Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Road Trip to Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz Part 3

Ah, Santa Cruz, California.  Known primarily for progressive thinking, the hippie lifestyle, amazing beaches, and even better surfing, Santa Cruz has been near and dear to my heart for some years.  I had the pleasure of attending college at UC Santa Cruz and living in the area for 3 years.  As such, I was excited to show my children a little bit about the place that helped shape me into who I am today.

Before even visiting Monterey, just after arriving at our hotel after our long drive up, my husband and I took our kids straight to Santa Cruz for a little taste of beach life.  We headed to West Cliff Drive, a beautiful road on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  There's a path here for bike riders, roller bladers, walkers, and joggers.  Parking at one end, you can easily walk to the other end in about 1 hour's time.  The road is lined with small beaches, gorgeous beach houses, and a cute little lighthouse that doubles as a surf museum.



 At the northern end of the approximately 2 mile walk is Natural Bridges State Beach.  While not the easiest beach to access (the walk down to the beach is significantly easier than the schlep back up the massive sand dune), this is perhaps one of the most beautiful.  Here, you can picnic, explore the tide pools, wade through the waves, and check out local wildlife, including occasional sightings of whales, sea lions, otters, and more.  In the winter, monarch butterflies also make this park their home.  To park onsite, you need to pay, but your money will go directly to supporting our state beaches.  As an alternative, you will see that some people choose to park on a nearby road and walk in, but please be cautious as many roads do not allow parking without a permit.  There are very few exceptions.


Beaches and Santa Cruz in general can be unpredictable in terms of weather, so wear layers.  For example, when my family and I were here this past trip, it was at least 85 degrees outside and undeniably hot, especially combined with higher humidity.  When I was there alone a month before, I was almost cold as the temperatures never got above 65.  By layers, for those of you not from California, I mean a t-shirt or tank top (possibly both) covered by a light hoodie, and in the winter possibly even a jacket.  On the bottom, you can wear shorts, but depending on how easily you get cold, maybe bring some pants in the car.  Definitely wear long pants in the winter.

The University of California, Santa Cruz, or UCSC, is also a great place to explore.  While the university itself is much like any other university in terms of buildings, lecture halls, and dorms, UCSC is something special.  Built on roughly 2,001 acres, UCSC makes use of the nature around it.  From sprawling fields to lush forests, there's a little bit of everything here.  If you can get to campus early in the morning before the masses of students awaken from their slumber, you can enjoy quiet walks and hikes along the paths between colleges, areas of campus housing and lecture halls themed based on 10 core concepts, such as social justice, globalization, and environmental awareness.  The campus also back up to a wildlife reserve, giving you plenty of chances to become one with nature.  It's common to come across deer, a variety of birds, and yes, even banana slugs (the campus mascot).




Our other main point of exploration on this particular trip was the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.  If you come in the summer, plan to spend at least one day here.  There is plenty to do.  In the winter, depending on weather, consider only half a day.  There are indoor activities including a miniature golf course, pool tables, and a truly massive arcade, but the real fun is outside at one of the best seaside amusement parks in the United States, if not the world.  Highlights include the Loof Carousel, built in 1911, and the Giant Dipper, one of the oldest roller coasters in the United States, which opened in 1924.  Both are historical landmarks and both are must-ride attractions.  The carousel is one of few remaining with opportunities to reach for the brass ring.  The roller coaster, though old, is one of the most thrilling wooden coasters in existence.  For Disneyland enthusiasts, compare this classic to California Screamin' at Disney's California Adventure.  While I cannot find any evidence to support my claims, I swear some elements were taken straight from the Giant Dipper. Other interesting rides include the classic Cave Train, great for the kids, a standard Ferris wheel, and other rides you would typically see at a carnival.  The food offerings at the Boardwalk are generally pretty typical carnival foods such as garlic fries, funnel cake, hot dogs, and even deep fried Twinkies.  But, if you're looking for something special, Marini's will satisfy your sweet tooth with freshly pulled saltwater taffy and other delicious candies.  On this past trip, I think I even spotted a Dole Whip cart, again, for all of the Disney fans out there.







In the summer, the Boardwalk offers free movies on the beach every Wednesday night, free concerts on Fridays, and bargain nights with cheaper prices.  If you're going to this area, there's really no better place to be.  If I sound like a commercial, I apologize.  I worked there once upon a dream. 

