The nonprofit hopes to revitalize the Republic Café, formerly a community hub, by turning it into a museum and cultural center showing the overlapping racial and ethnic stories of the area.

The nonprofit’s work is among several local efforts exploring the physical locations that once homed robust Chinese ethnic enclaves, from Chinatowns to fishing villages, to remember how those histories shaped the Monterey Bay area’s economy and cultural ecosystem.

In the early and mid-1800s, these enclaves thrived. But anti-Chinese sentiment mounted as the century went on, and city renewal efforts, racism and natural disaster displaced many in the 1900s.

Now, according to the 2022 American Community Survey, Chinese people make up just 2% of the population in both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. Yet those demographics understate the role Chinese enclaves have played in making spaces at city margins that also became homes for multiple racial and ethnic communities.

Reflecting on overlapping ethnic histories

Despite its moniker, Salinas Chinatown also became home to Filipino, Japanese and Mexican people in Salinas. Established on Soledad Street in 1893 after the first iteration of Chinatown in the city burned down, it welcomed waves of immigrant laborers: Chinese in the 1860s, Japanese in the 1890s, Filipinos in the 1920s and Mexican “braceros” in the 1940s.

The bell at the Buddhist Temple — and the temple itself — is just one institution that reflects that cultural mingling. The temple’s past and current congregation has been largely Japanese, and the bell itself was shipped from Japan.

The physical area also overlapped with Japantown and Filipinotown, with many of the Chinatown businesses being run by Japanese entrepreneurs. Just a few blocks down the street from the Salinas Confucian Church is the Filipino Community Center and Church.

“Chinatowns were usually ‘on the wrong side of the tracks,’” Hirahara said. “They [Filipino, Japanese and Mexican people] felt welcomed because, you know, they probably couldn't live anywhere else.”

He pointed to anti-miscegenation laws — which forbade interracial marriage and specifically targeted Filipino communities — and Japanese incarceration during World War II, especially locally at what is now the Salinas Rodeo Grounds , as two historical phenomena that pushed those Asian groups to the margins.

Suspicion toward the Japanese community even extended toward the Buddhist temple bell, Hirahara said.

“During World War II, after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the mayor of Salinas said that he wanted to make sure that this bell was sequestered because [it] might be used as a signaling device for the Japanese navy,” he said. “They put it into this small building that was underneath it, and so it survived the war that way.”

Chinatowns generally emerged as a function of growing anti-Chinese sentiment, or Sinophobia, that emerged in the mid-1800s. Immigrants who came for the gold rush and stayed in the country faced increased scrutiny from emigrating Americans and Europeans, and were pushed to less desirable areas of cities.

Ultimately, urban renewal eventually displaced the Salinas Chinatown working-class residents in the 1950s.

Though those parts of history are unfortunate, Hirahara said, any historical account — from a walking tour to a museum exhibit — wouldn’t be complete without them.

“In teaching [the] history of culture, cultural preservation, those stories have to be told,” he said.

Remembering the Chinese origins of the industry that grew Cannery Row

To the west, in Pacific Grove, the Walk for Remembrance Committee leads hundreds of visitors on an annual one-mile trek to resurface the city’s Chinese history.

Visitors walk from the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, which hosts permanent exhibits on those stories , to the site of a formerly thriving Chinese fishing village: Hopkins Marine Station, formerly called Point Alones or Point Almejas.

The late Gerri Low-Sabado, who grew up in Monterey, started the walk in 2009. Her great-grandmother Quock Mui was the first recorded Chinese woman in the Monterey Bay area.

Now, her husband Randy Sabado, who grew up in Salinas, continues her work. As part of the committee, he’s pushing for more ethnic studies classes in Pacific Grove schools to ensure the next generation knows the area’s history.

“Even though people live in Pacific Grove, Carmel and Monterey, they still don't know that the Chinese were there in the 1800s, in the 1850s [and] that they essentially established the fishing industry,” Sabado said.

