Does it Snow in Santa Cruz, Calfornia?

Celebrate this holiday in an extra special way where ever you might be!  

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

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Let's go on a trip now! ~ The Fun Tour Guru

Still Remembering Santa Cruz, CA: Just Because I Can

Santa Cruz is an escape for me and not a tourist destination.

It is a fun region where I go to explore all of the unfamiliar nooks and crannies that I can find. I have done this for ... well...let's say for many years.  (Remember, I am not a day over 39, and yes, I am borrowing this line from Jack Benny's famous joke).

On my last trip over to Santa Cruz at the end of March, I followed my own advice, and I stepped off my own beaten path or route of my favorite things to do.

On this day I found the streets congested with traffic as it was the Friday before Easter weekend.  I know this community grows beyond its 60,000 residents and happy to share with any of them their fun activities on days like this.  

I followed the local news stories of the passing of our two Santa Cruz police officers, and heros, and there is something which spoke to me this time.  I don't recall any incidents like this through the years I have been going to this small community of Santa Cruz.  I feel safe on these streets.  Even though I may not know everyone directly - I feel I am welcomed to stop to talk to  the locals.   

I saw reminders during this trip.  I took the time to stop at the Santa Cruz Police Department and found these reminders that are still being shared by the public in front.

Santa Cruz Police Dept Tribute

Flags were still lowered ...

Santa Cruz Police Department

Surfers Lighthouse

Would you, as a stranger who is unfamiliar of visiting this region, know what had happened and think to ask someone about this?

What made this trip so different for me this time?


"Remember, we only have today, tomorrow is not here, and yesterday is gone.  I believe we should enjoy every moment and experience that we can.  We have choices, I choose to be happy everyday," as spoken by Jean Jennings Bartik, Eniac Women Pioneer, at the Computer History Museum.

I will share later some of the other fun things I did it did, ~ The Fun Tour Guru
 

Local Art Gems in Santa Cruz, CA

With my frequent trips to the town of Santa Cruz, I  always find some real gems which catch my eye in this fun town. Last year I wrote about their new round-a-bout intersection. 

Yes, I admit I usually look at surfers and sea otters - on this trip I kept seeing beautiful murals, sculptures, and traffic art throughout the streets.  

After some research, I discovered that we may even take a self-guided "SculpTOUR" through these Santa Cruz streets. You may even download a map and follow this walking tour. This has been made available because of a small organized program developed by the locals in 1998 to display local artists creations - which brings a fresh look at everyday scenes we walk and drive through.  And, yes there are sand sculptures on the beach by the boardwalk too.

I was particularly drawn to the Graphic Traffic project - art on the traffic signal cabinets throughout the city. A neat way to disguise these cabinets on the streets!

Graphic Traffic in Santa Cruz, CA Image by DW

Graphic Traffic - Santa Cruz, CA Image by DW

About this Santa Cruz Arts Program

The murals and sculptures are created by local artists through a city program of the City of Santa Cruz Department of Economic Develpment and Redevelopment, Santa Cruz City Arts works with the Arts Commission, partners and stakeholders to guide and manage this public art program. Staffing is one person, part time.

This program is "dedicated to bring creativity to the streetscape through diversity of placemaking projects, including temporary, permanent, temporal, small-scale and large scale installations". 

Tribute to Santa Cruz Surfers Image DW

 

I continue to see more and more of these fun scenes made by local artists - of all ages. These people are the ones who actually live in and enjoy our small communities everyday.  

What an innovating idea to inspire the locals who live in our communities! And they camouflage the progress we sometimes find ourselves complaining of.  Big city projects fighting with funds?  Take note of how Santa Cruz came together to beautify. 

What ideas do you have to beautify your town? 

Just think, what a small bit of organization from our locals artists and city working together will do for our communities ~  

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This week in Santa Cruz, CA ~ The Fun Tour Guru

This Art Program was started in 1998 by a group of local residents, Public Art in Santa Cruz.

Bike Parking at Your Event (Santa Cruz, CA)

Bike Valet

Are these only in California at outdoor events?  It is typical to find around here and environment friendly.  This bike valet was spotted at an event in Santa Cruz.  A nice, organized set up to help out visitors, just sayin.... get some exercise, ride up to the event entrance, and park your bikes with a trusted source.

Have bike, will travel!  ~ The Fun Tour Guru 

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Woodies are Stars along with Classic Car Collectors in Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz Annual Event

It is the car season 2011!  This weekend I heard about 4 car events: Cars2 movie, Greenwood Car Show in Seattle, WA, NASCAR race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA, and Woodies on the Wharf in Santa Cruz, CA. (There were many more I am sure)

Woodies on the Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 2011

I made a last minute decision to get out of the big city and drive over to Santa Cruz yesterday (Saturday) and see what Woodies on the Wharf was all about.  I have heard many people talk about this event since 1995.  I am so glad I went! 