In terms of food, there are about a million fantastic little places in Santa Cruz and the surrounding area.  While we were there, we ate 2 meals at Las Palmas Taco Bar, one of our favorites from when we lived in the area.  Everyone has a different opinion on Mexican food, but to me, this place hands down has the best tacos I have ever had.  The burritos, enchiladas, and other items on the menu are also quite good.  As an added bonus, this is one of the few places I know of that sells RC Cola instead of the mainstream soda brands.


We did not have enough time on our trip to visit any of our other favorite places to eat.  If you're looking for a great diner, check out the Santa Cruz Diner on Ocean Street.  Their menu is huge and they have everything from typical diner food to pho.  Some of you might have even seen them some years ago on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.  If you're looking for some vegetarian/vegan diner food, Saturn Cafe is the place to be.  While the food is nothing spectacular, except the desserts which are to die for, the place is quirky and sums up everything there is to know about Santa Cruz in one small restaurant.  Erik's Deli has some of the best sandwiches and soups in town.  Go there.  If you're a sandwich fan, you shouldn't be disappointed.  For amazing hot chocolate, make a stop at Chocolate, down on Pacific Avenue.  The food is great, too, but drinking their hot chocolate is like drinking a melted chocolate bar.  Finally, for a classic ice cream shop experience, check out Marianne's, where they have been making homemade ice cream for over 50 years.

So, that sums it up.  Everything we did on our brief tour of Santa Cruz and Monterey and then some.  I hope you enjoyed it and that it inspires you to take a road trip, either here or to some other distant location.  Explore with your children.  There is so much fun to be had.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Road Trip to Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz Part 2

For our recent trip to the Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz area, we chose to stay in the quaint little town of Aptos, just south of Santa Cruz.  We wanted to avoid the beach traffic in Santa Cruz because, as former residents of the area, we knew how bad it could be getting around the town on a high tourist day.  Aptos is a cute area, one of the more affluent parts of this region, and provides access to both beaches and forest hiking.  We stayed at the Best Western Seacliff Inn, which is within walking distance of beaches and a grocery store for your food needs.

The hotel is right off of Highway 1 and easy to access.  I am always skeptical of Best Westerns as some of them are wonderful and others are severely lacking.  However, with a AAA discounted price at $143 per night and free breakfast, our family was sold.  In Santa Cruz or Monterey, even cheaper motels frequently go for $200+ per night and can occasionally be in unsafe areas (especially in Santa Cruz).

Best Western Seacliff Inn was one of the beautiful Best Westerns we have ever stayed in.  I will say that it's an older hotel and the walls were a bit thin.  This was not really an issue for us, but I did feel a little bad for our neighbors our first night as my toddler daughter had a bit of a tantrum trying to fall asleep.  However, I will also mention that each room comes with one pair of good quality earplugs and you can ask for more at the front desk.

Aside from noise issues, I have no complaints.  Our first floor room came with a lanai, which in our case backed right up into the parking lot.  Perfect for bringing our luggage in without too much effort.  There are also rooms with a pool or courtyard view for a higher price.  On the second floor, you get a balcony instead of a lanai.

My children loved the pool.  It's heated, but not super warm, so depending on how warm you like your pool, you may or may not be happy.  There's also a cute little koi pond by the restaurant.  My older child had fun watching the fish swimming by.  Overall, this was a great hotel for the price.  I would gladly return again.  Sorry, no pictures of the hotel this time.  But, you can get a pretty good view on TripAdvisor.

On the first full day of our trip, we drove down to Monterey to enjoy the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Dennis the Menace Park.  The Monterey Bay Aquarium is one of the best aquariums in the world and if you have an opportunity to go here, don't miss it.  There are otters, various fish, jellies, and more, all on exhibit for you to see.  My favorite have always been the octopus, jellies, and large fish (the tuna are especially impressive in size).  The aquarium also has interactive exhibits for kids and many learning opportunities.  It's a great place to go for children and adults of all ages.  And, as an added bonus, Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf are within walking distance along a beautiful path.  I recommend parking at the wharf and walking in so you can see all the area has to offer.








After our excursion to the aquarium, we went about 2 blocks away from the wharf to one of the best parks I have ever been to--Dennis the Menace Park.  Located on Pearl Street, this park offers fun for kids of all ages.  They have the standard equipment you'd expect for a park, including sets for toddlers, young children, and older kids.  In addition, there's a huge roller slide, tunnels, a small hedge maze, rock climbing, and a train engine.  Unfortunately, you cannot explore the train engine anymore (when I was younger, you could), but it's still a fun sight to see.  My kids could spend hours here just running off all their energy.  Parents might wear themselves out, too.


