The new look of the Rio Sands Motel is the work of owner, Lou Bartfield’s vision. A $1.5 million makeover replaced the 1959 look of the Motel and transformed it into the Mediterranean style of arches and curves. A block away from Rio del Mar Beach, this 50-room motel was opened during the renovation, which was completed before the summer season began. Now, guests can enjoy the new façade along with a new mansard roof, larger entrance foyer, enclosures for the existing stairways, new landscaping and lighting, along with all the amenities already offered, like the pool and family spa, plus the BBQ and garden area.
Local Santa Cruzans generally hold a different perspective on things. Now, visitors can experience a different perspective on Santa Cruz with a bird’s eye view of “Surf City” in perfect “box man” positioning at Skydive Surf City. If you’re used to admiring the gleaming blue Monterey Bay from a wharf or sailboat, imagine seeing it from 15,000 feet up. And Skydive Surf City offers something no other drop zone in the state of California does: beachfront landings on soft, warm sand. Parachutists are even encouraged to leave the shoes behind and prepare for a landing as scenic as the view from above on one of Santa Cruz County’s 29 miles of beaches.
Each month, Santa Cruz galleries and artist’s studios open their doors to share their craft with visitors during the First Friday Art Tour. Showcasing spectacular local creations, these free Friday events are a unique way to view art at its core. Now, an iPhone app for First Friday allows users to access the tour’s information and see in real time who is where on the tour and to comment to friends and followers about the experience as it happens. This new First Friday iPhone app — free and available at iTunes — presents all the venues and artists participating in “First Friday”, while allowing artists or business owners to remind tour walkers of the starting time of specific events.
New Redwood Canopy Tours at Mount Hermon Conference Center offer visitors an exciting eco-adventure through the redwood canopy of the redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Guests will enjoy the pristine beauty of the coastal redwood forest from a unique perspective on this two hour all-inclusive guided tour featuring six zip lines up to 440 feet long and two sky bridges at heights of up to 150 feet. Each tour of eight is led by two certified guides who share their ecological knowledge and bring the history of the Santa Cruz redwood forest to life. Designed to be a low impact eco-tourism experience, these tours are available for families, groups and individuals!
The oldest ride at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will turn 100 years old this year! The Boardwalk’s Looff Carousel is one of only a handful of carousels in the world that still has a working ring machine and most of the hand-carved horses on the carousel feature sparkling gems on their bridles. The Looff Carousel and Giant Dipper roller coaster are the only National Historic Landmarks in Santa Cruz County. There are fewer than 2,500 in the country. National Historic Landmarks are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the U.S.
