Pleasure Point is a gem of a neighborhood overlooking Monterey Bay in the Capitola area of Santa Cruz County. Santa Cruz is a rustic beach area nestled among dense redwood trees. It can be sunny and beautiful, as you’d expect a California beach town to be, but don’t count on it. It can also be foggy, windy, and bitterly cold — and not just in the winter.
Pleasure Point at Sunset
And don’t call it the Bay Area! Santa Cruz County is far enough south to deserve to be grouped in the Monterey area. Santa Cruz residents don’t like to be associated with the Bay Area, which they refer to as “over the hill.” At just 80 miles from San Francisco, Pleasure Point is an easy weekend getaway and well worth a visit.
Pleasure Point has an eclectic, old-school vibe reminiscent of a pre-Silicon Valley Bay Area. The neighborhood is filled with a variety of colorful and quirky houses, auto shops, dive bars, and beach shacks. As with the entire Santa Cruz area, the local lifestyle centers on the majestic outdoors.
Pleasure Point Surf Contest
Proud locals include farmers, cyclists, surfers, skateboarders, artists, coffee snobs, liberals, truck owners, and everything in between. Bearded, tattooed, laid-back locals can be found surfing, walking their dogs, or riding beach-cruiser bikes along the cliffs. Ironically, the locals most often wear “Santa Cruz”–branded clothing. There may be no other surf town where locals dress like tourists.
Just a mile from well-known, touristy areas like the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Capitola Village, Pleasure Point is an authentic nook of the Santa Cruz area that is a must-visit for anyone who wants to experience the authentic character of Santa Cruz County.
Walking Tour
The best way to get know the Pleasure Point area is to explore it by foot. Start by the restaurants on 41st Avenue and walk to the Hook, then along the cliffs to Pleasure Point and back again. The 41st Avenue area is charming, because it’s a real local neighborhood chock full of local eateries, surf shops, and art shops. It hasn’t been rebuilt as a tourist destination, like Capitola Village has.
Check out incredibly authentic, affordable Mexican Food at Taqueria Vallarta No. 2, or grab a gourmet burrito at Chill Out Cafe. Stop into Verve for locally roasted coffee, and don’t forget to get an artisanal ice cream at the Penny Ice Creamery — with the roasted marshmallow topping!
41st Avenue
Looking for the perfect souvenir? Don’t leave Santa Cruz without getting what I call “the uniform” — a Santa Cruz hoodie. You’ll see them everywhere. The Santa Cruz Boardroom is the Santa Cruz surf and skateboard headquarters.
Matthew McConaughey wearing “the uniform” (photo credit: AKM-GSI)
The Hook and Pleasure Point are famous local surf breaks. From atop the cliffs you have a great vantage point of the surfers riding Santa Cruz’s world-famous cold-water waves. And look for wildlife. Sea otters, dolphins, and harbor seals are very common in the area. And often humpback whales.
Checking the Waves at 38th Street
See that solitary green house on the cliff between the Hook and Pleasure Point? That’s Jack O’Neill’s house. Jack O’Neill is famous for inventing the wetsuit back in the 1950s. He’s a renowned surf legend. O’Neill’s original surf shop and wetsuit outlet can be found on 41st Avenue.
Walking from the Hook to Pleasure Point
Learn to Surf
Feeling ambitious? There is no better place to learn to surf. Rent a surfboard and wetsuit from a surf shop on 41st Avenue, and ask about cheap two-hour surf lessons. The local wave is (usually) a gentle point break, making it one of the more consistent, beginner- friendly long-boarding waves you are likely to find. Don’t be intimidated by the cold water — a rental wetsuit will keep you warm and toasty. You could even rent an O’Neill wetsuit and surf at “Jack’s” break, right in front of O’Neill’s house. And don’t worry about territorial locals who don’t like tourists on their waves — there are plenty of less-crowded spots that are popular among beginners.
Looking for a local beach? Check out Moran Beach just west of Pleasure Point. Bathroom and parking lot included.
Can’t Get Enough Santa Cruz?
Got time for an easy hike among banana slugs and ancient redwood trees? Drive south on Highway 1 to the State Park exit, and find the Nisene Marks parking lot. Walk less than a mile along the Old Growth trail to find the legendary Advocate Tree. At 1,200 years old, the Advocate Tree is one of the only old-growth redwood trees in the area . She’s a beauty. Give her a hug.
