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The Seacliff Memory Wall is located at the northern edge of Seacliff State Beach, on Las Olas Drive. The Memory Wall is the out-side of wall along a private residence, the first of a handful of multi-million-dollar homes in the gated enclave of Las Olas. Nobody knows exactly how the Memory Wall got started – or even if that’s really it’s name – but if you happen to be visiting Seacliff Beach and are up for a stroll, it’s worth checking out.
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Located in the heart of Aptos Village, the Bayview Hotel, built in 1870, is one of the oldest buildings in Aptos. The hotel was built by Jose Arano, who was the son-in-law of Rafel Castro, the original recipient of the Aptos Rancho land grant from the government of Mexico.
It was listed on the national register of historic places in 1993, was made a State historic monument in 1974, and in 1994, the Bayview received a plaque designating it an official Santa Cruz County historic landmark. After the SS Palo Alto (the sunken concrete ship at Seacliff Beach), the old Bayview Hotel is perhaps the most widely recognized symbol of Aptos.
Out in front of the Bayview Hotel is a large, old magnolia tree, which is claimed to be the oldest magnolia tree in the northern hemisphere. Out in back there is a large patio and garden, which is mostly used when weddings are held at the hotel.
The hotel feature a total of six guest rooms, which are furnished and decorated in period style. The hotel is rumored to be haunted by “friendly spirits,” and a movie, Haunting at the Bayview, was released in 2013 and is available on Amazon.
A number of restaurants have been run in the Bayview over the years. Currently, the hotel is host to GG Restaurant, which features a full bar. In addition, the BFF Boutique clothing store is now located in the Bayview Hotel as well.
Tucked away on Pleasant Valley Road, you’ll find the Pleasant Valley Vineyards, a small family-run vineyard serving a choice selection of local varietals. As a relatively small operation, they have limited hours: only on Saturdays from noon to 5 PM, and usually only between April and September – unless you call the winery to make special arrangements. They specialize in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay estate-grown wines, and their signature Pinot earns a 91 score on CellarTracker.com.
Their tasting fee runs between $10 and $15, and that’s for five pours. They also offer a wine club membership, including complimentary tastings and limited releases, and invitations to members-only events. Membership is available in Silver, Gold, and Platinum club versions. They have a Facebook group for wine club members.
Tip: Be sure to check their calendar of events for special tasting days and more!
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Glaum Egg Ranch is a true Aptos gem. Nestled away in the hills along Valencia Road, the Glaum Egg Ranch has been a family owned and operated business for over 80 years. They specialize in 100% cage free and organic eggs, using sustainable farming techniques. Their eggs are available in over 500 stores and restaurants in and near Santa Cruz county. If you don’t have the space or don’t want the hassle of having a chicken coop – but you want genuinely fresh and tasty eggs – then Glaum Egg Ranch eggs are the logical choice in Santa Cruz.
But it must be said, logic flies out the window when it comes to their egg vending machine. Vending machines are nothing new or special, but how many of them deliver flats of eggs? The Glaum Egg Ranch vending machine, however, offers something extra-special: an animatronic song-and-dance! It’s cute and something the kids are sure to enjoy. It’s a great way to spend $4 and get 22 fresh, free-range organic eggs to boot!
Tip: bring crisp single dollar bills for the egg vending machine. Also, they are closed on Sundays and only open from 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM on Saturdays.
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Aptos may be miles from Kansas City, but when it comes to getting some good barbecue in town, folks from all over Santa Cruz county flock to Aptos Village and our own Aptos Street BBQ. The place is easy to spot, just look for the smoke streaming up from their BBQ outside the restaurant.
They feature a smorgasbord of BBQ foods – pork and beef ribs, pulled pork, smoked chicken, tri-tip, and hot links. They also have some sandwiches and dinner salads and a number of side dishes including beans, cole slaw, potato salad, and garlic bread. Are you a vegetarian? Best go someplace else…while they do have those side dishes, they aren’t the stars of the show and you’re better off looking elsewhere at chow time.
Aptos Street BBQ has, in a relatively short time, climbed to the top of the heap of BBQ restaurants in Santa Cruz county. In addition to top-quality barbecue, they also feature no less than 37 draft beers, and live music (blue, usually) every night of the week from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. This restaurant is a real gem, and definitely worth making a special trip to experience…if you’re a carnivore.
