Dog Friendly Weekend in Santa Cruz Mountains & County

This past long weekend, we celebrated Ryan’s birthday! Coincidentally his birthday, my birthday and Kona’s Gotcha Day typically fall on long weekends – me and Kona’s during MLK Day and Ryan’s during Juneteenth. I’m grateful for the extra day to not only honor those who fought for freedom, justice and equality, but to also unplug and recharge together with my two favorite beings.

So for Ryan’s long birthday weekend, we planned a special retreat that included some of our favorite activities to rejuvenate after a long week: beach time, hiking and camping. Where? Santa Cruz County, of course! This area is one of the most dog-friendly that we’ve explored together with Kona and is only a stone’s throw away from the Bay Area.

At a Glance

• Morning in Downtown Los Gatos – Breakfast at Los Gatos Cafe
  • Optional shopping – Sunday morning Farmers’ Market; Boutiques & specialty stores around downtown
• Zen hike in the Santa Cruz Mountains – Land of Medicine Buddha 
• Lunch in Aptos – French-Italian at Mentone & Dessert at Penny Ice Creamery
• Relax on the beach – Aptos or Watsonville
• Enjoy craft beers at Corralitos Brewing Co – Watsonville
• Overnight camping in Uvas Canyon County Park – Morgan Hill
  • Optional after-dinner hike – 0.6-mile out-and-back Uvas Creek Trail

• Morning waterfall hike in Uvas Canyon – 2.9-mile Waterfall Loop & Contour Trail
• Gizdich Ranch for freshly baked pies – Watsonville
• Lunch in Capitola – Roux Dat Cajun Creole
• Walk around Downtown Santa Cruz – 100+ shops & Big Basin Vineyards
• Discover wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains – Soquel, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Summit Road, Loma Prieta Road

Tips for the drive down to Santa Cruz County

• The most direct route from the Bay Area to Santa Cruz County is via Hwy 17, which has been notoriously called one of the most dangerous roads in California. It is full of curves – some sharp, some blind, and many not properly banked. Please slow down and pay attention while driving on this road.
• The earlier you start the drive down Hwy 17, the better. Ideally before 10am to beat the weekend beach traffic. If there’s a heatwave in the Bay Area, leave before 9am to beat everyone else also trying to escape the heat.
• Keep your preferred GPS navigation app turned ON throughout the drive. Having a preview of the windy road ahead will help ensure you aren’t taken by surprise when a sharp curve inevitably comes up.
• If you get stuck in the late-morning beach traffic on Hwy 17, Google Maps will usually provide a faster option to re-route through Old Santa Cruz Highway. Take it!

Day 1:

Before trekking down Hwy 17 on Sunday morning, we first fueled up at my favorite breakfast spot, Los Gatos Cafe. When a cafe is named after the city, you know it’s got to be iconic. And Los Gatos Cafe does not disappoint – it’s a breakfast lover’s paradise. With generous portions too! Located in Downtown Los Gatos, it’s a popular spot with an extensive menu of Benedicts, scrambles, soufflé omelets, Belgian waffles, pancakes, and more. While they do have another location in Los Gatos that is also dog-friendly, we prefer the cozy patio and atmosphere of the Downtown location over the parking lot seating of the Uptown location. Note that dogs must remain on the ground at all times, aka small dogs cannot be on your lap on the patio.

Los Gatos Cafe does not take reservations, so get there early to avoid a long wait, especially on the weekend. Luckily the service here is fast and the food comes out quickly. There was already a short wait when we arrived around 8am – probably because last Sunday was Father’s Day. We didn’t mind the wait though. We were quickly seated after a short stroll of the cute shops down the street. My go-to order is “The Scramble” – which comes with their ridiculously creamy Hollandaise sauce – with chicken apple sausage substituted for the bacon and a bakery item of carrot walnut bread. Ryan splurged on the crab cake Benedict, which came with an ample amount of avocado and crabmeat. Both came with herb potatoes, which are often overlooked as wasteful carbs at other breakfast institutions, but at Los Gatos Cafe, they are the star of the show – crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and perfectly seasoned. If you’re visiting on a weekend, make sure to order their gigantic cinnamon roll too! Note, they only accept cash.

