Santa Cruz County’s coastline isn’t just a place to surf or stroll — it’s a stage for some of the best seafood dining experiences in the region, where menus packed with chowder, cioppino, steamed mussels and sushi meet sweeping views of the bay, harbor or beach.
Guides
Posted inFood & Drink
Santa Cruz pizza guide: Does our pizza-obsessed county have its own style?
Santa Cruz County is home to more than 70 places to buy pizza, and can boast a higher pizza-per-capita ratio than New York City and Chicago. Our little coastal community’s pizza obsession is rooted in California culinary history, but modern chefs are putting their own spin on things with local ingredients and fresh takes on regional styles. Local pizza makers weigh in on whether Santa Cruz has developed its own style.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Perfect for the winter chill: A guide to Santa Cruz summer fun ahead
The 100th birthday of the grand old Giant Dipper at the Beach Boardwalk and a record-breaking season of theater at Santa Cruz Shakespeare are among the things to look forward to in the summer of 2024.
Posted inFood & Drink
A guide to the best burgers in Santa Cruz County
Which burgers in Santa Cruz County are the best? Lookout food and drink correspondent Lily Belli hit the streets to find out. From cheffy restaurant burgers to paper-wrapped fast food, here are the local burgers that rose to the top.
Posted inGuides
A driver’s guide to Santa Cruz County road delays to come
Major road work is coming in 2024, and three major east-west arteries — Murray Street, Highway 1 and Soquel Drive — will all see delays and potential closures over the next few years, which could make an already crowded commute even more time-consuming. Now, Carmageddon keeps you updated weekly on the projects that might slow your drive.
Posted inGuides
Where to find trivia events across Santa Cruz County
In Santa Cruz County, trivia events are on the scheduled at venues from brewpubs to wineries to restaurants, stretching from Santa Cruz to Capitola to Watsonville. Here is an list of regular trivia events in Santa Cruz County, including Tuesday nights in Abbott Square, hosted by Lookout’s Wallace Baine.
Posted inGuides
Zip line the redwoods, take a forest bath, ride the rails, row a boat — choose your own Felton summer adventure
No matter your budget, the ages and size of your crew and how you like your fun (active, chill, noisy, peaceful, with or without an adult beverage at hand …), chances are you can find something in Felton to make summer memories to cherish. Take our quiz and let Ashley Spencer be your guide from there.
Posted inFood & Drink
These views weren’t made for just walking: Where to get breakfast, lunch and dinner along West Cliff Drive
Iconic West Cliff Drive is a Santa Cruz favorite for locals and tourists alike, and whether you need breakfast and a caffeine pick-me-up, a snack or lunch on the go or a sit-down dinner with killer views, the food and drink options aren’t bad, either. Laura Sutherland gives us the tour, with stops at Shrine Coffee, Steamer Lane Supply and Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge.
Posted inFood & Drink
Cocoa-nuts rejoice: Santa Cruz County chocolatiers have a match for every dad this Father’s Day
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 Sutherland has a guide to pairing Dad with offerings from local chocolate makers Marini’s, Tiny House, Donnelly, Mackenzies and Ashby Confections.
Posted inFood & Drink
In vino veritas: A guide to Westside Santa Cruz’s walkable wine scene
With rainy season just about over (right?) and longer days, what better time to get familiar with — or revisit — the walkable winery tasting rooms of Santa Cruz’s Westside. Red, white, bubbly, in refillable bottles … there’s more than enough to make a weekend or two out of, and Laura Sutherland takes us for the stroll.