Seacliff, Seacliff, CA

Seacliff is the Aptos shoreline where the bluff drops to Seacliff State Beach, and the sand, the visitor center and the offshore Cement Ship set the tone for the area. The beach has covered picnic tables, showers, room for fishing and surfing, and leashed dogs are welcome. The SS Palo Alto, a concrete freighter from the First World War era that was later turned into an amusement and fishing ship, still sits just offshore. The pier that once led to it was damaged by storms in early 2023 and removed that spring, and the ship is now closed to visitors. Housing is an old-and-new mix. Bungalows from the 1920s and Spanish-style fourplexes from the early 1930s share blocks with condos, townhomes and larger rebuilt houses, and palms and lush plantings give the streets a coastal look. Seacliff Village County Park and the Seacliff Mini Park add small patches of green, and New Brighton State Beach lies next door with its own cliffs and camping. Bike and hiking trails tie the state beach area to the rest of the coast, and Rio del Mar State Beach, known for dog walks and beach fires, is just along the shoreline. The Sno White Drive-In has been serving hamburgers, fries and milkshakes on State Park Drive since 1957, with banana and pineapple among the flavors, and it opens early every day. Marianne's Ice Cream is the dessert stop. For small-batch coffee and artisan ice cream, the Aptos Village shops sit just beyond the boundary, along with Safeway and New Leaf Community Markets for groceries. Cabrillo College and the Aptos History Museum, which covers the area's Ohlone past, are nearby, and Capitola and Santa Cruz are a ride along the coast. The cost of Seacliff's shoreline is a damaged park, because the campground remains closed after the 2023 storms and the pier is gone, so some of what made the beach special is waiting on rebuilding money.