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🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Santa Cruz & the Santa Cruz Mountains, California
Monarchs gather at Natural Bridges from mid-October to mid-February, and Henry Cowell's flat 0.8-mile grove loop passes a redwood about 277 feet tall.
1 place · updated October 17, 2026
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Santa Cruz sits where the redwood-covered Santa Cruz Mountains drop to Monterey Bay. Within a half hour of the hills around Bonny Doon you can walk through old-growth groves in Felton or Boulder Creek, watch wintering monarch butterflies on the West Cliff, explore tide pools, or tour a historic ranch on the coast just north of town. The parks are close together but the mountain roads are slow and winding, so group your stops by area: coast in one block, redwoods in another.
The local lavender comes from Deerhaven Herb & Flower Farm, a small organic family farm in Bonny Doon that distills its own essential oil and makes soaps, salves, hydrosols and candles. Its lavender soap was voted best locally made product in a 2025 Best of Santa Cruz poll. The farm does not list public visiting days, so treat it as a place to shop rather than tour: its website lists the Santa Cruz stores that carry its goods and runs an online shop. Spend the day on the coast and in the redwoods instead.
The lavender farms
- Deerhaven Herb & Flower FarmLavender farm · Santa Cruz
June; harvested by the end of July
Not open to the public except an occasional U-pick, usually the last weekend in June depending on the bloom.
Best time to visit
Late October and November are the best weeks to see monarchs at Natural Bridges; the butterflies usually arrive in mid-October and leave by mid-February. Elephant seals at Año Nuevo set the winter calendar: from December through March you must book a guided walk (reservations open October 20 for walks 56 days out), the viewing area closes December 1–14, and from April through November you can walk out on your own with a free permit picked up at the park. On November 8, 2026, the Seymour Marine Discovery Center hosts its Marine Science Fest marking the return of its 87-foot blue whale skeleton. Natural Bridges' visitor center is open daily from October through January and Friday through Monday the rest of the year. Low tides of 2 feet or lower are best for tide pools at any season. Deerhaven Herb & Flower Farm does not post a public bloom season, so buy its lavender goods year-round at local shops or online.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Natural Bridges State Beach🏖️ Beach · Santa Cruz · about 11 mi, 25 min drive
At the west end of West Cliff Drive, with tide pools that are best at tides of 2 feet or lower, and a monarch butterfly grove reached by an accessible boardwalk.
8 a.m. to sunset; monarchs mid-October to mid-February, best late October–November
$10 per vehicle ($9 seniors 62+)
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park🌳 State park · Felton · about 5 mi, 15 min drive
Old-growth redwoods just outside Felton. The flat, 0.8-mile Redwood Grove Loop passes the park's tallest tree, about 277 feet and some 1,500 years old.
Sunrise to sunset; visitor center 10–4; trail delays during pipeline work through October 21, 2026
$10 per vehicle ($9 seniors 62+)
- Wilder Ranch State Park🌳 State park · Santa Cruz · about 9 mi, 20 min drive
A historic coastal ranch just north of town with an 1897 Victorian home, an 1859 farmhouse, a water-powered machine shop and more than 35 miles of trails. Free ranch tours start at 1 p.m. on weekends; dogs are not allowed.
8 a.m. to sunset; interpretive center closed after flooding (fall 2026)
$10 per vehicle ($9 seniors 62+)
- Seymour Marine Discovery Center🏛️ Museum · Santa Cruz · about 10 mi, 25 min drive
UC Santa Cruz's marine science center at the edge of the bay, with an indoor seawater touch pool and hands-on exhibits; its 87-foot blue whale skeleton returns in November 2026.
Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Tickets sold online
- Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History🏛️ Museum · Santa Cruz · about 12 mi, 25 min drive
A small natural history museum on East Cliff Drive with changing exhibits; in October 2026 it ran a 'Museum of the Macabre' theme with a cabinet of curiosities.
Check the Plan Your Visit page for hours
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park🌳 State park · Boulder Creek · about 13 mi, 25 min drive
A redwood park still rebuilding after the 2020 CZU fire burned about 97% of it; most old-growth redwoods survived, and the flat 0.6-mile Redwood Loop goes past some of the biggest. Campgrounds remain closed.
