University of California Santa Cruz campus

University of California Santa Cruz, or UCSC, is a wonderful place to take a stroll through an amazing redwood forest. Paths leads in all directions through the forest! You can walk alone since there are plenty of people around. You can take a break at picnic tables in little, sunny clearings. What a pleasant place! People sit on the stairs between Page Smith Library and Cowell/Stevenson Dining Hall to enjoy the view over Upper East Field, and the wide sweeping views across the ocean all the way to Monterey. Stevenson Knoll is a meadow with the same wonderful view, and frisbee golf.

Further north is the Student Union or campus center, where people gather on picnic tables between a building made of redwood logs and the campus bookstore with cheerful yellow awnings. Iveta Cafe is a good place to eat here, with delicious roast beef sandwiches (best ever!). After, browse the Bay Tree campus bookstore and buy a banana slug stuffie! Behind the student union buildings is the Quarry Amphitheater, in a former limestone rock quarry. Here, music concerts and graduation ceremonies take place, with lots of atmosphere.
Up the incredibly steep Science Hill is College Nine and JRL College, some of the newer residence areas.
All around campus in the forest you will see deer, and banana slugs in winter! For sunshine, come on a summer afternoon. Mornings are foggy. Winter is rainy.
UCSC scientists were the first to sequence the human genome. This was a great thing because now the information is available to all, rather than owned by a private company.
The top three majors at UCSC are computer-related because of its proximity to Silicon Valley, but there is also an alternative culture because of its proximity to Santa Cruz town.
Some of the places on campus that I didn't see yet: Pogonip Koi Pond is a fifteen minute hike to a koi pond at the foot of redwood trees and lime deposits from a spring (Parking Lot 109 is nearest and you must park in the ParkMobile app parking spaces)- beware the poison oak and ticks in abundance, and mud during wet times. Hike 2 minutes further to the Pogonip Historic Lime Kiln (where limestone rock was converted into quicklime, used to cement bricks into place), and then 2 minutes more to the Rock Garden, a sacred place in the forest where people leave wishes on notes under rocks. Beware ticks, poison oak, and mud (July-Oct is the dry time of year).
Alan Chadwick Garden, a small area with pears, apples, roses, foxgloves, and veggies such as lettuce, broccoli, and onions.
A six minute drive down the hill takes you to the UCSC Arboretum and Botanic Garden, with plants from around the world that you've never seen before. The garden areas are: Australian, New Zealand, South African, succulents and herbs. There is no shade, so come early or late in the day. Seven minutes drive further is the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, also called Long Aquarium (open daily in summer 10-4), and Terrace Point. The ocean is gorgeous here- you are standing right by the waves as they curl around the point. There is a whale skeleton, elephant seal sculptures, mammal research area, aquarium (see hours and fees below) and gift shop with toys and books.
Students like to hang out at Natural Bridges State Beach, and the coffee shops in the Westside area of Santa Cruz. Students also like to go to the thrift shops and bars in downtown on Pacific Ave (bad homeless problem there).
Another spot in the redwoods is Land of Medicine Buddha Retreat Center, open to the public, where you can walk under the redwoods admiring the amazing temple, statues, and prayer wheels.

University of California Santa Cruz campus

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