When emigrating European fishermen came to the peninsula, competition for resources grew steep. The fishing village’s success overlapped with the growth of anti-Chinese sentiment across the United States, including the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 .

The village burned in 1906. An official origin was never found, but Sabado and others suspect it was the result of racism.

When Low-Sabado first began sharing the history of the fishing village at local city council and community group meetings, Sabado, her husband, said he remembers her saying she was shaking.

“I asked her, ‘What are you afraid of?’” he recalled. “And she said, ‘Well, I don’t know who’s in the audience. These people could be descendants of the folks that burned out my [great-grandmother’s] village. What if they don’t want to hear these things?’”

In 2019, Pacific Grove issued a proclamation recognizing the village and the role of Chinese communities in shaping the city. A plaque now commemorates the site of the village a few steps away from Hopkins Marine Station.

But the damage from the fire was done: It scattered the community. Some residents moved to McAbee Beach and made a home there. Others moved up the coast to San Francisco or inland toward Salinas.

“Some of her relatives, they don't want to speak about it,” Sabado said. “It's just so bad [of an] experience to get your house burned down, and to be kicked out. Even though it was well over a hundred years ago, this trauma kind of continues from generation to generation.”

During the 2022 Walk for Remembrance, Pacific Grove issued an apology to the local Chinese community for acts of violence, racism and discrimination dating back to the 1800s.

To humanize their stories, during the walk, the committee provides pictures of the original village residents to carry.

Sabado hopes they can connect with more village descendants to have an annual reunion, to more fully realize and understand the villagers’ stories — from where they went to how they continued to live in a country “that basically didn’t want you here.”

“We are … using the walk as an education tool to show the next generation there is a history here of Chinese and their contributions being really instrumental,” he said.

Using technology to unlock memories

On the other end of the bay, to the north, a mobile phone app is reviving Santa Cruz’s last Chinatown after flooding from the San Lorenzo River wiped out the area in 1955 .

UC Santa Cruz professors Susana Ruiz and Huy Truong grew up familiar with New York’s bustling Chinatown. So when they learned about Santa Cruz’s Chinatown, it stood in stark contrast — and sparked curiosity.

“It's completely visually absent from our landscape,” Ruiz said.

Recent city initiatives have added hints of Chinatown back to its former area. In 2019, Santa Cruz City Council renamed the pedestrian bridge over the San Lorenzo River across from the Front Street Trader Joe’s parking lot to the Chinatown Bridge.

Truong says the river is really “what's left of Chinatown.”

Both professors are part of the team that designed the app, called Last Chinatown. (It’s downloadable for iPhone here .) It transforms the complex across from the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History into a public memorial, and is part of an exhibit called Watermarks of the Last Chinatown on display through May 26.

The Last Chinatown uses the same technology that powers the popular mobile game Pokémon Go — augmented reality.

Pokémon Go uses a smartphone’s camera to impose interactive characters on the user’s real environment. Last Chinatown is site-specific and won’t work outside of the Santa Cruz Chinatown. The interactive characters it imposes are real people interviewed for the app and photographs taken by former Chinatown resident George Lee.

“They [Pokémon Go] got millions of people all around the world to leave their homes and go out to where they’ve never been before,” he said. “So why can’t we harness that same sort of mechanic or motivation for our histories?”

The museum serves as the starting point for the app-guided walking tour .

While walking toward the complex, the app broadcasts Lee’s narration. It accompanies a drawing of the houses that used to sit perpendicular to Front Street and the gardens that used to grow by the San Lorenzo River. Animated residents traverse the roads.

Lee’s photographs pop up on the app while walking by important Chinatown locations, like the river. On the app-guided tour, visitors are prompted to position themselves in the same place Lee was when he took the photographs.

As the images appear, so do the likenesses and voices of former Chinatown residents, like George Ow Jr., who share their memories of what life was like there.

“Chinatown was a place that you might call a ghetto,” Ow Jr. explained on the app, referencing its place in Santa Cruz’s public imagination as a red light district.