8 a.m. to sunset; day-use parking reservation strongly recommended
$6 reserved parking plus $2 booking fee, or $10 without a reservation
- Año Nuevo State Park🌳 State park · Pescadero · about 15 mi, 30 min drive
A point up the coast where elephant seals gather on the beaches. The walk to the viewing areas is 3 to 4 miles round trip over flat ground and one tall dune, and takes 2.5 to 3 hours. No pets, even in parked cars.
Day use 8:30 a.m.–sunset; seal area 8:30–3:30; guided walks only December–March (closed December 1–14)
$10 per vehicle ($9 seniors 62+)
- The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park🌳 State park · Aptos · about 17 mi, 35 min drive
About 30 miles of hiking and biking trails in semi-wilderness forest climbing to over 2,600 feet above Aptos. Some trails, including the route to Five Finger Falls, are closed by storm damage.
Sunrise to sunset
$8 per vehicle ($7 seniors 62+)
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Buttery BakeryBakery · Santa Cruz
A Soquel Avenue bakery and café with pastries, pies, cakes and a café menu served daily until 1:45, plus a new patio.
- Big Basin VineyardsWinery or vineyard (21+) · Boulder Creek
A Santa Cruz Mountains winery making Rhône and Burgundy varieties from steep coastal hillsides, with a tasting room and tapas bar in downtown Santa Cruz.
- David Bruce WineryWinery or vineyard (21+) · Los Gatos
A Bear Creek Road winery founded in 1964 and known for pinot noir and chardonnay, open Thursday–Sunday 11 to 4.
- Byington Vineyard & WineryWinery or vineyard (21+) · Los Gatos
A Bear Creek Road estate in the mountains above Los Gatos with booked tastings and grounds where members bring picnics.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMNatural Bridges State Beach
Walk the boardwalk to the monarch grove (mid-October to mid-February) and check the tide pools if the tide is low; about 1 hour. Deerhaven's lavender farm is not open to visitors, so the day focuses on the coast and redwoods.
- 11:10 AMSeymour Marine Discovery Center · about 5 min drive
Touch pool and marine exhibits, Tuesday–Sunday; about 1 hour.
- 12:20 PMButtery Bakery · about 15 min drive
Lunch from the café menu before it closes at 1:45, and pick up a pie for later; about 45 minutes.
- 1:20 PMSanta Cruz Museum of Natural History · about 10 min drive
A short look at the exhibits on East Cliff Drive; about 45 minutes.
- 2:30 PMHenry Cowell Redwoods State Park · about 25 min drive
Walk the 0.8-mile Redwood Grove Loop past the 277-foot tree; about 1 hour.
- 4:00 PMBig Basin Redwoods State Park · about 35 min drive
With a parking reservation, finish on the 0.6-mile Redwood Loop among the fire-scarred giants before sunset.
Tips
- Reserve Big Basin day-use parking ahead; it is limited, and trailers and oversized vehicles cannot park.
- Dogs are not allowed at Wilder Ranch or Año Nuevo, on the Natural Bridges beach and trails, or on Henry Cowell's Redwood Grove Loop; Henry Cowell allows leashed dogs on Meadow Trail, Pipeline Road and a few fire roads.
- Do not touch the monarchs at Natural Bridges, and tide pools are a no-touch, no-take marine protected area.
- For Año Nuevo between December and March, book a guided walk; reservations open October 20.
- Several state parks here charge $10 per vehicle, so plan on a fee at each stop or bring a California State Parks annual pass.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
Can I visit a lavender farm near Santa Cruz?
Deerhaven Herb & Flower Farm in Bonny Doon makes lavender soaps, oils and salves but lists no public visiting days; its website lists local stores that carry its products.
When can I see monarch butterflies in Santa Cruz?
At Natural Bridges State Beach from about mid-October to mid-February, with late October and November usually best.
Is Big Basin Redwoods open after the 2020 fire?
Yes, for day use from 8 a.m. to sunset. Most old-growth trees survived, campgrounds are still closed, and a parking reservation is strongly recommended.
How do I see the elephant seals at Año Nuevo?
From April through November, get a free permit at the park and walk out on your own. From December through March you must book a guided walk.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
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