Lower Ocean Travel Guide
Santa Cruz
Visit Lower Ocean
Popular places to visit
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Enjoy the exciting rides at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and see why everyone loves this theme park in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.
Mystery Spot
Find out about the history of Santa Cruz when you take a trip to Mystery Spot. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.
Natural Bridges State Park
You can take time to visit Natural Bridges State Park during your travels to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.
Santa Cruz Wharf
After visiting Santa Cruz Wharf, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.
Ocean Street
During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Ocean Street. Wander the area's beautiful beaches or simply enjoy one of its top-notch restaurants.
Pacific Avenue
During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Pacific Avenue. Wander the beautiful beaches in this family-friendly area.
Things to do
Capitola Friday Night Food Tour
Beginner Outdoor Rock Climbing - Bay Area
UC Santa Cruz: Personalized Self-Guided App Tour
Capitola Private Personalized Self-Guided App Tour
Top hotels in Lower Ocean
Surf City Inn and Suites
Positive+ - Room was nice, all the switches and lights were working, hot water in the shower, comfy bed with room service while we were out. Close to the Boardwalk! Negative- - Outside trash bins were overfilled, no one at the lobby (you check in via computer), no security (2 weirdos lurking around ...
Reviewed on 29 Mar 2026
The Aqua Pacific Hotel
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Reviewed on 29 Mar 2026
Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz
Easy parking, clean rooms, great shower, big thick towels and nice toilet paper. Comfortable bed, area can be loud at night but just until 10pm on a Friday night of our stay.
Reviewed on 29 Mar 2026
Torch Lite Inn
The biggest disappointment was that there was a strong smell of mold/mildew in the bathroom. The fan only made it worse. It was hard to be in there even to quickly use the toilet, let alone take a bath or shower. The rooms were renovated and looked nice but were cheaply done with corners cut. There ...
Reviewed on 28 Mar 2026
Hotel Solares
Dirty room. Dirty sheets. Dirty bathroom. Hair left behind on the sheets and in the bathroom. Cleanliness was prioritized and there was even a raccoon scoring the trash cans outside near the pool. We checked out less than an hour after checking and I don’t write reviews so that says everything.
Reviewed on 28 Mar 2026
Motel Santa Cruz
Had to switch rooms Smelled terrible Was dirty! Woke up multiple times because it was so loud. Cops arrived to hotel because there was issues happening in the hotel Horrible experience would not recommend
Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026
Other neighbourhoods around Lower Ocean
Beach Hill - Beach Flats
While there might not be top attractions in Beach Hill - Beach Flats, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Main Beach and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.
Downtown Santa Cruz
Unique features of Downtown Santa Cruz include the beaches and restaurants. Make a stop by Pacific Avenue or Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History while you're exploring the area.
Seabright
While visiting Seabright, you might make a stop by sights like Santa Cruz Harbor and Seabright Beach.
Downtown
While visiting Downtown, you might make a stop by sights like Pacific Avenue and Williams-Reynolds House.
Upper Seabright
While Upper Seabright isn't home to many top sights, Santa Cruz Harbor and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are some notable places to visit nearby.
Midtown
If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Midtown and surrounding area, you can visit Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Ocean Street.