Out of desire and necessity, many people are choosing close to home vacations and close to home honeymoons. I am fortunate enough to live in Santa Cruz -- and I have realized what an amazing and romantic place Santa Cruz and the Central Coast could be for a honeymoon. Better still, there are an abundance of fun and wonderful activities that could be included on a honeymoon registry....Sunset in Santa Cruz, CA
Although Santa Cruz does not have the always 80 plus degress tropical climes and water, it does have beautiful weather. The cool morning fog (if there does happen to be fog) paints a very different picture on the already beautiful land and seascapes. It also offers a chance to head inland for some sunnier activities or to take stunning hikes in the redwoods at Nisene Marks State Park of Big Basin without feeling like you're missing sunny beach time. After your hikes when the fog has cleared, you can head out to the beach!
Many people (although not me!) can and do get in the Pacific here for water sports without wetsuits. I can do it -- but find that the 30 seconds I can tolerate the water is not enough time for boogie boarding and surfing. However, with a wetsuit, I can boogie board for hours. There are an abundance of surf shops that rent wetsuits (and boogie boards too) for just $10 day.If I were to honeymoon in Santa Cruz and the Central Coast, here is what I would do and have on my HoneyLuna honeymoon registry.... (if you're flying in, Santa Cruz is 90 minutes from SFO and 35 minutes from San Jose)
5 nights Santa Cruz (more if you can!)
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk -- ride the Giant Dipper!
- Lunch and Dinners on the Santa Cruz Pier
- Dinner on Pacific Avenue, Downtown Santa Cruz
- Sunset Sail on Monterey Bay on the Chardonnay
- Kayak the Elkhorn Slough
- Wine Tasting in Santa Cruz and Corralitos (yes, wine tasting!)
- Hiking in Nisene Marks or Big Basin State Park
- A walk on the bluff top trail at Wilder Ranch State Park is a must!
- Day trip up Hgwy
1 to Pescadero (Famous Clam Chowder at Duarte's Tavern (I'm a vegetarian so I've never had it, but friends insists it's the best!), Pigeon Point Lighthouse and a glass of wine at the Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay - Have a bonfire at the beach! (Bonfires are legal on most beaches)
2 nights Carmel or Big Sur
- Explore Carmel
- Wine Tasting in the Carmel Valley
- 17 Mile Drive
- A glass of wine (or brunch if you can afford it!) at Pebble Beach
- Dinner at Clint Eastwood's Mission Ranch Inn
- Lunch at Nepenthe
- Hiking at Pt. Lobos, Julia Pfeifer Burns or Andrew Molera State Parks
- Admisison to the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- If the whales are migrating, a whale watching trip
1 night RockyPoint (this is a few hours south on Hgwy 1)
- Just a really cool Inn in a stunning location. Ocean View Room worth the splurge. Dinner at the Rocky Point Inn.
If you want to continue on Hgwy 1 driving south, then a night or two in Cambria with a full day at Hearst Castle is a must!
There are so many more things to see and do -- so if you have more time, check out Pinnacles National Monument, Ano Nuevo State Park and the elephant seals (reservations a must), the very charming beach town of Capitola, Phil's Fish Market at Moss Landing (after kayaking the Elkhorn Slough).... You will find an abundance of affordable, beautiful, fun and romantic things to do in Santa Cruz!
