Its Beach(Dog Beach)

Located in the Westside area of the city of Santa Cruz, Its Beach is a south-facing beach that has light brown sand and multiple rock formations.  This beach is located below oceanfront bluffs and it is adjacent to a state park named Lighthouse Field State Beach.  There is also a lighthouse near the beach named Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse.  Two of the major rock formations on Its Beach are a natural rock archway and a sea stack – this sea stack on Its Beach is a remnant of another collapsed natural archway.  The bluff sides around the beach are composed of sandstone and are millions of years old. 

Although Its Beach does not have lifeguards, it offers many other amenities including restrooms, a nearby grassy park, benches, and walking paths.  In addition, showers can be also found around a nearby coastal area named Steamer Lane.  The beach allows dogs on a leash throughout the day and allows them off-leash after 4pm.  

Its Beach offers many fun activities including wildlife watching, sunbathing, snorkelling, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, tidepooling, bodysurfing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and beachcombing.  Its Beach is widely popular with experienced surfers because the water here has high octaneand challenging waves.  The rocky shoreline around Its Beach is composed of sandstone – the sandstone’s unique geological structure gives it a tendency to rebound the ocean waves rushing at it.  This unique phenomenon is the primary reason behind Its Beach having interesting waves.  If you are planning to surf near Its Beach, we recommend being very careful because the waves here can be extremely dangerous.  In addition, the water here can also have dangerous rip currents.  If you are an amateur surfer, we recommend that you forego surfing near Its Beach and visit another nearby separate beach named Cowell’s Beach – the water conditions at Cowell’s Beach are more safe and suitable for beginner surfers.  Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of aquatic animals near Its Beach including otters, sea-lions, seals, dolphins, and migrating whales between December and April.  Please note that seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales are protected under a law named the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, and harming them can result in a civil penalty up to $11,000 and possible imprisonment.  If you like tidepooling and exploring rock formations, Its Beach also has tidepools and interesting rock formations within its western part.  If you like beachcombing, you can comb Its Beach for a variety of interesting shells during low tide.  If you are planning to fish near Its Beach, please follow the fishing regulations that can be found on the website of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.   

Getting to Its Beach is easy – the entrance to Its Beach is located near 701 West Cliff Drive.  There are multiple free parking lots for the beach that are located along West Cliff Drive.  Once you park at these lots, you can easily walk to the carved paths that provide access to the beach.  There is also a stairway providing access to the central part of the beach.    

There are many attractions near Its Beach.  Lighthouse Field State Beach is  a short walk away and features a grassy park with multiple walking trails.  In addition, the state park also has a surfing museum that offers surfing-related memorabilia including photographs and antique surfboards and it offers a unique insight into surfing history of Santa Cruz – in addition, the state park also has a lightgouse named the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse.  Santa Cruz Wharf is a 2,745 feet long pier that is one of the longest piers in the United States’ western coast – this pier offers amazing views of the Santa Cruz shoreline and the Pacific Ocean and you can see many kinds of animals from this pier including seals, dolphins, otters, and seabirds.  In addition, the wharf also has interesting shopping stores, restaurants, benches, and observation areas and it is also a popular fishing site.  Neary Lagoon is a wildlife refuge that has two playgrounds, walking trails, tennis courts, a basketball court, barbecue pits, and floating boardwalks – the refuge also hasinterpretive signs that offer information on the local biodiversity.  You can also see many kinds of birds here including coots, pied billed grebes, and wood ducks.  If you are looking for another attraction near Its Beach, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park, has many exciting rides  for kids and adults, a mini golf course, a casino arcade, and a lazer maze.  In addition, the amusement park also hosts many interesting events including live music performances and film screenings

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Its Beach.  Jack O’Neill Restaurant and Lounge offers a memorable oceanfront fine dining experience and serves delicious Coastal California-inspired dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – the restaurant’s dishes are prepared from locally sourced seasonal ingredients and the restaurant also has a breezy ambiance and live music.  Hula’s Island Grill and Tiki Room has a unique Hawaiian-style tiki bar theme and it also serves amazing dishes with Hawaiian, Asian, and Polynesian culinary influences including edamame, chicken wings, Hawaiian-style pork, burgers, sandwiches, quesadillas, and Thai-style chicken.  Woodies Cafe offers outstanding burgers, milkshakes, tacos, pastas, sandwiches, poultry dishes, and seafood dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Its Beach, Sawasdee By The Sea is a great family-friendly restaurant that is known for its delicious Thai dishes including fried rice, Thai-style soups, and excellent massaman curry. 

If you are looking for a hotel near Its Beach, there are many great nearby options.  The 4-Star Dream Inn is an upscale hotel that offers many amenities including a bar, a pool, a hot tub, laundry facilities, dry cleaning facilities, surfboard storage facility, a lounge, and a poolside deck that has sunloungers.   The 4-Star Hotel Los Gatos is another upscale hotel that is 35 minutes away and it offers many amenities including a pool, a lounge and a bar, jacuzzi, laundry facilities, and a restaurant – the hotel also offers access to a nearby fitness center for a fee.  A more affordable and nearby hotel is the 3-Star Hyatt Place Santa Cruz that has many amenities including a pool,  a fitness center, a restaurant, complimentary breakfast, and a mini market.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Its Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Ocean Gate Inn offers many amenities including vending machines, in-room coffee/tea, and fax and copy services for an additional fee – the hotel is also located conveniently close to some of the major attractions in Santa Cruz.