“But I never looked upon it as a negative for the Chinese, but also for Black people, because there were other Black people there too, and Mexican people and Filipinos and other minorities, where it wasn't safe or legal for them to buy or live in other places in Santa Cruz,” he continued. “So it was a haven for us.”

That haven — due to the flood — is no more.

But these community efforts, from Santa Cruz to Pacific Grove and Salinas, highlight the historic, cultural and emotional importance of these seemingly invisible histories, not just to one community, but many.

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Home / 2024 / May / Quarry Plaza encampment and campus demonstrations

Quarry Plaza encampment and campus demonstrations

To:   UCSC Community

From:   Chancellor Cynthia Larive and Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer

May 16, 2024

En Español

Our campus has a long history of effectively balancing our mission of teaching, learning, and conducting research with the rights of free expression as seen through rallies, marches, and other demonstrations. All these activities can and do occur regularly at UC Santa Cruz.

We share in the profound grief and concern for the individuals and families who are being impacted by the staggering loss of life in Gaza and by the fate of the hostages still being held by Hamas. There is immense suffering by children, families, and other civilians. We continue to express our grief for the victims of violence and displacement. We also understand that many in our community feel a deep need to do all that they can, in their own spheres of influence, to halt that violence. We respect that intention. We are, however, a large and diverse community, and we have obligations to our fellow community members and the responsibility to support the rights of everyone in our community to access all aspects of their work and education.

On May 1, a group of students created an unlawful tent encampment in Quarry Plaza. Our response has been to prioritize and support the safety of the students in the encampment and everyone else in our campus community. The campus fire marshal inspects the encampment area daily, and we have appreciated that the student demonstrators have acted to address some of the safety concerns, such as keeping staircases unobstructed.

Still, the existence of the encampment is a violation of law and university policy, has ongoing safety hazards, and has impacted our community in various ways. Our campus store has been forced to close as well as several campus food options, our resource centers are providing services from alternate locations, and a number of events have been postponed or canceled, much to the disappointment of both organizers and those planning to attend. A number of employees and others who work on campus have had their work schedules disrupted. Last week, we also experienced three dining hall disruptions. Disrupting dining halls prevents students who rely on meal plans from accessing food, an outcome that is the opposite of the action's stated goals, but the actual outcome nonetheless. These disruptions reflect a lack of respect, even if unintentional, for many in the community who are trying to do their job and simply trying to serve the campus community.

Campus leaders met with students from the encampment throughout last week to see if we could reach a mutually agreeable resolution that would include the voluntary disbanding of the encampment. We were largely quiet during that time, mostly posting safety updates on the status website to respect the intentionality and earnestness of those discussions. We remained optimistic throughout those discussions. Unfortunately, student representatives rejected the proposal that campus leadership put forward Friday, then posted on social media that our discussions were over. We remain ready to resume our dialogue with student representatives, and the ideas that we put forth remain on the table. We have communicated that with the student representatives. We believe the student representatives saw in our discussions last week that our approach was both earnest and in good faith.

Yesterday, our campus community faced additional disruption. Students blocked Hagar Drive throughout the afternoon and evening, while another group disrupted several classes. These actions are not protected speech and violate the student code of conduct. This escalation of disruption was unprompted by any action by campus administration. The continued presence of the unlawful encampment itself is causing unease for many in our community, because of the loss of access to campus resources and the messaging that has been displayed or chanted at the Quarry Plaza encampment.

We continue to call for the unlawful encampment to voluntarily disband.

We are ardent defenders of free speech and of the right of our community members to express themselves within the rights and protections of the First Amendment. As an academic institution, we encourage and depend on the robust exchange of ideas. We also strive to maintain a campus environment that is welcoming, open, civil, and mutually respectful of everyone and their views. This means speaking out against speech that deeply harms our community. This balance–and responsibility–is something all of us must take seriously. Over the past two weeks, we have seen appalling antisemitic and anti-Israeli messages and graffiti at or near the encampment. These expressions of hate, like all expressions of hate, are despicable, damaging, and have no place in our community. Our campus has a webpage with support and reporting resources for students and employees.

