Summer 2018 Road Trip - Day 7

We walked in downtown Santa Cruz on our last day. There are some cool shops. I came across a sock shop that sells all types of novelty socks. I got myself a pair of floral socks and another pair with cats and books on them, so cute! They also had a very cool selection of sandals and clogs ... brands that I hadn't known existed! I ended up getting a pair of grey sandal clogs, they're very pretty.

We visited The Mystery Spot. It's such an odd place. Definitely NOT recommended if you suffer from vertigo. This place is like an optical illusion. I really don't think there's anything mysterious about it. It's set up to make it appear as if objects defy gravity but in reality it's a tilt induced visual illusion. I left this place with a headache and felt nauseated. Not visiting this place again.

Riley wanted to go to the beach so we stopped by Seacliff State Beach. This beach is known for the concrete ship SS Palo Alto lying in the water.

Here's a bit of info on the ship: The Palo Alto remained docked in Oakland until 1929, when the Cal-Nevada Company bought the ship with the idea of making her into an amusement and fishing ship. Her maiden voyage was made under tow to Seacliff State Beach. Once positioned at the beach, the sea cocks were opened and the Palo Alto settled to the ocean bottom. By the summer of 1930 a pier had been built leading to the ship, the ship was remodeled. A dance floor on the main deck was added, also a cafe in the superstructure was built, as was a fifty-four foot heated swimming pool, and a series of carnival type concessions were placed on the afterdeck. The Cal-Nevada Company went broke after two seasons -- then the Palo Alto was stripped, leaving the ship and the pier to be used only for fishing. It is now permanently closed to the public. In the 2016-2017 storm season, a section of the ship overturned, and the pier was damaged.

We went back to our hotel room to freshen up and rest for a bit ... the sun can be so draining. We headed back to Capitola for an early dinner.

Riley and his silly faces.

It's not everyday one sees pastel colored homes. This is definitely Capitola's focal point.

Santa Cruz is definitely a place to have fun ... and Capitola is definitely where you want to go to wind down. Good thing they're so close in distance. However, we haven't found a good Mexican food place here. You would think they would have them in abundance but the ones we've stopped by to look at their menu haven't looked appealing. Next time we're here I'll definitely ask some hispanic locals for recommendations. I hope to visit soon.