Lower Ocean Travel Guide
Santa Cruz
Visit Lower Ocean
Popular places to visit

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Have a fun-filled day with the family at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk during your visit to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.

Mystery Spot
Find out about the history of Santa Cruz when you take a trip to Mystery Spot. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.

Natural Bridges State Park
You can take time to visit Natural Bridges State Park during your travels to Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the cycling trails.

Santa Cruz Wharf
After visiting Santa Cruz Wharf, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Santa Cruz. Attend a sporting event in this walkable area or seek out the surfing spots.

Ocean Street
During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Ocean Street. Wander the area's beautiful beaches or simply enjoy one of its top-notch restaurants.

Pacific Avenue
During your visit to Santa Cruz, you can search for that perfect souvenir at Pacific Avenue. Wander the beautiful beaches in this family-friendly area.
Top hotels in Lower Ocean

Surf City Inn and Suites
It's a fine place to stay if you only need to sleep. The ground level can be noisy. We had people yelling right outside of door around 2am. Hearing someone scream "I'm going to kick your ass" isn't entertaining when it sounds like they're right outside your window. The room didn't feel very well ...
Reviewed on 6 Mar 2026

Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz
Wow this place sucked…TV didn’t work. Room was literally a room with just a bed. Place smelled of mold and visible mold in bathroom. Had the nerve to ask for a $200 deposit after I already paid for the room in advance. Tied up $300 bucks for one night . Could have stayed anywhere else. Women at front ...
Reviewed on 6 Mar 2026

The Aqua Pacific Hotel
Bad
Reviewed on 4 Mar 2026

Hotel Solares
Loved this stay. Really nice location and rooms are good sized. Great for dogs! Would happily stay again.
Reviewed on 23 Feb 2026

Torch Lite Inn
Very clean room . My only complaint is that the walls sound paper thin . But it was a weekend so people being loud was expected . I would stay here again because of the location: )
Reviewed on 2 Mar 2026

Motel Santa Cruz
Hair in the shower, blood on bed sheets,no room service we didn't get clean sheets or towels all weekend
Reviewed on 23 Feb 2026
Other neighbourhoods around Lower Ocean

Beach Hill - Beach Flats
While there might not be top attractions in Beach Hill - Beach Flats, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Main Beach and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.

Downtown Santa Cruz
Unique features of Downtown Santa Cruz include the beaches and restaurants. Make a stop by Pacific Avenue or Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History while you're exploring the area.

Seabright
While visiting Seabright, you might make a stop by sights like Santa Cruz Harbor and Seabright Beach.

Downtown
While visiting Downtown, you might make a stop by sights like Pacific Avenue and Williams-Reynolds House.

Upper Seabright
While Upper Seabright isn't home to many top sights, Santa Cruz Harbor and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are some notable places to visit nearby.

Midtown
If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Midtown and surrounding area, you can visit Ocean Street and Pacific Avenue.
