When visiting Santa Cruz, there is such a thing as a typical experience. Tourism isn’t a $500 million industry in our county for no reason—we know what we’re doing. “There are baseline things that everyone enjoys, like the weather and sea lions,” says Crystal Birns, City Arts Program Manager for Santa Cruz. However, for visitors looking for more than the beach-Boardwalk-hotel combo, there is a pulsating world of what city arts leaders are calling “cultural tourism” hiding just under the surface. The trick is to know where to look.
“The number of creative subcultures in Santa Cruz runs thick. So much of the creative action goes on behind the scenes that it can be challenging to see the forest for the trees, especially if you’re a first-time visitor,” says Birns.
Nina Simon, director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, believes our offbeat town brings out something important in its visitors.
“Any kind of travel is about fulfilling this part of your identity that doesn’t exist in your daily life, and I think Santa Cruz has an aspirational identity that is about being unique, being creative and being yourself,” she says.
And while some aspects of visiting Santa Cruz can be a little intimidating to outsiders (like, say, locals tacking up fake shark warning posters at Pleasure Point earlier this summer to scare away newbies), our arts and culture scene is wide open and accepting of people who visit here looking for a chance to fully be themselves. “Nobody’s ever going to tell you to get off their wave at Dance Church, right?” says Simon.
Don’t know about Dance Church? Don’t fret. We’ve got you covered, with a list of top cultural tourism spots hand-picked by Simon and Birns. These are definitely not your typical Santa Cruz tourism spots, but they do represent the uniqueness that brings people here in the first place. Locals are likely to discover a thing or three worth checking out themselves. Read up, then get exploring. There’s a lot here to experience.
1. Ukulele Club
If a beach filled with dozens of ukulele players serenely strumming sounds like a scene out of What Dreams May Come, do not be fooled—you are not in the afterlife, you are just in Santa Cruz. “Santa Cruz is home to a number of renowned luthiers and a uke store,” says Birns. Our local ukulele club boasts over 50 members, many of whom jam every Saturday morning from 10am to noon on the beach, calling themselves “Sons of the Beach.” You can find them in the sand in front of the Kind Grind Coffee Shop at the harbor, 2222 E. Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz.
2. Dance Church
Every Sunday morning for the past 10 years, members of the dance community have come to the 418 Project to dance, roll around on the floor, sweat, hula hoop and experience varying forms of spiritual transformation—all to a meditative New Age soundtrack. “There’s nothing I haven’t seen happen on that floor,” dance church veteran Daniel Mollner told the Weekly. Sundays beginning at 9am at 418 Front St., Santa Cruz.
3. Public Art Walking Tour
“For a small town we have a ton of public art,” says Birns. “There are murals in alleys, local art on traffic signal cabinets, rotating sculptures on Pacific Avenue and a full-size whale built by a boat builder outside the natural history museum.” Pick up a free walking tour map that showcases 100 pieces of public art from one of the downtown visitor kiosks, or download it yourself at santacruzpublicart.com.
4. Guerilla Drive-In
Describing itself as “an outdoor movie theater under the stars that springs up unexpectedly in the fields and industrial wastelands,” Guerilla Drive-In’s roving film screenings take back the realm of evening entertainment from The Man—screenings are entirely free, and you don’t have to shove Twizzlers down your pants in order to bring them to the theater. Their last screening was in April, at a big warehouse off of Highway 1, so we’re anticipating at least another screening or two this summer. Check out their website at guerilladrivein.org for updates.
5. Fire Dancing at Lighthouse Field
Every Sunday just after sunset at Lighthouse Field off of West Cliff Drive (just past the sculpture of the surfer), a mixture of hula hoopers, fire dancers and poi firespinners take to the field and practice their craft in a scene that is hard to describe with words, set to a drum circle soundtrack. “That park just kind of becomes a place where people are doing this mixture of…it’s like, semi-athletic, it’s semi-artistic, it’s just kind of what they’re doing,” says Simon.
6. Saturday Art Markets
Every Saturday throughout July, a different artist collective takes over Abbott Square in front of the Museum of Art and History, filling it with innovative and affordable art—think sculptures inspired by vintage arcade games, cut paper botanicals and handbags made from old bike tubes. It’s great place to find only-in-Santa-Cruz souvenirs and gifts for the folks back home. Find a schedule of participating artists at santacruzmah.org. From 11am-5pm at 705 Front St., Santa Cruz.
7. Pizza Dough Acrobatics at Kianti’s
Every Friday and Saturday night, patrons of the Pacific Ave. pizza and pasta restaurant can expect to have their dinners halted by lights dimming, loud music coming in from the speakers, and a full-on choreographed dance presented by the waiters and kitchen staff. “It’s a full show. We have feather boas,” says Kianti’s bartender Danny Kane. After that, it’s time for the main attraction: “They call it pizza dough acrobatics, “says Kane, of the crowd-pleasing performances by World Pizza Spinning Champions (you read that correctly) Justin Wadstein and Jay Schuurman. “They throw it all over the place, and flip it over their heads and under their legs. It’s a good old time.” Fridays and Saturdays at approximately 6:30pm and 8:30pm at Kianti’s, 1100 Pacific Ave.
8. Hiking the Coastal Dairies Land
Of course the redwoods are majestic. But for visitors looking to experience a different kind of local scenery, the Coastal Dairies Land is an unmatched, wide-open, peaceful expanse of coastal bluffs and sustainable farms dotted with grazing cattle and almost entirely free from other hikers. Here’s how it’s done, according to Birns: “Drive up Highway 1. Park anywhere between Wilder Ranch and Davenport. Walk from your car over the railroad tracks toward the cliffs. You will bump into a trail. Take that trail where it leads. You will find some of the most amazing views in the world. When you’re done, if you’re up for a lunch treat drive to Davenport and eat at the Davenport Roadhouse. Yum!”
9. Cabrillo and Live Oak Farmers Markets
A lot can be learned about a town from its farmers’ markets. They provide a chance to scope out how the locals interact, and offer a literal taste of the culture. Here in Santa Cruz, we have a number of great markets. While the Wednesday market in downtown Santa Cruz is always a huge draw, visitors may not know they can expand their horizons by visiting the markets at Cabrillo College (Saturdays from 8am-noon at 6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos) and at Live Oak (Sundays from 9am-1pm at 15th and East Cliff Dr., Live Oak). Both markets feature live music, which adds that little something peppy to the hunt for peppers (and other vegetables).
10. Picnic with Shakespeare
While Shakespeare Santa Cruz isn’t exactly an unknown event, it’s worth noting that those who come early get access to the first come first served picnic seating up front. “Bring your own bottle, picnic dinner, blanket and chairs, or pillows if you prefer to lounge,” says Birns. “Also bring warm clothes, and make sure to wear socks. Once you’re cozy in the redwood glen, prepare to get a little tipsy and be enchanted.” This summer’s season features The Taming of the Shrew, Henry V and fringe show Tom Jones. All shows are outdoors in the glen. For the full schedule, visit shakespearesantacruz.org.
