Santa Cruz Introduction Walking Tour, Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz dates back to the founding of Mission Santa Cruz, founded in 1791. The modern city's incorporation dates back to 1866, and some of the most popular industries were agriculture, lime mining, gunpowder manufacturing, and lumber.

In July 1885, three teenage Hawaiian princes took a break from their boarding school, St. Mathew's Hall in San Mateo, and came to cool off in Santa Cruz. There they surfed the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. For this, Santa Cruz is largely regarded as the birthplace of surfing in the United States.

In modern times, Santa Cruz has become known for being at the center of progressive activism for causes including medical marijuana legalization, immigrant and worker rights, and the LGBT rights. Santa Cruz is also a center of the organic agriculture movement and has a large foot print in the high tech industry.

To immerse yourself in local history, stop by Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. You can also take in more about local history at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History. Don't miss the Del Mar Theater, where you can see a beautiful example of a 1930s movie palace.

If you're in search of shopping or dining options, be sure to check out Pacific Avenue and the Santa Cruz Wharf. You can find cuisine that includes fresh seafood and shops selling fun nautical items easily. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, featuring two National Historic Landmarks, is a place you don't want to miss. It offers a wide range of rides and games for people of all ages.

Take this self-guided walking tour to visit the most important attractions in Santa Cruz at your own pace.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Aaronbrick.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Santa Cruz

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Santa Cruz Introduction Walking Tour
Guide Location: USA » Santa Cruz (See other walking tours in Santa Cruz)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Santa Cruz?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Santa Cruz Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Santa Cruz?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Santa Cruz, California

Create Your Own Walk in Santa Cruz

Creating your own self-guided walk in Santa Cruz is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Historical Buildings Walk

Apart from surfboard-filled shores, Santa Cruz is also rich in history reflected in the old buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While none of Santa Cruz's historic architecture sprang up overnight, a great deal of it was lost, or severely damaged, in a single go on October 17, 1989 as a result of the Loma Prieta earthquake. Still, some of the historic buildings have... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles