OT: Trip to capitola/ santa cruz stuff to do?

[shaneh]

So for my birthday my girlfriend is taking me to a bed and breakfast this weekend. I trying to find some stuff to do besides the boardwalk, been there done that. Overrated!

Were staying Thursday, Friday night and Saturday. Going to rain on Friday. =(

Looking for dirtbike, ATV, sand rail rental riding. Can't find any in the area
Any reef stores? Planning to stop in SJ on the way back maybe, been to kings and the BAYMAC store. Wish I had my big tank up so I could buy some fish for the tank.
Any bonsai/ plant/green house/ pond nurseries worth checking out?
I think I may be too cold for surfing, spear fishing, plus my GF doesn't have a 8MM suit.
We could go to Monterey to see the aquarium; it has been two years so that is a back up plan. Up for anything....with some testosterone or not...

 

[northbay-reefer]

Shane, have a great birthday man ... I know nothing of Santa cruise except the fact that is has a great looking coast line.

If you are going back to SJ their are several Vietnamese run nurseries that have koi and Bonsai, I'll see if I can look it up for ya.

 

[shaneh]

thanks Tom, I'll try to do some google searches for the area. But if you can think of the name let me know.

 

[GreshamH]

No ATV/dirtbike/sandrail riding except private property. There is no place you can pay to play. Everyone goes to Hollister Hills or Pismo for that pretty much.

BAYMAC has no store, I put that on The Aquarium Showroom is in the same building as where I do BAYMAC though.

No real LFS in Santa Cruz worth looking at, sorry.

We do have a discovery center (Simpkins) out by Natural Bridges.

No good spear fishing here anymore either, way too murky. We all travel elsewhere for that.

damn I sound like a bummer, SC is great, tons to do. You could hit our local wine scene, we've got some great wineries. On the West Side we have "fermentation alley" where a bunch of wineries are in the same area.

On your way back hit Neptune Aquatics in Milpitas. Great store, great people and you can't leave with out plopping done coin

 

[shaneh]

thanks Gresham, I knew the store wasn't called BAYMAC it was the event. So The Aquarium Showroom is the name.
Well...looks like i have some wine to taste. How is the discovery center?

I'll stop by Neptune Aquatics in Milpitas on the way back.

you would think with all the dunes in the area they would have some moto riding...but then again it is full of hippies that do not like to use excess gas that may harm the air.

how about a horse ridding trip by the beach? Anyone know of one, more for the GF but it could be fun.

 

[winereef]

I would suggest going to the Monterey Aquarium. (but don't waist money on the "behind the scene tour").
Many cute places to stay at and it's relatively cheep right now.

 

[GreshamH]

thanks Gresham, I knew the store wasn't called BAYMAC it was the event. So The Aquarium Showroom is the name.
Well...looks like i have some wine to taste. How is the discovery center?

I'll stop by Neptune Aquatics in Milpitas on the way back.

you would think with all the dunes in the area they would have some moto riding...but then again it is full of hippies that do not like to use excess gas that may harm the air.

how about a horse ridding trip by the beach? Anyone know of one, more for the GF but it could be fun.

NO HB riding, no dunes to ride. It's all State Park and part of the sanctuary. Hippies have nothing to do with this one... they just pollute our air with patchouli :lol:

The Discovery Center is cool but nothing like MBA. I'd wait until next year for MBA though as they will have a large reef display going up

The WS wine area is great as is Bargetto in Capitola. I go to Bargetto a few times a month since I am in their wine club and I get free tastings :lol:

 

[shaneh]

thnaks guys for all the input...i even checked out pismo and the going rental rate for an ATV rental is $100 per hour...and we would need two....so i think that is a bit much for an hour.We will check out Bargetto in Capitola, the beaches, Neptune Aquatics in Milpitas, bonsai nusery in SJ, i like the botanical gardens in SF, any other ideas in the area let me know...starting to sound like a good weekend.

 

[GreshamH]

I guess I should have stated Pismo is like 2+ hours south of the Monterey Bay

 

[GreshamH]

FWIW this coming Sat is a 'Passport" weekend. Passport weekends are where you can buy one pass and visit all the participating wineries in the SC area. We've got a ton down here.

http://www.scmwa.com/passport/index.htm