• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Aptos Community News

Sharing and caring about what happens in Aptos

  • Calendar
  • News
  • Parks & Rec
    • Beaches
    • Parks
    • Sports/Fitness
  • Shopping
  • Real Estate
    • Aptos Home Values
    • Aptos Homes for Sale
  • Eats
    • Bars
    • Cafe
    • Restaurants
    • Deli
  • Gems
  • Lifestyle
  • RSS
You are here: Home / Archives for Gems

Gems

Seacliff Memory Wall

May 26, 2014 by Seb Frey

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.

See also:

  • Seacliff Memory Wall on Aptos Times
Seacliff Memory Wall
Seacliff Memory Wall
Seacliff Memory Wall
Seacliff Memory Wall

Filed Under: Gems Tagged With: seacliff memory wall

Bayview Hotel Aptos

May 6, 2014 by Seb Frey

Bayview Hotel
Bayview Hotel 2.5 star rating 35 reviews Yelp logo

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.

  • The Bayview Hotel web site
  • Bayview Hotel on Facebook

Filed Under: Gems, Hotels/Lodging Tagged With: bayview, historic, hotel, landmark, loding, mangolia, video, weddings

Pleasant Valley Vineyards – Aptos

March 25, 2014 by Seb Frey

Pleasant Valley Vineyards
Pleasant Valley Vineyards 3.5 star rating 5 reviews Yelp logo

[venue id = 4c7977fa2d3ba143bf658ed0]

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!
See also

  • http://www.pvvines.com

Filed Under: Eats and Drinks, Gems Tagged With: vineyard, winery

Glaum Egg Ranch

March 22, 2014 by Seb Frey

Glaum Egg Ranch
Glaum Egg Ranch 4.0 star rating 43 reviews Yelp logo

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.

See also

  • http://glaumeggranch.com

Glaum Egg Ranch Egg Vending Machine Video

Filed Under: Gems Tagged With: agriculture, egg ranch, eggs, farming, glaum egg ranch

Aptos Street BBQ

March 12, 2014 by Seb Frey

Aptos St BBQ
Aptos St BBQ 4.5 star rating 1385 reviews Yelp logo

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

Aptos Street BBQ
Aptos Street BBQ – the Best Barbecue in Santa Cruz County

Filed Under: Eats and Drinks, Gems, Restaurants Tagged With: aptos, aptos street bbq, Aptos Village, barbecue, bbq, blues, live music

Aptos Jump Park and Pump Track

February 28, 2014 by Seb Frey

Aptos Jump Park
Aptos Jump Park 5.0 star rating 3 reviews Yelp logo

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

Instagram Photos Tagged #aptospostoffice

Filed Under: Gems, Parks, Parks and Recreation

Aptos Community Garden

February 25, 2014 by Seb Frey

Aptos Community Garden
Aptos Community Garden 5.0 star rating 2 reviews Yelp logo

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/

Aptos Community Garden
Aptos Community Garden
 

Filed Under: Gems Tagged With: agriculture, garden, gardening, organic food

Aptos History Museum

February 21, 2014 by Seb Frey

Aptos Museum
Aptos Museum 5.0 star rating 3 reviews Yelp logo

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/

Aptos History Museum
Aptos History Museum
 

Filed Under: Gems Tagged With: aptos, culture, history, museum

The SS Palo Alto (the Cement Boat)

December 15, 2013 by Seb Frey

The SS Palo Alto in Aptos at Sunset
The SS Palo Alto in Aptos at Sunset

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.

Read a good book lately?

The Sold Book
Get My Book Today!

If you have some room on your reading list, I invite you to read my book Get It Sold! Now in its Second Edition! It's an easy read (just 145 pages!) and it tells you everything you need to know about selling your home quickly, easily, and at absolute peak pricing. I'll send it to you for free - no shipping charge either!

OK Send me a Copy!

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.

Home Seller Seminar

See also: Wikipedia, PierFishing.com, Sandy Lydon on the SS Palo Alto

Drone Video December 2016

YouTube Drone Video February 2016

YouTube Drone Video 4K – January 2018

YouTube Video of the SS Palo Alto

Instagram Photos Tagged #cementboat

SS Palo Alto
SS Palo Alto
The SS Palo Alto
The SS Palo Alto aka the Cement Boat
The SS Palo Alto in Aptos at Sunset
The SS Palo Alto in Aptos at Sunset

Looking for a Home in Aptos?


Every home in Aptos is unique, and finding just the right home can be like finding that needle in a haystack. Fortunately, now there's SantaCruz.RealEstate, featuring the best search engine for Aptos homes and real estate available online today!

Filed Under: Beaches, Gems, Parks and Recreation Tagged With: cement boat, cement ship, fishing, seacliff, ss palo alto, video

Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

November 16, 2013 by Seb Frey

Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Forest of Nisene Marks State Park 4.5 star rating 78 reviews Yelp logo

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.

Related Posts On AptosCommunityNews

  • Sumner Garden of Rhododendrons (May 4, 2015)
  • Help Dust Off the Nisene Marks Fire Road (May 2, 2015)
  • Aptos Village Meeting on April 22 (April 23, 2015)
  • Sandman Triathlon Returns for Its 30th Year (April 8, 2015)
  • Run For Pie Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot (October 27, 2014)
  • Nisene Marks Trail Work Day on October 12 (October 7, 2014)
  • Loma Prieta Earthquake Commemoration (September 18, 2014)
  • Nisene Marks Marathon 2014 (May 20, 2014)
  • Cabrillo Connector Trail Opens Today (March 28, 2014)

See also Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

 

Instagram Photos Tagged #nisene

The Forest of Nisene Marks
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park

Filed Under: Gems, Parks and Recreation

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2

Primary Sidebar

Brought to you by

Sebastian "Seb" Frey
Sebastian "Seb" Frey
This site is developed, maintained, and edited by Sebastian "Seb" Frey, Aptos Realtor® and author of Get It Sold!. If you'd like to have your business, event, or issue featured here, please contact me at (831) 704-6873.

Seen SebFrey.TV?

As Seen on SebFrey.TV

Aptos Home Search






Search Aptos Community News

Pages

  • Aptos on NextDoor
  • Aptos Points of Interest
  • Aptos Videos on YouTube
  • Neighborhoods of Aptos, California
    • Day Valley
    • Mar Vista Neighborhood of Aptos
    • Rio del Mar
    • Seacliff Neighborhood of Aptos
    • Seascape in Aptos
    • Seascape Uplands
    • Vienna Woods
  • Projects
    • Aptos Village Redevelopment
    • Aptos Water Supply Improvement
    • Highway 1 Widening
    • Mar Vista Bridge
    • Par 3 Golf Course in Aptos
    • Rancho del Mar Redevelopment
    • Santa Cruz Rail Trail in Aptos
    • Seacliff Village Redevelopment

Latest Places

January 2021 Aptos Real Estate Update

If you ask around, you’ll find very few people who are sad to see 2020 in the rearview mirror. In so many respects, it was an absolutely awful year, for our community and the country as a whole. At the time of this writing, the nation records its 400,000th death attributed to COVID – with […]

Barring Freedom

Curated by Rachel Nelson and Alexandra Moore, Barring Freedom is an art exhibition on view at the San José Museum of Art. It will travel to John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City in the fall of 2021. The exhibition features works by important U.S.-based artists that challenge the dominant ways people […]

Copyright © 2021 Sebastian "Seb" Frey. Please see my Privacy Policy. and browse the HTML Site Map