Homes in Santa Cruz
Real estate in Santa Cruz is prized because of it's limitations: there are natural barriers to development with parks on the interior and the coast forming the western boundary. Santa Cruz real estate prices have held solidly in the $1.1 million average range for single family homes during the 4th quarter of 2018, although there are condos and townhouses, plus mobile home parks for those needing more affordable options. The climate is mild, food is local and fresh from the farm to the table, and the lifestyle is generally more relaxed overall compared to the pace and lifestyles in the nearby San Francisco Bay Area.
Santa Cruz may be best known as one of California's earliest surfing meccas, but this is much more than just a beach town. Downtown Santa Cruz is a vibrant, happening place with wide sidewalks where people comfortably mingle and meander amongst boutiques, coffee houses, stores, galleries, nightclubs and restaurants. People enjoy gathering around impromptu performances by street musicians and other artists. More formal venues include the Santa Cruz Symphony and Actors Theatre. In addition to visiting the Museum of Art and History, look for public murals and sculptures. There's a weekly farmers market featuring locally grown and often organic produce and great people watching.
The University of California at Santa Cruz offers many undergraduate degrees to its student body of about 14,000, among the most popular of which are biology, environmental studies, art, business economics and psychology. There are roughly 1500 graduate and post graduate students. The campus sits atop a hill overlooking the Monterey Bay, on land donated by the Cowells that used to be part of their ranch. The Arboretum, Shakespeare Santa Cruz and many biking and walking trails are open to the public.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the oldest coastal amusement park on the West Coast, boasts two Historical Landmarks: the legendary wooden rollercoaster the Giant Dipper and the Looff Carousel, dating back to 1926 and 1911 respectively. Santa Cruz became a popular resort destination after the railroad lines were created to pass through the Santa Cruz Mountains. Later, these railroads helped to harvest the thousand year old redwood trees that were used to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and subsequent devastating fires.
Other popular destinations include Natural Bridges State Park, famous as a resting spot for migrating Monarch Butterflies and for the rock outcropping which has been hollowed into an arch by the constant action of the waves crashing as the surf rolls toward the beach. There's also Santa Cruz Mission State Park, Seymour Marine Discovery Center with many family activities, strolling past spectacular homes along the coast on gorgeous West Cliff Drive, and the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. Just north lies Wilder Ranch State Park, where tour guides and naturalists provide hikes and demonstrations of the history of the ranch, its operations, and its incredible natural beauty.
Santa Cruz may be best known as one of California's earliest surfing meccas, but this is much more than just a beach town. Downtown Santa Cruz is a vibrant, happening place with wide sidewalks where people comfortably mingle and meander amongst boutiques, coffee houses, stores, galleries, nightclubs and restaurants. People enjoy gathering around impromptu performances by street musicians and other artists. More formal venues include the Santa Cruz Symphony and Actors Theatre. In addition to visiting the Museum of Art and History, look for public murals and sculptures. There's a weekly farmers market featuring locally grown and often organic produce and great people watching.
The University of California at Santa Cruz offers many undergraduate degrees to its student body of about 14,000, among the most popular of which are biology, environmental studies, art, business economics and psychology. There are roughly 1500 graduate and post graduate students. The campus sits atop a hill overlooking the Monterey Bay, on land donated by the Cowells that used to be part of their ranch. The Arboretum, Shakespeare Santa Cruz and many biking and walking trails are open to the public.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the oldest coastal amusement park on the West Coast, boasts two Historical Landmarks: the legendary wooden rollercoaster the Giant Dipper and the Looff Carousel, dating back to 1926 and 1911 respectively. Santa Cruz became a popular resort destination after the railroad lines were created to pass through the Santa Cruz Mountains. Later, these railroads helped to harvest the thousand year old redwood trees that were used to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and subsequent devastating fires.
Other popular destinations include Natural Bridges State Park, famous as a resting spot for migrating Monarch Butterflies and for the rock outcropping which has been hollowed into an arch by the constant action of the waves crashing as the surf rolls toward the beach. There's also Santa Cruz Mission State Park, Seymour Marine Discovery Center with many family activities, strolling past spectacular homes along the coast on gorgeous West Cliff Drive, and the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. Just north lies Wilder Ranch State Park, where tour guides and naturalists provide hikes and demonstrations of the history of the ranch, its operations, and its incredible natural beauty.
