Beaches, brews, and vino in Santa Cruz

Seabright Brewery serves up a menu of really solid beers and elevated pub grub with a dose of attitude. Their Sacrilicious Ale adds a hit of hops to a malty red ale for a unique taste, and their Blue IPA is a local favorite. Plus, their French fries and burgers are the stuff of legend, and both can come with various toppings and sauces. Sit inside and enjoy the cool atmosphere and TVs, or enjoy the ocean breeze on the patio outside. Plus, it's an easy walk to Seabright Beach from the brewery, so you can work off your beer and burger with a scenic stroll.

Really taste the essence of Santa Cruz at New Bohemia Brewing. A wide variety of beers with an eye for the perfect balance of flavors and aromas, whimsical vibes and names for their brews, a dedication to sustainability, and modern industrial space with bar and upstairs patio in addition to their state-of-the-art brewing and lagering system make this more of an experience than a casual trip to the bar.

British-style beers and beachy vibes don't seem like something that would go naturally together, but, like hops and malt, they work together to create something special: the locally-beloved East Cliff Brewing Company. A roster of ales, stouts, and porters and a menu of bar food featuring burgers, fish and chips, and more mean you could easily spend all night in this airy space, drinking and carousing with the locals.

If you're looking for a beach with a little more action, then head to Santa Cruz's Main Beach. Home to the epic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Main Beach is always bustling with activity and features plenty to see and do. Roller coasters, volleyball courts, games, food, and more make this an exciting place to spend an afternoon.

The Santa Cruz Downtown Farmers Market is one of several local farmers markets in the city, but it's one of the oldest and largest. The year-round market occurs every Wednesday afternoon and features live music, fresh and local produce, artisan foodstuffs, and lunch and dinner options.

If beer isn't quite your taste, then fear not! Santa Cruz has some pretty great wineries as well, like Storrs Winery & Vineyards. The tasting room, in an urban setting, offers samples of their wide variety of vinos at a reasonable price. They're known for their chardonnay, but make tons of red wines as well, so there's something to please every palate.

Santa Cruz Ale Works is a homey kind of place that started off as a homebrewing operating between friends. From there, it's grown into a respected brewery and deli. Even though they started with the beer, they put just as much love into their food offerings, hand-pickling veggies, smoking meats in-house, and crafting sauces from scratch. Wash down a sandwich with an oatmeal stout, a hefe, or an IPA!