• Rose Cafe & Donuts – Fast casual spot in West San Jose. Best breakfast burritos in the area that are packed full of fluffy eggs, cheese, crispy hash brown, and your choice of either steak, breakfast meats (ham, bacon & sausage) or veggies (our favorite). Order ahead over the phone to skip the line. Cash only. Closes at 2:30pm.
• Saratoga Bagels – My go-to spot for New York style bagels since high school. Their bagels are slathered with the thickest layer of cream cheese spread. Delicious breakfast sandwiches too. Highly recommend the pesto cheddar bagel with garlic cream cheese. Closes at 3pm.
• Sweet Maple – New American menu with Asian influence. Home of the world famous, slow-cooked Millionaire’s Bacon and Matcha Moffle (mochi waffle). Also recommend the Chicken Croffle and ube latte. Locations in Cupertino and Palo Alto close at 2:30pm. Palo Alto also serves dinner.
• Philz Coffee – Popular Bay Area coffee chain. The Cupertino Main Street location has lots of outdoor seating. My favorite food options are the ancho chili burrito and twice-baked almond croissant.
• Sara’s Southern Kitchen – Southern comfort food in Downtown Los Gatos with an outdoor parklet. Closes at 2pm.
• Manresa Bread – Bakery with classic breads and pastries with multiple locations in the South Bay. The flagship store in Downtown Los Gatos has outdoor seating. Conceived in the kitchen of former 3-Michelin star restaurant, Manresa. Closes 3pm.

If you forgot to pack beach snacks for later, crave some retail therapy, and/or need to walk off a full stomach before driving down to Land of Medicine Buddha, then check out the Los Gatos Farmers Market that runs on Sundays from 9am-1pm. Note that dogs are not allowed, so take turns watching your dog at the nearby Town Plaza Park, which is also a great place to enjoy your scrumptious finds afterwards.

If you missed the Farmers Market, no worries, you’re in Downtown Los Gatos! Stroll around the streets to explore unique boutiques, national favorites like Anthropologie and Lululemon, local coffee shops, and other specialty stores – most are dog-friendly too! Some of our favorites for a quick morning visit include: Lolli & Pops, Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company, Moonstone Metaphysical, Fleur de Cocoa, Butter Paddle, Leafy, and Montebello Market.

Hike the Santa Cruz Mountains – Land of Medicine Buddha

After leaving downtown around 9:30am, it only took us 30 min to drive to Land of Medicine Buddha (LMB) without traffic on Hwy 17. LMB is a meditation and retreat center tucked away on 108 acres of coastal foothills in Soquel, adjacent to the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. The center has enjoyed a close relationship with Lama Zopa Rinpoche and even hosted the Dalai Lama in 2001. 

Driving up the narrow road (Prescott Rd) leading to the center felt like a fortuitous reminder for us to slow down, both physically and mentally. To leave all busyness behind and notice the stillness of the redwood forest surrounding us. While public day use hours are 9am-5pm, we recommend visiting earlier in the morning due to limited parking. There’s an air of serenity that begins in the parking lot and gets stronger as you take in the holy objects throughout the property: colorful prayer flags hanging from trees, prayer wheels to spin (clockwise), bells to ring (softly), temples to admire and circumambulate (walk around). Please remember to keep voices low and your dog on leash at all times.

