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Santa Cruz

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Santa Cruz

3 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Santa Cruz, California

Updated July 10, 2017

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Unusual Attractions in Santa Cruz

Court of the Mysteries at night

Santa Cruz, California

Court of Mysteries

A strange house built only at night, with rumored mystic inspiration.

Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz Mystery Spot

A "gravitational anomaly" located in the redwood forests just outside of Santa Cruz, California.

The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum.

Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz Surfing Museum

Housed in a memorial lighthouse, this museum relays the history of surfing, beginning with the antics of royal Hawaiian teenagers.

Are we missing something unusual?

The museum.

Felton, California

Bigfoot Discovery Museum

This quirky roadside attraction dives into the many theories surrounding North America's most infamous hairy cryptid.

5 miles from Santa Cruz

Soquel, California

Land of Medicine Buddha

A Buddhist retreat built on more than 100 acres of California Redwood forest.

5 miles from Santa Cruz

SS Palo Alto, the cement ship at Seacliff State Beach

Aptos, California

SS Palo Alto

This concrete ship has had four careers - World War I tanker, floating amusement park, fishing pier, and artificial reef.

6 miles from Santa Cruz

Vending machine at Glaum Egg Ranch

Aptos, California

Egg Vending Machine at Glaum Ranch

At this California chicken ranch, four bucks will get you 18 eggs and a chorus of dancing animatronic poultry.

9 miles from Santa Cruz

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Stories About Santa Cruz

Thousands of Surfers 'Paddled Out' to Honor a Legendary Wetsuit Pioneer

Jack O'Neill died on June 2.

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