Population:
54,593
Elevation:
20 feet above sea level
Land area:
12.5 square miles
Location:
77 miles Southeast of San Francisco, on Monterey Bay
Weather
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Average temp. (°F)
50.3
52.4
53.9
56.6
59.4
62.6
64.3
64.9
64.3
60.5
54.2
49.9
High temperature (°F)
61.0
63.0
64.8
69.3
71.8
75.2
76.3
77.0
76.8
73.3
65.5
60.8
Low temperature (°F)
39.7
41.8
42.9
44.0
46.9
50.1
52.3
52.6
51.6
47.7
42.8
39.0
Precipitation (in)
6.9
6.5
5.1
2.0
0.7
0.2
0.1
0.1
0.4
1.5
4.3
4.5
Climate
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Days with precip.
9
8
8
5
2
1
0
0
1
2
6
8
Wind speed (mph)
6.2
6.5
7.6
8.0
8.5
8.8
8.0
7.5
6.7
5.8
5.4
5.7
Morning humidity (%)
90
89
86
82
78
73
71
74
76
79
86
89
Afternoon humidity (%)
68
59
51
41
35
31
29
30
33
38
56
67
Sunshine (%)
48
65
76
83
90
94
97
96
93
87
66
48
Days clear of clouds
7
8
11
13
17
22
26
25
23
19
11
8
Partly cloudy days
7
7
8
9
9
6
4
4
5
6
7
6
Cloudy days
18
13
12
8
5
2
1
1
2
5
11
17
Snowfall (in)
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Local Seasons:
Perfect, beautiful, dry, delightful…there are not
enough words to describe the perfect weather in this magnificent California
city. Lowest (night) temperatures are near 40 degrees F and the high
temperatures are rarely above 80 degrees F. Make no mistake about it; Santa Cruz
is a place for visitors who enjoy outdoor activities. The Boardwalk is
California’s oldest amusement park but don’t let that deter you. It is
“state of the art” and blends old-time
nostalgia with modern thrills. Winter is just cool enough for warming up with
the Chili Cook-Off, held each February. Spring is the perfect time for those
long walks on the beach with your special someone. Summer is made for
visitors. With perfect weather for any activity, you may want to consider a
whale watching trip or just take a day at the beach for some “people watching”.
Whatever the season, this remarkable California city will leave you tan and
smiling.
Getting There:
By Car
Santa Cruz is 77 miles southeast of San
Francisco. The most scenic route to Santa Cruz is along Calif. Route 1 from San
Francisco, which, aside from the "you fall, you die" stretch called Devil's
Slide, it allows you to cruise at a steady 50 mph. Faster but far less romantic
is Calif. 17, which is accessed near San Jose from I-280, I-880, or U.S. 101,
and literally ends at the foot of the boardwalk. The exception to this rule is
on weekend mornings, when Calif. 17 tends to logjam with Bay Area beachgoers
while Calif. 1 remains relatively uncrowded.
By Air
The nearest major airport is
San Jose International Airport
2077 Airport Blvd., San Jose, CA 95110
408-277-4SKY
Located 30 miles northeast of Santa Cruz.
San Francisco International Airport
is approximately 60 miles north of Santa Cruz
Located near the junction of Highways 101 and
380. 27
650-821-8211
Most car rental companies operate at or near the
airports
Taxis are also available
By Bus
Greyhound
Sean & Sharon Love
425 Front Street, Santa Cruz CA 95062
831-423-1800
Local Bus Service
ABC Transportation
(airport service)
3131 Porter Dr., Soque
831-464-8893
Santa Cruz Airporter
(airport service)
131 Front St., Santa Cruz
831-423-1214 or 800-497-4997
Early Bird Airport Shuttle
(airport service)
4525 Portola Dr., Santa Cruz
831-462-3933
By Train
Amtrak Bus Connector Service
800-USA-RAIL
The nearest train depot is located in San Jose.
From San Jose's Diridon Station, this service connects with Amtrak's Capitol,
Coast Starlight, and San Joaquin service; Caltrain from San Francisco and the
Peninsula; VTA routes 63, 64, 68, 11, and 180; the South Bay Flyer to Greyhound
as well as the San Jose and San Francisco Airports.
Getting around:
With so many things to see and do in and around
Santa Cruz, the best way to get around is by car. However, other means of
transportation are available as well.
By Bus:
Santa Cruz METRO operates 42 routes throughout
Santa Cruz County. Bus Information - (831) 425-8600
Greyhound Lines
800-231-2222
By Water Taxi:
Free Santa Cruz Harbor water taxi operates
weekends & holidays 10–6, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
831-475-6161
National Holidays:
New Year's Day: Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day: 3rd Mon. in Jan.
President's Day: 3rd Mon. in Feb.
Memorial Day: last Mon. in May
Independence Day: July 4
Labor Day: 1st Mon. in Sept.
Thanksgiving Day: 4th Thurs. in Nov.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Dec. 24 and 25
New Year's Eve: Dec. 31
Santa Cruz
