Must See! Nature

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Evergreen Historical Cemetery

This gold rush era cemetery was the first Protestant cemetery in California. A selfguided tour map is found at the main entrance. Living history programs with guided tours are scheduled at different times. Open daily, sunrise to sunset.

Evergreen & Coral St. (near Harvey West Park), Santa Cruz
831-429-1964, www.santacruzmah.org

Gilroy Gardens & Family Theme Park

(formally Bonfante Gardens)�March 21-Nov. 23 New season, new rides, entertainment and much more. Set in a garden wonderland the park has many lush floral displays, sculpted trees, ponds, streams and waterfalls. There are 40 attraction/rides, entertainment pavilions, several food and dining areas, and gift and garden shops.

3050 Hecker Pass/Hwy 152, Gilroy
408-840-7100, www.gilroygardens.com

Gizdich Ranch

A fourth generation family ranch. U-pick berries, May-Aug. and apples, Sept.-Oct. There is a deli, gift shop, and bakeshop offering fruit pies and other baked treats. Its apple stand features 12 seasonal varieties. Apple and apple-olallieberry juices are pressed on Saturday.

55 Peckham Rd., Watsonville
831-722-1056, www.gizdich-ranch.com

Half Moon Bay

A secluded coastal farming community and commercial seaport, known for its annual Pumpkin Festival and Mavericks extreme surf championship event. It has a charming downtown, with a collection of galleries, antique stores, and gift shops.

Hwy 1, 48 miles North of Santa Cruz Half Moon Bay Coastside Chamber of Commerce
650-726-8380, www.halfmoonbaychamber.org

Henry Cowell Rewoods State Park Visitor and Nature Center

Displays feature the unique aspects of the park's redwood, riparian, sandhill and grasslands habitats. Interactive displays include a century time-line on how the forest was saved from logger's clear-cutting practices, and there are tactile identification activities. Open Summer Tue.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Winter, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. There are guided walks and nature store. State Park parking fees apply.

101 North Big Trees Park Road (off of Highway. 9), Felton
831-335-7077, www.mountainparks.org

Mission Hill

Located above downtown Santa Cruz, Mission Plaza is where you will find three sites that are landmark symbols of the region's history and heritage.

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Mission Church and Holy Cross Church
High and Mission Sts., Santa Cruz

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Galleries and exhibits explore the diverse habitats of Monterey Bay. The four largest exhibits are Outer Bay, Kelp Forest, Monterey Bay Habitats, and Sea Otters Along the Rocky Coast. Displays feature 550 species. There are interactive exhibits, and feeding schedules are posted. Services include a store, restaurant and educational programs. Open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 43 miles south from Santa Cruz.

886 Cannery Row, Monterey
800-756-3737, www.mbayaq.org

Moss Landing

This village has played an important role in the region's maritime and commercial fishing history, and is now a center for marine research. There are sand-dune beaches and a boardwalk over its wetland marshes. It has several sport fishing, whale watching, sightseeing companies, kayaking, and other recreation services/rentals. The village is also a hub for antique shoppers and has several restaurants.

Moss Landing Chamber of Commerce
831-633-4501, www.mosslandingchamber.com

Mystery Spot

Take a 45 minute guided walk into the forest where there are puzzling variations in gravity, perspective, heights and other anomalies. Open daily 9 a.m.-7 p.m. May 23 - Sept. 1 and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. remainder of year. Gift shop, snacks and beverages available.

465 Mystery Spot Rd. off of Branciforte Dr., Santa Cruz.
831-423-8897, www.mysteryspot.com

National Steinbeck Center

This museum celebrates the writings of John Steinbeck. The main gallery features interactive displays which blend his story narratives that are shown in motion picture clips and news video of historical events, many found in the Salinas Valley. The Valley of the World gallery focuses on Salinas Valley's agricultural history. You will find an art gallery, theater, restaurant, and store. Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed some holidays.

35 miles southeast from Santa Cruz
One Main St., Salinas
831-796-3833, www.steinbeck.org

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