Things to do & places to visit in Watsonville, California, United States

The south Santa Cruz County region of Watsonville and Pajaro Valley boast pristine beaches and a Mediterranean climate. Birders flock to the miles of trails around the Wetlands of Watsonville. Nearby, the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve is one of California's last undisturbed wetlands and is ideal for bird watching. An annual Birding Festival, the Strawberry Festival, a weekly farmer's market, Watsonville Plaza, and the Agricultural History Museum are sights not to be missed.

Watsonville city in California, United States. Timezone: America/Los_Angeles, current date and time: Friday, May 03, 2024, 12:03.

Top things to do (24)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Specialized Helicopters (25 reviews)
- Whale and dolphins by air
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Helicopter Tours

My father has wanted to see whales for years but never went on a whale watch tour by boat. He's now too unsteady for a boat so we took him by helicopter over Monterey Bay. The staff at Specialized Helicopter were very helpful in getting him in and out of the helicopter and it was comfortable for him and for the rest of us. It was a grand day and we were able to see several pods of dolphins (too high up to identify type) and a couple of gray whales. The day was truly beautiful and we had gorgeous views of the Monterey Bay area and the coast. While seeing whales from the air isn't the best way to go as they are so far away, it worked for the circumstances. The trip itself was breathtaking. See more..
5.0 Watsonville Yoga, Dance and Healing Arts (5 reviews)
- Beautiful Watsonville Yoga.
Spent 1-2 hours Yoga & Pilates
Wonderful teacher (Phoenix), beautiful studio, and spiritual classes. We're so lucky to have this place in Watsonville.I love Watsonville Yoga! See more..
5.0 Wargin Wines (5 reviews)
- Delicious Petit Sirah!!
Friday: Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops • Wineries & Vineyards

"We make wines to pair with everyday meals and memories. Our goal is to provide easy to experience wines that charge the senses and compliment the moment." - the Wargins Small lot, artisan wines from family owned and operated winery in Santa Cruz County CA with 2 locations, 1 in Watsonville and the other in Soquel. We specialize in "Cal-Italia" wines along with some California "classics" and a few surprises along the way... Aglianico, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Greco di Tufo, Gewürztraminer, Montepulciano, Négrette, Petite Sirah, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, & Late Harvest Pinot Gris Signature Blends: Big & Beautiful, Dia - Day of the Dead Red, and Dog Hole - Cabernet, Merlot & Petite Sirah See more..
5.0 Mt Madonna Stables (5 reviews)
- Amazing trail ride.
Spent 1-2 hours Horseback Riding Tours

One of the most beautiful trail rides I have been on. I have often found that the horses rented by the hour tend to be older, overworked and in generally poor condition, that is most definitely not the case with this stable. Both my daughter and I were provided with younger, healthy and well trained trail horses. I enjoyed that the ride was a little challenging with some hills. Would come back and ride here again. See more..
5.0 Sierra Azul Nursery & Garden (2 reviews)
- Superb Nursery - Also Sells Statues: Sierra Azul Nursery and Garden, Watsonville, CA
Spent 1-2 hours Gardens

A beautiful 2.5 acre sculpture garden situated below the Santa Cruz mountains in Watsonville. What was once a strawberry field along HWY 152 is now an oasis of water conserving plants and features works by local artists nestled among the foliage. Open year-round, visitors can stroll the meandering paths on a self-guided tour, have a picnic, and maybe even buy a plant or two from the nursery. See more..
5.0 Anatum Winery (2 reviews)
- A lovely escape
Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards
Sitting on the patio at Anatum and drinking delicious wines is a wonderful escape. We love meeting up with friends, enjoying tasting the beautiful wines handcrafted by winemaker Christ Broaddus, and enjoying the remarkable service. Chris understands the delicate Pinot Noir grape and knows how to bring out all its flavor. His chardonnay is a beauty (and we are not usually white wine lovers). Anatum is a true winery in the sense that it serves handcrafted estate wines, many of which are organic, and the price point is excellent. See more..
5.0 Pajaro Valley Historical Association (2 reviews)
- Historical archives stored in beautiul home & setting
Spent 1-2 hours Convention Centers • History Museums

If you're interested in the history of Watsonville and Pajaro Valley, you've come to the right place. Established in 1940, the Pajaro Valley Historical Association preserves, interprets and promotes the history of the diverse cultures that shaped California's Monterey Bay area. The Bockius-Orr House has been our headquarters since 1997, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. See more..
5.0 Pajaro Valley Arts (1 review)
- Worth a trip: Surprisingly good art in a historic house
Friday: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM Art Museums

