13 days in Santa Cruz Itinerary

Let the collections at Carmel Mission and Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History capture your imagination. Pacific Grove Oceanview Boulevard and Mission State Park will appeal to history buffs. Explore Santa Cruz's surroundings by going to Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (in Moss Landing), Mission San Juan Bautista (in San Juan Bautista) and Big Sur (Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, &more). The adventure continues: hike along Scenic Road Walkway, admire all the interesting features of West Cliff Drive, take in the waterfront at Santa Cruz Wharf, and get up close to creatures of the deep with a dolphin and whale watching tour.

To see photos, reviews, where to stay, and other tourist information, read Santa Cruz trip builder app.

Newark to Santa Cruz is an approximately 7.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. You'll gain 3 hours traveling from Newark to Santa Cruz due to the time zone difference. Plan for slightly colder temperatures traveling from Newark in August, with highs in Santa Cruz at 74°F and lows at 57°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 29th (Tue) early enough to travel back home.