Beautiful and sunny day! The surf was just right. Some parts of the beach felt a bit more crowded than others, so you might need to walk around a bit to maintain social distancing. The wharf was wonderful to drive on and the sea lions are hilarious!

Lots of stores open. Saw lots of seals. Nice sunset. Rode the traveling bike ( you paid what youd like). Overall is great

The people are great, the restaurants are upholding their popularity especially amongst the tourists I saw. Im born and raised in Santa Cruz 44 years. And Ive seen the wharf go through their up and downs. The only thing I say, Id like to see The wharf upgraded in a sense of safety because the asphalt is definitely deteriorating and sometimes its sketchy to park in certain areas. Also during the summer Id also like to see them only have local days and evenings because the tourists overrun that area and make it very difficult for the locals to actually enjoy it.

Absolutely STUNNING pier and amusement area! The stars of the show were easily the sea lions! Such majestic creatures!We were driving by the coast, and did not expect come across this beautiful gem. The Wharf had an amusement park, a mini golf course, multiple restaurants/cafes, cute gift shops (I recommend Jennies), and multiple beach volley ball courts.This tourist attraction is sure to not disappoint! Prepare to be mesmerized by the plethora of flying pelicans and sea gulls!

I have been coming to the wharf since I was born. The wharf and boardwalk are must see destinations. The fried calamari at Stagnaros is the best anywhere. The fried fish combo is great too. I love to dip the French fries in their clam chowder. There are numerous places to eat and shop on the wharf and boardwalk. The beach is long and wide and includes several beach volleyball courts. Fun for everyone.

Made a break for it while we could.Masked up and took a trip to the wharf... Stagnaro Bros. for lunch(yummy!) Beautiful day to get out and walk it.Limited parking only because the restaurants have followed protocol and are dine outside.But who can complain about that!? Outside dining in Santa Cruz!

Beautiful Whark with great views and dining.grab a bike or take a hike on it,to make a fun day. If you are lucking might find a great artist around,or a great place to create new happy places. If to tired to walk around hunt out a bike cab they will help find your way to the next direction you want to play.

I love the Santa Cruz Wharf!Sometimes the beach smells like dying anchovies, but not all the time. The water has a lot of kelp, but the kelp keeps the sharks away.Seals hang out under the pier! There are viewing areas and you can hear them chatting away.The pier is a great place to get a bite and watch the sunset for an affordable price.I cant wait to go back.

Enjoying our first outing during the pandemic! Not many people even it is in the weekend!95% of the visitors are wear face mask! Even kids! That was comforting even we all outside!Hope things will get back to normal soon!

A thoroughly fun and charming place to dine, enjoy the stunning views of the bay and Santa Cruz, take a boat tour, go fishing, browse gift shops. You can park right on the wharf and, yes, hang out with colonies and harems of sea lions lounging under the wharf and barking out to one another.

This trip was a pleasant one. The wharf was open and the gift shops had an excellent service. The food was great over there. The amusement park is closed, but the beach is open. We loved watching the sea lions sunbathing on the lower level.The downside: Ive never seen so many people without masks walking down peacefully in this pandemic! As if the pandemic never happened.Tip: To avoid crowd go on a weekday and enjoy the serene scenic beauty.

Had a wonderful day in the boardwalk.. people watching at a distance.. even tho the riders were shut down there were still some food shops open to curve your sweet tooth out appetite..

I love this spot. It really doesn’t matter if you are taking your date, your kids or your grandparents out here, you will have fun for sure. There will be something for everyone here. Your date will enjoy a walk on the beach and dinner on the wharf, you kids will love the sea lions here. Or if you’re taking your old folks out, bring a couple fishing rods and some raw shrimps cut to small pieces. Throw them on a sabiki rig and guaranteed catch (between 6 pm- 8pm is the best for reeling in surf species like perch, smelt or croakers)

COVID UPDATE: SCZ Wharf is awesome still- COVID covid compliance seating at all the restaurants. Still the cool seals and the view but note that the end of The Wharf is CLOSED(just after the Dolphin Restaurant -great breakfast!!) for construction so you cant go to the very end and see the view.Seals!!!!!