The most popular trail at LMB is their Eight Verses Trail, which is a short meditative loop designed to help visitors experience the beneficial effects of Tibetan Buddhist teachings on thought transformation. We first encountered a 40-feet tall work-in-progress replica of the Mahabodhi stupa, an icon of peace and one of the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage sites in India. The trail then winds through a redwood forest, where you’ll find eight beautiful blue signs posted every 15-20 min, each complete with one of the Eight Verses of Thought Transformation by Langri Tangpa and an explanation of its meaning by the Dalai Lama. In front of each verse is also a teak bench for visitors to sit, meditate and contemplate the words. You’ll also find small trinkets that have been left as offerings – don’t remove them. 

This trail was extremely relaxing. You don’t need to be a Buddhist to appreciate the tranquility that this place offers. We found ourselves lost in thought throughout the hike and left LMB with a deeper sense of calm and peace. We will definitely come back and explore the longer 5.6-mile loop next time.

Lunch in Aptos

Just 15 mins away in Aptos Village is one of our favorite splurge-worthy restaurants, Mentone. It’s a casual, upmarket French-Italian restaurant from the mind of David Kinch of the three-Michelin-starred Manresa. I generally don’t gravitate towards bistros, but Mentone’s concentrated menu of simple ingredients at the highest quality is worth the splurge. Plus we were celebrating Ryan’s birthday! Our favorite starter is the Stracciatella – insanely creamy cheese served with perfectly crusty sourdough from Manresa Bread. Their gnocchi is the best I’ve ever had. And you can’t go wrong with any of their wood-fired pizzas with a chewy, feather light crust. Although if I had to pick a favorite, it’s either the anchovy or ‘Nduja, a spicy spreadable pork sausage from Calabria. Do yourself a favor and get their frozen aperol spritz – it’s SO refreshing!

Here are some tips to get through the door without a long wait. Reservations are not required, but highly recommended. Especially for their popular, dog-friendly outdoor patio, which is only open for lunch on the weekends 12-2pm. If you’re unable to snag an online reservation, no fear. They do set aside the small bar, as well as a few high top communal tables for walk-ins. But you’ll want to get there at least 30 min before opening to avoid a wait. This past Sunday, we accidentally made a lunch reservation for indoor seating rather than the outdoor patio, but it wasn’t a problem as there were a few shaded parking spots near the entrance for Kona to relax comfortably in the car.

I’m sure the dessert at Mentone is delicious, but we recommend indulging at The Penny Ice Creamery across the street instead. While every Santa Cruz guide out there probably suggests going to Marianne’s for ice cream – which we agree is totally iconic in Santa Cruz – there’s something about Penny’s made-from-scratch flavors crafted with local ingredients that screams to us.

The go-to move at Penny’s is the Mini Double Scoop in a cup (two flavors, baby!) topped with their signature toasted marshmallow fluff and a free waffle cone. Ryan’s favorite flavor so far is the Verve coffee with chocolate almond praline. I love all of their seasonal fruit flavors, including unique ones like Meyer lemon poppyseed, crème fraîche rhubarb, and chamomile dried apricot. This time, they had a blueberry orange graham jam – it was heavenly! If you’re too stuffed to enjoy a scoop at this beloved Santa Cruz ice cream shop, luckily they recently opened two new locations in the Bay Area: one in Palo Alto and another in downtown Los Altos. Unfortunately, we noticed the locations outside of Santa Cruz County tend to have limited flavors.

• Aptos St BBQ – Award-winning BBQ smoked with California oak wood.
• The Hideout – Classic and updated American comfort foods made with fresh ingredients.
• Pixie Deli & Good Eats – Sandwich spot by the beach with a prolific beer selection.
• Soul Salad – Freshly made salads with generous portions.
• Zameen Cuisine – Mediterranean wraps, salads and bowls with a California twist.

Relaxing on the Beach

Santa Cruz County is without a doubt the quintessential California beach destination. The beaches here are beautiful and expansive, but most importantly, there is an extensive list of dog-friendly ones to choose from. While this area is famously known for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, dogs are not allowed there. Honestly, your dog is doing you a great service here. The boardwalk is the most touristy and overcrowded part of the entire county. You’re not missing out on much. 

