I have to admit — one of the hardest adjustments to life on the road has been not having my girlfriends around. Sure, since becoming moms our lives have changed and we don’t always have the time to get together. But it is much easier to get together on a whim when you live in the same zip code.
Knowing that we’ve got to juggle work, the kids’ school life and extracurricular activities, family time, etc., a couple of years ago my girlfriends and I made a point to commit to one weekend a year for us to let loose. Enter: Girls Getaway Weekend.
(Also affectionately known as: #MomsGoneWild. Well, sort of. It’s more like wine and tequila flowing all day and in bed by 11pm!)
We’ve been to Napa and Murphys, Calif. in the past, and since my fam was exploring Santa Cruz, I not-so-subtly hinted that us girls should get together for a kid-free hurrah. Schedules were complicated for a few of our usual crew, but my two dear friends Shelbi and Lauren were able to make it. And as the saying goes, three’s a party!
Once it was on the calendar, I knew I wanted to show the girls a different side of Santa Cruz, all while getting to check out some fun places that I had on my list. For us, it’s more about getting together, laughing hard and creating lifelong memories… but it does help to have a rough itinerary mapped out. If you’re looking for a fun, care-free girls weekend without having to do any planning first, this Santa Cruz guide is for you!
Enjoy the Weekend in This Tuscany-Style Villa
Steven and the kids were gracious enough to pack up the van and stay at the New Brighton Campground so that the girls and I could enjoy our amazing Airbnb to ourselves. This Tuscany-inspired upstairs apartment is so adorable, and accommodates 3-4 guests comfortably. The location offers easy strolls to the beach, restaurants, the yacht harbor, and the famous Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The owners Chuck and Susan are superhosts, and the neighborhood is incredible.
For a discount on Airbnb, use this link to book your stay! You’ll get $40 off your home booking. And $15 to use toward an experience worth $50 or more!
You’ll soon notice a lot of my recommendations are in the Seabright area, and for good reason. I had the chance to explore this area the most during our two-month stay in Santa Cruz, and there are a lot of great things to do nearby!
Girls Night In with Wine, Cheese & Charcuterie
Because the girls were coming in late on Friday evening after work, I opted to put together a decadent cheese and charcuterie board, complete with some of our favorite wine. I discovered that the Santa Cruz Whole Foods has an awesome selection of artisan cheese for relatively cheap. I like to balance my boards with at least three different types of cheese and two aged meats. My personal faves are: Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog, a tangy, creamy goat cheese; Barely Buzzed, an aged cheddar rubbed with lavender and espresso; and any aged gouda — the older, the better. For charcuterie, you can’t go wrong with an uncured, hard salami and chorizo. I prefer the heartier, thicker cuts. Don’t forget to add Marcona almonds, a variety of local olives, Raincoat Crisps and Firehook Sea Salt Crackers to round out your board.
As for wines, I always have a Sauvignon Blanc on hand. My go-to is Starborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand ($10-12). For this particular weekend, I also picked up a couple bottles of Dark Horse Rosé (around $8-9 each) and a bottle of Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon ($14-16). And if you’re on a budget, grab a few bottles of Espiral Vinho Verde from Trader Joe’s. Seriously good wine, for only $4.99 a bottle!
Stroll the Santa Cruz Harbor, Then Brunch at Aldo’s
After a late evening of laughter, wine and noms, we kicked off our full day with a walk around the Santa Cruz Harbor. The harbor leads to the Walton Lighthouse, which offers up some beautiful ocean views. If you park at Frederick Street Park, the route there and back is almost two miles.
On the way back, we sat down at Aldo’s Harbor Restaurant and immediately ordered a round of Bloody Marys. (What?! This is a girls’ weekend!) This place is a Santa Cruz staple. Aldo himself opened the restaurant in 1977, the first lease on the Harbor. While you can’t go wrong with pretty much anything on the menu, if you’re a crab lover, go with the Crab Eggs Benedict. It’s made on homemade fugasa, which is traditional, pan-baked Italian bread. DELISH!
Price: Aldo’s breakfast items range from $6-14
Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00am-3:00pm, Saturday & Sunday 8:00am-3:00pm
Getting Around Town
Our plan for the day was to check out Downtown Santa Cruz. It’s a vibrant place, with lots of cute shops, wineries, taprooms and restaurants to explore. Once we got cleaned up and ready for the day, I convinced the girls that riding a Jump bike is the ONLY way to do a girls weekend right. Sure, we could Uber — but there’s nothing more fun than riding bikes in a beach town! It’s pretty easy too. Just download the Jump app and look for a bike near you (location services must be turned on). Once you’ve found a bike, set up your payment, scan the bike, unlock it and ride! Jump bikes are literally everywhere in Santa Cruz too, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding any. It only costs a few bucks per ride, depending on where you’re going. BTW — the bikes are electric, which is PERFECT for some of those Santa Cruz hills. And it’s got a basket in front for your purse or purchases!
Wine Tasting at Birichino Winery
The first stop downtown was a winery that I’d been eyeing ever since I passed it during a library trip with the kiddos: Birichino Winery. Not only is their tasting room so beautiful (seriously, home decor goals), but their wine is truly amazing! We did a tasting flight of five wines, with each wine getting better than the last. It’s easy to see why Birichino is award-winning. Our favorites were the 2018 Vin Gris and 2018 Pétulant Naturel Malvasia Bianca. Our service was beyond too, as we received a wealth of knowledge about the varietals, vineyards and winery history. It also proved to be a fruitful stop as our wine aficionado offered up some of her favorite places that were off the beaten path.