This vintage car event has these items to enhance one’s experience:

• Classic Woodie Cars and their friendly, passionate surfing owners as hosts
• The perfect stage on Santa Cruz Wharf, against the exquisite background setting of Monterey Bay, is the most amazing venue
• The small hometown feeling of the classic surfing beach community of Santa Cruz, CA

 
I arrived early while the fog still hung over the bay and it was a bit chilly before the afternoon crowds gathered.  It is always fun to watch the surfing and kayak classes as I walk to the Wharf.

The first Surfboard which I first saw.

                   

Next, as the sun came out in the afternoon, I saw (up close) Woodies Club President Loren Steck (black shirt, straw hat) give out awards and prizes to Santa Cruz community leaders like 2011 Mayor Ryan Coonerty and Chief of Police Kevin Vogel.  

And many, many raffle prizes all day long. 


Of course the real stars of the show were the vintage collection of Woodies while chatting one on one with all of the owners.

A really, really fun day! 

I will be sharing more insider secrets and photos this week of these Santa Cruz Boardwalk findings.  

More pictures added to see. 

Insider Secret:

Do hot dogs taste better at the beach or baseball game? 

I recommend this best food $5 value of the day – Paradise Hot Dogs. Three choices of hot dogs, with the popular “big dog” which is a quarter pound hot dog on a steam bun along with soft drinks, Gatorade, chips, cookies, and even water for $1. They also have t-shirts and tote bags available to sell. Plus, you receive the friendly enthusiasm of these owners who live in this Paradise beach town. 5 Stars! What a simple, yet great business idea!  

 You never know what you will find until you go! ~ The Fun Tour Guru

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Santa Clara, CA award winning Travel Consultants at Lighthouse Travel & Tours

Santa Cruz, CA - More Than Surf, Historic Mission Santa Cruz Too

Of course Mother's Day brings memories to some of us that we share together with our own Mothers.  I know my Mother enjoyed going to the places I loved with her California visits.  Santa Cruz is one of those places we shared together and I remember she asked, "Have I lost you to the ocean?"  To my Mother, thank you for being with me, always and forever!  

A different Santa Cruz, CA 

I think about Santa Cruz, CA as a fun, off beat, surfing, and college town which lies where the north side of Monterey Bay merges with the Pacific Ocean. Santa Cruz tends to have an opposite attraction from the town of Monterey,  and is more the place where the locals hang out. Many visitors head "over the hill" from San Jose, CA on Hwy 17 and go directly to see the Wharf, Boardwalk, and West Cliff Drive. A few people might even frequent downtown Santa Cruz sidewalks.  How many actually visit Mission Hill? What is Mission Hill?  

Mission Hill in Santa Cruz, CA

 Mission Hill, Santa Cruz, CA

The Holy Cross Church is the symbol of where the Mission Santa Cruz once stood.  Today visitors may walk around this church and the State Historical Park building complex.   

The Mission Santa Cruz is the 12th of 21 California missions established in 1791 and built between the years of 1822 and 1824, mostly by the hard work of Native Americans in what was then known as "Alta California". 

California State Historic Park

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park is the site of several buildings erected around the original Santa Cruz Mission. Part of the cluster, the Neary-Rodriguez Adobe was built in 1791 and is the last of the mission's many buildings to survive.

Santa Cruz means "holy cross" in Spanish. Learn lessons from history as you visit this replica of the actual mission - which has gone through many disasters – including many, many earthquakes. All but nine buildings on Mission Hill are in a Special Use (Historic) District, to maintain the area’s historic character.

Inside the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park 

The interior of the church has only a few original artifacts.  Most items were lost or destroyed in earthquakes. Visitors will find a 1797 oil painting of the Virgen de Guadalupe hanging on the side wall of the church, and in the garden may be seen the original hand-carved baptismal font once located in the sanctuary.

The day I visited, the park was closed. I took a 3 pictures between the space of the closed gate of the historical park. I found these fascinating views by doing this: 

 

 

Mission Santa Cruz 130 Emmet Street (831) 426-5686

Days and hours have recently changed to Thursday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. You might want to call to be sure it is open. There is a small gift shop to browse.

The history in Santa Cruz, I wonder ...

did the Spanish Priests and early American Indians have some type of surfboard? 

Off the beaten path in local communities ~ The Fun Tour Guru 

Everyday is a Happy Mother's Day! 

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