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County in California, United States
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Santa Cruz County is in California just south of the Bay Area. The north half of Monterey Bay is part of the county. It is the state's second-smallest county by land area, with only San Francisco County occupying a smaller physical area.
Backpacking sites about 3 mi from the parking lot. No cell phone reception.
Although the Highway 17 bus, which can be booked on Amtrak, connects the main train station in San Jose to downtown Santa Cruz, and the Monterey–Salinas Transit Route 28 connects Watsonville to Salinas and Monterey,…
Read in the guideBy bike
Road cyclists in central Santa Cruz County 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.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
San Jose · International · SJC
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Aptos is a city in Santa Cruz County in California, in the Monterey Bay Area.
Boulder Creek is a town in Santa Cruz County in the state of California.
Capitola is a small, charming town on the coast of Monterey Bay in California. It is approximately 6 miles east of downtown Santa Cruz.
Felton is a town in Santa Cruz County.
Santa Cruz is best known as a countercultural hub, with a fun bohemian feel and youthful vibe, and weekend tourist attractions like the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a historic mission, and the dubious Mystery Spot. The beaches north and south of Santa Cruz are considered some of the more pristine areas of natural beauty in central California, and while conditions generally make them impractical for swimming, several are considered an expert surfer's cold, cold paradise.
Scotts Valley is a small city in Santa Cruz County in the Santa Cruz Mountains between Santa Cruz and the Silicon Valley.
Watsonville is a city of 54,000 people (2019) in Santa Cruz County in California in the Monterey Bay Area.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is the oldest state park in California, and one of the best places to see old growth coastal redwood trees (sequoia sempervirens) near the Bay Area. As of 2025, the park has limited infrastructure and is open only for daytime visits.
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