• Santa Cruz:
  • Mitchell’s Cove Beach – Dogs are allowed off leash before 10am and after 4pm. Small beach with tide pools.
  • Lighthouse Field State Beach – Also locally known as Its Beach.
  • Seabright Beach
  • Twin Lakes State Beach
  • Moran Lake County Park
• Capitola:
  • New Brighton State Beach
• Aptos:
  • Seacliff State Beach
  • Rio Del Mar Beach
  • Hidden Beach – Park at the playground and follow a 1/4 mile path to the beach.
  • Sumner Beach
• Watsonville:
  • Manresa State Beach
  • Palm Beach State Park

For this itinerary we recommend checking out one of the beaches in Aptos or Watsonville, so that it’s a shorter drive to our next stop…

Corralitos Brewing Company – Watsonville

What better way to wind down from an afternoon on the beach than stopping by a brewery for some refreshing beer? One of our favorites in the area is Corralitos Brewing Co. We admittedly didn’t know about this local brewery until their name popped up on the Great American Beer Festival winners list two years in a row for fruited wood barrel-aged sour beer (2017-18). Corralitos Brewing is located in a large barn/cabin off the beaten path in the outskirts of Watsonville. We love the small town feel of the brewery, with its wooden decor and an outdoor patio reminiscent of a saloon. We usually order whatever fruited beer, IPA or pale ale they have on tap, then grab a bottle of a barrel-aged sour to go from their fridge. Plus, most weekends you can find a food truck on site to grab a bite to eat. Corralitos Brewing opens at 5pm on Wed-Fri and at 2pm on the weekend.

Camping in Uvas Canyon County Park – Morgan Hill

Our next and final stop for the day was Uvas Canyon County Park, where we reserved a campsite for the night. Note that there is no re-entry after the gates close at sunset, so if you didn’t pack dinner for the campsite, we recommend you find a place to eat in Watsonville – like Straw Hat Pizza – before driving another 50 min to the park. There are also plenty of grocery stores like Safeway and Nob Hill Foods in Watsonville.

• Address: 8515 Croy Rd, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
• Dog Regulations: Permitted in all areas but must be on a maximum 6-foot long leash. May not be left unattended. Maximum of two dogs per campsite.
• Cost: $34/night
• Weekend Availability: Medium. Fri – booked up 1.5+ months in advance, but can sometimes find last minute; Sat – booked up 3+ months in advance; Sun – available, but booked up months in advance on long weekends.
• # of Campsites: 25
• Campground Amenities: Flush toilets, free untimed hot showers, potable water, ADA accessible campsites, trash bins, dog waste stations
• Campsite Amenities: Picnic table, food storage locker, BBQ pits
• RVs & Trailers: No RV hookups. 12-foot maximum for all RVs due to space constraints.
• Online Reservations: https://gooutsideandplay.org 
• Check-In / Check-Out Time: 3pm / 1pm
• Best Sites: They are all clean, well-maintained and shaded. But can feel crowded as they are close together. Not much privacy between sites. Sites 4, 6, 13, 17, 18, 19 or 22 are a little more spacious and private.
• Publications & Resources: Park Map & Campground Map
• Other Notes: The only access to the park is on a narrow road through Sveadal, a private resort belonging to the Swedish American Patriotic League – drive slowly and respect their property and privacy. A parking reservation ($6) must be made if you plan to park before Check-in or after Check-out of your camp stay. Uvas Canyon has 7.2 miles of hiking trails, with a trailhead to Uvas Creek Trail next to campsite 12.

