The Tech Interactive Museum, San Jose
Everything a museum should be: interactive, colorful, with something for all ages.
Lighthouse Field State Beach, Santa Cruz
Gorgeous point jutting out into the sea, with long walk along the cliffs. Popular surf spot.
Garden of Eden, Ox Trail, Felton
A gorgeous hike through redwoods to a pool in the river, with smooth white rocks to sit on.
Santana Row, San Jose
A sophisticated European-style development with shops, cafes, fountains, gorgeous architecture, and the most amazing flower baskets!
Roaring Camp Railroads, Felton
A train ride in an open car into the redwood forest among glorious old trees- a dream!
Vasona Lake/Oak Meadow Park, Los Gatos
A fantastic park a jet plane, fire engine, and train to climb! Carousel, railroad rides, summertime paddle boat rides, walkway along a gorgeous creek, amazing tall pines, two play structures, and geese!
Land of Medicine Buddha Retreat Center, Santa Cruz
The public can come and walk the trail, turn the three prayer wheels, see the red temple and meditation hall, ring the chimes and gongs, and admire the sculptures.
University of California Santa Cruz campus
UCSC has a pleasant campus set in a redwood forest, with sunny clearings with picnic tables, a quarry amphitheater, a field with views of the oce
Downtown San Jose
Stark, with lots of cement, but a few architectural treasures and some great museums!
Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, San Jose
Museum run by a masonic-like church, with beautiful grounds but nothing interactive for kids.
Santa Cruz town and Westside Cafes
Unattractive town, with some cute cafes, bakeries, coffee shops, and breweries on the formerly-industrial Westside. The redwood forest areas are where this town shines.