Lower Ocean Travel Guide
Santa Cruz
Visit Lower Ocean
Popular places to visit
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Have a fun-filled day with the family at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk during your visit to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.
Mystery Spot
Find out about the history of Santa Cruz when you take a trip to Mystery Spot. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.
Santa Cruz Wharf
After visiting Santa Cruz Wharf, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.
Natural Bridges State Park
You can take time to visit Natural Bridges State Park during your travels to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.
Pacific Avenue
During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Pacific Avenue. Wander the beautiful beaches in this family-friendly area.
Ocean Street
During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Ocean Street. Wander the area's beautiful beaches or simply enjoy one of its top-notch restaurants.
Things to do
Top hotels in Lower Ocean
Surf City Inn and Suites
Nice except they use VERY bright lights in the room that can give you a headache. Hot tub was nice but the jets didnt work. Very nice area.
Reviewed on 7 Feb 2026
Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz
Clean, nice, cheap
Reviewed on 1 Feb 2026
Torch Lite Inn
Amazing
Reviewed on 2 Feb 2026
Hotel Solares
Not to bad
Reviewed on 2 Feb 2026
The Aqua Pacific Hotel
The staff are very nice and acc
Reviewed on 3 Feb 2026
Drift Inn
We had an amazing stay! Ankit at the front desk was extremely helpful and hospitable when we booked our hotel visit last minute. I would definitely recommend this inn for anyone looking for a cozy and conveniently located place to stay in downtown Santa Cruz.
Reviewed on 26 Jan 2026
Other neighbourhoods around Lower Ocean
Beach Hill - Beach Flats
While there might not be top attractions in Beach Hill - Beach Flats, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Main Beach and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.
Downtown Santa Cruz
Unique features of Downtown Santa Cruz include the beaches and restaurants. Make a stop by Pacific Avenue or Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History while you're exploring the area.
Seabright
While visiting Seabright, you might make a stop by sights like Santa Cruz Harbor and Seabright Beach.
Downtown
While visiting Downtown, you might make a stop by sights like Pacific Avenue and Williams-Reynolds House.
Upper Seabright
While Upper Seabright isn't home to many top sights, Santa Cruz Harbor and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are some notable places to visit nearby.
Midtown
If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Midtown and surrounding area, you can visit Ocean Street and Pacific Avenue.
