Guides

From neighborhoods to parenting, Lookout’s guides help you feel more connected to Santa Cruz County. Don’t see a guide for something you’ve been wanting to explore? Send us a note at news@lookoutlocal.com.

Food & Entertainment

Outdoor Activities

Area Guides

Civic & Safety

Guides

Feeding the hungry

By Jessica Pasko

Quick Take

We recently told you how folks in need can get food amid the pandemic. Now, we’re telling you how you can pitch in to...

Guides

Feeding the hungry

Quick Take

We recently told you how folks in need can get food amid the pandemic. Now, we’re telling you how you can pitch in to...

Read the full Story
Wildfires

Wildfire Resource Center

By Cypress Hansen

Quick Take

Lookout Santa Cruz’s Wildfire Resource Center is a one-stop guide to everything you need to keep your family and...

Wildfires

Wildfire Resource Center

Quick Take

Lookout Santa Cruz’s Wildfire Resource Center is a one-stop guide to everything you need to keep your family and...

Read the full Story
Civic Life

Library construction

By Grace Stetson

Quick Take

Four redone Santa Cruz County library branches have reopened and four more will throw open their doors by the end of the...

Civic Life

Library construction

Quick Take

Four redone Santa Cruz County library branches have reopened and four more will throw open their doors by the end of the...

Read the full Story

Kids & Parenting

Coast Life

Group classes

By Liza Monroy

Quick Take

Who is ready to let the kids out and into summer classes? Parenting columnist Liza Monroy has tracked down the best of...

Coast Life

Group classes

Quick Take

Who is ready to let the kids out and into summer classes? Parenting columnist Liza Monroy has tracked down the best of...

Read the full Story
Coast Life

Self care and date nights for parents

By Liza Monroy

Quick Take

More than ever, COVID-beleaguered parents need “Waves of Self Care: It Takes a Village,” the new book by Capitola’s...

Coast Life

Self care and date nights for parents

Quick Take

More than ever, COVID-beleaguered parents need “Waves of Self Care: It Takes a Village,” the new book by Capitola’s...

Read the full Story

Students

Guides

Iconic West Cliff Drive is a Santa Cruz favorite for locals and tourists alike, and whether you need breakfast and a...

Iconic West Cliff Drive is a Santa Cruz favorite for locals and tourists alike, and whether you need breakfast and a...

Got a dad in your life who’s a griller? A rocker? Sports fan? Practical joker? Father’s Day is nearly upon us, and Laura...

Got a dad in your life who’s a griller? A rocker? Sports fan? Practical joker? Father’s Day is nearly upon us, and Laura...

No need to trek all the way to those packed valleys up north when the Corralitos Wine Trail will lead you to world-class...

No need to trek all the way to those packed valleys up north when the Corralitos Wine Trail will lead you to world-class...

Santa Cruz County is small, but our craft beer punches way above its weight class. Laura Sutherland had the tough...

Santa Cruz County is small, but our craft beer punches way above its weight class. Laura Sutherland had the tough...

With rainy season just about over (right?) and longer days, what better time to get familiar with — or revisit — the...

With rainy season just about over (right?) and longer days, what better time to get familiar with — or revisit — the...

Breakfast at the Westside farmers market to vino with a view to dinner al fresco in Boulder Creek and Soquel, summertime...

Breakfast at the Westside farmers market to vino with a view to dinner al fresco in Boulder Creek and Soquel, summertime...

Forty food trucks and pop-ups now dot the Santa Cruz County landscape. Call it global food tourism — within 30 minutes....

Forty food trucks and pop-ups now dot the Santa Cruz County landscape. Call it global food tourism — within 30 minutes....

Here are a dozen places to celebrate the summer with a cold buzz (beware of the brain freeze!) — and leave 7-Eleven...

Here are a dozen places to celebrate the summer with a cold buzz (beware of the brain freeze!) — and leave 7-Eleven...

From breakfast through after-dinner dessert and just about every other eating and drinking opportunity in between, Santa...

From breakfast through after-dinner dessert and just about every other eating and drinking opportunity in between, Santa...

The state of California mandated home composting on Jan. 1, but some Santa Cruz County residents have been scratching...

The state of California mandated home composting on Jan. 1, but some Santa Cruz County residents have been scratching...

Inspired by the Open Studios Art Tour, which kicks off this weekend, the Open Farm Tours show kids — and adults — where...

Inspired by the Open Studios Art Tour, which kicks off this weekend, the Open Farm Tours show kids — and adults — where...

With the Open Studios Art Tour set for the weekends of Oct. 1-2, Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 15-16, here’s your guide for getting...

With the Open Studios Art Tour set for the weekends of Oct. 1-2, Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 15-16, here’s your guide for getting...

With a two-year pause leading to high demand, local chefs, farms and winemakers are putting on their best al fresco show...

With a two-year pause leading to high demand, local chefs, farms and winemakers are putting on their best al fresco show...

Summer returns, and we’ve got a preview of the don’t-miss events. But there are questions, as the landscape is changing....

Summer returns, and we’ve got a preview of the don’t-miss events. But there are questions, as the landscape is changing....

Iconic West Cliff Drive is a Santa Cruz favorite for locals and tourists alike, and whether you need breakfast and a...

