Recommended for you

Start writing a post

Lifestyle

96 Amazing Things To Do In Santa Cruz

Here's your brand new bucket list.

Eliza Jasleen Cabrera

Oct 19, 2015

University of California Santa Cruz

175

College youngsters, we're the smartest people on the planet (and the most in debt). Give us calculus equations, chemistry problems, literature essays to write. And, with enough time, we'll figure out how to make the world a better place. Yet, when it comes to planning fun-filled days with friends or even dates, we can have a pretty hard time. Let's be honest, Netflix and Chill isn't really all that much fun.No worries, y'all—here's a giant bucket list for all to have fun completing. Have fun making memories and posting them on Instagram--because if you didn't post it on Instagram, did it even happen?

Go on a picnic in Upper Campus
Paddle Boarding (It's only $35 for a rental all day long!)
Visit Natural Bridges
Visit the Mystery Spot
Go to the Davenport Jail Museum
Hike literally anywhere in Santa Cruz because it's gorgeous everywhere
Visit the Garden of Eden
Spend a day at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with wristbands
Buy a plant from the UCSC Arboretum
Visit any Santa Cruz museum
Visit a tree house and climb up to the top
Watch the sunset from an unordinary place
Go thrift shopping and find hidden treasures
Eat at every single place on of these restaurants at least once:
The Abbey 350 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831-429-1058
The Bagelry 320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz 831-429-8049 1636 Seabright Ave 831-425-8550
The Buttery 702 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz 831-458-3020
Caffe Bene 1101 Cedar St, Santa Cruz 831-425-0441
Caffé Pergolesi 418 Cedar St, Santa Cruz 831-426-1775
Coffeetopia 1723 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831-425-6583
Cold Stone Creamery 1129 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-423-7015
Companion Bakeshop 2341 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831-252-2253
Emily’s Bakery 1129 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831-429-9866
Firefly Coffee House 131 Front St, Santa Cruz 831-713-5799
Gayle’s Bakery 504 Bay Ave, Capitola 831-462-1200
Hoffman’s Bistro 1102 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-420-0135
Java Junction 580 River St #A, Santa Cruz 831-426-2128
Jamba Juice 1550 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 1820 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831-426-5262 831-421-0572
Jumpin Juice & Java 1010 C Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-460-9759
Kelly’s French Bakery 402 Ingalls St, Santa Cruz 831-423-9059
LuLu Carpenter's 1545 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-429-9804
LuLu’s at the Octagon 118 Cooper St, Santa Cruz 831-429-5858
Marini's Downtown 1308 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-423-3299
Midtown Cafe 1121 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Mission Hill Creamery 1101 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-216-6421
Noah’s Bagels 1411 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-454-9555
Pacific Cookie Company 1203 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-429-6905
Peet’s Coffee and Tea 1409 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-457-8170
Penny Ice Creamery 913 Cedar St, Santa Cruz 820 41st Ave, Santa Cruz 831-204-2523
Peoples’ Coffee 1200 17th Ave #126, Santa Cruz 831-464-1739
The Picnic Basket 125 Beach St, Santa Cruz 831-427-9946
SC Coffee Roasting Company 1330 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-459-0100
Starbucks 1335 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-459-7681
Santa Cruz Diner 909 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Westside Coffee Company 849 Almar Ave, Santa Cruz 831-427-1300
Whale City Bakery Bar & Grill 490 Hwy 1, Davenport, Santa Cruz 831-423-9009
Visit the S.S. Palo Alto 909 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Go to the farmers' market that's held Wednesday's downtown
Visit the aquarium
Make yummy homemade cookies
Stargaze in the meadows
Release Lanterns with wishes written on them
Spend all day complimenting strangers
Go on an adventure and explore the forest
Take underwater pictures
Visit the arcade
Go mini golfing
Go bowling
Go to a concert at the Catalyst
Have a game night
Be tourists of Santa Cruz
Volunteer
Go ice-skating
Visit San Francisco
Spend all day making DIY crafts
Go on a double date
Go on a triple date
Go on a quadruple date
Spend the entire day doing Random Acts of Kindness
Visit Porter Caves
Visit the Porter Meadow
Hike through campus and findall the coolest spots
Stay home and play video games all day
Have a day dedicated to yoga, meditation and tea
Dedicate a day toSelf-Care
Watch a screening of a film you’ve never heard off
Cook your favorite dish
Go on a Classy date
Tech free day—no phones allowed
Go to the park
Visit the Mission
Donate blood
Visit the Capitola Mall
Have a photoshoot with friends
Go to the Holi Festival
Attend any festival
Redecorate your humble abode
Have a Scavenger Hunt
Buy matching shirts, bracelets, anything that has a significance to you
Buy a disposable camera and take pictures—no phones allowed
Attend an Open Mic Night
Have a Breakfast for dinner date
Make pizza(or order pizza and have a date!)
Have a candle-lit dinner
Bake a cake made from scratch
Do whatever makes you happy

"Here's to freedom, cheers to art. Here's to having an excellent adventure and may the stopping never start. "

Report this Content

This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Butler University

5288

Disney magic kingdom castle on new years

StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

Keep Reading...Show less

disney movies

Lifestyle

Bucket List To Live In The Now

Find excitement in your life and start exploring wherever you are right here, right now.

University of Denver

1315

I was sitting at my cubicle, now that I am an adult, looking at the rain pouring down on the windowsill, bumming on life, wishing for the rain to just stop for a full day.

There are moments where we count down the hours until work is over and how many more days till the weekend, and this many weeks until something exciting. Or something like that? Well, I was bumming because my next day off from work is not until Memorial Day weekend, which is not until the end of May. And since this is my first year out of college being a “real person,” I am totally missing the winter, spring and summer breaks. I am sure all of us have felt this way even if just for a hot minute…

Keep Reading...Show less

bucket list

Entertainment

11 Ways To Survive Finals As Told By Leslie Knope

Because you know you're going to be stressed out, and Leslie knows exactly how to survive.

Drexel University

942

So finals are on their way. That's right everybody, finals are about to start.

But hey, don't panic. Start getting your affairs in order and prepare for a week of hell. Here's a few things Leslie Knope wants you to do to make your finals week just a little bit less stressful:

Keep Reading...Show less

finals

Recommended for you

96 Amazing Things To Do In Santa Cruz

Here's your brand new bucket list.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

It's a time of love, family, memory-making, and gift-giving. But also a time of stressing over the perfect gift.

Money

Socks

Blankets

Gift Cards

Hoodies and Sweatpants

Pajamas

Candles

A Fish

CDs

Movie Tickets

Candy

Gag Gifts

Dollar Shave Club

A Stocking of Toys

Stationary

Picture Frames

Sports Accessories

Bath Accessories

Portable Phone Charger

Hats

Slippers

Funko Pops

Phone Cases and Pop-sockets

Precious Moments

Subscription Boxes

Alcohol

Scrapbooks

Concert/Show Tickets

Memory Jars

'Open When' Letters

Nail/Hair Certificates

Art Supplies

Makeup Accessories

Anything from Hallmark

Hairbands, Clips, and Bobby-pins​

Stuffed Animals

Posters

Perfume and Cologne

Car Accessories

Love

Find excitement in your life and start exploring wherever you are right here, right now.

Because you know you're going to be stressed out, and Leslie knows exactly how to survive.

Subscribe to our
Newsletter

Hairbands, Clips, and Bobby-pins