Gems

Santa Cruz Monterey KOA

September 29, 2018 by Seb Frey

The Santa Cruz Monterey KOA is a special place. It’s one of the top-rated KOA’s in the nation, receiving an average of 4.5 stars on the KOA rating system from over 1,000 ratings. It was even featured on Episode 7 of Season 4 of the CBS reality series “Undercover Boss.”

There are a number of things that make this KOA a special place. To begin with, it’s located close enough to the beach that it’s easy to get to but doesn’t get too chilly from sea breezes. And it has a spacious swimming pool that is heated year-round, as there are many sunny and warm days throughout the year in Santa Cruz. There’s also a big hot tub next to the pool to keep you feeling warm and bubbly!

The campground offers a number of “Camping Cabins”, a few tent sites, and dozens of RV sites to choose from. There’s a large convenience store on site, selling all kinds of camping gear, food, beer and wine, and a lot of camping necessities you may have forgot to pack like marshmallow roasting sticks, firewood and the like. They offer free WiFi throughout the campground, and there’s a little train too that makes a circuit around the campground at no charge to vacationers.

The fun doesn’t stop there – they also have a mini golf course, gigantic jumping pillow for the kids to hop up and down on for hours, coconut palm climbing trees, outdoor cinema, vending machines, and a clubhouse with amusements for the children.

Whether you are coming in from out of town or a local looking for a great family “staycation”, the Santa Cruz / Monterey KOA is the place to go for fun and relaxation at an affordable price.

Santa Cruz Monterey KOA Photo Gallery

Crocker Theater

June 27, 2016 by Seb Frey

The Crocker Theater is located on the campus of Cabrillo College. It is part of the Cabrillo College Visual, Applied, and Performing Arts Complex, and it provides the highest quality performing arts center in Santa Cruz county. The theater seats 523 people when the orchestra pit is full, or 571 people without the orchestra pit. There’s also a full-size makeup room, four large dressing rooms, an in-house scene and costume shop, actor/dance studio, and an in-house design studio. What’s more, there’s a 40-channel Craft sound console which provides a world class sound experience for the audience.

Every year, it is host to professional Broadway-quality productions from Cabrillo Stage, as well as hosting numerous other events throughout the year.

This is an incredible asset for our Aptos Community, and for all of Santa Cruz county as well, and for this reason we consider it one of the Aptos Gems.

Sand Rock Farm

March 21, 2016 by Seb Frey

Aptos is full of natural wonders: miles of wide sandy beaches cling to the bay, yielding to warm and pleasant valleys stretching to pristine redwood forests smothering the rugged mountains. When it comes to man-made wonders of yester-year, relatively few remain – but the Sand Rock Farm on Freedom Boulevard is certainly one of them and is a true Aptos Gem.

The property has a long history, stretching back to at least the 1880’s when the property was initially developed as a ranch and winery. In the 1990s, the property was converted for use as a bed-and-breakfast and a stunning venue for fairy-tale weddings and intimate corporate events and retreats. The’s a fantastic Santa Cruz Sentinel article about the farm which gives many of the historic details.

Today, the property comprises 10 acres with a number of structures on it dating back over 100 years. The main house oozes with Victorian-era charm; it holds five guest suites, each with their own private bathroom and jetted bath tub. There’s also the former wine cellar, which is today covered in ivy and open to the sky above, the roof having collapsed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The redwood barn was also built over 100 years ago, and is constructed of clear-heart redwood. Today it houses a beautiful rustic bar and billiard table, perfect for events with dozens of attendees.

Individual suites can be booked from their web site with a two-day minimum stay. Longer stays may be available with a special rate especially during the off season, the perfect place to house your out-of-town guests or a wonderful stopover when moving from one home to another.

Sand Rock Farm Photo Gallery

Sand Rock Farm Wedding Video

Castro Adobe State Historic Park

December 6, 2015 by Seb Frey

The Castro Adobe State Historic Park is located just outside of Aptos, in Larkin Valley. It’s one of the very oldest structures in Santa Cruz county, and one of only four adobe structures left standing within the county. It’s also one of the few remaining two-story adobe homes anywhere in California. The Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is working with the State of California to open the site as a California Historic Park.

Although the Castro Adobe is located outside of the limits of Aptos proper, it is historically important to Aptos and the Pajaro Valley region. The Castro family was one of California’s earliest and most prominent Spanish families, having arrived with the Spanish explorer Anza in 1775. The Castro Adobe was built between 1848 and 1850.

