High tides and large swells are making their way to Santa Cruz County, prompting the closure of several areas of Seacliff State Beach and New Brighton Beach. However, these tides are not considered King Tides. For that phenomenon, you’ll have to wait until January 11.
Eastside / Live Oak / Pleasure Point
Eastside Santa Cruz, Live Oak and Pleasure Point neighborhoods
Posted inFood & Drink
Does El Rosal Bakery really serve the ‘best tamales in town’?
El Rosal Bakery in Live Oak serves tamales all year round, but makes “thousands” a day in December in order to fulfill holiday orders. The shop, located in the Live Oak Shopping Center, claims to make the best tamales in town.
Posted inGuides
Will pickleball take over the planet? We investigate this ‘fastest-growing sport’; laughter, trash talk ensue
Everyone seems to be talking about this little brother of tennis, cousin of pingpong and distant relative of badminton, squash and something in the U.K. called padel (Google it). Like you, perhaps, we wondered what the big deal was. So we decided to do the heavy investigative journalism for you. Spoiler alert: Pickleball is easy and addictive. If you try it, you will like it and you will want more. Here’s a guide to discovering your inner pickleballer right here in beautiful, pickleball-weather-friendly Santa Cruz County.
Posted inGuides
Pleasure Point: Key characters and famous folks
Jay Moriarity My old neighbor and idol, Jay Moriarity showed a lot of patience with me. A world-renowned Mavericks charger and waterman by the time he graduated high school, he was one of my favorite people to surf with, especially when the waves picked up. He never barked at me for tugging his wetsuit sleeve, […]
Posted inGuides
Pleasure Point: Iconic landmarks and can’t-miss institutions
Pony Park Nestled between Schwan Lake and 17th Avenue, Pony Park is a hidden gem for nature lovers. A grove of giant live oak trees provides a dense series of pathways that circle the park, some with tree branches the size of tree trunks! These living giants are perfect for kids to climb or as […]
Posted inEastside / Live Oak / Pleasure Point, Guides
Pleasure Point: Beautiful quirks and local lore
The Roadhouse This establishment, situated a stone’s throw from the cliffs at 38th Avenue, has a long and exciting story. Constructed in 1902 by an Irishman named Henchy, midway through the effort it was decided to install a saloon on the bottom floor. By the ‘20s, the Roadhouse was somewhere farmers and hunters would go […]
Posted inGuides
Pleasure Point: A rapidly changing, surf-obsessed neighborhood with a gritty past
Pleasure Point’s beat-up beach cottages are being torn down to erect multistory, multimillion-dollar homes. For lifelong Point denizens like the author, the changing face of an iconic neighborhood — one of California’s last rough-edged coastal zones — hasn’t been without its pros and cons. While the scene has become livelier and friendlier over the years, the cost of living has soared, sending many longtime locals packing.
Posted inAptos, Capitola & Soquel, Eastside / Live Oak / Pleasure Point, Guides, Watsonville / Pajaro, Westside / Downtown
Slurps up!: Lily’s guide to the best hard slushies in Santa Cruz County
Here are a dozen places to celebrate the summer with a cold buzz (beware of the brain freeze!) — and leave 7-Eleven Slurpee machine memories far in the rearview mirror.
Posted inGuides
Guide to food trucks and pop-ups in Santa Cruz County
Forty food trucks and pop-ups now dot the Santa Cruz County landscape. Call it global food tourism — within 30 minutes. Here’s where to find dumplings, Cubanos, yakitori, adobo, tapas and so much more.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel, Eastside / Live Oak / Pleasure Point, Guides, Westside / Downtown
Into the blue: Your guide to Santa Cruz coastal exploration
Whether in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard, the waters just off Santa Cruz County are swimming with possibilities. Take it easy in the Yacht Harbor? Cruise around a wharf? Explore the wilds off the Westside? Venture to Shark Park and the Cement Ship? Lookout has you covered no matter what you choose.