Westside Santa Cruz Travel Guide

Santa Cruz

This is a small state park at the northern end of Santa Cruz' scenic West Cliff Drive and a little over a mile from the Boardwalk, wharf and Main Beach.  A couple of times a year you can see Monarch butterflies during their migration. They are not in the numbers of years past, but you'll still see some.

If you walk north towards the rocks during low tide you will find some amazing tidepools full of sea anenomes, sea urchins, starfish, crabs, hermit crabs, and all sorts of marine life. The tidepools are on a ledge, so the tide needs to be quite high (>4 ft?) to reach them.

The beach is absolutely stunning at sunset.

#localsecrets
This is a small state park at the northern end of Santa Cruz' scenic West Cliff Drive and a little over a mile from the Boardwalk, wharf and Main Beach.  A couple of times a year you can see Monarch butterflies during their migration. They are not in the numbers of years past, but you'll still see some.

If you walk north towards the rocks during low tide you will find some amazing tidepools full of sea anenomes, sea urchins, starfish, crabs, hermit crabs, and all sorts of marine life. The tidepools are on a ledge, so the tide needs to be quite high (>4 ft?) to reach them.

The beach is absolutely stunning at sunset.

#localsecrets
Not only is the beach beautiful but there is a refugee for wintering monarch butterflies! This was also where I saw my first sea lion when I moved here! #beachbound
Walk through cave!
A few hours before low tide, the beach was completely foggy! We tromped all over the rocks and the kids ran into the water, completely soaking themselves! 

It finally cleared up and was a beautiful evening, but the fog had its own mystery.
#beach

Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Westside Santa Cruz

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz

3 out of 5
550 2nd St Santa Cruz CA
The price is Rp1.911.925 per night from 9 Feb to 10 Feb
Rp1.911.925
Rp2.214.746 total
9 Feb - 10 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,246 reviews)
Room was clean. Check in was very smooth. Staff was very informative and welcoming. Amenities were as described.

Reviewed on 31 Jan 2026

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz
Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

4 out of 5
611 Ocean St Santa Cruz CA
The price is Rp2.082.952 per night from 5 Feb to 6 Feb
Rp2.082.952
Rp2.406.680 total
5 Feb - 6 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,199 reviews)
Friendly st

Reviewed on 26 Jan 2026

Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection
Marea Sol Hotel

Marea Sol Hotel

2 out of 5
301 Beach St Santa Cruz CA
The price is Rp1.948.855 per night from 9 Feb to 10 Feb
Rp1.948.855
Rp2.256.206 total
9 Feb - 10 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,367 reviews)
Clean, updated room, was quiet. Best thing is the location

Reviewed on 30 Jan 2026

Marea Sol Hotel
Dream Inn Santa Cruz

Dream Inn Santa Cruz

4 out of 5
175 W Cliff Dr Santa Cruz CA
The price is Rp3.308.521 per night from 11 Feb to 12 Feb
Rp3.308.521
Rp3.781.550 total
11 Feb - 12 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach resort in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and a beach locale. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in their ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,008 reviews)
Just nothing beats those views - literally on the beach, you wake up

Reviewed on 1 Feb 2026

Dream Inn Santa Cruz
La Bahia Hotel and Spa

La Bahia Hotel and Spa

4.5 out of 5
215 Beach Street Santa Cruz CA
The price is Rp4.283.787 per night from 4 Feb to 5 Feb
Rp4.283.787
Rp5.746.212 total
4 Feb - 5 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 3 restaurants. Popular attractions Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Capitola ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (100 reviews)
Beautiful hotel but still working out its "bugs." In-room phone inoperable so had to repeatedly go to the front desk for room service, parking valet, etc. Engineer unable to get the phone working. Confused waiters in the restaurant leaving us almost 30-minutes before twice asking for assistance. ...

Reviewed on 2 Feb 2026

La Bahia Hotel and Spa
Casablanca On The Beach

Casablanca On The Beach

3.5 out of 5
101 Main St Santa Cruz CA
The price is Rp1.491.830 per night from 17 Feb to 18 Feb
Rp1.491.830
Rp2.305.022 total
17 Feb - 18 Feb
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this beach hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, parking (surcharge) and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,192 reviews)
This was my second time here and this time we had a beach view. Once again everything was nice from staff to room. The shared balcony overlooking the beach and wharf was lovely

Reviewed on 31 Jan 2026

Casablanca On The Beach
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Westside Santa Cruz

Default Image

Mission Hill

While visiting Mission Hill, you might make a stop by sights like Mission Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.

Mission Hill
Default Image

Downtown

While visiting Downtown, you might make a stop by sights like Pacific Avenue and Williams-Reynolds House.

Downtown
Default Image

Circles

While Circles may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Cowell's Beach and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.

Circles
Default Image

Westlake

When in Westlake, you can plan a visit to University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum and Mission Santa Cruz, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Westlake
Downtown, Santa Cruz, California, USA, during autumn. The image shows the street with trees in fall colors, buildings, and a bus. The photo shows the city's architecture.

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.

Downtown Santa Cruz
Default Image

Nobel

While Nobel may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum and Natural Bridges State Park.

Nobel


Westside Santa Cruz Travel Guide