Santa Cruz enclave offers wildlife, water sports and more
Midway between Capitola and Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk lies
a beachfront known well to locals, but virtually unknown to some
Hollister residents. This beach offers chances to view wildlife in
the sea and in tide pools, to participate in many water sport and a
chance to bring the family dog.
Santa Cruz enclave offers wildlife, water sports and more
Midway between Capitola and Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk lies a beachfront known well to locals, but virtually unknown to some Hollister residents. This beach offers chances to view wildlife in the sea and in tide pools, to participate in many water sport and a chance to bring the family dog.
Though the state beach has no official name, it is known as Santa Mo’s to many locals and it is also referred to as Nun’s Beach due to its proximity to the Sisters of Maria Del Mar Convent and conference center.
At Twentieth Avenue, visitors will find a staircase leading to the long narrow beach that is sheltered from the Northwesterly winds. Sightings of otters, dolphins and porpoises are common. Visitors will also see a myriad of kayakers, canoers and swimmers. Sailboats, from the tiny to giants such as The Chardonnay charter cruise ship and Jack O’Neill’s, a local celebrity who invented the wetsuit and lives just a few blocks from Nun’s Beach.
At the bottom of the stairs to the right there is a short stretch of beach ending in a hard sandstone outcropping. The sandstone is a treat for families because it contains deep tide pools full of crabs, anemones, starfish and other marine life. The pools range from the small six inch spots that are twenty yards from the sea and contain only a few items of interest, to large deep pools on the very face of the rock that are the size of tide pools. These larger varieties are covered with sand and sea plants that can be clearly seen on the bottom of the pool where small sea creatures interact.. The anemones are numerous, sometimes gigantic, and not of the stinging variety.
Exercise caution, and awareness of the tides, as the tide pool area ranges from completely dry and safe to being pummeled by crashing waves that sweep the nearest tide pools.
In addition to the pools, this Live Oak area beach has been a favorite for dog owners, skim boarders and short boarders for decades.
Veteran surfer Chris Ferrato, who has enjoyed every break in Santa Cruz for the last 30 years, explained what attracts surfers, body boarders and, especially this time of year, skim boarders.
Skim boarding utilizes a wooden board measuring about a yard in height and 18 inches in width. The board is thrown onto a thin film of water that is present as a wave is rolling back out into the ocean. While the board is moving quickly the rider jumps on and skims across the water to move toward a breaking wave that can be “carved,” meaning it makes up and down movements on the face of the wave, or the boarder can simply jump the break like a ramp. There may even be an occasional skim board contest.
“This is an great skim boarding spot because the beach break gives them the perfect amount of water to glide on before they crash the wave,” Ferrato said. “It is definitely not a long board spot at Nun’s because the wave is very peaky, meaning it breaks quickly so you need a smaller board to get on the face.”
Short boarders, though, experience surfing conditions that are irregular, but can sometimes be perfect for the speedy, tricky rides this type of surfer enjoys.
“The surfing quality ranges for stand up boards, but for body boarding the spot is ideal,” Ferrato added. “This break is ideal because these waves need a short, fat board which can take advantage of the fact that Nun’s sometimes barrels.”
Back on land, visitors can expect to see a lot of people enjoying time with their dogs and they can stick around to watch the sunset over the sea, or even light up a bonfire after dark.
If you go:
Take Hwy. 156 west to Hwy. 101 north to Hwy. 129 west. Exit Hwy. 1 North. Take the Forty-First Avenue exit and head all the way down to Portola Drive and take a right. Take Portola to Twentieth Avenue, where only a left is possible. Street parking is available and there is also a lot at the corner of Seventh and Portola Drive.
Dining options:
Aloha Island Grill – www.alohaislandgrille.com/
Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., 1700 Portola Dr.
$6-10 for entrees, $1.25 – 4.50 for entrees
Dining options include Hawaiian fare such as teriyaki chicken or beef, Korean style beef short ribs or smoked pork, as well as other island favorites.
Casa Rosita’s – www.menustation.com/CasaRositas/menu.html
Open Mon.-Tue. and Fri.-Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wed.-Thu. 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 2609 Portola Dr.
$6.95 – $13.50 for entrees, $1.85 -$9.35 for appetizers
Monday through Thursday nightly dinner specials are offered at this Mexican restaurant including such options as chicken fajita salad, chicken tamales or chicken mole. Other entree options include fajitas, combination plates that mix up typical Mexican fare, and there is also an a la carte menu for those with a lighter appetite.
