Is it worthwhile to visit Santa Cruz if we have two days in San Jose?
How far is it and what is the best route.
We would be able to visit it on a Sat?

An earthquate a few years ago gave Santa Cruz an opportunity to restore the downtown, and they did. It is worth a visit as is the old-fashioned amusement park.

Santa Cruz is about 30 miles. Monterey is an additional 45 miles and Carmel is another 5 miles farther on. All these places are open to the public on Saturday.

Santa Cruz is a city so YES you can visit it on a Saturday. It is a beach town so YES it might be fun to visit if you would like to see the ocean.

It is 25 miles or so southwest of SJ at the end of Highway 17. Highway 17 is a windy road that goes up and over the Santa Cruz mountains.

I would definitely recommend heading over to Santa Cruz for the day. Much more interesting that San Jose. What time of year will you be visiting?

We will be in San Jose the first week-end in October.

It should be lovely.

Have fun.

There is a red wood forest on the way to Santa Cruz! Check it out.

If you want to see some spectaculr ocean views, return to San Jose via Half Moon Bay (Highway 1). That would be about 90 miles, but the drive is well worth it.

I think that the Boardwalk is still open on weekends in October - they are open everyday in the summer, then cut back to weekends for fall, and then shut down completely for winter. It is a fun place - amusement park rides, waffle cones, shops, games, the beach. The wharf is right there too, which as some nice views.

If you head sort of north along the waterline from the wharf, there are good views too and a small lighthouse with a surf museum. Also if the waves are good, you may see some terrific surfing.

Downtown is fun - funky, eclectic place with different kinds of shops, weird people, and so on.

The Santa Cruz mountains are great for redwoods as someone mentioned already. In Felton there is the Roaring Camp and Big Trees Railroad, which runs a steam train through the woods - that is fun. Next to that is Henry Cowell state park which has some nice trails. Further up the hill is Big Basin which is a large park with more trees.

Capitola Village isn't far from Santa Cruz and is a nice little place to visit. Several square blocks of shops and restaurants right on the beach. If you like coffee, Mr Toots is a local institution.

Anyway - so there is a short run down of some things to do in Santa Cruz. And in October, the weather will probably be really nice.

You have all been a great help and we will be sure to follow some of your suggestions.

While you knowing that all of CA coast is the beach you can also go at Capitola and at Santa Cruz with differrent personality. If for a couple I saying go to SC harbor and buy ticket for the Chardonnay sailboat cruiser. Sometime a couple like the sunset cruise. Maybe you skipp past the Mystery Spot and maybe you like a short amusement there.

On the Hwy 17 you needing to know the speed limits are forced on curves behind the bush. There can be no magic show like a CHP in your mirrer from nowhere!!

ON the Hwy 1 you needing to know there can be some construction slows there. Maybe not. If you knowing when - I say buy a Lotto ticket.

If you tempted to go to SF that Sunday 30th you can stay away from Fullsome ST fair where the rainbow people are have naked in the streets (making cameras happy I guessing)

AR

If you have time, I second the recommendation for a two hour sail on the Chardonnay! It is located at mid-point in the Yacht harbor. You can call the chardonnay for reservations...and go online chardonnay.com. It is a wonderful experience if you have not sailed much - it's a 70 foot boat, so it is smooth and comfortable and really, really pleasant. I can't recommend anything more highly. you need a windbreaker, sunglasses, and sneakers. they feed you some wine and cheese.

Santa Cruz is well worth the visit. Check out 'The Mystery SPot' Crazy place, where the center of gravity is all out of whack. Great for families or first time visitors.

LOL - you know, in 20 years, I have never been to the Mystery Spot. Well, that isn't EXACTLY true - we did go once when we had family visiting, but the wait to go on a tour was really long so we left. I've been to the parking lot and used the bathrooms there, but never actually seen the effects of the wacky gravity.

That was in August though - tourist high season. In October, I am willing to bet that there will be far fewer people there.