Nice long Municipal Pier with plenty of great seafood restaurants. Its long and has cutouts to see marine life, especially good for viewing sea lions.Great view of Cowells Beach, Main Beach and the Boardwalk.

Funky pier with some super touristy, not particularly good seafood restaurants. Early morning theres lots of fishermen action. And the sea lions who live underneath it are to die for. They bark all day and all night. Adorable.

Lovely views. Lots of cute shops. Gotta love the sea lions!

Good for food or just a walk. My kids loved seeing the very playful seals!

Went to boat rental place and Rented a boat and went deep sea fishing. So fun and great prices for such an amazing experience. Super rad staff as well.

Got here mid-afternoon on labor day 2020 90% wearing masks practicing social distance..neighborhood restaurants and gifts shops on boardwalk have excellent services. I will be coming back again :)

Lots of great views at the Santa Cruz Wharf. You can drive onto the pier which is the longest on the entire Pacific Coast. It stretches over a mile. There are places to eat and shop.

The wharf specialty is the sea lions jumping onto the basement columns out of water and resting there. They also make noises and quarrel for the prime spaces which are treat to watch. The wharf had good restaurants, souvenir shops and good view out facing the beach and the open sea. Nice place to relax and enjoy the fresh air.

Always have an awesome time here...we sat in the back of our van with the back open with blanket n pillows on the pier overlooking the shoreline and ocean... took a stroll to watch the sea lions after...a perfect day!!!

Cute strip of shops and restaurants. Nice place to spend an evening. Since the boardwalk is pretty much closed, this is a nice substitute.

Nice!! Lots of people! But mostly everyone has mask!! Lots of Great places to eat outside!! And have drinks!! It was a nice day oat the Wharf!!

Had a fun day walking around the wharf. Nice sights but not many places to sit outside that arent part of a shop. Also not many shops compared to the Santa Monica pier we were at the other day. I would tell people to visit it, but in not sure if I would care to go back. But worth a visit.

Always a fun place to walk. Not as crowded as the Boardwalk and with restaurants and little shops to visit.

We had a mini vacation before school started and had a blast!!! I definitely recommend as a family day!

This trip was more pleasant than I thought I would be with all the Covid 19 stuff. The wharf was open, most people were being pretty respectful toward one another. The food was great as usual there. The amusement park is closed, but the beach is open.

It is relaxing,. The atmosphere is invigorating. Still has that same essence as it did 50 yrs ago. The businesses and people are inviting

Great beaches and sunshine. A bit too unmasked. Would like to see some safety enforcement.

Wow! Just wow! At the end of the dock on the right side there is an amazing sea food shop called stagnaro bros. Best sea food I have had in my life. Will definitely make the trip from Florida again. If youre in the area, please go here, you wont regret it.

It is always a delight to be at the wharf. Nice place spend the afternoon at the beach and grab a great dinner at one of the nice restaurants at the wharf.

Loved the sea lions though I could hear them at 4am in my hotel bedroom. But the wharf has nice shops and good restaurants. Will be back.

Always a nice walk. Kayaking is fun also. Dont forget the food!!!

Quick trip for some clam chowder and sunset :)

Great shops, amazing views, and good spot for pier fishing. Sea lions hang out directly below and are fun to watch and listen to. The best clam chowder bowl is at the end restaurant, but go on a weekday for best results and less crowds. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars bc of expense and for the clam chowder not always consistently good

This place is a must visit!! We parked along the street and walked in. They have boat rentals, which I thought was cool. Lots of beach shops and restaurants. We especially loved the sea lions at the end sunbathing on the lower level. So cute!!

Great place to fish and get something to eat. You can actually park on the pier for a few $. We fished for about 3 hours and paid $9 when leaving. You get a parking ticket when you first arrive then the gate arm opens to let you in. I will definitely go back several times.

Its your pretty standard wharf. There is a small amount of parking on the wharf itself you can use. Be prepared as its $1 for every 20 minutes. You have your standard tourist businesses being restaurants and tourist souvenir shops. My favorite part though is it gets you out over the water which is always nice in that area. Plus oftentimes sea lions will sleep under the pier and you can watch them and hear them. Over all its a good way to spend an hour or have lunch

Wonderful as always, the fall weather was gorgeous and so many others were taking advantage of the temperate ballmy weather. Scores of sun worshipers on the beach and throngs of folks enjoying outdoor dining at all the eateries the wharf has to offer.