Fun fact: Did you know that birichino means “naughty” in Italian?
Price: $10 tasting fee (waived with a two bottle purchase)
Hours: Thursday-Sunday, excepting major holidays, from 1pm to 6pm; Fridays from 1pm to 8pm. Be sure to call ahead for a reservation if you have a party larger than 6 people.
Shop Local at Botanic and Luxe
After you’ve had your fill of wine (is there such a thing?!), take a stroll through Downtown Santa Cruz and peruse the shops. Honestly, you could spend the whole day doing this! But the most amazing little shop you HAVE to check out is Botanic and Luxe. This boutique is curated with the cutest jewelry, pots, plants, essential oils, candles, decor and more! And you guys, given that we’re now living minimally, it was reaaaal hard not to want to buy everything! I mentioned this to the gal behind the register, and she helped me pick out the cutest baby succulent and pot for our van. It was also there that us girls decided we needed something to commemorate this weekend trip — so we picked out tiny matching gold rings. BFFs for life!
Price: Moderate; varies by item
Hours: Open everyday, 11:00am-6:00pm
Grab a Beer at the Pour Taproom
Once we had our fill of window shopping, we were parched. We stumbled upon Pour Taproom, a pour-your-own tasting room with over 60 beers on tap. There’s also wine, craft root beer and kombucha on deck too — something for everyone. By this time, our appetites were also kicking in, so we ordered the Rosemary Truffle Tots and a Taproom Pretzel to hold us over until dinner. (I’m still dreaming about those tots!)
Price: $8+ depending on what you order
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 12pm – 11pm; Friday and Saturday, 12pm-12am; Sunday, 12pm-10pm
Sip & Savor Mutari Chocolate
As our afternoon was winding down, we ducked into a chocolate shop off the beaten path called Mutari Chocolate. This path is a chocolate-lover’s DREAM. Upon recommendation, we ordered a flight of the sipping chocolates — basically a hot cocoa flight. We almost opted for one per person, but the staff there was kind enough to suggest sharing the flight. It was the perfect amount for us… and left just enough room for each of us to try the decadent Chocolate Coconut Cacao Iced Tea!
Price: $15 for a Tasting Flight; Hot/Cold drinks range from $4.50-7
Hours: Wednesday-Thursday, Sunday, 12pm-8pm; Friday and Saturday, 12pm-10pm
Indulge in Craft Cocktails at Süda
After spending a full day downtown, we came back to our Airbnb to chill and get ready for dinner. I had been eyeing a place based off of some of local recommendations called Süda. This place has a hip, lively ambiance that’s also surprisingly intimate. And their craft cocktails are delish! If you’re a fan of tequila, order the Firecracker. The girls and I shared the Burrata & Heirloom Tomato Salad, and each ordered our own main plate. Not only is the food good, but the prices are really reasonable for a dinner out.
Price: $13-20 a dish; cocktails range from $10-14
Hours: Monday-Wednesday 5pm – 9pm; Thursday 5pm-10pm, Saturday 10am-10pm and Sunday 10am-9pm. The bar is open late!
Line’em Up & Knock’em Back at Brady’s Yacht Club
If you’re looking for a seriously low-key vibe, this is the place for you. Although it’s the favorite watering hole of the locals, this dive bar isn’t for everyone. But my girls and I love a good shit hole. ? Keep your expectations low, and roll with it. The music is eclectic and provides the right kinda mood. Don’t bother putting any money towards the jukebox — you probably won’t hear your requests as the queue is looooong. Oh, and the drinks are cheap and STIFF. Proceed with caution. Just remember to tell the bartenders to chill the shots before serving! (I’m sure they love that.) We distinctly got the feeling that half of the bar despised tourists, while the other half were really friendly and chill. We actually met two young locals who were hilarious, and ended up having great conversation about the area (and our lost youth, LOL).
One quick side note about the night life in Santa Cruz. There are a lot of places that come with a bad rap (cough, the Red Room). This is one area where you should do diligence and check the Yelp reviews. If you’re going with just your girls, stick together and don’t leave any drinks unattended. We had zero issues, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. I only mention this here because it really influenced our decision on where to go out that night.
Price: Can’t remember ? — but bring cash
Hours: Everyday, 10am-2am
Finish the Weekend at The Crow’s Nest
The next morning we sat down for breakfast at The Crow’s Nest, another Santa Cruz staple. Some folks think it’s touristy, and maybe they’re right. But it’s a classic! You can’t beat the spectacular waterfront view, where you can watch boats, kayakers and paddle boarders come in and out of the harbor. Be sure to request an outdoor table if one’s available.
As expected, we had to order a round of Bloody Marys. Everything on the menu sounded fab, so we did what any good friends would do and ordered three dishes to share: Brioche French Toast with Strawberries, Chilaquiles and Crabcake Benedict. If you’re unsure, just ask your server. The service here was impeccable!
Price: $10-20, depending on the dish
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 7:30am-9pm; Friday & Saturday, 7:30am-11pm; Sunday, 7:30am-9:30pm
All in all, we had a fabulous time enjoying each other’s company in this quintessential beach town! For reference, I did some quick math — we probably spent around $300 per person.
If you’re looking for more beach and outdoor adventures, check out our Santa Cruz travel guide. While it’s mostly geared towards families, there are a lot of great gems here that would work for a girls weekend too!
Note: There are a lot of brands and businesses that I’ve recommended above. None of this post is sponsored, or a paid placement. These are simply my favorites!
