WanderLyn: Get Your 10K Steps In…. Santa Cruz

Sometimes, the best kind of workout is the one that comes with cookies, shopping bags, and a beach breeze in your hair. Welcome to Santa Cruz, where getting your steps in feels more like a vacation than a chore. Lace up those walking shoes (bonus points if they’re cute) and follow me through a day of coffee, coastlines, quirky shops, and serious snack attacks.

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☕ Starting Point: Firefly Coffee House

Because all great days start with coffee—and possibly a breakfast burrito the size of your head. Firefly Coffee House is where locals go for strong brews, friendly vibes, and that big ol’ burrito that’s made for sharing (or not—we don’t judge). Outdoor seating is under blue umbrellas, people are kind, and the caffeine? On point.

📍 131A Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🌐 fireflycoffeebuzz.com

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🏖️ Cliff Street to the Coast

Caffeinated and burrito-fueled, head down Laurel Street, take a right, hop up a little staircase through a leafy nook, and stroll down Cliff Street. It’s like a secret passage to beachy joy. At the bottom, ta-da! You're at the legendary Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

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🎠 Vintage Fun & Souvenir Hunting

Behold, the arcade/casino, the Wharf, and that glorious old-school boardwalk. Built in 1907, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California’s oldest amusement park—and it still knows how to party. From the clack-clack of the Giant Dipper to the smell of cotton candy, it’s a sensory joyride. Feel free to stroll through the arcade/casino to reach the boardwalk.

Need a souvenir to prove you walked all this way? Hit up WALK, Santa Cruz—a bright little shop full of fun tees, hoodies, and hats with serious local flair. WALK carries a gallery-worthy selection of tees, hoodies, hats, drinkware, ornaments, and even socks, all featuring gorgeous, locally-designed boardwalk art by independent artists.

📍 WALK, Santa Cruz: 733 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🌐 walksantacruz.com

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🌿 Boardwalk Fun and Riverwalk Vibes

On the Boardwalk, down by the sea ... You’ve got the classic wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster, which has been thrilling riders since 1924 (and yes, it’s still as wild and rickety as ever). There's also the Looff Carousel, where you can still toss brass rings like it's 1911, and Neptune’s Kingdom, a wonderfully odd pirate-themed arcade and mini-golf palace. The midway is full of irresistible games, and the scent of funnel cakes, corn dogs, and cotton candy floats through the air like a carnival dream. The have wrist bands for all day riding, AND Mon-Thur evenings, bands are half price for a fun date night.

And if you fall a little bit in love with Santa Cruz (like I do every time), make a note to come back for the Redwood Forest Steam Train ride. Departing right from the Boardwalk, the vintage train winds its way into the heart of the towering redwoods of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. It’s a magical, slow-paced ride that feels like stepping into another world—giant trees, chugging steam, and views that practically beg for a picnic. Whether you’re a train nerd, a forest lover, or just a fan of sitting down while still technically sightseeing, this is a must-do for your next visit.

When you are done with boardwalk fun and ready to chill, continue the end of the boardwalk, exit near the river and walk under the bridge. You’re now on the Santa Cruz Riverwalk, a peaceful path with views of the San Lorenzo River. It’s officially a bike path, but we’re walking—with flair. Enjoy the breeze, the birds, and the feeling of smug satisfaction that comes with doing something both active and adorable. Enjoy your stroll, and when you get to the Soquel Bridge, turn left and walk to some shopping fun on Pacific Avenue.

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🌻 Feel-Good Stop: Homeless Garden Project Store

Hang a right onto Pacific Avenue and pop into this sweet little shop that’s doing big things. The Homeless Garden Project provides transitional employment and job training through sustainable farming. Their downtown store is packed with local goodies—from body care to candles—and every purchase supports their mission. Win-win!

📍 1338 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🌐 homelessgardenproject.org

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🎨 Culture Break: MAH (Museum of Art & History)

Continue down Pacific Avenue, enjoying the sights and sounds. When you spot an arcade walkway on your right, head into it—you’ll find yourself at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, aka the MAH. This isn’t your stuffy old museum. It’s got colorful exhibits, local history, interactive installations, and even a rooftop sculpture garden. It's like an art hug.

📍 705 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🌐 santacruzmah.org

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☕ Espresso Yourself: Cat & Cloud

Need a caffeine pick-me-up? Cat & Cloud in the Abbott Square Market right in front of the MAH is the cool kid of coffee shops. Their lattes are smooth and the vibe is electric -- Sit, sip, people-watch, and recharge those step-counting feet.

📍 725 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🌐 catandcloud.com

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📚 Book Nook Bliss: Bookshop Santa Cruz

Head back to Pacific Avenue, turn right, and stop in at the legendary Bookshop Santa Cruz. It's a reader’s dream—locally owned since 1966, with shelves of fiction, memoirs, cookbooks, banned books (yes, please), and hilarious gift items. You’ll want to stay forever, but we’ve got more steps to take!

📍 1520 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🌐 bookshopsantacruz.com

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🥖 Mangia Mangia!!

Hungry? Same. By now, you might be craving something solid, especially if you bypassed the burrito. Hit up Zoccoli’s Italian Deli run by the Zoccoli family for four generations since 1948. Grab a number, peek at the chalkboard menu and deli case, and anticipate one of their legendary sandwiches—I LOVED the classic Mediterranean (stacked prosciutto, mortadella, salami, provolone, olive relish and peppers with Italian dressing). Their soups, potato salads, dolmas, deviled eggs, and tiramisu— all made from scratch using family recipes. Sooooo many choices, you will leave fully satisfied!!

📍 1534 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🌐 zoccolisdeli.com

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🧦 Step Into Something Sock-tacular

Cross the street and start strolling West on Pacific Avenue, and pop into the Sockshop and Shoe Company, family-owned and spreading sock joy since 1988. It's part boutique, part whimsical wonderland. Funky socks? Fancy shoes? They’ve got ‘em.  It’s the perfect spot to grab a quirky souvenir or treat your feet to something fabulous.

📍 1515 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🌐 sockshopandshoeco.com

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🍪 The Grand Finale: Pacific Cookie Company

You’ve earned it. Your final steps lead you straight to Pacific Cookie Company, family owned since 1980, where the chocolate-dipped snickerdoodle is the reward dreams are made of. Oh my goodness, so good. They also make these delcicious cookies into ice cream sandwiches. Woohoo! What a way to cool off after that Santa Cruz strut! WORTH IT!! 

📍 1203 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
🌐 pacificcookie.com

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🏁 Done and Dusted (with Cookie Crumbs)

And just like that—you’ve walked 10,000 steps, supported local businesses, soaked up some history, and eaten like the queen you are. Santa Cruz, you sweet and salty thing, you never disappoint.

Want more step-filled adventures with a side of sass and sunshine? Come hang out at WanderLynTravel.blogspot.com. There’s a whole world out there—and I’ve got comfy shoes.

Until next time,

Eat Well. Move Well. Wander well.

— Lyn, WanderLynTravel

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