I found this wonderful art gallery as I was looking through the list of North American Reciprocal Museums (1000 museums you can visit for free with a membership from any of the museums). Entrance was free, anyway. But I was so glad that I'd made the detour to this city where I wouldn't expect to find great art. The charming gallery rooms are in a Queen Anne-style home from 1900. (For instance, there were ceramics and glassware in the former kitchen.) I've traveled the world looking at art... I'm cautious about shows of work by local artists, especially outside major cities. But the art in this "Art To Go!" exhibition was all high-quality and excellent (much more so than at the nearby Santa Cruz Art League, where I would have expected good art). Although the Watsonville/Pajaro area can be rough, PVA is in a well-maintained home in a pleasant and safe neighborhood. This isn't far from Highway 1; it's farther from Highway 101. If other exhibitions are as good as this one, it's worth a detour from either road. See more..
5.0 Integrity Wines (1 review)
- Wine to satisfy every enthusiast. Don’t just drive by. Go in for a tasting.
Spent 1-2 hours Wineries & Vineyards
Founded just 4 years ago Integrity Wines always was more than a winery. It is a passion to make wines for people by people. Integrity is not just about the wine itself. It's about everyone who helped create this wine experience. It's complete when we add you. That's integrity. Come taste our Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rose, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and more in Watsonville. See more..
5.0 Watsonville City Plaza and Park (1 review)
- Awesome Historical Park, Farmers Market, and Center of Downtown - City Plaza
Spent 1-2 hours Parks

We were in Watsonville and enjoyed going to the farmer's market in the downtown area . This is at the City Plaza. There were lots of people there having fun. The park area has a nice gazebo and historical statues. Its a nice place to spend some time. This is also where several events are held each year such as Music in the Park, 4th of July Parade, and also Holiday in the Park. See more..
5.0 Farm Discovery at Live Earth (1 review)
- A real farm experience for kids and families
Spent 2-3 hours Farms
Farm Discovery at Live Earth is a nonprofit organization working in the Pajaro Valley community to empower youth and families to build and sustain healthy food, farming, social and natural systems. Our home, Live Earth Farm, is a 150 acre patchwork of working organic farm, riparian corridor, oak and redwood forest in the Pajaro Valley of Santa Cruz County, California. What we care about We believe that we can transform personal and community health and improve our impact on earth by building and sustaining collaborative agricultural, ecological and social systems. We believe that communities armed with knowledge and the skills of inquiry can transform food, farming and natural systems for the better. See more..
4.5 Gizdich Ranch (144 reviews)
- Great pies!
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Ranches

Great pies! We make a special side trip to get pie here after a restaurant we ate at earlier told us this is where they came from. It's well worth the trip. Lots of choices, cute place, See more..
4.5 Sunset State Beach (105 reviews)
- Unflattering Golden Hour
Beaches

The pride of Watsonville, Sunset State Beach boasts one of the best spots to spend the golden hour overlooking the Monterey Bay. As harsh sunlight becomes more flattering overtime, its soft golden hues start to dominate the entire area, and everything suddenly turns magical. At this special moment, the walk along this expansive coastline becomes more enjoyable and relaxing. The water glisten like dancing stars as if someone just sprinkle dust of crystals. Shorebirds, largely the seagulls, snowy plovers, and long-billed, further amplified the magical effect when they play catch and feed along the shore as water ebb and flow. Perhaps, it’s adorable to watch playful dogs chase after the birds, but please take heed not to further disrupt their habitat esp. their nesting areas. Definitely, a great photo-op for Instagram, facebook, or wallpaper. Quiet. Permitting. Relaxing. Scenic. Healing. Inspiring. Worthy of a 5-star rating from all of us. See more..
4.5 Mount Madonna County Park (44 reviews)
- Hiking with the Redwoods
Friday: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM Parks

We took a family trip here because we were looking to do something different. It’s a little bit of a drive from the Bay Area (30-45 minutes from San Jose based on traffic) but it’s got some wonderful hiking trails. You can camp there but we just hiked for about 1.5 hours. There is lot of shade so it’s nice and cool. There are lots of trail options so make sure you get a map when you enter. We went on a Saturday and it was not crowded but just enough people that we did not feel like we were alone in the woods. I understand that they typically charge for parking but they were not on the day we were there. Our girls (5 & 7) had a great time. See more..
4.5 Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds (36 reviews)
- Great car races at Ocean Speedway
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Points of Interest & Landmarks

Great mud track and professional drivers. Very fun way to spend the evening at the Ocean Speedway at the fairgrounds when in season. We traveled down from Washington state to go to races while visiting family. THOUGH we did forget our earplugs but were able to purchase some there for $3 a pair. Well worth it as it gets pretty loud. See more..
4.5 Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple (36 reviews)
- Hanumar temple
Friday: Religious Sites

We are closing Mount Madonna Center (where the Temple is located) to all day visitors in order to mitigate any potential spread of the Corona virus. This will be in effect through April. The reservation system is closed during this time. See more..
4.5 Corralitos Market and Sausage Co (26 reviews)
- Great sausages and Tri tip sandwiches.
Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

They have awesome sausages and sandwiches. Great selection of flavored sausages and good customer service. See more..
4.5 Martinelli's Company Store (15 reviews)
- Martinelli’s Nirvana
Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

