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Overview
Santa Cruz County, located in California, United States of America, is a picturesque coastal destination filled with natural beauty and vibrant communities. Situated along the central coast of California, Santa Cruz County offers a perfect blend of serene beaches, towering redwood forests, and charming coastal towns.
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When to visit
The best time to visit Santa Cruz County is during the summer months from June to September when the weather is warm and sunny. This is the ideal time to enjoy the beaches, outdoor activities, and festivals that take place during this season. However, Santa Cruz County's mild climate makes it a great destination year-round, with pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds during the spring and fall seasons.
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Reasons to Visit
There are numerous reasons to visit Santa Cruz County. Its stunning beaches provide opportunities for surfing, sunbathing, and picnicking. The county is also home to several world-class wineries, offering wine tasting experiences amidst beautiful vineyards. Adventurous travelers can explore the nearby redwood forests through hiking, biking, or camping. Santa Cruz County is also renowned for its vibrant arts and cultural scene, with numerous art galleries, theaters, and music venues to explore. Additionally, the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, with its historic amusement park and iconic wooden roller coaster, is a must-visit attraction for all ages.
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Nearby Attractions
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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a historic amusement park located on the beachfront. It offers thrilling rides, including the Giant Dipper roller coaster, carnival games, delicious food, and live entertainment. The boardwalk's lively atmosphere and beautiful coastal views make it a popular attraction for families and thrill-seekers alike.
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Natural Bridges State Beach
Natural Bridges State Beach is a stunning coastal park known for its unique rock formations and natural bridges. Visitors can explore the tide pools, catch a glimpse of migrating whales, and witness magnificent sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. The park also provides hiking trails and picnic areas, making it an ideal spot for a day of outdoor relaxation and exploration.
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Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park encompasses a vast stretch of ancient redwood forest. It offers numerous trails for hiking and horseback riding, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of these towering trees. The park is also home to the iconic 40-acre grove of giant redwoods known as the 'Garden of Eden.' It is a serene and peaceful oasis where visitors can connect with nature and experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the redwoods.
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Hotels
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Best Western Inn
- Make yourself at home in one of the 28 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available Next available price is 107.04 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Best Western Inn
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Best Western Plus All Suites Inn
- Make yourself at home in one of the 77 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Private bathrooms with bathtubs or showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair d Next available price is 147.25 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Best Western Plus All Suites Inn
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Best Western Plus Capitola By-the-sea Inn & Suites
- Make yourself at home in one of the 58 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LED televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming pr Next available price is 163.97 on Sept. 15, 2025.
Best Western Plus Capitola By-the-sea Inn & Suites
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Best Western Plus Inn Scotts Valley
- Make yourself at home in one of the 58 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainm Next available price is 125.14 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Best Western Plus Inn Scotts Valley
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Best Western Rose Garden Inn
- Make yourself at home in one of the 45 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Flat-screen televisions with cable programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet ac Next available price is 154.63 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Best Western Rose Garden Inn
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Capitola Beach Suites
- Located in Capitola and within 100 metres of Hooper's Beach, Capitola Beach Suites features a terrace, non-smoking rooms, and free WiFi. The property is set 100 metres from Capitola Beach, 1.7 km from Next available price is on .
Capitola Beach Suites
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Capri Motel
- Make yourself at home in one of the 17 air-conditioned rooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for y Next available price is on .
Capri Motel
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Cliff Crest Bed & Breakfast
- Make yourself at home in one of the 6 guestrooms featuring DVD players. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms Next available price is on .
Cliff Crest Bed & Breakfast
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Comfort Inn Beach/Boardwalk Area
- Make yourself at home in one of the 28 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Wired and wireless internet access is complimentary, and LCD televisions with cable programming provide entert Next available price is 113.99 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Comfort Inn Beach/Boardwalk Area
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Comfort Inn Santa Cruz
- Make yourself at home in one of the 62 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. 47-inch LCD televisions with digital programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireles Next available price is 127.30 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Comfort Inn Santa Cruz
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Comfort Inn Watsonville
- Make yourself at home in one of the 40 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and LCD televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your e Next available price is 125.24 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Comfort Inn Watsonville
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Courtyard by Marriott Santa Cruz
- Make yourself at home in one of the 151 air-conditioned rooms featuring LCD televisions. Your bed comes with down comforters, and all rooms are furnished with king sofa beds. Complimentary wireless in Next available price is 136.80 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Courtyard by Marriott Santa Cruz
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Drift Inn, LLC
- This central Santa Cruz motel is just an 8-minute walk from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It features guest rooms with free Wi-Fi access and a cable TV.
A microwave and mini-fridge are furnished in al Next available price is on .
Drift Inn, LLC
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Fairfield Inn & Suites Santa Cruz - Capitola
- Make yourself at home in one of the 84 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Wired and wireless internet access is complimentary, while 32-inch LCD televisions with satellite programming Next available price is 160.55 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Fairfield Inn & Suites Santa Cruz - Capitola
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Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Santa Cruz, CA
- Make yourself at home in one of the 82 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. LCD televisions with cable programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet Next available price is 253.08 on Sept. 17, 2025.
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Santa Cruz, CA
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Fantastic 2 bedroom Cottage, 5min to beach
- Featuring garden views, Fantastic 2 bedroom Cottage, 5min to beach provides accommodation with a garden and a balcony, around less than 1 km from Sunny Cove Beach. This property offers access to a ter Next available price is on .
