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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
Top hotels in Lower Ocean

Surf City Inn and Suites
Upon arriving at 10pm at night with my two young children, it was a very apparent that this motel was not a safe or peaceful place for us to stay. Our upstairs neighbors made noise and sounded like they were moving the furniture around all night long, the room had smelled like it had been hot boxed ...
Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz
There are ways to get to your hotel without dealing with too much traffic if you’re staying during the weekend in the summer.
Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

The Aqua Pacific Hotel
Thank you
Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

Torch Lite Inn
Ac worked great and really nice to be so close to the boardwalk
Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

Hotel Solares
Decent property .. nothing special .. rooms are large
Reviewed on 23 Mar 2026

Motel Santa Cruz
Had to switch rooms Smelled terrible Was dirty! Woke up multiple times because it was so loud. Cops arrived to hotel because there was issues happening in the hotel Horrible experience would not recommend
Reviewed on 23 Mar 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.