The wharf has restaurants with great views, plus a host of resident sea lions barking along most of the day. There’s a kayak rental nearest the beach side.Notes:-Sea lions are down at the far (south) end. They will be in the water directly off the south end, under the pier, or along the east side on a deteriorating platform. On a nice day early in the morning, get breakfast and walk out to the end. Look over the edge and you should see some floating sea lion pods where they hook flippers and sleep as a group.-Parking on the wharf is per-hour and can get quite crowded in high times/seasons.-Most of the restaurants there don’t validate unless it’s a Tuesday (??). Fair warning that may of the restaurants are there for the view and not necessarily the dine-in food. Quality seems to have deteriorated over the decades that I’ve been going there, though it doesn’t stop me. There are a couple with really decent food though you’ll have to experiment a bit since they ebb and flow with menu options and fresh ingredients. My fave is breakfast at the tiny Dolphin restaurant at the end. Crab cake Benedict was killer. They have a tiny patio seating area as well.

I have been going to Santa Cruz since I was in high school. Many of the places you see now out on the wharf were there back in the 60s or are much older. Lots of good food and places to shop. Fishing is big also, you can go out in the bay on a charter boat. Just practice your social distancing!

The wharf is a great place to go and you can eat outside safely I shared a delicious meal this last month and had all sorts of fish and stuff and even saw the sunset

Great place to go excellent food rides just all-around good place to take the family to

Nothing fancy, food choice wharf style good quality seafood, and it is an excellent place to view the coast and rhe vast Pacific Ocean!

Love to ride bikes from the wharf to Wilder ranch and back again..we then always have dinner at Rivas sea food house. The snapper vera cruz is Screaming good!

Beautiful and Peaceful.. Definitely a place to stop with the family or on date night. Good food and even greater views

We had a blast went up there with my brother and 2 of my close friends

Largest pier on the coast. Nice beach

Good food and restaurants with social distancing. Shopping. Excellent view

You have to love Santa Cruz, because its Santa Cruz. The wharf is the holder of many memories. You can fish, crab, launch your boat or canoe, see the sea lions, eat yummy clam chowder and other seafood. Great view If you can find a spot, you can park directly on the wharf.

Great walking experience cool shops nice restaurants sea lions at the end fun to watch them you can fish off the wharf great place to take the family and friends.

With everything just opening up for the first time (June 2020) all the shop and restaurant owners are so excited and eager to greet their guests! As long as you follow the social distancing guidelines, wear your mask, and maintain a chill attitude it is a very enjoyable place to walk outside, view the wildlife and maybe even do a bit of shopping to support the local businesses.

Grew up here..Live in Vegas....I wish California was actually affordable.

Pretty clean, beach and board walk are open due to covid

Its nice to be back out enjoying a nice lunch with family, food was excellent and service was great! Thank You so much Fire Fish, Sue was an amazing waitress! ️ May GOD Continue to Bless You and Your Company! During this pandemic!

Nice walk with gorgeous views of Santa Cruz. Lots of gift shopping and dining options.

Always nice to visit the wharf. Great views of the Boardwalk, Steamers Lane, and listen to the seals. Some good food too.

Sqnta Cruz Wharf is the longest wooden Wharf in the United States. It has plenty of places to eat, drink and shop. You can also fish from one side of the Wharf. Theres also boat and kayak rentals. Must bring a sweater at night it does get chilly.

The Wharf is really cool. It was originally built in 1904. People are fishing of the wharf. Others are shopping the tourist shops. And several nice restaurants with a beach view. We saw two seals while we waited for dinner. The brisk sea breeze and the tremendous view of the beach and beach boardwalk are a great experience

The views from the warf are amazing from the seals, to the boardwalk and the cliffs. Be ready with a wind breaker it might get chilly

Had a ball here stuffing my face with fresh seafood. They had ice cold beers to boot. Now who doesnt like fresh seafood and almost frozen beers. The wharf wasnt as crowded as usual so I enjoy a hustle free stroll.

Great to see people out, watch the sunset, and maintaining our safety and health. Not difficult if solidarity is engaged!

