Need Ideas/Recommendations: Santa Cruz and San Francisco - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

snowy · 03-08-2005, 11:39 AM

Hey guys--

Over spring break two good friends of mine and I are heading down to California for a few days of visiting some folks while also having fun. So far we have plans to visit both San Francisco and Santa Cruz. I've been to San Francisco several times in the past and have done all of the main touristy things. I'm wondering if anyone has any really out-of-the-way/out-of-the-ordinary recommendations. I know we have a thread on what to do in San Francisco already but mostly that covered stuff I've already done.
http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...=San+Francisco

We won't have a car while we're in San Francisco (we're planning on using public transportation for that segment of the trip and leaving the car at a relative's house) so keep that in mind, please. We're also not made of money--we're three relatively poor college students who are largely using relatives as accomodation in order to make this trip happen.

As for Santa Cruz, I've never been there before, and it's likely there will be a day on our trip where one of my friends goes surfing while my girlfriend and I do not. So we would really like some recommendations as to what to do around town (on the cheap, of course), seeing as surfer boy is the one who knows the town and we do not.

I'd also like to ask you to recommend cheap but good restaurants to visit while in any of these places. Thanks!

cyrnel · 03-08-2005, 12:53 PM

There's more than I have time for right now but...

Spend a day ambling down Hwy 1. Nice scenery & plenty to do. Moss Beach Distillery (just north of Half Moon Bay) is a great late afternoon food detour. Sit on the patio & catch a sunset. They supply the blankets.

http://www.mossbeachdistillery.com/

Give them a call for prices. We used to head over once a week to share a bucket of clams & catch the sunset. Seems to me we got out for ~$10/each sharing if we avoided a big beer tab.

Plenty of nice small beaches from there down to Bonny Doon. Old & new tourist stops, too. The earlier the better as far as crowds are concerned. For Santa Cruz, see the boardwalk but keep going to Capitola for beaches. It might have changed in the last 5yrs but the boardwalk can be tourist & teen chaos.

If you have time & tranportation, head a little further south to Monterey. Touristy, but a great aquarium.

If you're the least bit into car/motorcycle racing then know you're near two great road courses. From S.F. head north to Sonoma to see what's happening at Sears Point. It'll be expensive and chaos if there's a race but many days are just trials and lap days. I'm pretty sure it's still free admission for spectating. Same deal for Laguna Seca when you're in Santa Cruz. (track is just north of Monterey.)

Of course, if you're near Sonoma/Napa and have any interest in wines... catch a river canoe/bicycle winery tour. Look for companies that concentrate on the mom & pop wineries where you can sample & chat with the owners. Sample, weave to the next place, repeat. Cost is the tour itself plus extras if you want to buy them. Makes for a fun day. gotta go.

JJRousseau · 03-08-2005, 04:46 PM

Check this thread too:

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=73971

Coppertop · 03-08-2005, 04:56 PM

Squishor and Hard8s live in Santa Cruz, you may want to PM them if they do not see this thread. The Boardwalk is the obvious choice. You can always try The Mystery Spot as well. It is an interesting tourist attraction.

Other than that I'd recommend seeing Monterey and Carmel.

Coppertop · 03-08-2005, 05:13 PM

http://www.sfchamber.com/monterey_places_to_go.htm

There's a good place to start. Lots of info for the entire NorCal area (not just Monterey).

BlueStar · 04-15-2005, 07:48 PM

Just saw this and your spring break is probably in the past by now. But if you make it to SF again, try Zeitgeist, a sort-of-biker bar in the Mission district, good beer and food, and all kinds of interesting people go there (not just bikers).

03-08-2005, 11:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Need Ideas/Recommendations: Santa Cruz and San Francisco Hey guys-- Over spring break two good friends of mine and I are heading down to California for a few days of visiting some folks while also having fun. So far we have plans to visit both San Francisco and Santa Cruz. I've been to San Francisco several times in the past and have done all of the main touristy things. I'm wondering if anyone has any really out-of-the-way/out-of-the-ordinary recommendations. I know we have a thread on what to do in San Francisco already but mostly that covered stuff I've already done. http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...=San+Francisco We won't have a car while we're in San Francisco (we're planning on using public transportation for that segment of the trip and leaving the car at a relative's house) so keep that in mind, please. We're also not made of money--we're three relatively poor college students who are largely using relatives as accomodation in order to make this trip happen. As for Santa Cruz, I've never been there before, and it's likely there will be a day on our trip where one of my friends goes surfing while my girlfriend and I do not. So we would really like some recommendations as to what to do around town (on the cheap, of course), seeing as surfer boy is the one who knows the town and we do not. I'd also like to ask you to recommend cheap but good restaurants to visit while in any of these places. Thanks! __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

03-08-2005, 04:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
JJRousseau Psycho Location: Vancouver, Canada	Check this thread too: http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=73971 __________________ Take from the philosopher the pleasure of being heard and his desire for knowledge ceases.

03-08-2005, 12:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	There's more than I have time for right now but... Spend a day ambling down Hwy 1. Nice scenery & plenty to do. Moss Beach Distillery (just north of Half Moon Bay) is a great late afternoon food detour. Sit on the patio & catch a sunset. They supply the blankets. http://www.mossbeachdistillery.com/ Give them a call for prices. We used to head over once a week to share a bucket of clams & catch the sunset. Seems to me we got out for ~$10/each sharing if we avoided a big beer tab. Plenty of nice small beaches from there down to Bonny Doon. Old & new tourist stops, too. The earlier the better as far as crowds are concerned. For Santa Cruz, see the boardwalk but keep going to Capitola for beaches. It might have changed in the last 5yrs but the boardwalk can be tourist & teen chaos. If you have time & tranportation, head a little further south to Monterey. Touristy, but a great aquarium. If you're the least bit into car/motorcycle racing then know you're near two great road courses. From S.F. head north to Sonoma to see what's happening at Sears Point. It'll be expensive and chaos if there's a race but many days are just trials and lap days. I'm pretty sure it's still free admission for spectating. Same deal for Laguna Seca when you're in Santa Cruz. (track is just north of Monterey.) Of course, if you're near Sonoma/Napa and have any interest in wines... catch a river canoe/bicycle winery tour. Look for companies that concentrate on the mom & pop wineries where you can sample & chat with the owners. Sample, weave to the next place, repeat. Cost is the tour itself plus extras if you want to buy them. Makes for a fun day. gotta go.

03-08-2005, 04:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Coppertop Getting Medieval on your ass Location: 13th century Europe	Squishor and Hard8s live in Santa Cruz, you may want to PM them if they do not see this thread. The Boardwalk is the obvious choice. You can always try The Mystery Spot as well. It is an interesting tourist attraction. Other than that I'd recommend seeing Monterey and Carmel.

03-08-2005, 05:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Coppertop Getting Medieval on your ass Location: 13th century Europe	http://www.sfchamber.com/monterey_places_to_go.htm There's a good place to start. Lots of info for the entire NorCal area (not just Monterey).

04-15-2005, 07:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
BlueStar Upright	Just saw this and your spring break is probably in the past by now. But if you make it to SF again, try Zeitgeist, a sort-of-biker bar in the Mission district, good beer and food, and all kinds of interesting people go there (not just bikers).