Seabright State Beach
Seabright State Beach
4.5

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  • Fred L
    San Jose, California1,515 contributions
    Wonderful Beach - Great Alternative to Santa Cruz Boardwalk Beach
    Some family friends introduced us to Seabright State Beach and this has become our family’s favorite beach. I almost don't want to write a review about this beach because I don't want more people to find out about it. We have been here a number of times on the weekend and it has never been crowded. The beach is very long and clean. Our girls (6 & 8) love this beach because it does not have much seaweed or those sand flies (both of which grosses them out). The view is amazing and we saw some very beautiful sunsets there. We also walked down to the lighthouse and on the way saw a flock of sandpipers running from the waves on the beach. There is also a bathroom by the main entrance area. The only downside is that there is no large parking lot like at most of the other state beaches. There is a little parking area that can host ~20 cars. If you are not lucky enough to get one of those spots you are parking on the street somewhere. I think this is the reason the beach does not get overly crowded. Overall we have had a great experience every time we have gone there and would highly recommend you don't tell too many people about it ;-)
    Visited May 2021
    Written June 6, 2021
  • mini
    Fremont, California176,137 contributions
    Nice Beach, Visitor Center, and Intriguing to See Concrete Boat Remains of the Palo Alto - Seabright State Beach,
    We have been to Seabright State Beach many times. We returned on a nice February 1, 2020 day. We enjoyed a walk and a visit to the good museum with information on the area and also on the decaying concrete boat there the Palo Alto. There is a movie at the visitor center one can watch. It is Huell Houser video. There are also news articles, and exhibits. There is also some exhibits on local fish and animals in the area. There are some items for sale. The beach park is also great for beach fun as well as picnics. Its popular. We used our annual state park pass to enter the park.
    Visited February 2020
    Written February 1, 2020
  • L0ve2travle
    United States295 contributions
    Vacation in Santa Cruz during Covid-19
    My yearly tradition is to visit a new country and celebrate my Bday. This year I had to adjust and visit Santa Cruz, my old home town, instead. I got an Arbnb apartment by the Seabright beach and enjoyed my stay In the paradise. The beaches were open but not crowded even during the 4th of July celebration. Hiked in Nisene Mark park, took a long walk to National Bridges, ate at downtown restaurants and had a fantastic Bday dinner @ Sardines Factory in Monterey. The weather was overeats for a couple of days and sunny the rest of the week. What a great vacation! Grab your mask and head over to Santa Cruz, the city economy needs our support.
    Visited July 2020
    Traveled solo
    Written July 5, 2020
  • Emerald7775
    San Jose, California10 contributions
    Easy Access Beach
    $10 to park right at the beach. If you are fit and can walk up and down a very steep group of stairs, there is free parking at the top of the hill. We had a person with trouble walking with us, so the $10 was well spent, so he could access and walk along the beach on the paved walkway. My kids played in the sand. There is a wharf too, with a "sunken ship" at the end. Nice place to picnic with tables and bathrooms. Looked like there were campsites on the opposite side as well. Highly recommend getting Marianne's ice cream at the top of the street! We brought it down with us.
    Visited January 2022
    Written January 7, 2022
  • HannaBragberg
    Strangnas, Sweden410 contributions
    Calm beach
    Even though it was a hot and sunny day, the beach was almost empty which was hard for us to understand. It was a big, beautiful sandy beach close to the small harbour.
    Visited July 2019
    Written August 13, 2019
  • A Sun
    Santa Cruz, California100 contributions
    Great and popular spot!
    A very popular beach! This beach is pretty crowded all the time, but mostly in the summer. It is located at the end of 7th. Ave. and very close to the Santa Cruz Harbor. Caution, parking is limited and a permit is required in the summer. The permit can be purchased nearby.
    Visited October 2018
    Traveled with family
    Written July 9, 2019
  • Donna A
    192 contributions
    big beach..
    Lots of beach... very popular, and crowded at times... great for just relaxing or bbqing. Not far from the Boardwalk.
    Visited August 2018
    Traveled with friends
    Written August 22, 2018
  • Michelleds35
    Lincoln, Nebraska99 contributions
    Great beach!
    Easy to access and clean beach! It was a little chilly in June, but we still enjoyed sitting and walking along the beach.
    Visited June 2019
    Traveled with family
    Written July 16, 2019
  • Theresa A
    30 contributions
    Nice beach
    The beach is very pretty, but a little scruffy in parts. There were a few homeless folks on the beach and in some parts we found dog poop. The part by the lighthouse was nicer and cleaner.
    Visited March 2022
    Written March 13, 2022
  • Mark S
    30 contributions
    Fun in the Sun.
    Got lucky with the very warm weather last week. Relaxing and beautiful beach. Kids flying kites brought me back to my youth.
    Visited September 2020
    Written September 28, 2020
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Emerald7775
San Jose, CA10 contributions
Jan 2022
$10 to park right at the beach. If you are fit and can walk up and down a very steep group of stairs, there is free parking at the top of the hill. We had a person with trouble walking with us, so the $10 was well spent, so he could access and walk along the beach on the paved walkway. My kids played in the sand. There is a wharf too, with a "sunken ship" at the end. Nice place to picnic with tables and bathrooms. Looked like there were campsites on the opposite side as well. Highly recommend getting Marianne's ice cream at the top of the street! We brought it down with us.
Written January 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