Uvas Canyon County Park is a hidden gem nestled in the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, managed by Santa Clara County Parks. Uvas Canyon was once the tribal territory of the Mutsun Ohlone Indians. It was named after the Spanish word for grapes, which once grew in abundance in the area. The park is unexpectedly lush, with three creeks and many waterfalls that flow year-round beneath the canopy of a mixed evergreen forest. While it’s a great place to escape the summertime heat, you won’t be able to visit on a whim since reservations are required ahead of time for day-use and/or camping. We got lucky and were able to snag a campground reservation only three weeks out. Other dog-friendly campgrounds nearby include Mt. Madonna County Park (Watsonville), Manresa State Beach (Watsonville), and Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park (Gilroy).

We arrived at our campsite #12 around 6:30pm, which was conveniently located across the clean restrooms as well as next to the trailhead to Uvas Creek Trail. The campground was fully booked for the long weekend. There were lots of kids running by our tent, heading down the hill to play in Uvas Creek with their water toys. We didn’t particularly feel like camp cooking tonight, so I had made a pasta salad earlier in the morning for us to eat for dinner. Kona got bored of watching us eat and turned her attention towards chomping at the flies around the campsite for the rest of the night. Definitely remember to bring bug spray and/or a citronella candle. 

If you have some spare time before the sun sets, check out the interpretive sign near campsite #12 and head down Uvas Creek Trail for a short post-meal walk along the creek (0.6 miles out-and-back).

Day 2:

I love how camping gives me the opportunity to escape from all the artificial light in our daily lives so that I’m falling asleep not long after dusk and waking up naturally with the sun. I’ve struggled with sleeping through the night for as long as I can remember. And I’ve found that just a weekend out camping can help reset my internal clock, making it easier to sleep back at home. I know that I get some of my best sleep while camping since that’s when I have the most memorable, wildest dreams.

The next morning I woke up naturally at 6am feeling refreshed. Ryan and Kona, on the other hand, were by my side snoring for the next hour or so. Even with the Uvas Creek Trailhead literally in our backyard that morning, we probably didn’t start the hike until 8:30am.

This moderately challenging loop travels along Uvas and Swanson Creeks past four of the park’s many waterfalls. We recommend wearing hiking boots with good grip as the trails here are rocky and can get slippery. From the campground, a short and easy descent down Uvas Creek Trail leads to the namesake creek, followed by the toughest part of the hike for Kona: a steep, vertical climb down a slippery boulder to the first waterfall, Uvas Falls. Continue along Lower Swanson Creek Trail (and Swanson Creek) up a staircase to the main road where the Waterfall Loop Natural Trail begins. 

The morning we went, the lower portion of the Waterfall Loop closest to Swanson Creek was closed due to downed trees and bridge repairs from the storms this past winter. Luckily, we still passed by three waterfalls along the upper portion of the loop: Black Rock Falls, Basin Falls and Upper Falls. Each unique in its own way.

At this point, you can turn around at Upper Falls for a shorter hike (~1.8 miles total). Or extend the hike, like we did, and loop back to the campground via Contour Trail (~3.5 miles total from the campground). Here, the environment shifts from a cool, lush evergreen forest in the lower stretches of the canyon to a dry, dense shrubland in the higher south-east facing slopes. Plus during this 2.5 hour morning hike, we were one of the only few groups hiking Contour Trail compared to the 10+ groups we came across along Waterfall Loop. Note that there are no dog waste stations or trash cans along this hike.

Freshly Baked Pies in Watsonville – Gizdich Ranch

We got in one last hammock session at our campsite before packing up and driving 45 min back to Watsonville for our next stop, Gizdich Ranch. Located in the picturesque countryside on Peckham Rd, Gizdich is a 4th generation family-owned and operated farm that not only grows apples and berries you can pick right off the tree or vine, but also prepares mouthwatering pies, apple dumplings, strawberry shortcakes, apple juice and jams in-house. They are open every day 9am-5pm. While you could squeeze in a visit after Corralitos Brewery on Day 1, we personally saved it for the next morning in order to maximize our time on the beach.

