The Cove in front of the House

As you can see from the photos, at low tide, some times of the year, there is a private cove beach right in front of the house. It's a walk down the cliff to get there however, and, the cove is only there now and then. But when it is, what a treat. Look for "european" sunbathing there

Natural Bridges State Beach, 5 minute stroll along the cliff path

Natural Bridges State Beach is world-renowned for its yearly migration of monarch butterflies. Visitors can see thousands during the butterflies' peak season. The best time to see monarchs in the park is usually from mid-October to late January. (Dates the butterflies arrive and leave can vary widely from year to year. Call ahead to find out if the monarchs have arrived in mid-October, and to make sure they are still in the grove in late January.)

This beach, with its famous natural bridge, is an excellent place to view shore and ocean birds, migrating whales, and seals and otters playing offshore. Further along the beach, tidepools offer a glimpse of life beneath the sea. Low tides reveal sea stars, crabs, sea anemones, and other colorful ocean life. Tide charts are available in the bookstore.

The park also includes areas of coastal scrub meadows, with bright native wildflowers in the spring. Moore Creek flows down to the ocean through these meadows, forming a wetlands in the sand.

Here are some links to sites about Natural Bridges:

Santa Cruz State Park site on Natural Bridges

State of California site on Natural Bridges

Some photos of Natural Bridges beach:

Strolling along West Cliff Drive

Its an incredible walk from the home, which is closer to Natural Bridges, south on West Cliff towards Steamers Lane and the Lighthouse. Check this out:

Steamers Lane/The Lighthouse

Once you get to the other end, there's the lighthouse, which is a surfing museum, and, probably the best surfing in Santa Cruz - "The Lane"