Tip: Come early! They make BBQ the old fashioned way, smoked for hours – so once they run out, they’re out until the next day.
See also http://www.aptosstbbq.com
The Aptos Jump Park (aka the Post Office Jumps, or just “the post office”) and the Aptos Pump Track are yet another example of things that make Aptos special. The Aptos Jumps are world famous, as many mountain bikers travel from distant lands to come and practice and play on the jumps. And, many local families take their children to the Pump Track where they play and learn to ride.
Alas, the Jump Park and Pump Track will soon be a thing of the past, as they will be re-developed along with the rest of Aptos Village. But for now, they can be enjoyed for free, by anyone. Just be sure to wear a helmet.
See also: Santa Cruz Sentinel
Did you know Aptos had a community garden? It’s tucked away toward the very end of Soquel Drive, south of the Freedom Boulevard exit. It’s on the property of the Christ Lutheran Church of Aptos.
The mission of the Aptos Community Garden is to be a place for folks with limited access to land to grow food and other plans using organic methods, with the aim of supporting the well-being of all people, animals, and mother Earth.
If you’re interested in gardening but lack the space to do it at or near your home, check out the Aptos Community Garden. They limit you to one plot per family, and again, all gardening must be done using organic methods. All those who participate int the community garden must agree to do at least one hour per month of maintenance on the communal area of their garden zone – or pay a $120 maintenance mitigation fee. Gardeners must bring their own tools and equipment, and nothing can be left on site once the gardener leaves.
See also: http://www.aptoscommunitygarden.org/
If you’re looking to dig into Aptos’ past, the place to start is the Aptos History Museum. It’s located just off the State Park Drive freeway exit, adjacent to the Best Western Seacliff Inn (and Severino’s Bar and Grill).
The Aptos History Museum is a wonderful community asset with a fantastic collection of local artifacts, photographs, and information. It is made possible by the many volunteers who continue to donate their time and talent. The museum operates financially solely from memberships and donations.
They also have a small gift shop, a great place to buy something special for that Aptosian who already has (almost) everything.
Tip: Get involved! Come to a board meeting, the third Wednesday of every month, between 4 and 5 PM.
See also: http://aptoshistory.org/
If there is one image that identifies Aptos, California it would have to be that of The SS Palo Alto (the Cement Boat), the sunken concrete ship on the shore of Seacliff State Beach. A lot of people wonder how the ship got there – and it’s an interesting story.
The ship was one of many concrete vessels built for World War I. Construction was completed in 1919, but too late to enter service in the war. The ship sat docked for 10 years in Oakland, before being bought by the Seacliff Amusement Corporation, which had big plans for it. The ship was brought to its present site and intentionally sunk, and then retrofit as an amusement ship with swimming pool, dance hall, and restaurant. The enterprise didn’t last long, as two years later the company went bankrupt. The ship originally had a large wooden superstructure which was removed and shipped to Texas. Eventually, several powerful winter storms cracked the ship, and it became unsafe, and has been closed to the public ever since.
The SS Palo Alto is connected to the shore via a 500 foot long wooden pier, and every day of the year you can find groups of people fishing. A range of fish can be caught here, including a variety of perch, flounder, rockfish, salmon, and striped bass.
In the State of California, anyone can fish off a pier without a license – so if you’re interested in giving fishing a try, this is one of the best spots to try it in Santa Cruz county.
Admission to the pier and boat themselves are free. However, you must pay to drive your car into the Seacliff State Beach park. Alternatively, you can park at the top of the bluff outside the park and walk down for free.
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See also: Wikipedia, PierFishing.com, Sandy Lydon on the SS Palo Alto
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park offers 10,000+ acres of mountains and forest to explore, with over 40 miles of trails. It is a mecca for area hikes, mountain bikers, joggers, and nature lovers. The park includes picnic areas, BBQ pits, and the remains of numerous buildings which were built to facilitate logging the area.
The logging industry is what sustained Aptos in the early years, and it’s incredible to think that the entire area of Nisene Marks park was clear cut – there are very few old-growth trees in the park. Virtually every tree which visitors to the park see is less than 100 years old. The park is also famous as the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
The park is very centrally located, with the entrance located near the Aptos Village Park, at the intersection of Soquel Drive and Aptos Creek Road.
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park is truly one of the gems in the California State Park system, and one of the hidden treasures of Aptos.
See also Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
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