We've had an annual girls trip to Santa Cruz that we've been doing since Emily was 8 months old. We always go to the beach and the Boardwalk but we've always struggled with where to stay. We've tried places in Santa Cruz and Capitola and have never been really happy. Last year we ended up staying in Monterey and driving over to the Boardwalk. Since the Santa Cruz area was majorly lacking in hotels I was so excited to hear that a Hyatt was being built in town. It wasn't open last Summer during our vacation but I knew exactly where to stay this year.
We just returned from our girls vacay and not only did we have a great time but we absolutely loved the Hyatt Place Santa Cruz. The hotel is well appointed; modern and sleek. The amenities were phenomenal including a complimentary breakfast, bar, snack shack, business center, gym and pool and jacuzzi spa. The breakfast was extensive and delicious. We loved taking advantage of it both mornings and not having to load up in the car to find a breakfast spot. We also took advantage of the snack bar for treats for the pool. Speaking of the pool, we splashed around both days. The girls loved playing in the pool and spa and they had great lounge areas around the pool for my mom and I. The fitness center was ample size and I was able to get workouts in both mornings.
Great amenities are one thing but the rooms need to excite as well and the rooms at Hyatt Place Santa Cruz did not disappoint. The rooms were very spacious with two queen beds, sitting area with sofa sleeper, desk, mini fridge and large dresser and armoire. The room was just perfect for all of us. My mom and I got our own beds and the girls slept on the pull out couch. The bathroom was equally nice but the counter space was lacking a little bit.
There are lots of beaches along the coast but I recommend Cowell Beach close to the Boardwalk. It's not the beach directly in front of the Boardwalk which is always packed but it's still walking distance if you're doing both in one day. It's just North of the pier, less crowded, protected and just fun. We spent the afternoon playing in the waves and digging in the sand.
North of Cowell Beach and very close to The Dream Inn there is an amazing walking path along the water and cliffs that I recommend taking a stroll during sunset. The views are amazing including the historic houses directly across the street.
You can not visit Santa Cruz without going to the historic Boardwalk. My girls get nearly as excited about this as they do Disneyland. There's something truly special about the atmosphere and the nostalgia. Riding rides and watching the waves at the same time is pretty spectacular.
We started our day with miniature golf because golf opens before the rest of the boardwalk. It's an 18 hole course and lots of fun for the young and old. After our game we hit the Boardwalk. I highly suggest a wristband to save lots of money; it really adds up to pay per ride. After a few rides stop and grab lunch. The Boardwalk offers lots of options but we always grab the essentials like corn dogs and fries. The treats can't be missed. My favorite is the chocolate dipped cookie sandwich, a close second is the frozen banana. After a food break we hit more rides and enjoyed the rest of the day living carefree.
Although there are lots of food options at the amusement park we tend to opt for dinner off site because I can only consume so much junk in one day. We like Woodies on the Wharf for a close and quick option but the perfect family restaurant for dinner is Kianti's Pizza & Pasta Bar. It's downtown Santa Cruz with a fabulous patio. They had delicious pizza and a fun atmosphere but the BEST part was they gave the girls pizza dough to play with while we were waiting. It was genius and I wish more restaurants did something like this.
Morning strolls on the beach collecting shells and digging in the sand are a must on your SC vacation.
You can easily hit all the rides on the Boardwalk in one day so we always get a 1-day wristband but then we went back the second day to play the arcade games and grab another Boardwalk treat. This way you get to enjoy two days at the park but for the price of one.
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