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96 Amazing Things To Do In Santa Cruz

Here's your brand new bucket list.

Eliza Jasleen Cabrera

Oct 19, 2015

University of California Santa Cruz

175

College youngsters, we're the smartest people on the planet (and the most in debt). Give us calculus equations, chemistry problems, literature essays to write. And, with enough time, we'll figure out how to make the world a better place. Yet, when it comes to planning fun-filled days with friends or even dates, we can have a pretty hard time. Let's be honest, Netflix and Chill isn't really all that much fun.No worries, y'all—here's a giant bucket list for all to have fun completing. Have fun making memories and posting them on Instagram--because if you didn't post it on Instagram, did it even happen?

Go on a picnic in Upper Campus
Paddle Boarding (It's only $35 for a rental all day long!)
Visit Natural Bridges
Visit the Mystery Spot
Go to the Davenport Jail Museum
Hike literally anywhere in Santa Cruz because it's gorgeous everywhere
Visit the Garden of Eden
Spend a day at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with wristbands
Buy a plant from the UCSC Arboretum
Visit any Santa Cruz museum
Visit a tree house and climb up to the top
Watch the sunset from an unordinary place
Go thrift shopping and find hidden treasures
Eat at every single place on of these restaurants at least once:
The Abbey 350 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831-429-1058
The Bagelry 320 Cedar St, Santa Cruz 831-429-8049 1636 Seabright Ave 831-425-8550
The Buttery 702 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz 831-458-3020
Caffe Bene 1101 Cedar St, Santa Cruz 831-425-0441
Caffé Pergolesi 418 Cedar St, Santa Cruz 831-426-1775
Coffeetopia 1723 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831-425-6583
Cold Stone Creamery 1129 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-423-7015
Companion Bakeshop 2341 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831-252-2253
Emily’s Bakery 1129 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831-429-9866
Firefly Coffee House 131 Front St, Santa Cruz 831-713-5799
Gayle’s Bakery 504 Bay Ave, Capitola 831-462-1200
Hoffman’s Bistro 1102 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-420-0135
Java Junction 580 River St #A, Santa Cruz 831-426-2128
Jamba Juice 1550 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 1820 Mission St, Santa Cruz 831-426-5262 831-421-0572
Jumpin Juice & Java 1010 C Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-460-9759
Kelly’s French Bakery 402 Ingalls St, Santa Cruz 831-423-9059
LuLu Carpenter's 1545 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-429-9804
LuLu’s at the Octagon 118 Cooper St, Santa Cruz 831-429-5858
Marini's Downtown 1308 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-423-3299
Midtown Cafe 1121 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz
Mission Hill Creamery 1101 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-216-6421
Noah’s Bagels 1411 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-454-9555
Pacific Cookie Company 1203 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-429-6905
Peet’s Coffee and Tea 1409 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-457-8170
Penny Ice Creamery 913 Cedar St, Santa Cruz 820 41st Ave, Santa Cruz 831-204-2523
Peoples’ Coffee 1200 17th Ave #126, Santa Cruz 831-464-1739
The Picnic Basket 125 Beach St, Santa Cruz 831-427-9946
SC Coffee Roasting Company 1330 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-459-0100
Starbucks 1335 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz 831-459-7681
Santa Cruz Diner 909 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Westside Coffee Company 849 Almar Ave, Santa Cruz 831-427-1300
Whale City Bakery Bar & Grill 490 Hwy 1, Davenport, Santa Cruz 831-423-9009
Visit the S.S. Palo Alto 909 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Go to the farmers' market that's held Wednesday's downtown
Visit the aquarium
Make yummy homemade cookies
Stargaze in the meadows
Release Lanterns with wishes written on them
Spend all day complimenting strangers
Go on an adventure and explore the forest
Take underwater pictures
Visit the arcade
Go mini golfing
Go bowling
Go to a concert at the Catalyst
Have a game night
Be tourists of Santa Cruz
Volunteer
Go ice-skating
Visit San Francisco
Spend all day making DIY crafts
Go on a double date
Go on a triple date
Go on a quadruple date
Spend the entire day doing Random Acts of Kindness
Visit Porter Caves
Visit the Porter Meadow
Hike through campus and findall the coolest spots
Stay home and play video games all day
Have a day dedicated to yoga, meditation and tea
Dedicate a day toSelf-Care
Watch a screening of a film you’ve never heard off
Cook your favorite dish
Go on a Classy date
Tech free day—no phones allowed
Go to the park
Visit the Mission
Donate blood
Visit the Capitola Mall
Have a photoshoot with friends
Go to the Holi Festival
Attend any festival
Redecorate your humble abode
Have a Scavenger Hunt
Buy matching shirts, bracelets, anything that has a significance to you
Buy a disposable camera and take pictures—no phones allowed
Attend an Open Mic Night
Have a Breakfast for dinner date
Make pizza(or order pizza and have a date!)
Have a candle-lit dinner
Bake a cake made from scratch
Do whatever makes you happy

"Here's to freedom, cheers to art. Here's to having an excellent adventure and may the stopping never start. "

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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96 Amazing Things To Do In Santa Cruz

Here's your brand new bucket list.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

1. What do you do for a living?

2. What's your favorite color?

3. Do you have any siblings?

4. What's your favorite television show?

5. When is your birthday?

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

7. If you had three wishes granted to you by a genie, what would they be?

8. What's your favorite childhood memory?

9. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

10. Are you a cat or a dog person?

11. Do you believe in a religion or any sort of spiritual power?

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

13. What is your ideal date night?

14. Who was/is your celebrity crush?

15. What's a good way to cheer you up if you're having a bad day?

16. Do you have any tattoos?

17. Can you describe yourself in three words?

18. What makes you the most nervous in life?

19. What's the best gift you have ever received?

20. What do you do to relax/have fun?

21. What are your priorities at this phase of your life?

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

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You know the best beaches and coves to go to.

You have no patience for the guy who can't back his trailer into the water right.

Doing the friendly wave to every boat you pass.

The cooler is always packed, mostly with beer.

Giving the idiot who goes 30 in a "No Wake Zone" a piece of your mind.

You have no problem with peeing in the water.

You know the frustration of getting your anchor stuck.

Watching in awe at the bigger, better boats that pass by.

Knowing any swimsuit that you own with white in it is best left for the pool or the ocean.

The momentary fear for your life as you get launched from the tube.

You're able to go to the restaurants by the water wearing minimal clothing.

Having unexpected problems with your boat.

Having a name for your boat unique to you and your life.

There's no better place you'd rather be in the summer.

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

1. My school is incredibly unique.

2. I am not just a number at my school.

3. I feel like I am contributing something to the community.

5. My professors know me and I feel that I can easily communicate with them.

6. The incredible people I've met

7. Opportunities

8. Students want to learn

9. Ability to join a sorority and have a house full of people I know I can talk to anytime I need to

10. I have figured out how I learn best because my school offers so many different ways of learning.

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