In the third and final part of this trip report, I will discuss highlights of Santa Cruz, including the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, exploring West Cliff Drive, the best taco stand I've ever been to, and taking walks at UC Santa Cruz.



Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Road Trip to Monterey Bay/Santa Cruz--Part 1

Ah, road trips.  It's what we dream of as teenagers, perhaps actually enjoy in college or in our 20s.  But, what about road trips with kids?  Road trips with a 6-year-old and 2-year-old twins, one of whom gets car sick.  Yeah.  That's us.  I know we usually talk about southern California and Disneyland in particular, but there's a whole world of things to do in California if you know how to get there.

In this 3-part series, I will touch on one of my favorite road trips to take with or without kids.  Part 1 will be about the road trip itself.  Part 2 will be about the hotel we chose (Best Western Seacliff Inn, Aptos) and Monterey.  Part 3 will be about Santa Cruz.

My family recently packed up our bags and took a 4-day trip to Monterey and Santa Cruz, located on the Central California coast.  Four days isn't much for a trip, mind you, especially when you consider a 6 hour drive up and 6 hours back.  The good news?  It's a beautiful drive (if you take the 101 or highway 1).  The bad news--it's 6 hours in the car with 3 kids.

First off, tips for a successful drive:
  • Bring snacks.  Lots of them.  And drinks, too.  But not too many unless your kids are in diapers.
  • Bring toys.  Something the kids can play with in the car.  My toddlers enjoy cars.  My 6-year-old prefers his 3ds.
  • Coloring.  My kids can keep themselves busy for at least an hour scribbling in little notebooks.  It's a great thing.
  • Portable entertainment. We use our cell phones or a tablet.  A portable DVD player works, too.  At some point, it was all that kept our kids sane.  And hey, if you have t-mobile, Netflix doesn't count toward your data.  Sweet!
  • Did I mention snacks?
 So, here's the extra special thing about our experience this road trip.  Our 2-year-old boy, who has previously shown no signs of motion sickness, puked his guts out.  Surprise!  So, here's the kit you need for that potential disaster.  I wish we had known at the time:
  • hand sanitizer
  • paper towels
  • spare clothes
  • children's dramamine (children's benadryl will do in a pinch as it reduces nausea)
  • a hat (or a small plastic receptacle, but my husband just kept catching the puke in his hat) 
Anyway, disasters averted, everything's good, right?  Next, which route?  From Los Angeles, it really depends on what area you live in.  If you live toward the east side, take the 5.  It's ugly, but it'll get you there about 30-60 minutes faster than the other route.  If you're lucky enough to live toward the western portion of the greater Los Angeles area,  do yourself a favor and take the 101.  It's prettier and the drive is about the same as it would be taking the 5 in terms of time.  As a note, highway 1 is beautiful, but it could add 2 hours to your drive on windy, narrow roads.  Best to wait until you hit Salinas before trying to get to highway 1.  It's just easier that way.

Now, assuming you take highway 101, where do you stop?  We like to leave around 6AM.  From our house, that puts us in Santa Barbara around 7:30 or 8AM depending on traffic.  Typically, we don't stop here, but if you need a bathroom or a stretch, it's not a bad option, and really the only larger town/city for a while.  We tend to stop at the rest stop just south of Buellton.  It's good for a bathroom break and one of the prettier rest stops in southern/central CA.  We get our gas in Pismo Beach.  It's not the cheapest gas, and you might only be on 1/2 a tank and think you don't need to stop, but Pismo is easier to navigate than San Luis Obispo.  There's a Chevron right off the freeway with a Jack in the Box attached if you need a snack.  Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is also off the same exit. Back on the road, we drive to King City.  I'd like to say don't stop in King City, but we are always ready for lunch by the time we get there (around 11:30AM).  Options are limited, but it is what it is.  On the road again.  I recommend not stopping in Salinas.  Just drive straight to Monterey or Santa Cruz or wherever you're staying.  In our case, that meant Aptos, a small town between the two cities, closer to Santa Cruz though.

In the next update, I will describe our hotel, the Best Western Seacliff Inn, and take you on our little trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Dennis the Menace Park.