Our campus is special because of the remarkable students, faculty, and staff who make up our community. It is a place of learning and robust discussion. As a publicly funded university, it is also a place of laws, rules, and policies that govern the education that our students receive and the work we do. We expect everyone to uphold their responsibilities as members of this community.

Campamento en la Plaza Quarry y manifestaciones en el campus

Estimada Comunidad del Campus:

Nuestro campus tiene una larga historia de balancear eficazmente nuestra misión de enseñanza, aprendizaje, e investigaciones realizadas con todos los derechos a la libre expresión tal como se demuestra en los mítines, marchas, y otras manifestaciones. Todas estas actividades pueden ocurrir y ocurren regularmente en la UC Santa Cruz.

Compartimos el profundo pesar y las preocupaciones de los individuos y las familias que han sido impactados por las abrumadoras pérdidas de vida en Gaza y por el destino de los rehenes que siguen retenidos por Hamas. Hay un sufrimiento inmenso por parte de niños, familias y otros civiles. Nosotros continuamos expresando nuestro pesar por las víctimas de la violencia y los desplazamientos. También comprendemos que hay muchos en nuestra comunidad que sientan una profunda necesidad de hacer todo lo que puedan, en sus respectivas esferas de influencia, para frenar esa violencia. Nosotros respetamos sus intenciones. No obstante, somos una comunidad grande y diversa, y tenemos obligaciones con nuestros compañeros miembros de la comunidad, así como la responsabilidad de apoyar los derechos de todos en nuestra comunidad a tener acceso a todos los aspectos de su trabajo y educación.

El 1ro de mayo, un grupo de estudiantes plantó un campamento ilícito en la Plaza Quarry. Nuestra respuesta ha sido dar prioridad y apoyo a la seguridad de los estudiantes en el área del campamento y a todos los demás en la comunidad de nuestro campus. Las autoridades del departamento de bomberos del campus inspeccionan el área del campamento a diario, y hemos podido apreciar que el comportamiento de los estudiantes manifestantes ha tenido en cuenta esas cuestiones de seguridad, tales como no obstruir el paso a las escaleras.

Aún así, el hecho de acampar allí constituye una transgresión a las leyes y normativas de la universidad, presenta peligros actuales a la seguridad, y ha impactado a nuestra comunidad en distintas formas. La tienda de nuestro campus se ha visto obligada a cerrar, y otro tanto ha ocurrido con varios sitios del campus donde se despachan alimentos, nuestros centros de recursos están proporcionando servicios desde sitios alternos, y un número de eventos han sido aplazados o cancelados, para disgusto de tanto los organizadores como de aquellos que planeaban asistir. Los horarios de trabajo de unos cuantos empleados y otros que trabajan en el campus han sido alterados. La semana pasada, también tuvimos tres interrupciones en los comedores. Las interrupciones en los comedores impiden que los estudiantes que dependen de planes de alimentación tengan acceso a sus comidas, una situación contraria a los objetivos planteados por la acción en curso, pero que, sin embargo, ha sido el resultado actual. Estas interrupciones reflejan una falta de respeto, al margen de ser intencionales o no serlo, para muchos en la comunidad que están tratando de desempeñar su trabajo y sencillamente servir a la comunidad del campus.

Dirigentes del campus se reunieron con estudiantes del campamento durante toda la semana pasada a fin de ver si podíamos llegar a un acuerdo sobre una resolución mutuamente aceptable que incluyese la disolución voluntaria del campamento. Nos mantuvimos en silencio durante la mayor parte de ese tiempo, y nos limitamos a publicar actualizaciones del estatus de seguridad en el sitio web, en relación con la intencionalidad y seriedad de esas conversaciones. Mantuvimos nuestro optimismo durante todas esas conversaciones. Lamentablemente, los representantes estudiantiles rechazaron la propuesta presentada el viernes por la dirigencia del campus, y luego publicada en medios sociales, de que las conversaciones habían cesado. Seguimos dispuestos a reanudar el diálogo entre los representantes estudiantiles y las ideas que planteamos siguen vigentes. Así se lo comunicamos a los representantes estudiantiles. Creemos que los representantes estudiantiles han podido ver en nuestras conversaciones de la pasada semana que nuestra posición es seria y hecha de buena fe.

