Science Museums • Aquariums
THE 10 BEST Santa Cruz Museums
Museums in Santa Cruz
Category types
Museums
Traveler rating
Good for
26 places sorted by traveler favorites
- Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Speciality & Gift Shops • Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
Art Galleries
What travelers are saying
- Jay_as_tripvisorDenver, CO1,231 contributionsSeymour Marine Discovery Center is exactly as it is described on their website. Great learning experience for kids and adults too. I recommend the tour as well. It is a great way to learn and contribute to conservation of marine animals and environment. Fantastic view on the backside of the museum. 2-2.5 hours should be good enough to tour this place.Written August 11, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Claire Du4 contributionsGreat stop. The volunteers made it a personal experience and their enthusiasm was infectious.
The kids loved using the ROV and we all learnt something whilst there.Written August 16, 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - laura gNottingham, UK55 contributionsWe stopped at the Surfing museum as we arrived in Santa Cruz, it was such a novel place and we really enjoyed, glad to have stopped in. There was some very cool memorabilia and stories of the surfers and of surfing. A 'must do' if you are in Santa CruzWritten October 17, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MorganAptos, CA45 contributionsThis place is so cool I’m a local person and I haven’t been here in 30 years, and I absolutely love it. We went for the mastodon tooth to look at it and view it and I was pleasantly surprised with everything else.Written June 5, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- oldjgwBerkeley141 contributionsWell kept and interesting local museum. Right on Front street, downtown. Could have used more in-indepth displays of Santa Cruz local historyWritten January 23, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- MarkLelystad, The Netherlands6 contributionsA trip down memory lane! The legendary Santa Cruz /Independent skateboard and trucks factory and museum. If you love skateboarding this has to be on your Bucketlist! Great to see all the history!Written July 24, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- jaseatonSilver Spring, MD2,723 contributionsIf you've been to the Lawrence Hall of Science, you've seen a better version of this "museum" filled with fun activities for kids 10 and under. There's a mix of science fun and just plain slides and things (over-sized blocks and numerous interactive activities). My grandson (3 yrs old) enjoyed racing plastic cars down a chute and playing in the sand box. We adults joined in.and stood around. It made for a 90-minute slot in a lively afternoon. The location inside a mall seemed curious.Written December 22, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- cymbidianSan Rafael, CA137 contributionsWe had a lovely visit to this museum space. there are three floors with different sorts of things on each floor. We loved the rooftop sculpture garden and the history room.Written June 2, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Dominika10 contributionsPeaceful, terrific, charming! We renamed it for Om(g) gallery. Really liked it, mostly the jewelry section :)Written February 5, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Mike SOro Valley, AZ115 contributionsDavid Salazar has been blowing glass for decades and is a talented artist. Watch him work with glass in his small shop and pick up a really cool work of art you aren't likely to find anywhere else. It's a just a fun, unique thing to do + David is a really nice, fun guy.Written January 20, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- VWriterLos Gatos, CA852 contributionsCame here for the first time to attend a performance at the Colligan Theater, which is located in the arts center. Free public parking lot, several shops, galleries, apartment complexes, all in a collection of warehouse type buildings that are spruced up and modernized, while keeping to the original architectural style of the structures used for the tanning operations. Other cities might tear down what leaders consider obsolete buildings; not Santa Cruz, whose leaders have seen the value of honoring its history and incorporating the new into the new. Well worth a visit.Written April 9, 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- parnelli96Mountain View, CA2 contributionsI took my 11yo niece here who is an avid skateboarder. Learn about the history and innovations that took place at Santa Cruz Skateboards, Independent Trucks and more. Fascinating to learn about how they came up with that famous Santa Cruz Skateboard logo and how the skateboard and trucks came to be. Plus, you get to see a part of the manufacturing facility. If you have a family member who loved/loves to skate, this place can't be missed on you to-do list in Santa Cruz.Written August 2, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- An0nyMsTucson, AZ1,573 contributionsThe Santa Cruz Art League offers classes, concerts, and art exhibitions. The gallery is fairly small, housed in a medium-sized room with most work along the outer walls, I was there to see "Members Exhibition A-Z", a show by local artists.
I travel a lot and see lots of art. Exhibitions by local/regional artists can have works by artists who are just getting started, and most of the works in this show were just that. I spent about ten minutes here. (I also left a donation because I support local art.) I found much better art at Pajaro Valley Arts, a local/regional museum about half an hour away in Watsonville.
The Art League's website lists two other shows: a high school art exhibition and "Planet Pulse—A National Art Exhibition". You might want to check the website before you go.Written February 14, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