The structure was badly damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and has been undergoing renovations ever since. A lot of progress has been made, but there’s much work to be done before the site can officially open as a California state park. It is presently open to the public only on special occasions, however it can be visited by schools on field trips and organized community groups by special arrangement. If you would like to arrange a special visit by your group, please contact the California State Park Interpreter: Joseph Carr Ritchie, 831-226-9669 or joseph.ritchie@parks.ca.gov

Sumner Garden of Rhododendrons

May 4, 2015 by Seb Frey

The Sumner Garden of Rhododendrons is located within the Monte Toyon Camp and Conference Center, up Cathedral Drive in Aptos, adjacent to the Forest of Nisene Marks. The garden is only open a couple of times per year to the general public, usually in the spring, or with an appointment. It is truly an Aptos Gem.

The garden was developed by Maurie and Fran Sumner over a period of almost forty years. The Sumners purchased three acres on the border of Monte Toyon Camp in 1959. The garden was surrounded by the camp, and is now a part of it.

Maurie and Fran cut down trees, strung deer fence, and built an observation platform. They planted all of the plants themselves. The garden contains a wide variety of Rhododendrons which Fran and Maurie hybridized or collected. The Rhododendrons come from all over the world, including China, Japan, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea.
Eight of the hybrids are registered in the World Registry in London.

Borregas Creek Gulch

February 23, 2015 by Seb Frey

The original boundaries of the Aptos Rancho, granted to Rafael Castro in 1840, extended north all the way to Borregas Creek Gulch. Today, Aptos extends past Borregas Creek, all the way to Park Avenue and the present-day border of Soquel.

Borregas Creek runs all the way down to Pot Belly Beach and, when it’s running, the creek’s water spills into Monterey Bay. Before it meets the sand, Borregas Creek Gulch opens up creates a very interesting spot for exploration. The cliff walls rise dozens of feet from the creek bed, and as you wander along the path, you can see sea shells embedded into the sandstone, much higher than the current sea bed today.

The creek is seasonal, so if you visit the Borregas Creek Gulch in the winter time, it may not be passable. However, in summer months, when there’s been no rain to feed the creek, there will likely only be a trickle of water there, making it easy to hike up and explore. It makes a great expedition with the kids to learn about our local geology.

The Sesnon House at Cabrillo College

November 3, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Sesnon House at Cabrillo College was originally built in 1911 by William Sesnon, the son-in-law of Benjamin and Kate Porter, who originally purchased the land where the house sits in 1858. The home was originally named the Pino Alto, and is a true Aptos Gem.

The home was sold after World War II to the Salesian Order, and it was used as a seminary and school for thirty odd years, until it was purchased by Cabrillo College, who then used it as a community center. The house was severely damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, and was closed for several years. It was re-opened in 1996 after renovations paid for by Cabrillo College, the Aptos community, and Sesnon family members.

The house today is used for Cabrillo College events, but is also available for rental to private groups and local non-profit organizations, and is a popular and beautiful choice for weddings. The Cabrillo College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Program runs a restaurant there called the Pino Alto, matching the original name given to the home by the Sesnon Family.

See also: Sesnon House Virtual Tour

The Castro House in Aptos

October 11, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Castro House in Aptos is one of the oldest remaining structures in Aptos. It was originally built by Vicente Castro in 1870s. Vicente Castro was the son of Rafael Castro, who originally received the 5000 acre land grant for Aptos Rancho from Mexican Governor Jose Figuroa in 1833. Today the Castro House is the community center for the Aptos Blue housing complex, and has been totally remodeled and updated on the inside, while retaining the original style on the outside.

Aptos Public Library

July 30, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Aptos Public Library is an awesome community resource for the people of Aptos. Any day of the week, you’re likely to find a surprisingly large number of cars in the parking lot and people inside, reading books, newspapers, magazines, or surfing the Internet. The Library does provide free WiFi and electricity to plug in your laptop, or you can use one of their computers to surf the Interwebs.

They also have a great children’s room, with a large selection of books in both English and Spanish. They have a friendly, helpful staff and the place is warm, safe, and inviting. If the Aptos branch doesn’t have a book you’re looking for, they can request it from another branch and if it’s in the catalog, it’ll be brought over. There’s also a public meeting room which can be used by community organizations and non-profits as needed. Also, there’s a Metro bus stop right out in front, so it’s easy to access by those without a car.

The Aptos Public Library is considered by many to be one of best libraries in the Santa Cruz Public Library system, and we consider it an Aptos Gem.

Seacliff Beach Visitor’s Center

May 27, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Seacliff Visitor’s Center is another Aptos Gem. The Visitors’ Center is where you go to learn about the SS Palo Alto, and also about the marine life and environment of the area. They have a little pool where the kids can touch starfish, anemones, etc. Sometimes you can make kites there too. Ask them to start the 8 minute video in the visitors center which gives a brief history of the SS Palo Alto. They also sell a number of books, souvenirs, and toys for the kids.

The Visitor’s Center is run by the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, and is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM, but best to call first (831-685-6444) to make sure they’ll be open, as it’s run by volunteers.