HannaBragberg
Strangnas, Sweden410 contributions
Jul 2019
Even though it was a hot and sunny day, the beach was almost empty which was hard for us to understand. It was a big, beautiful sandy beach close to the small harbour.
Written August 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

A Sun
Santa Cruz, CA100 contributions
Oct 2018 • Family
A very popular beach! This beach is pretty crowded all the time, but mostly in the summer. It is located at the end of 7th. Ave. and very close to the Santa Cruz Harbor. Caution, parking is limited and a permit is required in the summer. The permit can be purchased nearby.
Written July 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Donna A
Petaluma192 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
Lots of beach... very popular, and crowded at times... great for just relaxing or bbqing. Not far from the Boardwalk.
Written August 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Michelleds35
Lincoln, NE99 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
Easy to access and clean beach! It was a little chilly in June, but we still enjoyed sitting and walking along the beach.
Written July 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Theresa A
30 contributions
Mar 2022
The beach is very pretty, but a little scruffy in parts. There were a few homeless folks on the beach and in some parts we found dog poop. The part by the lighthouse was nicer and cleaner.
Written March 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mark S
30 contributions
Sep 2020
Got lucky with the very warm weather last week. Relaxing and beautiful beach. Kids flying kites brought me back to my youth.
Written September 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lisa C
Broomfield50 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
We have been staying and enjoying Seabright State Beach since we were small children, and have owned and rented many places over the past 50 years. Love this beach and that it is self-contained on its own between the Harbor entrance lighthouse and the jutting cliff with Cave Hole separating it from the Boardwalk Beach. We can hear the screams from the Giant Dipper riders and see the car going over the top hill at the beginning of the drop. Love walking the shore and hearing the barking seals from the wharf. We used to walk to the train tracks to put pennies on the rails and smash them when the train went by. Have always picked up essential items from Day’s Market, and we used to buy “pull-apart cinnamon bread cakes” from the bakery on Sunday mornings. The small Museum (we have always called it the Whale Museum because of the concrete whale statue in front of it that we have all sat on, crawled on, and taken pictures of for over a 50 years).....it’s paradise rolled into one place.
Written July 14, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jules T
San Jose, CA1,357 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
Seabright is one of the best beaches in the area. It's huge! Long and very wide. Only drawback is lack of parking but otherwise perfection.
Written November 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dale M
Atlanta, GA32 contributions
Oct 2018 • Family
If you are looking for a great beach near the South Bay this is the best we have found. It’s very wide with fine clean sand and just South of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. There are restrooms and shower and lifeguards during the season. There are plenty of restaurants nearby but save some room for Marianne’s Ice Cream on Ocean Ave on the way home. Great for families!
Written October 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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