Guidebook for La Selva Beach
Food Scene
Excellent food and gorgeous setting for dining and for events
27 locals recommend
Seascape Beach Resort
1 Seascape Resort DrExcellent food and gorgeous setting for dining and for events
Red Apple Café
783 Rio Del Mar Blvd Excellent breakfast and brunch food and fast service.
Good food and great hosts. This restaurant had a fire and has been closed, but most of the construction is done at present.
59 locals recommend
The Hideout
9051 Soquel DrGood food and great hosts. This restaurant had a fire and has been closed, but most of the construction is done at present.
Café Sparrow
8042 Soquel DrSuper breakfast and brunch place. A little pricey.
Great food, service and atmosphere. One of our best restaurants. All items are well done.
88 locals recommend
Café Cruz
2621 41st AveGreat food, service and atmosphere. One of our best restaurants. All items are well done.
Best Mexican Food. Very crowded so plan on waiting out side for a while. Across the way is Marianne for an Ice cream Desert. Pick one of their 50 flavors.
91 locals recommend
Manuel's Mexican Restaurant
261 Center AveBest Mexican Food. Very crowded so plan on waiting out side for a while. Across the way is Marianne for an Ice cream Desert. Pick one of their 50 flavors.
Great food at the Fish House. Very busy. Go early in the evening.
60 locals recommend
Monterey's Fish House
2114 Del Monte AveGreat food at the Fish House. Very busy. Go early in the evening.
Alberto's Ristorante
1219 Forest AveGreat authentic Italian in food ans service.
Cowboys Corner Cafe
946 Main StGreat food for the price. Very busy.
Ugly Mug CoffeeHouse
4640 Soquel DrGreat little local place to hang out.
Norma Jean's Coffee
8043 Soquel DrGreat place to hang out
Peet's Coffee & Tea
783 Rio Del Mar BlvdGreat place to feel the ocean. Very small place.
Great for Breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is a little on the expensive side but worth it.
71 locals recommend
Bittersweet Bistro
787 Rio Del Mar BlvdGreat for Breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is a little on the expensive side but worth it.
This place is known by everyone in the area for ready made great baked goods and prepared meals. It is a little expensive and can be crowded, but well worth the trip.
155 locals recommend
Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria
504 Bay AveThis place is known by everyone in the area for ready made great baked goods and prepared meals. It is a little expensive and can be crowded, but well worth the trip.
Parks & Nature
Great for surfing, hanging out and walking on the beach. To park it cost $10 bucks unless you can fined and space outside.
55 locals recommend
Manresa State Beach
1445 San Andreas RdGreat for surfing, hanging out and walking on the beach. To park it cost $10 bucks unless you can fined and space outside.
This area has a good fish and Spanish restaurants and places to rent boat, kayaks, canoes and surfboards for surfing or baddle-boarding. Moss Landing also has a pontoon boat tour up the estuary ($43 for Adults/$40 for seniors & $33 for kids) You can also go Whale Watching. Our favorite operator is "Sanctuary" since they use smaller boats and runs on biodiesel ($75 for adults/ $65 for kids for 2.5 hours @8am, $95 for adults /$85 for kids for 3.5 hours @ 11:30). The "Sea Goddess" is cheaper ( Main deck is $65 for adults/ $40 for kids, upper deck $85 for adults/$60 for kids) @ 9:30 am, 12:30 or 3:30 but it is a bigger boat with more people and harder to see everything. You must have booked these whale watching in advance.
37 locals recommend
Moss Landing
This area has a good fish and Spanish restaurants and places to rent boat, kayaks, canoes and surfboards for surfing or baddle-boarding. Moss Landing also has a pontoon boat tour up the estuary ($43 for Adults/$40 for seniors & $33 for kids) You can also go Whale Watching. Our favorite operator is "Sanctuary" since they use smaller boats and runs on biodiesel ($75 for adults/ $65 for kids for 2.5 hours @8am, $95 for adults /$85 for kids for 3.5 hours @ 11:30). The "Sea Goddess" is cheaper ( Main deck is $65 for adults/ $40 for kids, upper deck $85 for adults/$60 for kids) @ 9:30 am, 12:30 or 3:30 but it is a bigger boat with more people and harder to see everything. You must have booked these whale watching in advance.
