Palm Beach(Sunset State Beach)

Located along the Santa Cruz County shoreline, Palm Beach - also known as Pajaro Beach and Palm State Beach - is a large and wide beach with light brown sand and sparse vegetation. This beach is situated below vegetation-covered oceanfront bluffs and is a part of a larger state-protected beach named Sunset State Beach. 

Palm Beach has many amenities including lifeguards, showers, barbecue spots, picnic tables, and restrooms. Dogs on leash are generally allowed in Palm Beach. However, they are not allowed in parts of Palm Beach present in front of residential homes.

Palm Beach offers many fun activities including beachcombing, sunbathing, wildlife watching, hiking, picnicking, and fishing. The water near Palm Beach is unsafe for recreational aquatic activities including surfing and swimming as the water here has dangerous rip currents and extremely strong waves. In addition, drowning-related deaths and shark attacks have also been reported in the water here. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near the beach including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating whales. Palm Beach is a fantastic fishing spot - you can catch many kinds of fish here including perches and bass. If you are planning to fish in the water near Palm Beach, please make sure that you follow the local fishing regulations. It is important to note that portions of the beach might be seasonally closed off to public access as the beach is used as a nesting ground by the Western snowy plover, which is listed as an endangered species under the federal 1973 Endangered Species Act.   

In order to access Palm Beach, you need to divert west from Cabrillo Highway/Pacific Coast Highway towards Lee Road via the Riverside Drive exit. From Lee Road, you need to turn towards West Beach Street. West Beach Street will lead you to the entrance and paid parking lot for Palm Beach, from where you can easily walk to the beach. In addition, free parking spaces are also available near the entrance to Palm Beach. However, we recommend visiting this beach early as the parking lots near the beach often fill up quickly.

There are many attractions near Palm Beach. Callaghan Park is a 2.64-acre recreational park that has basketball courts, tennis courts, picnic tables, a cultural center, and a children’s playground. In addition, the park also has a cultural center and hosts many exciting programs for kids. The park also hosts movie screenings in July. The Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe is a 19th-century rancho hacienda that was constructed in the mid-19th century. This hacienda offers a unique insight into California’s vibrant history. If you are looking for another attraction near Palm Beach, the downtown area of the nearby city of Watsonville offers exciting shopping stores and also has interesting buildings with vintage architecture.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Palm Beach. Sanderlings Restaurant is an upscale restaurant that offers amazing steaks, seafood, and burgers. Imura Japanese Restaurant offers amazing Japanese dishes including tempura, sashimi, and sukiyaki. If you are looking for another good and affordable option near Palm Beach, Tacos Los Jacona is a popular food truck based in Watsonville which offers delicious Mexican dishes. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Palm Beach, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Seascape Beach Resort offers many amenities including a restaurant, three pools, multiple hot tubs, and tennis courts, a golf course, a fitness center (available for a fee), and a bike and boogie board loaner facility. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Best Western Seacliff Inn, which offers many amenities including a pool, gardens, fitness center, a coin-operated laundry, a restaurant, and complimentary breakfast. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Palm Beach, the 2-Star Valley Inn Watsonville offers complimentary breakfast. In addition, the hotel is located conveniently close to some of the major landmarks in Santa Cruz County.