Santa Cruz Wharf
Santa Cruz Wharf
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
1,348 reviews
Excellent
572
Very good
531
Average
200
Poor
30
Terrible
15
832vgs
New Delhi, India1,734 contributions
Jun 2021
Santa Cruz Wharf in California is well known for fishing, boat tours, dining, gift shops and a beautiful long pier. We visited on a sunny day with family including kids. We walked on the pier, visited the gift shops to buy some souvenirs and had lunch at the Firefish Grill comprising sea food, chicken and salad with Beer. We all then walked to the end of the Pier where we could hear and see the Sea Lions as well as the sail boats. The wharf is located close to the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk; where one can spend a day enjoying the thrill rides. The over 100 years old Wharf is a must visit for tourist to the city.
Written June 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Summerasalifestyle
Malibu, CA3,550 contributions
Aug 2023
Mostly tourist shops filled with trinkets and tshirts and “those” .restaurants.
All the usual overpriced seafood joints. Guessing locals only go there when family or friends are visiting. But nice views are always goodJ
All the usual overpriced seafood joints. Guessing locals only go there when family or friends are visiting. But nice views are always goodJ
Written August 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thomas j
15 contributions
Aug 2023
Very nice wharf. Touted as the longest in the United States, it is a nice walk. It's dotted with mostly sea food restaurants, mostly sit down types. We enjoyed Woody's Cafe, a more related and moderate priced venue. Walking distance to the Boardwalk and lots of parking on the wharf itself. There were many sea lion below the wharg which you can see and hear through large openings on top. While there is a seafood market there, too pricy to feed the sea lions.
Written August 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin Carroll
Winchester, VA614 contributions
Nov 2020
My wife and I were coming north on PCH 1 from San Diego. Our friends who had previously made this trip highly recommended that we stop in Santa Cruz to have dinner on the Santa Cruz Wharf. So off we went to have dinner on the Wharf.
I was surprised by the size of the wharf. It was very large. They have car shows on the wharf. There are 4-5 restaurants on the Wharf. They are all very good or they would not be there. It is just a matter of finding a menu that you prefer. Of course, we went with seafood !
As we were having our dinner, we heard various noises like banging. As we were talking to our waitress, we asked what the noise was. She said that it was the sea lions. We were totally surprised. She told us a spot where you could look down into the support rafters of the Wharf and actually see the sea lions. Very Cool !! They created lots of noise. Our friend had not mentioned the Sea Lions.
I added some photos for the sea lions. There was one large size sea Lion that none of the others bothered. He must have ben the King !!
Enjoy each day !
I was surprised by the size of the wharf. It was very large. They have car shows on the wharf. There are 4-5 restaurants on the Wharf. They are all very good or they would not be there. It is just a matter of finding a menu that you prefer. Of course, we went with seafood !
As we were having our dinner, we heard various noises like banging. As we were talking to our waitress, we asked what the noise was. She said that it was the sea lions. We were totally surprised. She told us a spot where you could look down into the support rafters of the Wharf and actually see the sea lions. Very Cool !! They created lots of noise. Our friend had not mentioned the Sea Lions.
I added some photos for the sea lions. There was one large size sea Lion that none of the others bothered. He must have ben the King !!
Enjoy each day !
Written October 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SeattleReebs
Seattle, WA1,034 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
You can't go out on the Warf without seeing sealions. It is impossible. We spent about an hour watching them hunt, which was really fun. They bark and play and are delightful to watch. Then we rented a kayak and were able to kayak with them (don't get too close, there are laws about that). Even though I see sea lions often at home, it was a thrill to see SO many of them (literally thousands) in one place and to watch their hunting behavior.
Written December 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KCLJ520
Illinois359 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
OK friends, I know it's a ton of gift shops. I got 2 tips for you.
Tip 1: Go early in the morning, you will not pay to park! Shops start opening in the 9 o'clock hour, definitely open by 10.
Tip 2: the Wharf has the best views of the sea lions, you can get great photos and videos of them barking, diving, swimming, and playing in the mornings! We saw dozens of sea lions the June morning we were there, and had the same experience when we were here 14 years ago as well! It's the Hotspot!!
Tip 1: Go early in the morning, you will not pay to park! Shops start opening in the 9 o'clock hour, definitely open by 10.
Tip 2: the Wharf has the best views of the sea lions, you can get great photos and videos of them barking, diving, swimming, and playing in the mornings! We saw dozens of sea lions the June morning we were there, and had the same experience when we were here 14 years ago as well! It's the Hotspot!!
Written July 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John M
Santa Cruz, CA4,464 contributions
Jan 2021
There is always something to see on the wharf. You pay to park, but the first half hour (?) is free. We stayed a fairly long time and only paid one dollar. There is something special about being out on the water, and you can have something to eat, and watch the surfers and sea lions, too.
Written January 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arun K
Nagpur District, India3,374 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
Santa Cruz , a coast of Central California with a long wharf well equipped with eateries & shops. Lot of sea lions roaring below the board all the time.
Awesome sand beach with facilities for volleyball, sun basking , water gliding etc.
The beautiful beach boardwalk includes 1911 Giant Dipper Roller Coaster & Looff Carousel . Old Casino avenue includes video games for children. They fun & scary rides are centre of attraction. The long rope way is really a fun.
Nice place for week end hangout with stores, restaurants, cafés & galleries.
Must place for San Francisco visitors .
Awesome sand beach with facilities for volleyball, sun basking , water gliding etc.
The beautiful beach boardwalk includes 1911 Giant Dipper Roller Coaster & Looff Carousel . Old Casino avenue includes video games for children. They fun & scary rides are centre of attraction. The long rope way is really a fun.
Nice place for week end hangout with stores, restaurants, cafés & galleries.
Must place for San Francisco visitors .
Written July 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark S
28 contributions
Sept 2020
Visited the Warf last week while in Santa Cruz. Most shops and restaurants were open. Sea lions were cool to see. Food reasonably priced, and service staff exceptional. The views can't be beat!
Written September 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RSM123123
Plano, TX771 contributions
May 2022
Must Visit! Walk and hear the famous sea lions bark, gift shops, see the crowd, food with many dining places, fantastic place to visit. Made of 2000 70 ft. Douglas fir pilings driven 21 feet into the ocean, almost 3,000 feet long. Then hit the boardwalk.
Written May 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Which is a good way to get from san jose to santa cruz without renting a car?
Written July 30, 2018
There is a bus that’s an express line - goes SJ to Santa Cruz over HWY 17; however, if you rent a car, you could tool around to some of the others towns and beaches (Capitola, Aptos). There is a bike sharing program that’s brand new (Jump Bikes), so if you’re carless, you can cruz around a little on those. Some are regular bikes, some are e-bikes. Hope this helps!
Written July 31, 2018
Just south of San Luis Obisbo (Central Coast) off highway 101. A 3 hour drive south from Santa Cruz Wharf. Pismo Clams are big & famous. Certain times of the year people dig for them and have parties with clam chowder & such on the beach. Great campground in Pismo near the beach. Have fun!
Written June 21, 2016
This is what I found.
Boardwalk All-Day ParkingMarch 21, 2015 - December 31, 2015
Cars:Â $15Â ($10 on Limited Ride Days)Â
RVs:Â $30
Santa Cruz beachboardwalk site
Written April 2, 2015
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