Fantastic 2 bedroom Cottage, 5min to beach
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Fern River Resort
- Make yourself at home in one of the 14 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring microwaves and flat-screen televisions. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Cable television is provided for you Next available price is on .
Fern River Resort
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Four Points by Sheraton Santa Cruz Scotts Valley
- Make yourself at home in one of the 128 air-conditioned rooms featuring LED televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have showers and complimen Next available price is 132.05 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Four Points by Sheraton Santa Cruz Scotts Valley
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Hampton Inn & Suites Watsonville
- Make yourself at home in one of the 112 air-conditioned rooms featuring microwaves and LCD televisions. Bathrooms with bathtubs are provided. Conveniences include phones, as well as laptop-compatible Next available price is 149.15 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Hampton Inn & Suites Watsonville
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Hampton Inn Santa Cruz
- Make yourself at home in one of the 46 air-conditioned rooms featuring DVD players and LCD televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming Next available price is 151.05 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Hampton Inn Santa Cruz
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Hampton Inn Santa Cruz West, CA
- Make yourself at home in one of the 60 air-conditioned rooms featuring microwaves and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is avai Next available price is 151.05 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Hampton Inn Santa Cruz West, CA
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Harbor Inn
- Make yourself at home in one of the 19 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available fo Next available price is on .
Harbor Inn
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Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley
- Make yourself at home in one of the 178 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with premium bedding. Cable programming and MP3 docking stations are pr Next available price is 141.55 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley
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Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Santa Cruz, an IHG Hotel
- Make yourself at home in one of the 100 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LCD televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming p Next available price is 141.55 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Santa Cruz, an IHG Hotel
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Holiday Inn Express Suites Watsonville, an IHG Hotel
- Make yourself at home in one of the 65 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available fo Next available price is 162.36 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Holiday Inn Express Suites Watsonville, an IHG Hotel
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Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection
- Stay in one of 170 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms h Next available price is 141.55 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection
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Howard Johnson by Wyndham Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Make yourself at home in one of the 27 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is Next available price is 118.85 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
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La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz
- Make yourself at home in one of the 60 guestrooms featuring microwaves and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides Next available price is 170.29 on Sept. 14, 2025.
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz
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Masood's Lodge
- Make yourself at home in one of the 13 individually decorated guestrooms. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Bathr Next available price is on .
Masood's Lodge
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Monarch Cove Inn
- Make yourself at home in one of the 11 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available fo Next available price is on .
Monarch Cove Inn
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Mountain Lodge Estate
- Mountain Lodge Estate in Los Gatos provides adults-only accommodation with a garden and barbecue facilities. There is a private entrance at the apartment for the convenience of those who stay. There i Next available price is on .
Mountain Lodge Estate
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Pacific Blue Inn
- Make yourself at home in one of the 9 air-conditioned rooms featuring fireplaces. Your pillowtop bed comes with down comforters and premium bedding. Cable programming and iPod docking stations are pro Next available price is on .
Pacific Blue Inn
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Quality Inn & Suites Capitola By the Sea
- Make yourself at home in one of the 55 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and LED televisions. Rooms have private balconies. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and satellite p Next available price is 122.64 on Sept. 15, 2025.
Quality Inn & Suites Capitola By the Sea
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Quality Inn & Suites, Santa Cruz Mountains
- Make yourself at home in one of the 25 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with premium bedding, and all rooms are furnished with king sofa beds. C Next available price is 102.60 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Quality Inn & Suites, Santa Cruz Mountains
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Relaxing 3 bedroom Santa Cruz house, 5min to beach
- Located in Santa Cruz, less than 1 km from Sunny Cove Beach and a 15-minute walk from Black’s Beach, Relaxing 3 bedroom Santa Cruz house, 5min to beach offers water sports facilities and air condition Next available price is on .
Relaxing 3 bedroom Santa Cruz house, 5min to beach
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Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz
- Make yourself at home in one of the 25 air-conditioned rooms featuring LED televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertai Next available price is on .
Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz
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Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
- Make yourself at home in one of the 148 air-conditioned rooms featuring LCD televisions. Your room comes with a pillowtop bed. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable pro Next available price is 151.05 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
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Sunny Cove Motel
- Located in Santa Cruz, within 100 metres of Sunny Cove Beach and 600 metres of Black’s Beach, Sunny Cove Motel provides accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool and free WiFi as well as free privat Next available price is on .
Sunny Cove Motel
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Super 8 by Wyndham Santa Cruz/Beach Boardwalk East
- Make yourself at home in one of the 24 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. Flat-screen televisions with cable programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless Next available price is 85.50 on Sept. 14, 2025.
Super 8 by Wyndham Santa Cruz/Beach Boardwalk East
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The Aqua Pacific Hotel
- Make yourself at home in one of the 36 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring iPod docking stations and Smart televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with premium bedding. Complimentary wired and Next available price is on .
The Aqua Pacific Hotel
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The Boardwalk Beach House
- Stay in one of 9 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms with showers are provided. Conveniences include ceil Next available price is on .
The Boardwalk Beach House
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Villa Vista
- Featuring a spa bath, Villa Vista is located in Santa Cruz. This beachfront property offers access to tennis at the tennis court, free private parking and free WiFi. The holiday home features family r Next available price is on .
Villa Vista