Good place to visit and watch Monarch Butterflies at different times of the year. It is also on the coast north of Santa Cruz which is a very pretty area.
261 locals recommend
Natural Bridges State Beach
2531 W Cliff DrGood place to visit and watch Monarch Butterflies at different times of the year. It is also on the coast north of Santa Cruz which is a very pretty area.
Very pretty area and beach. Without a pass it will cost $10 to park there like other state parks in California.
45 locals recommend
New Brighton State Beach
1500 Park AveVery pretty area and beach. Without a pass it will cost $10 to park there like other state parks in California.
Excellent area for your own awe-inspiring hiking among the redwoods. This is a great area for nature walks in the woods. There are many hikes you can take which are clearly marked. It will cost a parking fee as all States require, but it is well worth it. This is a real nature get-a-way.
272 locals recommend
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Aptos Creek RoadExcellent area for your own awe-inspiring hiking among the redwoods. This is a great area for nature walks in the woods. There are many hikes you can take which are clearly marked. It will cost a parking fee as all States require, but it is well worth it. This is a real nature get-a-way.
Sunset State Beach
Sunset Beach RoadGood for walking to the beach. Costs $10 for parking.
Shopping
This area on 41st Avenue is the best for all general shopping. The Mall is OK but it is surrounded by shopping at Trader Joe's, CVS, Whole Earth, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc.
Capitola Mall - Lane 1 station
This area on 41st Avenue is the best for all general shopping. The Mall is OK but it is surrounded by shopping at Trader Joe's, CVS, Whole Earth, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc.
This is a very quaint, small town, but well equipped with restaurants, food shopping, pharmacy, banks, etc. It is the closest area to get essentials except if you want to go to Watsonville main street which is good as well. (See Watsonville)
17 locals recommend
Aptos
This is a very quaint, small town, but well equipped with restaurants, food shopping, pharmacy, banks, etc. It is the closest area to get essentials except if you want to go to Watsonville main street which is good as well. (See Watsonville)
Rio Del Mar Boulevard
Rio Del Mar BoulevardQuaint little place to shop for most essentials.
Entertainment & Activities
Landmark's Nickelodeon Theatre
210 Lincoln StGreat for Indy Movies
Del Mar Theater
1124 Pacific AveGreat old Art Deco movie Theater.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park
400 Beach StGreat for teenagers
Civic Auditorium
307 Church StBig Sport and music events location
Drinks & Nightlife
Great food and views as it is located right of the Santa Cruz Harbor where you can watch boats and racing events.
276 locals recommend
Crow's Nest Restaurant
2218 E Cliff DrGreat food and views as it is located right of the Santa Cruz Harbor where you can watch boats and racing events.
There is quite a night life on Pacific as it is the main street is Santa Cruz with movies, eating places and bars.
88 locals recommend
Pacific Avenue
Pacific AvenueThere is quite a night life on Pacific as it is the main street is Santa Cruz with movies, eating places and bars.
The wharf is the place to by. Good food, sightseeing and night life. Very Famous.
143 locals recommend
Santa Cruz Wharf
21 Municipal WharfThe wharf is the place to by. Good food, sightseeing and night life. Very Famous.
Sightseeing
The campus is gorgeous with all the trees, campus building and life situated on rolling hills. There are events there and an Arboretum.
67 locals recommend
University of California at Santa Cruz
Arboretum RoadThe campus is gorgeous with all the trees, campus building and life situated on rolling hills. There are events there and an Arboretum.
Pleasure Point
Great for watching the surfers and good food places.
The best spot for surfing or just watching the surfers. There is always someone there surfing.
20 locals recommend
East Cliff Drive
East Cliff DriveThe best spot for surfing or just watching the surfers. There is always someone there surfing.
Pebble Beach
Great place to see stunning views and great homes.
Santa Cruz Harbor
135 5th AveGreat for looking at Boats and views.
Arts & Culture
Carmel is famous for food, arts and tourists. Also the beach area is fantastic with it's white fine sand.
354 locals recommend
Carmel by the sea
San Antonio AvenueCarmel is famous for food, arts and tourists. Also the beach area is fantastic with it's white fine sand.