Santa Cruz California, USA Travel Guide
Even on hot days, evenings can appear cool. Layering is always a good strategy in Santa Cruz. Summer daytime means lightweight shirts, shorts, light dresses. Evenings require a light to medium-weight jacket or fleece.
Winter brings mild, wet conditions, while spring warms gradually. Anticipate varied temperatures. Daytime in winter means long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, jeans or warm pants. Evenings call for warm, waterproof outer layers.
Comfortable walking shoes or Sneakers are essential for navigating the city, Pacific Avenue, and the Wharf.
If you plan to explore redwood forests, Sturdy, closed-toe hiking shoes or boots with good grip are recommended.
Take beach sandals or flip-flops for beach days. During winter months, Waterproof shoes or boots are a wise choice.
Carry both physical and digital copies of important papers.
The U.S. Uses 120V, 60Hz. Plug types are Type A (two flat parallel pins) and Type B (two flat parallel pins and a circular grounding pin). Most modern electronics (laptops, phones) are dual voltage.
U.S. mobile service providers mainly use GSM (AT&T, T-Mobile) and CDMA (Verizon). Prepaid SIM cards or eSIMs offer good options for travelers, such as those from Airalo. A standard digital camera or smartphone camera works well.
Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze for driving. Santa Cruz METRO, Uber, Lyft for local transport.
Yelp, OpenTable for dining. NOAA Weather, AccuWeather for weather. AllTrails for hiking.
Using Google translate for language help. Consider NordVPN or ExpressVPN for secure browsing on public Wi-Fi.
Pack a personal health kit to address common travel ailments and sun exposure. Carry all prescribed drugs in their original labeled containers with a copy of your prescription and a doctor's note.
Sun protection is important. The California sun can feel strong on overcast days too. Insect repellent is useful if spending time in forested areas (e.g., redwoods) or near standing water.
For exploring the redwood forests and other natural trails, comfortable and weather-appropriate gear is important.
The Pacific Ocean waters are cool, including in summertime. Renting gear locally can save space in your luggage.
Tours can be chilly on the water, even on sunny days. Prepare for potentially rough seas.
These little items contribute to comfort and security, especially on long travel days or in unfamiliar surroundings.
These reusable items contribute to a more sustainable trip and practical daily use in California.
Pack your own hygiene products in reusable containers to reduce waste.
Savor local cafes without single-use cups.
Access guides on your device to save paper plus area.
Charge multiple devices with one adapter, handy in limited outlet situations.
Consider renting large items like wetsuits or surfboards. Local shops offer equipment for varying skill levels, saving you packing space.
Bring specific brands of toiletries or medicines you prefer to be quicker and ensure availability locally.
