Santa Cruz Surfing Museum

The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, tucked inside a small lighthouse perched above the waves at Steamer Lane, is just as scenic on the outside as it is interesting inside. We loved diving into over 100 years of local surfing history – from the origins of the sport to the early handmade surfboards, and even stories of local shark encounters.

The museum is free to visit, with donations welcome, and it only took us about 15 minutes to explore. Afterward, we walked the cliffs watching surfers in the waves, then strolled over to Shrine Coffee for a great cup of coffee.

If you’re looking to connect with the lore of Santa Cruz – especially if you’re a surfer yourself – this stop is totally worth adding to your list.

TIP: They have cute, retro replica t-shirts of the original Santa Cruz Surf Club t-shirts for sale. We regret not buying one – learn from our mistakes.