Son was accepted at UCSC (woo hoo!) and we're heading up in April for an open house event. Now, the question arises, where to stay the night or two nights. When we were last up there in February (coming up from Monterey), we drove down the UCSC mountain, down Bay Drive, I think it was, to Cliff Drive, or something like that. There were a number of interesting motels/inns right there at that intersection. It's certainly close to the UC right there. I think one of the names was Surf and Sea or Surf & Sand. Don't know anything about these places, but they all looked cute.

Anyone have any suggestions/thoughts?

Sea & Sand is great, but kinda pricey. Seaway Inn is in the same general area and a bit more moderate...also consider Pelican Point Inn.

I'll check both out, thanks!

Found the website to Seaway Inn and it looked great; problem was no room at the Inn (pun intended) for one night. Other thoughts?

Try http://www.casablanca-santacruz.com/

Good reviews, great location.

Also, Babbling Brook Inn is close to UCSC and downtown:
http://tinyurl.com/22b5tj

Hi Surfergirl,

Sorry, I don't have any help for you re: Santa Cruz (other than topping this thread. ) I just wanted to offer my congratulations to your son -- and you, of course, for getting him there.

I was just thinking about your great college visit trip report the other day, and was actually wondering which school he chose.

Have a good time in Santa Cruz. What a fun place to visit for parents' weekends.

Thanks lvk. Yes, he got accepted at 10 colleges, but it became a toss up between Santa Cruz and Univ. of Oregon. Both great colleges. But he just got accepted to UC Irvine yesterday, which we never even visited, so I guess before the final decision is made, we're going to head down to the OC. I heard it's a nice college, pretty campus, and close to home (weekends anyway), but still I can't believe it could compare to the redwoods and the Santa Cruz coastline!

Hey Surfergirl, if you make it to the Science Library during the tour, I may be at the reference desk. Say you have to use the restroom and run in and say hi!

I would go for the Sea and Sand. It has views and people who stay there like it a lot.

What is your son planning to major in?

The UCI campus is pretty, but kind of "Stepford-ish" like the rest of Irvine. I agree with you that it can't compare to Santa Cruz.

Academically, my daughter says UC Irvine is rated higher than UC Santa Cruz. Although the major may make a difference. I agree, the setting at UCSC is beautiful.

Yeah - I think the major really makes a difference with UCSC. Also, in addition to academics, there is the whole culture of the school and the area. Different people thrive in different environments.

Santa Cruz is #1 in Physics. Yes, the major makes a difference!

And where else could someone major in History of Consciousness?

So, Christycruz, we'll probably be coming up April 12th and doing the April 13th grand tour (again). Hope to see some dorms this time. I will definitely stop by the science library (where is it?). For UCSC he selected Environmental Studies, but they don't stick you with a major -- just accept you so you can decide later, I'm guessing. He loves "touchy" science stuff. What I mean by that, he likes to dig in to the lab hands on stuff rather than the paper theory stuff (although he can dig into a math problem like no tomorrow). He's also really into photography and foreign languages, so who knows what he might end up majoring in! For Irvine, he selected earth and environmental science major. So you get the idea.

I guess we'll bite the bullet on the Sea & Sand if they have room, but will check out all other places mentioned. If there are more suggestions, that would be great.

I wish they'd do a night over at UCSC so he can bunk with a student mentor or something and get a real feel for the place. They only have a couple of groups doing things that weekend, but they seem to be for the latino and filipino clubs and I'm not sure whether they'd be looking for a white kid to join the group (although this IS Santa Cruz!).

History of Consciousness, lol! I told him with his anxiety issues, he'd probably find a great TM course at UCSC!

The Science Library is on "Science Hill" nestled between the Natural Sciences Building and the Physical Sciences Building.

The Env. Studies dept is excellent.

I think your idea of a student mentor is a great one. I may even pass it on!

We do have a UCSC shirt with the Slug doing TM. I'm arranging a "mindfulness" class for some of us that's basically just meditation. Yep.

Christycruz, stopped by science library today and you weren't around. Will be back tomorrow if you're going to be around. Will go back in again. Today there was a lady there but it wasn't you.

My sister used to live on Seabright Ave. and she is soo jealous we're up here. We're still trying to see a REAL banana slug. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, so maybe they'll actually come out. We're going to the engineering reception thing and a tour of Crown. I'm trying to find someone who's willing to show us the college 9 dorms, that's my son's favorite.