Looking for a dog friendly beach in Santa Cruz, CA? "During the last week of November, park staff, volunteers and scientists counted 550 overwintering monarchs at the Natural Bridges State Beach Monarch Butterfly Grove. With a range of fascinating and interactive exhibitions, both adults and children can immerse themselves in the underwater world here. Four-footed friends will enjoy Its beach, a dog friendly play spot for canines and owners, across from Lighthouse Field. See all Natural Bridges State Beach reviews Seacliff State Beach. Mitchell's Cove, just north, also allows dogs. Natural Bridges State Beach is one of the most beloved Santa Cruz sights. The varied attractions of Natural Bridges State Beach make it a great place to spend the day. Located in a lovely state park just outside of Santa Cruz, the beach has loads of wildlife on show. If you visit in late fall or early winter and hike the nearby trails, you could see the 100,000 monarch butterflies that rest in the park’s eucalyptus trees during their annual migration. We spent about 10 minutes there. The spectacular rock formation, after which the park was named, stands in the ocean near the coast. You’ve come to the right place! Besides admiring the rocky bridge, visitors come to Natural Bridges State Beach for wildlife viewing. At the other end of the beach, not far from the Natural Bridges State Beach, is the family-friendly Seymour Marine Discovery Center. The name is misleading: one of the two stone bridges collapsed a few years ago. Please note: Natural Bridges State Beach, which is also located on Delaware Ave., (on the opposite side of the street from Antonelli Pond), is NOT dog-friendly. The rock’s bridge-like structure was carved over centuries of harsh wind and waves. Just south of Natural Bridges is the tiny clothing-optional 2222 Beach. Natural Bridges State Beach and West Cliff Drive offer an alternative outdoor experience. Its Beach is where happy dogs can run leash free in the California sun. Seacliff and Rio Del Mar State Beaches, Aptos: Take the State Park Drive exit off of Highway 1. Named as one of the top 40 beaches in the world by German magazine Bild, Sveti Ivan is a family-orientated virgin beach, meaning it can be found just as nature intended, if with no amenities of any sort. Depending on the season (usually end of the year, beginning of the year, one will see monarch butterflies in this area. On the beach’s western flank, you’ll find a series of tide pools carved into a rocky slab overlooking the beach. "Hiked in Nisene Mark park, took a long walk to National Bridges, ate at downtown restaurants and had a fantastic Bday dinner @ Sardines Factory in Monterey." Bring your camera, binoculars, and whole family including your dog (leash required on path). You’ll find information on all of the dog beaches in Santa Cruz, CA here. Natural Bridges State Beach. Adjacent to the park, Seymour Marine Discovery Center welcomes you with a full-sized skeleton of a blue whale. If you’re looking for the best dog beach in Santa Cruz, this is it. Photo by Eugene Zelenko. Natural Bridges State Beach is named for the natural arch in the huge rock located in the shore break here. The beach is located along Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica. This Westside gem isn’t short on visual spectacles including thousands of migrating monarch butterflies and the beach’s namesake, monumental rock “bridge” (which is now an arch following the collapse of land that once extended to shore). Sitting between Natural Bridges State Beach and the Santa Cruz Wharf, the three-mile walking and biking path delivers gorgeous views of Monterey Bay. This is one of the most photographed beach icons in the state of California. The Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve is home to up to 150,000 monarch butterflies from October through early February. There must be something special in the soil on Delaware Avenue, the junction of local treasures such as Natural Bridges State Beach, Seymour Center, the Homeless Garden Project and, unbeknownst to many, a hidden gem known as Antonelli Pond. Natural Bridges State Beach, whose famous monarch butterflies are discussed above, is a popular windsurfing beach. Seabright State Beach, Santa Cruz: Dogs are allowed on the north side of the Santa Cruz Harbor at 7th Avenue. The beach is small. Natural Bridges State Beach is just one of many attractions on California's Central Coast. Within walking distance of one end is the Boardwalk and municipal pier, the other end has Natural Bridges state park. Once several natural bridges carved out of a point of sandstone by waves stood proudly just beyond the beach. The views were beautiful. During low tide, tide pools brim with sea stars, tiny crabs and sea anemones. West Cliff Drive ends at Natural Bridges State Beach and Park, one of the most picturesque spots on the coast. Only one of the three "bridges" is left. By Lily Stoicheff • August 14, 2012 Share. Along this route travelers can find the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, which overlooks the internationally famous surfing spot Steamer Lane. Natural Bridges State Beach is a 65-acre (26 ha) California state park in Santa Cruz, California in the United States. Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz: See 832 reviews, articles, and 488 photos of Natural Bridges State Beach, ranked No.6 on Tripadvisor among 77 attractions in Santa Cruz. The park features a natural bridge across a section of the beach. The numbers are low across the state, with the greatest number of monarchs — 550 butterflies, as of Nov. 30 — counted at Natural Bridges State Beach in … Inside, you can explore interactive exhibits, get up close with colorful sea creatures in the touch pool, and browse marine-inspired souvenirs at the gift shop. The Land Trust owns and is responsible for the management and restoration of Antonelli Pond and the lower Moore Creek Corridor. AU$ 185 avg/night (16) Save. It was very windy at the parking lot. Natural Bridges State Beach: Nice views - See 832 traveler reviews, 488 candid photos, and great deals for Santa Cruz, CA, at Tripadvisor. 2 Bathrooms. Because of this it might not be the best beach for sunbathing, but if you have a pooch this is the Santa Cruz beach for you. Natural Bridges was once a series of connected arches, but today only one remains. Natural Bridges State Beach. dreamstime/© Luciavega. Jason Henry / Special To The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 5. We parked our car at the free parking at the entrance of the Natural Bridges State Beach. It is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long and has parks, picnic areas, playgrounds, restrooms, as well as manned lifeguard stations, the Muscle Beach, bike rentals, concessions, a few hotels, a bike path, and wooden pathways for warm days and beachgoers with disabilities. Mitchell's Cove, just north, also allows dogs. Encircled by a short 0.75 miles of trail, this manmade pond fed by Moore Creek is a haven for humans and dogs alike. Twin Lakes State Beach, Santa Cruz: Dogs are allowed on the East side of Santa Cruz Harbor. Natural Bridges State Beach. Lighthouse Field State Beach manages the […] See details . Description. 1 of 5 The bluff above Natural Bridges State Beach is a popular spot to catch the sunset for animals and humans alike. There is a very untouched and wild look about the place. The sea waves were high and strong. A sandstone arch shaped by wind and waves rises from the sea. Natural Bridges State Beach is a 65-acre California state park in Santa Cruz, California in the United States. Its Beach is the name of the south-facing beach below the bluff on the west side of Point Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA. 1 miles away, SW. Natural Bridges State Beach is named for the natural arch in the huge rock located in the shore break here. 1.5 blks to Natural Bridges Beach! Natural Bridges State Park In fall and winter, up to 150,000 monarch butterflies come to Natural Bridges State Park from the northern United States and southern Canada to roost and mate. Natural Bridges State Beach, whose famous monarch butterflies are discussed above, is a popular windsurfing beach. Many people … "You can access it from the back of Aldos restaurant and walk along the Harbor, walk down the stairs at 3rd Avenue or park by the Natural History Museum and walk in." Santa Cruz has marched to its own beat since long before the Beat Generation of the 1950s and '60s. This is a significant decrease from last season, when we had 2,000 monarchs, and a dramatic decrease from 3 years ago when we had 9,000 butterflies overwintering in the grove. Natural Bridges State Beach. Natural Bridges State Beach: Named for the natural rock bridge formed in the shore line, Natural Bridges is a great family spot with an abundance of things to explore. Time has taken its toll, and today only a single smaller bridge remains. The park also offers a monarch butterfly migration preserve and exhibit, picnic areas, hiking trails, an accessible boardwalk, and a great sandy beach. This is counterculture central, a touchy-feely, new-agey city famous for its leftie-liberal politics and easygoing ideology – except when it comes to dogs (rarely allowed off-leash), parking (meters run seven days a week) and Republicans (allegedly shot on sight). Natural Bridges is also known for its tide pools - little pockets in the rocky formation just north of the main beach that are exposed at low tide and house all sorts of small marine creatures. This little treasure of a museum houses photographs, surfboards, and other artifacts tracing back more … This is a very pretty area to walk through on the way to Natural Bridges State Beach. You can wander trails among monarch-butterfly habitat and walk to the beach to view natural bridge formations carved by the Pacific. Sea stars, hermit crabs and sea anemones fill the tidepools here. Named for its beautiful natural bridge (the last of three once visible), Natural Bridges is secluded, sheltered and ideal for observing sea life. It is also well known as a hotspot to see monarch butterfly migrations. One of the best beaches in the whole of the Golden State, Natural Bridges State Beach is so named because of its beautiful rock arch that is so impressive to gaze upon. Natural Bridges State Beach. 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