Ayer, nuestra comunidad del campus encaró una interrupción adicional. Algunos estudiantes bloquearon Hagar Drive durante la tarde y el anochecer, a la vez que otro grupo interrumpía varias clases. Esas acciones no están amparadas por la libertad de expresión y violan el código de conducta estudiantil. Esta escalada de interrupciones no se debió a ninguna acción de la administración del campus. La continua presencia del campamento ilícito está causando malestar a muchos en nuestra comunidad, debido a la pérdida de recursos del campus y mensajes que se han desplegado y voceado en el campamento de la Plaza Quarry.

Continuamos reclamando que el campamento ilícito se disuelva voluntariamente.

Somos fervorosos defensores de la libertad de expresión y del derecho de nuestros miembros de la comunidad a expresarse dentro de los derechos y protecciones de la Primera Enmienda. Como institución académica, alentamos y dependemos de un robusto intercambio de ideas. Nosotros también nos esmeramos en mantener un ámbito receptivo en el campus, de abrirles los brazos a todos y a sus puntos de vista, de una manera cívica y de respeto mutuo. Esto significa oponernos a un discurso que perjudique profundamente a nuestra comunidad. Este equilibrio –y responsabilidad– es algo que todos nosotros debemos tomar en serio. En las últimas dos semanas, hemos visto mensajes y pintadas antisemitas y antiisraelíes en o cerca del campamento. Estas expresiones de odio, como todas las expresiones de odio, son despreciables, dañinas, y están fuera de lugar en una comunidad como la nuestra. Nuestro campus tiene un sitio web con support and reporting resources ( apoyo y recursos para reportar ) para estudiantes y empleados.

Nuestro campus es especial por los notables estudiantes, miembros de la facultad y del personal que componen nuestra comunidad. Este es un lugar dedicado a la enseñanza y el debate enérgico. Tratándose de una universidad amparada por fondos públicos, es también un lugar de leyes, reglas y normativas que rigen la educación que reciben nuestros estudiantes y el trabajo que aquí hacemos. Esperamos que todos se mantengan a la altura de sus responsabilidades como miembros de esta comunidad.

Atentamente,

Cindy y Lori

Cynthia Larive Rectora

Lori Kletzer Preboste del Campus y Vicerrectora Ejecutiva

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Last modified: May 17, 2024 128.114.113.87

Pro-Palestinian protesters move UC Santa Cruz encampment, join striking workers

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As hundreds of striking academic workers walked a picket line at UC Santa Cruz on Monday, alleging the University of California’s response to pro-Palestinian demonstrators has been hostile, a group of protesters moved their encampment across campus.

Protesters relocated their days-old encampment — including tents and sleeping bags — to the entrance of the university along High Street to be closer to the striking academic workers, who allege their free speech rights were violated when peaceful demonstrations at other campuses were met with violence .

“Long live the people’s university,” read some of the signs erected near more than two dozen tents erected near the campus entrance. Another read, “No one is free until we are all free.”

The strike, which was announced Friday, is the first in a potential series of labor actions at colleges across the UC system. Union leaders claim the response to campus protests amounted to unfair labor practices and are demanding that UC officials negotiate with pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

The strike was voted on by members of United Auto Workers Local 4811, which represents about 48,000 graduate student teacher assistants, tutors, researchers and other academic workers.

UC academic workers’ strike begins as pro-Palestinian activism enters new phase

Academic workers walk out to support participants in the pro-Palestinian protests. UC officials call the strike illegal. It could spread to other campuses.

May 20, 2024

On Monday, students and other pro-Palestinian supporters moved their encampment across campus, joining striking workers along the main road to UC Santa Cruz where they would be more visible. A large pile of pillows and sleeping bags, moved from the old encampment, sat atop a tarp that had been placed on the ground Monday afternoon at the new location.

