The trestle bridge in Santa Cruz is the Felton Covered Bridge, also known as the Roaring Camp Bridge. It's a historic covered bridge located in Felton, just a short drive from Santa Cruz. This bridge is part of the Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow-Gauge Railroad, a heritage railroad that offers scenic rides through the redwood forests.

Four miles north of town along Highway 1, at the northern edge of Wilder Ranch State Park, you’ll find a right point called Four Mile, a less-than-perfect wave that breaks upwards of 300 days a year.

Lighthouse Point Park is also known as Point Santa Cruz, this area forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the last open headlands in any California urban area. Surfers, tourists, birds - including the rare Black Swift and wintering Monarch butterflies are drawn to this area. Sea lions populate the offshore rocks.

Steamer Lane is a famous surfing location in Santa Cruz, California. It is just off a point on the side of cliffs in the West Cliff residential area near downtown Santa Cruz, providing easy access and a good vantage point for viewing. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is housed in a lighthouse there. "Steamer Lane" is the preferred form of the name used by the people surfing there.

Cowell Beach is a beach located in Santa Cruz, California featuring volleyball, swimming, surfing or strolling along the sandy beach. Lifeguards in summer. Portions available to rent for casual weddings.

Stretching out for a half-mile, this sandy beach sits between the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the Santa Cruz Harbor. Although considered a smaller beach by some, Seabright is a well-known spot for sun worshippers, dog lovers, and those wanting a local favorite spot to catch the sunrise or sunset.

Neary Lagoon Wildlife Refuge includes mallard and wood ducks, pied billed grebes, a multitude of coots, the world's meanest geese, several varieties of fish and the occasional great blue heron or hawk.

Panther Beach is hidden in the golden cliffs at a beach about ten miles north of Santa Cruz. The trail down is narrow and overgrown with purple thistle and yellow and white mustard flowers in the spring.

Rockview Drive County Park is a small park located in Santa Cruz County, California. The park is situated on Rockview Drive, off of East Cliff Drive in the Pleasure Point neighborhood of Santa Cruz. The park is a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, and it offers a variety of recreational activities.

Pleasure Point County Park is a small park located in the Pleasure Point neighborhood of Santa Cruz County, California. The park is situated on East Cliff Drive and offers panoramic views of Monterey Bay and the surrounding coastline.