Friday

We’ve lived in California for almost two years now. Wow—time flies. We’ve already seen quite a bit of what this state has to offer. But, somehow, we hadn’t spent time in the coastal city of Santa Cruz. We’ve driven through a few times, but we’d never stopped to sit and drink it in: walk the boardwalk, watch the sea hug the curves of this tiny town, or take in the vibe on a hike.

That changed recently, thanks to a generous friend who offered us her place while she was away on vacation. The drive from San Jose was easy—just 45 minutes, with almost no traffic thanks to great timing. As we pulled up to the house, the misty, salty air hit us and a calm settled over everything. Santa Cruz has that effect. It’s got a laid-back, surfer-town energy: no fuss, no rush, just waiting to ride the next wave when it comes.

A bit of history for fun. The Spanish established Mission Santa Cruz in 1791 by the San Lorenzo River for the religious conversion of the Awaswas of the Ohlone people. They had lived in the area for centuries. Santa Cruz became part of Mexico in the 1820ies and then part of the US, following the Mexican-American War of 1848. Immigrants from the eastern US started to move into the area and Santa Cruz grew economically. Its natural resources helped it grow through industries like lumber, lime, and fishing.

In the second half of the 20th century, Santa Cruz had very liberal, progressive politics. In 1992 the city council approved marijuana use for medical purposes. It was the first city in the US. In 1998, the city banned nuclear power plants and declared itself a nuclear free-zone. And well, of course, Santa Cruz is known for surfing. We didn’t surf, but we loved watching others who did, strolling along the beach at different times of day, soaking in the rhythm of it all.

Our friend gave us a list of restaurants recommendations, but in the end, we decided to stay in for our first night. We unpacked and cooked a decadent shrimp risotto from the supplies we brought. The cozy kitchen made for a perfect evening in.

Saturday

The next morning, we walked to Shrine Coffee, a charming spot with a meaningful mission. It’s a non-profit coffeehouse run by the Oblates of St. Joseph, designed as a welcoming place for anyone, wherever they are in life. We grabbed pastries before heading out on our main adventure for the day: a hike in Wilder Ranch State Park. We chose the Pacific to Redwoods Loop, a stunning 12-mile trail that hugs the coastline before heading inland.

The weather was picture perfect: sunny, breezy, and mild. As we walked, we were in awe of the views—and honestly, just how lucky we are to be curating this beautiful life. Somewhere around midday, we reached the beach and stopped to eat the lunch we had packed, lingering to watch surfers and beachgoers splash around in the water.

We stopped often to snap photos and breathe it all in. We spotted clusters of what we think were mussels clinging to the rocks—and maybe even a couple of seals playing in the waves (they were too far out for a good photo, but we were thrilled nonetheless).

We ended our hike tired and happy. On the way back, we treated ourselves to ice cream—a tradition of ours now—and made a grocery run for a bottle of wine and a few items for dinner.

Sunday

Sunday morning, we were up early again, heading out to explore the little town of Felton. We hiked the Fall Creek to Ridge Trail Loop—just over 4 miles of peaceful forest and creeks gurgling nearby. It was the perfect, quiet way to wrap up the weekend.

Cost Breakdown

• Lodging: $0 (thank you, generous friend!)
• Groceries + home cooked meals (no restaurants!): ~$40
• Parking at trails: ~$10
• Ice cream: ~$10
• Gas: ~$30
  Total: <$100 for a weekend away. Not bad.