“We want to put more pressure on the UC,” said a media liaison for protesters known as Shiv, a first-year politics major at the university. “Now we’re ready to move and to force them to pay attention to us .”

UC officials have called the job action illegal, arguing that academic workers have a valid contract with a no-strike clause. They have filed an unfair practice charge against the union.

The strike comes amid an onslaught of campus encampments set up by students and other demonstrators, who have, at times, occupied college buildings while calling for an end to Israel’s military attacks in Gaza .

In California, some of those encampments have been cleared with a significant police presence. At UCLA, more than 200 people were arrested in a smoke-filled clash with police that spanned two days. At UC Irvine, law enforcement agencies from across Orange County wearing riot gear dismantled a camp and arrested 47 protesters.

Police also were called to take down encampments at UC San Diego , Cal Poly Humboldt and USC . By contrast, demonstrators at UC Riverside and UC Berkeley reached agreements with university officials to take down the camps without any police interaction.

Photos: Tensions grow as pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses continue

As pro-Palestinian protests grow at California colleges and universities, counterprotesters spark clashes at UCLA.

May 1, 2024

Students at UC Davis have managed to keep their encampment up for nearly two weeks without any clashes with the university.

Protesters at UC Santa Cruz have remained on campus for about three weeks. “I am appalled by what Israel is doing to Palestine,” Shiv said Monday.

Some student groups that have taken part in the encampment applauded the strike and noted on social media they would join workers on the picket line. One of them, Justice in Palestine, called on the union to authorize more strikes.

“The path forward is clear: UAW 4811 must immediately call a strike at all University of California campuses,” the student group posted Monday on Instagram .

Group members called for a divestment from Israel and amnesty for those involved in negotiations.

“This must be a strike for Palestine,” they wrote.

Striking workers are demanding that UC officials negotiate with pro-Palestinian demonstrators and grant amnesty to those who might face disciplinary action.

As part of their reason for the strike, the union cited an attack on demonstrators at the UCLA encampment and the arrest of union members there. Union officials called the incident “an assault on our fundamental right to free expression.”

Posts on social media suggest that the strike might spread to other UC campuses, including UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Davis and UC San Diego.

UC officials charge that academic workers’ strike over pro-Palestinian protests is illegal

The union representing UC academic workers said Friday that its members at UC Santa Cruz would go on strike Monday over alleged worker rights and free speech violations.

May 17, 2024

On campus, some students said the climate has been “a bit tense.”

“It can be a little frustrating or stressful not having the [teaching assistants] there and the uncertainty of not knowing what our grades are going to be,” said Lux Morgan, 18, an art and design games and playable media major. “I am in full support of what they are striking for. The use of police violence is really not OK.”

Jesse Johnson, 19, a marine biology major, said he also supports the protests — even with the uncertainty about his grades.

“I think it will work out in the end,” he said. “I can’t imagine they would necessarily punish students.”

More to Read

UC worker strike to hit UCLA, Davis next. A looming question: Is this walkout legal?

May 24, 2024

Police descend on UCLA after protesters erect new pro-Palestinian encampment

May 23, 2024

UC seeks injunction to halt strike as academic workers threaten to expand walkouts

May 21, 2024

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Salvador Hernandez is a reporter on the Fast Break Desk, the Los Angeles Times’ breaking news team. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, he was a senior reporter for BuzzFeed News, where he covered criminal justice issues, the growing militia movement and breaking news. He also covered crime as a reporter at the Orange County Register. He is a Los Angeles native.

Jessica Garrison writes about Northern California for the Los Angeles Times. She has previously covered Los Angeles City Hall, courts, education and the environment. As a reporter, her work has won a National Magazine Award for Public Service, among other honors. Work she has edited has won a George Polk Award and was a finalist for a Goldsmith Prize. Her book, “The Devil’s Harvest,” told the story of a contract killer who stalked Central Valley farm towns for years while authorities failed to bring him to justice. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley.

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