The Martinelli's Official Company Store is now open! Stop by to learn the history of our company and how our various products are made. Find Martinelli’s souvenirs, our delicious juices and sparkling ciders by the case, and more! See more..
4.5 Annieglass (8 reviews)
- Hotspot in Watsonville
Friday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Speciality & Gift Shops

A visually thrilling shopping experience, offering handmade glass dinnerware and serveware, artistic home decor, and jewelry. Our company store is located in Watsonville, chock-full of Annieglass, including studio seconds with impossible to notice flaws. This is the go-to place for wedding gifts, the hard-to-shop for, and the "creatives" on your list. See more..
4.5 Elkhorn Slough Brewing Company (7 reviews)
- Delicious new craft brewery
Friday: 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM Breweries

This new craft brewery just opened in July. It is open weekends only and is in an industrial park near Watsonville Airport. Their Gooseblind IPA was our favorite. Pint jars served as the beer glasses. The couple who own the brewery were delightful to talk with. They have a number of wild yeast beers to sample also, with yeasts from their apple orchard. A small seating area sits adjacent to the beer making equipment and fermenting barrels. It is an informal, low-key place we highly recommend. See more..
4.5 Corralitos Brewing Company (5 reviews)
- Best Brewing Company Ever !
Spent 1-2 hours Breweries

What a great place to stop for a beer and tasting of the 10 beers on tap. Watch out, this is a very popular place with a line out the door on a Sunday afternoon, its that good. For the 2 hrs that we were there the line out the door never stopped, great service to keep things moving. Great folks that come in for the 10 differant beers on tap and the board games and a great local vibe. Just a great little brew company. Sometimes there is a food vendor outside, parking in the lot or on the side of the road, watch out for the bicyclist on the road comming in for a cold one. Thanks Nattie, we had a great time ! Love Corralitos, check this one out, you will love it. See more..
4.5 Pajaro River Levee Trail (5 reviews)
- Flat and paved
Biking Trails • Jogging Paths & Tracks
Running from the corners of Blakburn and Bridge to Lake Street, this nearly 3 mile path is flat, paved and suitable for walking, jogging, biking and skateboarding. See more..
4.0 Mount Madonna Center (21 reviews)
- Yoga, Hindu...Then Lovely
Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spas

Please note that all visits to Mount Madonna Center are by reservation only. Located on 380 acres of redwoods and grasslands, Mount Madonna Center is a peaceful haven where you can step back, slow down, and reconnect to your center, to nature, and to a more authentic flow of life. A learning community inspired by the example of master yogi, Baba Hari Dass, Mount Madonna offers a beautiful, community managed space for yoga retreats, personal practice, spiritual and personal development programs, and a variety of other classes and workshops. The modern meeting spaces evoke a rustic and tranquil atmosphere and provide a variety of settings to gather and practice. See more..
4.0 Pinto Lake County Park (7 reviews)
- Nice Lake for Camping, Picnicking, Fishing and more - Pinto Lake County Park
Spent 2-3 hours Parks

We went to Pinto Lake County Park. Its a great place to go on a sunny day. There were people fishing, picnicking, walking, boating, and enjoying life. There is a campground. Pinto Lake is a watershed area. There are ducks and other water fowl to watch. See more..
4.0 Agricultural History Project Center and Museum (7 reviews)
- Interesting History: Agricultural History Project Center and Museum, Watsonville, CA
Speciality Museums

The Agricultural History Project revitalizes our connection with farms and ranches by creating fun events for families, stimulating discussions on current issues, and thoughtful displays of our history with the land. Look for Second Saturday events every month and special annual events such as Day On The Farm on Saturday in May and Yesterday’s Farm during the Santa Cruz County Fair in September. See more..
4.0 Palm Beach State Park (5 reviews)
- Nice Beach Park
State Parks • Beaches

There are two distinct sides to this area: the sandy beach on one side of the dunes and the park on the other side. The park side has picnic tables, fires pits and a restroom. See more..
4.0 Franich Park (4 reviews)
- Nice Park
Parks • Playgrounds
This is a nice neighborhood park. There is a lot of grassy area, “beach” volleyball pit, basketball court, ballfields, two dog parks, two age appropriate playgrounds, restrooms, limited picnic table and ample parking. See more..
4.0 Ramsay Park (2 reviews)
- Fun Times at Ramsay Park - Watsonville
Nature & Wildlife Areas • Parks

We returned to Ramsay Park and enjoyed a walk. There are also sports fields, picnic areas, skate board park, and family center it is located in Watsonville. See more..
4.0 Callaghan Park (1 review)
- Nice neighborhood park
Parks
This is a nice neighborhood park that features two age appropriate playground areas, tennis and basketball courts and a grassy area. See more..
3.0 Joyce-McKenzie Park (3 reviews)
- Small neighborhood park
Sports Camps & Clinics
This is a neighborhood park with a small playground, tennis court, grassy area and picnic tables. There is no restroom. See more..