By Lorie Lewis Ham
We are doing a series this year about fun travel spots that might be lesser known than some of the big cities. The first one we highlighted was Depoe Bay, Oregon. This time we are highlighting Scotts Valley, California. I think most of us on the West Coast are familiar with Santa Cruz—it has been one of my favorite spots for years—but just a few miles away, up the hill, is the little town of Scotts Valley.
Scotts Valley is a small city in Santa Cruz County, California about thirty miles south of downtown San Jose and six miles north of Santa Cruz, in the upland slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. As of the 2020 census, the city population was only 12,224. According to the Santa Cruz County website, Scotts Valley has many popular and seasonal family-friendly events including: Music at the Park, Movies at the Park, Food Truck events, the Annual Art, Wine & Beer Festival, the 4th of July Parade and Fireworks Show, Car Shows, and more.
One of the nice things about Scotts Valley is that it offers a more relaxed and less tourist-focused environment than Santa Cruz. Just walking along the tree lined streets can be lovely and relaxing. It is a great and more affordable choice, especially for a family. Another bonus is that hotels there tend to be less expensive than in Santa Cruz, and yet, still close enough to visit all of the sights there as well. Plus it’s a nice central location for visiting many of the other towns in the area.
In Scotts Valley, it’s about the mountains and big trees, as opposed to the beaches you go to in Santa Cruz. However, the beaches are also just minutes away if you want to drive down the hill. Speaking of big trees, the Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: Guided Star Walk is one of the fun things you can experience there. It is an astronomy-based guided hike where you are guided up to an observation deck perched on an ancient seabed, over 800 feet above sea level and 17 miles from the beach. Once there, you participate in activities and learn about the night sky. Everyone meets at the Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Campground, and it involves a one mile round trip hike.
Speaking of the Redwoods, less than five miles from Scotts Valley you can also find Roaring Camp Railroads where you can travel on authentic 19th century steam trains through the Big Trees to the summit of Bear Mountain. Or, you can ride early 1900s Pullman cars and open-air excursion cars along a scenic river gorge through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park to the beach of Santa Cruz.
One of the events taking place in Scotts Valley in August is an Art, Wine, and Beer festival. Despite its name, you don’t need to drink to enjoy the festival. It is the premier summer festival in the Santa Cruz Mountains and has something fun for everyone! The fun includes over 100 artists, live music, kid zone, food trucks, Cops Car Show on Saturday, Dog Day on Sunday, and more! Admission is free! Speaking of music, at the end of August the Music at Skypark concert series in Scotts Valley returns for its 14th season.
Fun fact, the famous filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock lived in Scotts Valley from 1940 to 1970, where he entertained many famous Hollywood names of the time. You will have to wait for next spring for this, but in March they have an Alfred Hitchcock Film Festival. If you love old suspense/thriller movies this is the perfect event for you! There are film screenings, food, drinks, and more! The Hitchcock Festival offers a rich tapestry of activities, blending screenings of classics with insightful analyses and discussions. This year’s festival, which was the third annual one, included keynote talks, panel discussions, and a special fashion show inspired by the iconic styles in Hitchcock’s films.
Anywhere in Santa Cruz County is a great choice for visiting during the heat of the summer—whether you want to stay in the more relaxed town of Scotts Valley, or the bustling beach town of Santa Cruz, or one of the many other options in between. You can find a listing of events in the area on the Santa Cruz County website.
If you are planning a summer road trip, it’s also a good idea to check in on your car insurance just in case the unexpected happens. Mennonite Insurance is happy to answer any of your questions (559) 638-2327.
Happy and safe summer travels!