Iconic West Cliff Drive is a Santa Cruz favorite for locals and tourists alike, and whether you need breakfast and a...

Got a dad in your life who’s a griller? A rocker? Sports fan? Practical joker? Father’s Day is nearly upon us, and Laura...

Got a dad in your life who’s a griller? A rocker? Sports fan? Practical joker? Father’s Day is nearly upon us, and Laura...

No need to trek all the way to those packed valleys up north when the Corralitos Wine Trail will lead you to world-class...

No need to trek all the way to those packed valleys up north when the Corralitos Wine Trail will lead you to world-class...

Santa Cruz County is small, but our craft beer punches way above its weight class. Laura Sutherland had the tough...

Santa Cruz County is small, but our craft beer punches way above its weight class. Laura Sutherland had the tough...

With rainy season just about over (right?) and longer days, what better time to get familiar with — or revisit — the...

With rainy season just about over (right?) and longer days, what better time to get familiar with — or revisit — the...

Breakfast at the Westside farmers market to vino with a view to dinner al fresco in Boulder Creek and Soquel, summertime...

Breakfast at the Westside farmers market to vino with a view to dinner al fresco in Boulder Creek and Soquel, summertime...

Forty food trucks and pop-ups now dot the Santa Cruz County landscape. Call it global food tourism — within 30 minutes....

Forty food trucks and pop-ups now dot the Santa Cruz County landscape. Call it global food tourism — within 30 minutes....

Here are a dozen places to celebrate the summer with a cold buzz (beware of the brain freeze!) — and leave 7-Eleven...

Here are a dozen places to celebrate the summer with a cold buzz (beware of the brain freeze!) — and leave 7-Eleven...

From breakfast through after-dinner dessert and just about every other eating and drinking opportunity in between, Santa...

From breakfast through after-dinner dessert and just about every other eating and drinking opportunity in between, Santa...

The state of California mandated home composting on Jan. 1, but some Santa Cruz County residents have been scratching...

The state of California mandated home composting on Jan. 1, but some Santa Cruz County residents have been scratching...

Inspired by the Open Studios Art Tour, which kicks off this weekend, the Open Farm Tours show kids — and adults — where...

Inspired by the Open Studios Art Tour, which kicks off this weekend, the Open Farm Tours show kids — and adults — where...

With the Open Studios Art Tour set for the weekends of Oct. 1-2, Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 15-16, here’s your guide for getting...

With the Open Studios Art Tour set for the weekends of Oct. 1-2, Oct. 8-9 and Oct. 15-16, here’s your guide for getting...

With a two-year pause leading to high demand, local chefs, farms and winemakers are putting on their best al fresco show...

With a two-year pause leading to high demand, local chefs, farms and winemakers are putting on their best al fresco show...

Summer returns, and we’ve got a preview of the don’t-miss events. But there are questions, as the landscape is changing....

Summer returns, and we’ve got a preview of the don’t-miss events. But there are questions, as the landscape is changing....

No matter your budget, the ages and size of your crew and how you like your fun (active, chill, noisy, peaceful, with or...

No matter your budget, the ages and size of your crew and how you like your fun (active, chill, noisy, peaceful, with or...

The 30-mile stretch of coast north of Santa Cruz between Año Nuevo and Pescadero offers a wealth of options for families...

The 30-mile stretch of coast north of Santa Cruz between Año Nuevo and Pescadero offers a wealth of options for families...

Just 60 miles or less from just about anywhere in Santa Cruz County, Monterey makes a great destination for families and...

Just 60 miles or less from just about anywhere in Santa Cruz County, Monterey makes a great destination for families and...

Mussel foraging season runs from fall into spring in California. Here’s our guide to some of the more intricate details...

Mussel foraging season runs from fall into spring in California. Here’s our guide to some of the more intricate details...

Everyone seems to be talking about this little brother of tennis, cousin of pingpong and distant relative of badminton,...

Everyone seems to be talking about this little brother of tennis, cousin of pingpong and distant relative of badminton,...

Whether in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard, the waters just off Santa Cruz County are swimming with possibilities....

Whether in a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard, the waters just off Santa Cruz County are swimming with possibilities....

The world has been a bit upside down, from COVID-19 to economic and wildfire recovery. Here’s our Lookout Guide to...

The world has been a bit upside down, from COVID-19 to economic and wildfire recovery. Here’s our Lookout Guide to...

With the concurrent arrival of fall and the season’s first northwest swell, which brought large waves to Santa Cruz’s...

With the concurrent arrival of fall and the season’s first northwest swell, which brought large waves to Santa Cruz’s...

If it still feels too soon to take a vacation-vacation, or you just didn’t get around to planning one, rejoice in all...

If it still feels too soon to take a vacation-vacation, or you just didn’t get around to planning one, rejoice in all...

Lawns are so 20th century, and they’re disappearing from the local landscape. But what to plant as water supply gets...

Lawns are so 20th century, and they’re disappearing from the local landscape. But what to plant as water supply gets...

No matter your budget, the ages and size of your crew and how you like your fun (active, chill, noisy, peaceful, with or...

No matter your budget, the ages and size of your crew and how you like your fun (active, chill, noisy, peaceful, with or...

The 30-mile stretch of coast north of Santa Cruz between Año Nuevo and Pescadero offers a wealth of options for families...