Dogs are allowed in the picnic area and around the fields on leash, but not through the actual U-Pick rows. While you could probably tie your dog to a nearby post and quickly pick some strawberries, just make sure to get permission from the staff first. Before Kona, we used to come in the summer to pick strawberries, but now we just enjoy a few bites of a take home pie with her in the picnic area among the apple trees and hills. The pies at Gizdich never have a soggy bottom and are the best in the area! You can’t go wrong with any of their flavors, but our favorites are Olallieberry, Dutch Apple, Double Berry Dutch Apple, and Strawberry Rhubarb (seasonal). One slice is not enough, so go for a whole pie – you won’t regret it.

Lunch in Capitola

I bet you weren’t expecting to find great Cajun-Creole food while in Santa Cruz County. Roux Dat Cajun Creole is a family run, fast casual spot tucked away inside a shopping plaza in Capitola. I first heard about it 5-6 years ago while scrolling through Groupon. I’m admittedly wary of restaurants on Groupon, but the discount at the time was too great to pass on and the reviews looked promising. We were blown away by the food after that first visit – the stews and beignets, particularly! Plus it’s incredibly affordable, especially considering the quality and quantity of food. Since then, Roux Dat has become our favorite quick lunch spot when visiting Santa Cruz County with Kona.

Note that you can’t adjust the spice levels when ordering, which initially worried me given my low spice tolerance. But I find the stews always have just the right amount of heat. For those who need an extra kick of spice, they do offer an assortment of hot sauces to turn up the heat. We recommend the half & half large Roux Dat Stew, so that you can try two different stews. Our favorites are the chicken, okra & sausage gumbo; shrimp & corn étouffée; and crawfish & sausage maque choux. Don’t forget to get their beignets with rum sauce too!

I know we’re saving wine tasting for last on this itinerary… but <10 min away in Soquel is the oldest winery in Santa Cruz County, Bargetto Winery. Their beautiful outdoor patio is perched directly above Soquel Creek and is dog-friendly! Bargetto was our very first introduction to Santa Cruz Mountain wineries, and it did not disappoint. I can’t believe that we’d never tried wine from this region before, right in our backyard too!

Walk Around Downtown Santa Cruz

After lunch, we recommend driving west to the heart of Santa Cruz to explore the downtown shops, eats, arts, culture and recreation. And if you weren’t feeling Roux Dat for lunch, there is plenty of dog-friendly outdoor dining in Downtown Santa Cruz. You and your dog can easily spend 1-2 hours walking down Pacific Ave – where most of the businesses are – and the surrounding streets. Maybe even take a detour east from downtown and walk the Santa Cruz Riverwalk, which runs along the San Lorenzo River levee all the way down to the Beach Boardwalk. 

There is plenty of parking in the downtown area. A few locations are free with time limits enforced Mon-Sat from 8am-6pm, while the majority are paid parking ($1.25/hour). We typically have the best luck finding free street parking on Locust St or at Rincon Park, which are farther away from the main street – we don’t mind the extra walk.

• Coffee & Sweets:
  • Verve Coffee Roasters – Our favorite Verve location in Santa Cruz with outdoor seating.
  • 11th Hour Coffee – Cute shop with outdoor patio and lots of fun plant decor.
  • Cat & Cloud Coffee – Inside Abbott Square Market.
  • The Penny Ice Creamery – The original location. Very popular, so be prepared for a long wait. I rave about Penny’s above.
  • Pacific Cookie Company – Addicting cookies. Grab & go only, no outdoor seating.
• Restaurants with dog-friendly patios:
  • Pono Hawaiian Grill – Lunch plates and poke with a fun outdoor tropical hangout.
  • Zoccoli’s Delicatessen – Voted best sandwich and best deli in Santa Cruz.
  • Woodstock’s Pizza – One of the best pizza joints in Santa Cruz.
  • Lupulo Craft Beer House – Great selection of beers on tap and to-go. Our favorite spot in Santa Cruz County to pick up beers.
  • Hula’s Island Grill – Happy hour EVERY DAY from 4-6pm. Awesome tiki drinks.
• Unique Shops:
  • Leaf & Vine Urban Plant Shop – Plants, plant care products, artisan-made goods. 
  • Bookshop Santa Cruz – “The” book store in the Santa Cruz area. Massive!
  • Botanic + Luxe – Another plant shop!
  • Om Gallery – Unique home decor with good vibes. My favorite shop in Downtown.

