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California Through My Lens

California Travel, Food, Hiking & Road Trips

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Santa Cruz

Five Parks to Visit in Santa Cruz and the Best Hike in Each

Last Modified: August 26, 2016

Santa Cruz is peppered with state parks and natural reserves throughout the county, which is part of the reason it’s such a wonderful place to visit and an even better place to live. For outdoor enthusiasts, Santa Cruz is nothing short of paradise. With hiking, biking, and walking trails that take you through forests, shaded […]

Filed Under: County Parks, Northern California, State Parks Tagged With: Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

Mission Santa Cruz: California’s 12th Mission

Last Modified: May 2, 2020

Mission Santa Cruz was founded in 1791 and was the 12th of the 21 Spanish Missions founded. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the original mission today, other than a crumbling wall. The rebuilt mission is now across the street from where the original was, and it was built in the 1930s based on a painting they had […]

Filed Under: Missions, Northern California Tagged With: Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

The Giant Dipper: Pacific Coast Highway’s Most Famous Roller Coaster

Last Modified: March 27, 2020

Growing up, I was a huge fan of roller coasters. You could often find me at Magic Mountain riding everything they had to offer. As I have gotten older though, I don’t usually enjoy them as much as I did in my youth. That being said, an old historic wood coaster on the Santa Cruz […]

Filed Under: Historical Structures, Northern California, Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Stops Tagged With: Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

Wilder Ranch State Park and the Bluffs Trail in Santa Cruz

Last Modified: March 16, 2020

Located in the northern part of Santa Cruz, Wilder State Park has both great hiking and well-preserved history from the area. I went to check out both the history of the farm and the bluffs trail. It is a fun spot in Santa Cruz and here is all of the information. Details $10 to park […]

Filed Under: Central California, Hikes, Historical Structures, Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Stops, State Parks Tagged With: Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

Natural Bridges State Beach: A Beach & A Sunset You Will Never Want To Leave

Last Modified: March 16, 2020

Oh Pacific Coast Highway, why are you so amazing? Natural Bridges State Beach is a small beach located 2 minutes off Highway 1 in Santa Cruz that holds a rock arch that would even put Pfieffer State Beach to shame. It is a majestic arch about 15 feet out in the water that beckons you to […]

Filed Under: Beaches, Central California, Natural Wonders, Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip Stops, State Parks Tagged With: Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County

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Josh from California Through My Lens I'm a travel junkie strapped down to one state, focused on seeing as much of it as I can and encouraging others to do the same. More about me.

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