Despite some things being closed due to COVID, we still had a great time! Very clean restrooms from the Wharf to the Boardwalk. Getting to see these guys close up was a definite bonus!

Great place to eat & after I decided to fish off the pier while my Lady went to the local shops

Koo spot to visit. Watch sealions sleeping and get some good fresh seafood

It’s one of a few places in Santa Cruz I have already visited a few times and still counting. Great seafood, good vibes, and nice hangout. You can even bring fishing gear and fish here all day long thinking about life. Just to insist, it’s quite chill of a place.WAY BEYOND PAD THAI

Super cool sunset...

Great place relax enjoyed our visit great food too

Fun atmosphere

I had such a fun time. I was there for the event Hot Rods on the beach!!!! It was so cool! So many classic cars and the Boardwalk was open it was a warm sunny day. Everything was perfect!!!!! Be sure to check out the restaurants around there too!! Theres one on the wharf called Splash that has a rotating floor under your table. Its awesome!!!! Plus, they got good food at a decent price.

A lot of walking, but good food and sights to see.

Always good vibes. Catch the old school cars on Sunday nights too.

Reached the area early in the morning. Had free parking and no crowd. Ocean and the sun rise view was great from here. Could see elephant seal from too close. One should not miss this place if happened to visit Santa Cruz and near by.

Wharf was busy but not as busy I suppose than if COVID were not around.. people were wearing mask and trying to do social distancing.. occasional people who have removed their mask, like me, when theres not a lot of people around.. gentle breeze and beautiful sunset.. restaurants are open and offer al fresco dining.. life is good and is a blessing..

Always a great time, great food/drinks and lots of seals everytime

Cool place just a walk and enjoy the scenery every shop and restaurant seems to be the same over and over

One of the best places to spend evening Walk with friends

Me and my boys enjoyed a nice walk early in the morning before it got busy.

Always take me back to great memories of family trips there

The views from here are amazing! Seals also hang out underneath it so you can see and hear them from fairly close by.

Its a nice strool when passing through Santa Cruz especially on the pier there is great seafood place with awesome fish and chips, the sea lions are funny to watch and a great view of Monterrey Bay. The boardwalk is for a young crowd.

Beautiful wharf and good sea food restaurants on the pier. Loved the place.

A great place for families, plenty of activity and entertainment. Rollercoaster and rides, good food options, beach volleyball tournaments and great shoreline. Overall my family had a great time. Also some nice stores for all those shoppers.

Great get away place from thw city, always enjoyed watching the surfers, sea life and strolling through

Plenty of parking excellent views even better food

Parking on the wharf has gotten crazy with the restaurants seating outside. Be prepared

Santa Cruz is a beautiful beach town with Californias significant, beautiful sunsets. The only problem with Santa Cruz is some seriously rude locals who just hate tourists

Love it here. Great shops and restaurants

Great little shops and restaurants on this pier. You can walk down or drive your car. At the very end you can see the sea lions. Great views of Santa Cruz.

This place is sooo.... good....There Bloody Marys are excellent and the food and service is awesome.. Thanks fish..

Such a fun walk thru, great drinks and food for awesome prices, fun atmosphere

They fit so many amazing things onto this pier. Love this place!

My familys favorite place to go.

Santa Cruz, I you but whats going on? Stopped by for the afternoon on the way home from Monterrey. Ive never seen so many people without masks! Are you all crazy? Do you not value your lives & the lives of others? I work in Downtown SF and the Crackheads in the Tenderloin wear masks, why Visitors & SC Natives dont, I have no idea. Im not the Mask Police Guy but WoW! Dont visit if you have compromised immunity or IDK, wanna live. Ill be back when the vaccines hit, until then Ive got a Family to look after

Lovely but could do with a good clean up. Nice seaside stores to stroll in. Great coffee shops and restaurants. The sea lions are fun to watch as they laze under the pier.

If you have kids, bring them to the Santa Cruz Beach and Wharf. Its awesome to see the views of the scenic Bay and the Santa Cruz Boardwalk from the end of the wharf. A picturesque spot to get romantic or just be friendly with the locals. Plenty of eatery spots and lots to see.

The trueSurf City is OPENWow what a selectionAnd the the staffSuperb

Loved the Sea Lions squares at the end of the pier. They are just chillin and awesome to watch.