The Lookout List

Santa Cruz County thrives when we shop local. The 2025 Lookout List: Shopping & Retail winners and runner-ups celebrate the businesses that keep our community full of character.

The 2025 Lookout List: Food & Drink Experiences winners and runners-up show off the flavors, views and moments that make our culinary scene special.

From summer camps and tutoring programs to musical classes, veterinary clinics and pet grooming, Lookout readers picked the places that keep kids learning, pets pampered and families smiling. The 2025 Lookout List: Family & Pets winners and runners-up are the local favorites everyone trusts to make everyday life a little more joyful.

The 2025 Lookout List: Food & Drink Experiences winners and runners-up show off the flavors, views and moments that make our culinary scene special.

Santa Cruz County knows how to take care of itself, and our readers have their favorite spots for rest, renewal and a little self-care. From acupuncture and spa days to haircuts, barbers and full-on self-care experiences, the 2025 Lookout List: Health & Wellness winners and runners-up are the local favorites that keep our community feeling its best.

From summer camps and tutoring programs to musical classes, veterinary clinics and pet grooming, Lookout readers picked the places that keep kids learning, pets pampered and families smiling. The 2025 Lookout List: Family & Pets winners and runners-up are the local favorites everyone trusts to make everyday life a little more joyful.

From sipping and sampling to dancing and discovering, Santa Cruz County’s festivals and community events keep the good times rolling. Our readers voted for their favorite community celebrations, and the 2025 Lookout List: Community & Events winners and runners-up prove that there’s always something worth showing up for.

Grab a ticket, a paintbrush or microphone. Santa Cruz County is buzzing with creativity, and our readers picked the theaters, venues and cultural gathering spots that keep the arts alive and thriving. These 2025 Lookout List: Art & Entertainment winners and runners-up are the places everyone is talking about.

From bike shops that keep wheels spinning to gyms that leave you feeling empowered, surf shops stacked with gear and u-pick farms bursting with fresh goodies, the 2025 Lookout List: Activities & Outdoor winners and runners-up are the local favorites everyone is talking about.