Learn indigenous skills of survival in the woods, including how to build a shelter, gather water, make a fire, and forage edible plants or set up traps for food. Both novice campers and seasoned backpackers will benefit from hands-on activities during this 5-hour class with a naturalist instructor. The session takes place in a redwood forest in Boulder Creek, located just north of Santa Cruz.

Get back to nature and learn age-old survival skills during this wilderness clinic set among the redwoods of Northern California. Meet your instructor — a survivalist and naturalist — at a Boy Scout camp in Boulder Creek, located about 15 miles (24 km) north of Santa Cruz. In just 5 hours you'll practice timeless traditions, such as shelter building and fire-by-friction, drawn from indigenous skills.
Participate in hands-on activities appropriate for all ages, and build self-esteem and awareness knowing you can survive in the woods or other natural setting. Learn about edible plants and try out native-style traps while you discover what it's like to live in harmony with nature. You'll leave better prepared for your next wilderness adventure.

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Learn to surf in Santa Cruz during a 3-hour clinic designed with the beginner in mind. Novices are welcome, as well as anyone who has tried surfing but could use some tips for balancing on the board and catching a wave. You'll get plenty of practice with paddling and pop-up techniques while learning about wave breaks, ocean conditions, and safety in and out of the water, including surf etiquette. Includes all necessary equipment.

Make your way to Cowells Beach in Santa Cruz, where you'll meet your CPR-, first aid-, and lifeguard-certified instructor who teaches the basics of surfing during a 3-hour surf clinic. Come ready to learn how to surf and explore the wonders of the ocean. Your instructor provides a safe and non-threatening environment for the beginner surfer.
Once you've squeezed into a provided wetsuit to keep you warm in the Pacific Ocean, you'll get an orientation to using a surfboard. You're walked through the steps to popping up on your board on shore. Learn how to read ocean conditions and wave breaks to ensure your safety, before you practice paddling and balancing. 
You'll start out in shallow areas, riding the white water until you are comfortable with venturing further out, where your instructor helps you catch some waves.

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Beach trains operate seasonally between Roaring Camp and the seaside community of Santa Cruz. From Roaring Camp, the train travels through redwood forests of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park alongside a scenic river gorge, down city streets to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on the northern shores of Monterey Bay. The trip takes one hour in each direction for the round-trip with one hour stop-off in between. Customer purchases a round-trip ticket. Allow three hours for the round trip. Check train schedules for starting locations, dates and departure times. The Santa Cruz Beach train operates on a seasonal schedule from April 1 to September 30.

Visit: Roaring Camp Railroads, 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95018-9745

The Santa Cruz, Big Trees & Pacific Railway or "Beach Train" offers round-trip excursions between Roaring Camp/Felton and Santa Cruz. Train fares are for round-trip tickets; there are no one-way fares. Trains depart from Roaring Camp at 10:15 am and 2:15 pm and take one hour to reach Santa Cruz, arriving  at 11:15 am and 3:15 pm respectively. Return legs of the round-trip leave from Santa Cruz at 12:15 pm and 4:15 pm. Guests taking the 10:15 am train from Roaring Camp may opt to return at either 12:15 pm or 4:15 pm.
Diesel electric locomotives pull open-air wooden cars from the 1900's and steel coaches from the 1920's. The 6-mile route takes passengers  through the fabled Big Trees of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, across a 1909 steel bridge that spans the San Lorenzo River, through a timber-lined tunnel, along avenues lined with vintage Victorian homes, ending at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an admission-free amusement park.

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Come paddle for fun, fitness, relaxation or imagination! See the ever adorable southern sea otter, whales lunge feeding, or enjoy the rowdy sea lions as they porpoise through the waves.

Itinerary

Rent a double kayak for a super fun adventure with your bestie beginning in the Santa Cruz Harbor and paddling into the Monterey Bay. Whales, dolphins, sea lions and sea otters are commonly spotted!

Stop At:

• Walton Lighthouse, E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA
• Twin Lakes State Beach, 2875 E Cliff Dr Parallel to East Cliff Drive and Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-4717
• Santa Cruz Harbor Beach, 5th Ave. at East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA
• Seabright State Beach, 15 E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5416
• Santa Cruz Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5459
• Cowell's Beach, 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5459
• Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, 1305 E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-3722
• Natural Bridges State Beach, 2531 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-6257

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Rent a StandUp Paddle Board for a super fun adventure beginning in the Santa Cruz Harbor and paddling into the Monterey Bay. Burn some calories while you glide amongst the whales, dolphins, sea lions and sea otters.

Itinerary

Rent a StandUp Paddleboard for a super fun adventure beginning in the Santa Cruz Harbor and paddling into the Monterey Bay. See the iconic Walton Lighthouse, the Beach Boardwalk, Steamer Lane and Natural Bridges as you paddle along the Santa Cruz coastline. Whales, Dolphins, Sea Lions and Sea Otters are commonly spotted!

Stop At:

• Santa Cruz Harbor, 135 5th Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-4701
• Walton Lighthouse, E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA
• Twin Lakes State Beach, 2875 E Cliff Dr Parallel to East Cliff Drive and Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-4717
• Santa Cruz Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5459
• Cowell's Beach, 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5459
• Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5416
• Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, West Cliff Drive at Lighthouse Point, Santa Cruz, CA

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This rental is the perfect way to dip your paddle in the water without the half-day commitment. You can paddle free of the large swell from the open ocean in our protected Santa Cruz Harbor. After your paddle, you'll have earned that beer & fish tacos at El Palomar, Crows Nest or Johnny's Harborside. Wildlife spotting, adventure, and some iconic scenery make this paddle a must do. Ideal for beginners, or bucket-listers who want to get the most out of their Santa Cruz visit!

Itinerary

Explore the calm and protected waters of the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor. With over a mile of waterways to navigate, you can see the iconic local scenery and majestic sail boats. On Sunday mornings ukuleles serenade you as you paddle past Crows Nest Restaurant.

Stop At:

• Walton Lighthouse, E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA
• Twin Lakes State Beach, 2875 E Cliff Dr Parallel to East Cliff Drive and Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95062-4717

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