Santa Cruz Wharf

Seafood restaurants, gift shops and barking sea lions all compete for attention along Santa Cruz' wharf, the longest wooden wharf in the US. For a scenic sundowner, head to Vino by the Sea (vino-by-the-sea.com) has craft beers, local wines and ocean views, but we have a soft spot for kitsch tiki hut Makai Island (makaisantacruz.com), where the revolving bar gives you a changing view of the water while you contemplate a classic mai tai or whopping "Scorpion Bowl."