Discover Wines of the Santa Cruz Mountains

I kind of gave it away earlier, but the Santa Cruz Mountains wine region produces some of California’s best Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Cabernets. Step aside, Napa Valley! And that’s because the high altitude, varied microclimates, marine influence and diverse soils here are ideal for growing intensely concentrated grapes with distinct characteristics. This region may be small, with only ~1,500 acres of vineyards compared to Napa’s 45,000+ acres, but that’s what makes it special and the best kept secret among wine enthusiasts. 

We love how the 70+ wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains are not overcrowded with tourists. The wineries here offer a more friendly and relaxed environment than the large corporate feel inside Napa wineries. Oftentimes, we receive pours directly from the winemakers themselves and thus, the opportunity to talk vino directly with the source! Plus, you can find clusters of wineries within minutes of each other throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains, making it easy to visit multiple in one trip. We definitely prefer the laid-back ambience here over the glitz and glamor of current day Napa. Best of all, there are plenty of tasting rooms and vineyards that are not only dog-friendly, but also do not require reservations ahead of time. 

• Soquel:
  • Bargetto Winery – 3rd-generation family-owned winery. The oldest continuous-operation winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains with a long list of accolades. Gorgeous outdoor patio. Try their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Grigio.
• Santa Cruz:
  • Big Basin Vineyards – Tasting room in Downtown. Their estate vineyard is in Boulder Creek and is CCOF Certified Organic. Internationally known for their single vineyard Pinot Noirs, Syrahs and Rhône blends. We really enjoyed their Rosé.
  • Stockwell Cellars – Handcrafted, un-manipulated single varietal wines and blends using Old World winemaking techniques. We love the vibe of their tasting room, with relaxing sofas and dancing firelight. We’ve never encountered Orange Wines until visiting Stockwell – highly recommended!
  • MJA Vineyards – Hawaiian-themed winery full of Aloha spirit. Excellent Napa Cabernets and Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir. Plus, freshly roasted Kona coffee and chocolates from their family farm in Hawaii.
• Scotts Valley:
  • Kissed by an Angel – Family-owned and operated winery specializing in Italian style wines. $15 flights. Named to honor their daughter who passed away after a kidney disease diagnosis.
  • Armitage Wines – Specializes in Pinot Noirs. Outdoor patio overlooks vineyards and redwoods. Only open on Saturdays for limited reservations.
• Summit Road:
  • Villa Del Monte Winery – Produces single-varietal, single-vineyard wines that reflect the terroir of the vineyards. Not your typical winery experience with a cozy backyard feel. Open for wine tasting one weekend per month.
  • Regale Winery & Vineyards – Gorgeous patio garden with fountains, bocce ball courts, and outdoor fireplaces. Great service. Adults Only and leashed dogs welcome. We love the atmosphere here.
  • Burrell School Vineyards & Winery – Located in the historic 1890 Burrell School House. Award winning wines from estate grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. 
• Loma Prieta Road:
  • Wrights Station – Specializes in estate grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, along with additional varietals sourced from local vineyards. Beautiful outdoor patio.
  • Muns Vineyard – The highest Pinot Noir Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains at 2,600 feet. An adventure to get to, but the views and experience make it well worthwhile.
  • Loma Prieta Winery – The largest producer of Pinotage in North America. This signature grape of South Africa is grown at only a few wineries worldwide. Beautiful location that is well worth the trek up the curvy mountain road.