Seabright Beach(Castle Beach)

Located between San Lorenzo River and Santa Cruz Harbor, Seabright Beach (also known as Seabright State Beach) is a popular beach area located near the main Santa Cruz Beach and the Santa Cruz Wharf. The half-mile long beach area has soft light brown sand and the rare pink sand verbena flower can often be found growing on the beach area. The beach area of Seabright Beach is often considered a subsection of the Twin Lakes State Beach, which is located nearby across Santa Cruz Harbor. 

Seabright Beach offers a variety of amenities including lifeguards, showers, concession stands, restrooms, and even fire rings for bonfires. The beach allows pets on a leash and also provides access to people with disabilities. 

Seabright Beach offers a very large variety of activities including surfing, kiteboarding, paddle boarding, beachcombing, kayaking, canoeing, parasailing, diving, boating, swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, beach walking, volleyball, and wildlife watching. You can relax on the beach and organize an evening campfire on one of the designated fire rings on the beach area, a popular activity among beachgoers here. The beach area is also home to a number of unique marine birds and animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, grebes, heron, and cormorants. If you’re looking for some fun activities, you can start by combing the beach for the many different kinds of shells here. During low tide, you can also visit the rocky jetty present in the beach area that borders Santa Cruz Harbor to check out the Walton Lighthouse. Another option is walking at low tide towards the San Lorenzo River estuary near the beach to check out the sandstone cliffs present in the area, which features an arch that provides across the shallow estuary to the larger Santa Cruz Main Beach. From spring through the end of October, there are weekly sailboat races every Wednesday evening at the Santa Cruz Harbor area. 

The beach area is easily accessible - simply drive to the East Cliff Drive and Mott Avenue intersection to access the beach entrance. As another option, there is free parking on the western end of East Cliff Drive and also on Atlantic Avenue.

Other popular attractions near the beach include the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History which offers interesting information about California history, flora, fauna, and geography and features a live California king snake. The nearby Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the amusement park is full of exciting rides and swings and is a must-visit for families with children.

If you're looking for a restaurant, La Posta Via is a high-end Italian restaurant with great pizza and an innovative seasonal menu. Betty Burgers is a more affordable option with large portions and a large variety of hamburgers. You can also head to The Picnic Basket which is a modestly priced family-friendly option that offers a good variety of sandwiches that are made from farm-fresh ingredients.

If you are looking for a hotel near Seabright Beach, there are many great options. The 4-Star Inn at Depot Hill has luxury rooms and good amenities including evening wine tasting sessions. The more affordable Sea & Sand Inn offers well-furnished rooms overlooking the ocean and a nice spa. You can also head to the Bay Front Inn, which is a great budget accommodation option.