5 Reasons Why It Is Impossible To Be Sad In Santa Cruz

By Matthew Hutchings on October 20, 2014

We all get melancholy from time to time. It’s easy for the blues to sneak up on you, especially if you’ve just left home. Luckily there’s few better towns in California to start fresh in than Santa Cruz. There’s plenty of ways to stay occupied, even if it’s just stepping outside and taking a walk downtown with no particular destination.

1) The weather is awesome

Californians in general are blessed when it comes to weather, and Californians near the coast, doubly so. In the summer the heat is balanced out by cool breezes coming off of the ocean, and in the winter it may only get down to freezing one or two days in the entire year. Being cooped up in these weird cubes we call rooms all day isn’t natural, and while I have absolutely zero evidence, I am now going to claim that going outside is good for you. Especially in Santa Cruz, where it’s not uncommon to have 300 days of absolutely fabulous weather in a year.

2) There is taqueria on every corner


When it comes to alleviating homesickness or any other kind of sub-optimal emotion, burritos are more effective than anti-depressants, and in Santa Cruz you’re going to be hard pressed to find a collection of shops without an accompanying taqueria. They do vary slightly in quality according to the location and the chefs on call that day, but for the most part six dollars will net you a tortilla stuffed with more delicious cheese, lettuce and carne asada than any one human being could be reasonably expected to finish in a single sitting. Once you’ve put it all away you will feel a strong sense of accomplishment, followed by regret and premonitions of digestive trouble. It’s all part of the fun.

3) The beach is right there


In the summer months, and especially on weekends, the beach is crowded with tourists, surfers and locals. The boardwalk is an excellent place to loose track of time, and there are plenty of secluded places around the beach and by the bridge to hang out with friends when you’ve gotten tired of playing minigolf or making obscene gestures at the Log Ride camera. Sometimes finding a good bench and watching all sheer variety of humans passing by is an attraction in itself.

In cold weather the beach is a whole different animal. There are fewer people out and you’re free to wander around unimpeeded by the crowds. The boardwalk isn’t the only place to be close to the ocean in Santa Cruz. In fact, some of my favorite beaches are west of the wharf, like Lighthouse Field, Mitchell Cove and especially Moore Creek. Maybe it’s because I’m a little off, but often the times I like to visit the beach the best are when it’s very cold or raining and almost no one is there. Having the entire beach to yourself is worth putting on a windbreaker for, and it is a great place to go to be reflective or just pass some time in nature.

4) The forest is right there too


On that note, Santa Cruz has another famous feature for people who love nature. Nothing special, just, an entire forest’s worth of the tallest trees on earth. Anyone in Santa Cruz wanting to head into a forest only has to head up highway nine for about ten or fifteen minutes. There are hundreds if not thousands of trails through amazing scenery. Because I grew up in Felton I am biased towards Henry Cowell and Fall Creek, but if you’re willing to go farther afield Big Basin is breathtaking as well.

5) The people are awesome and zany, being weird is normal


If you come from a city, state or country where people are usually distant and mind their own business, especially while in public, get ready for a very big change. While there are unpleasant people wherever you go, the majority of those in Santa Cruz are very friendly. Be prepared to have strangers say hi to you. Often. Before you know it you’ll be having an unplanned discussion of philosophy with a homeless man outside Trader Joes.

This friendliness is also accompanied by a general spirit of live and let live. A wide variety of ethnicities, political affiliations, sexualities, religions and lifestyles occupy this one town, and for the most part everyone operates under the silent agreement that as long as it doesn’t infringe upon anyone else’s good time, you’re welcome to be who you please without judgement. Hence the “Keep Santa Cruz Weird” bumper stickers and pins. You do you, and they’ll do them, and it will all be copacetic.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format