Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz info

Calling on my brothers from down south for help. My wife and I are going to Monterey and Santa Cruz for the weekend for our 24th Anniversary. We always go to the Oregon coast for just about any occasion, and thought it would be nice to go somewhere we have never been. Yes I know we have sheltered lives, never branching out down south. What I am looking for is any cool spots we should see, secret restaurants, ect.... We will be doing Friday night music on the beach in Santa Cruz, after that ???? Both Loving the ocean, we will probably be doing stuff by the waterfront, looking for Clam Chowder !!!!!!!
Thanks,
Jeff

for lunch go to moss landing at Phils fish market! amazing chowder and it comes in a sour dough bread bowl!!! fish hopper on cannery is good but a few $$ but has seating outside right on the water, guaranteed WAF points there!   Enjoy your trip!!!

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=19779.msg199884#msg199884

See above for restaurant info overload.  I like Joe's for clam chowder and philly cheese steak. 

PM me if you'd like two guest passes to monterey bay aquarium.  That $hit is $40/adult now!!  hijo de la chinagada!!

haha omg, that thread above is definitely overload!  some of the things are spot on, some of the places shouldn't be mentioned (imo).

Here's my list (repeating some of the things on the other thread) and without heading down to Moss Landing or Carmel (which has a bunch):

Nice romantic places with good food:  Cafe Gabrielle, Ristorante Avanti, Shadowbrook (all pricey too).

Best food on the SC Wharf (since you'll be right by it for the Fri night concert) is Stagnaros.  They have really good seafood.  Since you'll be there on a Friday night you should consider the Cioppino special at Gilda's (also on the wharf).  It's freakin' good and only on Fridays.  Gilda's is NOT romantic in any way though (basic diner).  Both places have chowder that satisfy.

My wife thinks The Crow's Nest (by the harbor) has the best chowder in town.  A good restaurant overall too.

Sawasdee is good Thai food, right across from the Boardwalk and wharf, and has a nice view.  It's in the Casa Blanca Hotel.

Phil's in Moss Landing does have good cioppino and chowder if you feel like driving down there.  Be prepared for a long wait on the weekends though.

Thank you guys very much, yes that was overload, but looks like we will be eating good !!!!! and
Thanks Again Martin for the hookup !!!!!!! Can't wait to get out of this heat and back on the coast
just wish I could take the yak !!!!
Jeff

Ton of fun stuff to do down here!

Check out Aptos St BBQ for killer food, huge selection of microbrews on tap, and live free Blues every night at 6pm:

http://aptosstbbq.com/

Westside of SC has like a dozen wineries (and a brewery and a tap room) in a 1 block radius:

http://www.surfcityvintners.com/

http://westendtap.com/

Our favorite winery around here though is Bargetto...sample great wines and watch the creek go by below...

http://www.bargetto.com/taste_soquel.shtml

For Thai food go visit NCKA member Pat S aka ReelCrazy831 at the Thai House:

http://santacruz.patch.com/listings/thai-house

If you guys DO want to take kayaks out for a spin, send me a PM. I live right off HWY1 in watsonville and have a JK Cuda14 and Cruise12 and the little beater BigYak. You would be welcome to borrow any of them.

Take a walk or drive along Westcliff dr. in Santa Cruz and stop at the lighthouse and check out the surfers at Steamer's Lane.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/west-cliff-drive-santa-cruz

Go check out 17 mile Drive and check out Stillwater Cove and the Lone Cypress Tree...and bring your yak and fishing gear next time to fish out there! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/17-Mile_Drive

Hope this helps...let me know if you have any questions!

 

Sincerely,

Jim

If you are looking for a 'higher end' meal, one place to consider is Shadowbrook in Capitola.  Call ahead & reserve something with a water view.

http://www.shadowbrook-capitola.com/home/home.php

If you like the "bar scene", Capitola Village area has a number of barrs & is waterfront.  I always tend to lean towards Monterey myself though. 

There was a restaurant that we ate at Capitola Pier, and it was horrible. The salmon was not fresh, it was overcooked and very itchy to the tongue. Truly disappointed with the idea that fish are fresher from restaurants at the piers or near the ocean.  I would check with yelp for the latest info on particular restaurant.

http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2014/06/16/how-to-eat-your-way-along-the-california-coast/#24078101=0

I doubt you'll have time or desire to drive into Watsonville for carnitas, but if you DO....

Trejos Carnitas on East lake are the BEST I have ever had...no joke. 

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g33241-d865537-Reviews-Carnitas_Trejo-Watsonville_California.html

They only take cash and don't speak a lot of english so if your spanish is rusty just be patient. 

 

Sincerely,

Jim

Go a little north of sc to pescadaro and head to duarte's.  Great soups, fish. Ollaberry pie!

Thanks again everyone, Jim wish I could take you up on the offer, Christine went to GS8 and is going to Albion, so no fishing this trip !!!! lol !!! And we may make the trip to Watsonville, Time permitting, I love Carnitas !!! 
Joe, Thanks for the heads up !!
Martin, that is a cool link, I would love to stop at all of them lol !!!
Squidder, We are going North to Pacifica Sunday, and I have had a few other friends say that place rocks!!!
Thanks again all,
Jeff