Read America Clinic
AREA ATTRACTIONS
Read America Clinic is located just outside of Santa Cruz, California, an ideal
place to bring the family for a working vacation, where redwood-covered mountains
meet the dramatic coast, where marine sanctuaries and nature preserves give way
to the inspiring beauty of Monterey, Carmel and San Francisco.
In and Around Santa Cruz:
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - Great fun right on the beach for the whole
family, the last remaining major seaside amusement park on the Pacific Coast,
with amusement park rides and attractions, concerts on the sand, food, arcades,
and two national landmarks: the 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster and the 1911
Looff Carousel: http://www.beachboardwalk.com
The Santa Cruz Wharf - Enjoy expansive views of Santa Cruz and the
Monterey Bay, watch the sea lions on the pylons below as they frolic and bark,
sample local seafood and handmade candies, or take a whale-watching or fishing
cruise out on the Bay: http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/pr/wharf/
Beaches - Choose from mile-long stretches of sand or secluded, cliff-rimmed
coves of tidepools; from surfers’ pilgrimages or sanctuaries for migrating Grey Whales
and sea otters: http://www.infopoint.com/sc/cvc/beaches.html
The Historic Roaring Camp & Big Trees Narrow-Gauge Railroad - America's last
steam-powered passenger railroad with year-round passenger train service through
the majestic redwoods, with a re-creation of an 1880s logging town complete with
a general store, depot and the smallest covered bridge in America:
http://www.roaringcamp.com
Wine tasting - The Santa Cruz mountain area is just now being discovered as a
premier wine growing and wine tasting region. Take a leisurely drive through the cool
redwood forests to visit serene wine vineyards and acclaimed wine makers:
http://www.scmwa.com
Nature trails - Walk among ancient redwood groves carpeted by lush ferns or
splash through forest creeks and rivers: see The Forest of Nisene Marks, Wilder Ranch,
Henry Cowell, Fall Creek and Big Basin State Parks at
http://www.santacruzstateparks.org/parks/index.php
The Mystery Spot - You’ll find a fun little adventure for the family here in
this mysterious spot among the redwoods where the laws of gravity seem to be
suspended: http://www.mysteryspot.com
For more information about dining, accommodations and services immediately
around the Clinic: http://www.svchamber.org
For more information about dining, accommodations and services in
Santa Cruz County: http://www.santacruzchamber.org/visitorinfo/
Within an hour’s drive:
The Monterey Bay Aquarium - Don’t miss this! One of the world’s premiere
aquariums, located on Monterey's historic Cannery Row, right on the edge of beautiful
Monterey Bay and just minutes from Carmel and Pebble Beach:
http://www.mbayaq.org
Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey - a myriad of great restaurants,
seafood, unique shops, whale watching, fishing, and bay cruises, theatre,
and the sights and sounds of Monterey's past:
http://www.montereywharf.com
Cannery Row - This historic waterfront district, once the heart of a
thriving sardine-packing industry, as immortalized by John Steinbeck, today
features shops, restaurants and galleries. Maps and markers along the Row
identify historical sites:
http://www.canneryrow.com
Carmel - This one-square-mile village is pristinely quaint and picturesque,
situated on Carmel Bay and nestled in a pine forest above a spectacular white-sand
beach:
http://www.carmelcalifornia.org
Pebble Beach along 17-mile Drive - World-class golfing and a legendary scenic
drive along the rugged coast that simply must not be missed!:
http://www.pebblebeach.com/page.asp?id=1373
The Steinbeck Center - In the heart of Steinbeck Country, discover Steinbeck’s
works and philosophy through interactive, multisensory exhibits for all ages and
backgrounds, priceless artifacts, entertaining displays, educational programs and
research archives:
http://www.steinbeck.org/MainFrame.html
Bonfante Garden - California's only horticultural theme park designed for
families with young children and garden lovers featuring 19 rides, 27 attractions,
6 majestic gardens and the world-famous Circus Trees. Attractions are designed to
educate guests and foster a greater appreciation of the natural world and man's
ability to shape it:
http://www.bonfantegardens.com
Año Nuevo State Park - The site of the largest mainland breeding colony
in the world for the northern elephant seal. The 3-ton males battle for mates
on the beaches and the females give birth to their pups on the dunes, a unique
and unforgettable natural spectacle that hundreds of thousands of people come
to witness each year. People who hope to see the seals during the winter breeding
season are urged to get their reservations early:
http://parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523
San Jose’s Tech Museum - Hands-on exhibits explore every possible application
of technology - science, medicine, astronomy and more - to our daily lives:
http://www.thetech.org
San Jose’s Children’s Discovery Museum - Expect to test, crank, listen,
prod and tinker in one of the largest museums of its kind in the nation.
150 interactive exhibits lead visitors to explore, understand and enjoy the
world in which they live:
http://www.cdm.org/index.asp?f=1
The Winchester Mystery House - This rambling, beautiful and bizarre Victorian
mansion, filled with staircases leading to ceilings and other oddities, was built and
constantly expanded by firearms heiress Sarah Winchester over a period of four decades:
http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com
San Francisco - No visit is complete without a trip to San Francisco,
city of the Golden Gate, cable cars, Alcatraz, the Trans-America pyramid building,
China Town and sourdough bread with clam chowder on Fishermen’s Wharf:
http://onlyinsanfrancisco.com/what_to_do/
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