While Santa Cruz is known for its beautiful, mild temperatures, you can still sometimes (unfortunately!) experience the winter blues in the city. It can be difficult to enjoy the outdoors when the weather isn't cooperative. For those rainy or colder days where going to the beach or the park isn’t an option, here are a few indoor activities—many of which are suitable for a range of different age groups.
Museums & Science Centers
Santa Cruz offers a wealth of different museums, science centers, and galleries to explore and discover. One of the best parts of these excursions is that they can be both spontaneous or planned far in advance, as many museums do offer special programs and events. Additionally, each one is accessible via both car and public transit.
The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is located in Santa Cruz’s far west end and is part of UCSC. With an aquarium and different exhibits (including a touch pool), this is a fun and educational experience, particularly for young kids. As another family-friendly option, the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery fosters interactive learning in a safe environment for very young children and toddlers who want to explore the world and be more hands-on!
Alternatively, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is also an exciting place to visit, and the center hosts a plethora of events and camps throughout the year for various age groups. Of course, the museum can also be visited year-round with single admission. This small museum centers on area wildlife (not limited to sea life) and the environment—particularly in the realm of preservation and conservation.
In regards to artwork, The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History features primarily contemporary art and exhibits. While museum would probably appeal more to older kids, this museum is still considered family-friendly! Their current featured exhibit is “Accidentally Wes Anderson: Adventures in Santa Cruz” which showcases photography taken in this auteur’s distinct style. This exhibit runs until the spring.
Entertainment & Culture
There’s much to do and see in Santa Cruz, no matter the time of day—from summer programs during afternoons to live music in the evening.
Movie-lovers in particular have a few options around the city, with two major movie theaters: Santa Cruz Cinema, on Pacific Avenue, and the historic Landmark's Del Mar Theatre, which is found just down the street! Both offer new and current movies as well as re-releases/flashback films. Similarly, the Rio Theatre, which is a performing arts center, hosts a selection of film festivals throughout the year—the biggest being the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, which is run by UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec. This film festival is celebrating its 49th anniversary.
Libraries can sometimes be overlooked, but the many branches across the Santa Cruz area offer some amazing programs for those of all ages. Some of these include Chinese calligraphy, Backgammon and chess competitions, toddler and new parents classes, language-learning classes, Tai Chi, knitting, and so much more. Specific age groups are indicated for each program, with some of the most popular being for kids 0-3, teen and youth, and adults over 65.
Shopping & Excursions
As a more laid-back option, there’s always the opportunity to hit the stores around Santa Cruz (window shopping encouraged!). The Capitola Mall is the largest shopping center in the area, with over sixty-five shops and restaurants to discover. And while it might not be swimming weather, many of the shops by the boardwalk—and the Boardwalk Bowl—are still open during the off-season.
If you want to take a day trip for even more shopping, the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto has a lot more options for chain and international stores, including high-end luxury boutiques. It is about a 50 minute (up to an hour depending on traffic) drive from downtown Santa Cruz.
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