Santa Cruz, California

dreamcleanly
7mo ago
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If you like outdoorsy activities: hiking, biking, surfing, etc., and you prefer a more laid-back social atmosphere, then Santa Cruz can’t be beat. The town does close down early in general, so if you are more of a nightlife city-person then you might consider LA or San Francisco.

Honestly it’s hard to go wrong in coastal California and I’d say it’s more about your personal lifestyle preferences.

Copy_Pasterson
7mo ago
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OP, share more about what you value in a town! That will help a lot. Many of us here have lived in multiple CA coastal cities and towns and could help you find a match.

In general, SC is a great town if you're ready to really settle down in life. Beach reads, gardening, friendly convos with neighbors in their 60s (feels like everyone here is either retirement age or college age), hiking, biking.

What you can't get are those magical electric nights big cities will throw in your lap. Where you spontaneously check out a live comedy show, then wind up at a bar you've never been to, then stumble across a street doing a night market, and meet some crazy people at 2am tacos afterwards. SC is in bed by 9:30, San Jose is about the same, and San Francisco is an hour each way with very pricey parking. Meeting single friends in your age group will be harder. Most people can't afford to live here unless they are dual income.

Sometimes I miss easy access to dozens of music venues, theatres, large museums, and a massive dating pool. But my heart was always in Santa Cruz and I always thought about getting back here. If you feel that kind of connection to SC, then it will be the right place for you too.

aurabloveslife
7mo ago
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I love it. Been here since 2006 and currently 36. Cost of living is high which is why I’ve been in the Santa Cruz mountains for the past 6 years. If you love nature and a laid back environment than this is a great place to live. In my 20s, I worked my ass off and partied even harder. With the right social group I was never without something to do. Since then I’ve gotten sober (+5 years) and had a baby. Meeting people of quality with similar life goals/values can be challenging but I swooped my guy up as soon as he moved here but as far as relationships go, I truly believe what’s meant to be yours will find you so I never really stressed over that. I love the sense of community I have, especially in the mountains. Neighbors are friendly and always looking out for one another. There are so many groups and events to attend especially for new moms which I appreciate. The town may be sleepy at night but there’s always something to do, whether that be hiking, biking, surfing, farmers markets, etc. I spent a lot of my 20s attending reggae shows at moes alley which made for fond memories, also a really great community of people. I’ve found my peaceful spot in the redwoods and feel safe raising my son here and hope he will have a healthy appreciation for nature. The food isn’t all that great tbh. I definitely feel like our food scene could use some new blood but there are plenty of taquerias and thai restaurants to satisfy me. Don’t get me wrong we have some decent restaurants but it’s nothing to write home about. With that being said, you learn to cook great meals at home and enjoy going out to eat when out of town that much more. All in all I think it’s a great community with plenty to do so long as you enjoy the outdoors. I love the proximity to the bay as well. My sisters are no more than a two hour drive away and you have decent proximity to Tahoe, pinnacles, Yosemite, sequoia national park, kings canyon, pismo etc all within a 4hr drive. We’re big campers so having that at our finger tips is a huge plus. San Francisco isn’t too far if you’re craving a night out. Depending on what you’re into, it’s definitely a great place to live.

Best and worst parts about living in the city of Santa Cruz!