Natural Bridges State Beach
add photos8 Reviews for Natural Bridges State Beach
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'10, '11
1 family found this helpful
"Beautiful, especially at sunset"
We headed here after a day of golfing during our June 2010 Santa Cruz trip. We picked up a picnic dinner at Nob Hill and got to Natural Bridges around 6pm. We had a picnic and were all bundled up since it started to get cold.
Our 3 year old loved running up and down the sandy slope and just plain getting dirty in the sand. During low tide, you can go easily check-out the "natural bridge" that now stands as two big rocks (with the top part of natural bridge arch collapsing several years ago). Stay away during high tide though, since the waters can be high and rough.
Normally, there's a fee to get into the park since it's a state park, but we just dropped a $10 in the box to help support our state parks and beaches.
The butterfly grove is also really spectacular and fun. Close encounters with monarchs which was a first for the whole family.
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1 family found this helpful
"Come for the butterflies, stay for the pelicans ;)"
This park is great! It's located at the end of beautiful West Cliff in Santa Cruz. If you want a true day of it, park along one of the side streets off of West Cliff and walk into the park. You do not have to pay an entrance fee if you walk in. The butterflies are a little walk into the park (maybe 1/3 mile) and it is uphill, so be aware of this. However, once you get there, it is amazing. The butterfly area is handicapped accessible, although due to the number of people, if it is possible for your family, you may want to leave the strollers at the top and walk down with your young ones. Any kids that I've brought to the Butterfly area have always been so enthralled with the beauty and sheer number of butterflies present. One note to prepare your kids: it is generally very quiet around the butterflies, so if you have the time prior to visiting, you may want to explain that, so that they are prepared for quiet and to use their eyes to look and watch.
Usually November is the best month to see them. We've had luck the last few years thankfully.
There are several picnic areas and bathrooms as well. The bathrooms are typical state park restrooms, they are not fancy, have a lot of sand on the floor. Bring your own Purell.
The museum is pretty cool to give an extra nature lesson to the kids, and depending on the time of year you come, they have grown a garden outside filled with the plants that attract butterflies in order to hatch and grow caterpillars. So keep your eyes peeled!
After visiting the butterflies, take a little jaunt over to the natural bridges (the actual reason for the park). The rock formations in the ocean are a sight to see, as are the hundreds of pelicans that count them as their perches.
Definitely fun for the whole family!
0 families found this helpful
"Go in November for the butterflies"
Beautiful beach/park. Big picnic area suitable for gatherings, but be aware that many homeless frequent the gathering spot. We keep our toddlers close by when visiting. The Monarch butterflies migrate here in November - February, but go early or you'll likely miss them. I tried for 3 years to see the butterflies in Feb, March but kept missing them! They offer a very small museum with taxidermy animals (very real!), and a small gift shop but this will only take 5 minutes. Parking is pricey, you can park on the street but probably won't if you are visiting the butterflies.
2 families found this helpful
"Steep scrambles over large rocks"
The tide pools cover a large area at Natural Bridges, but they are quite hard to access- be prepared to climb over some steep rocks. Shoes with good traction are an absolute must. Keep an eye on your kids!!
The beach can be pretty rough- my kids got knocked around a lot. Also, the beach is large and crowded, making for a somewhat stressful experience. Not my favorite beach in the area, but it is good for tide pools.
2 families found this helpful
"Tide Pools"
We go to Natural Bridges for the tide pool experience. As you walk along rocks, there are pockets and crevices filled with sea urchins, mussels, barnacles, etc.
Our school goes there each year with fourth graders (9-10 years old), and each group has come back with great reviews.
This area is slippery and a bit dangerous for little ones who are active (~won't stick close to Mom or Dad) because you do need to maneuver carefully.
0 families found this helpful
"we missed the right time"
Maybe it was global warming. MIt was an unseasonably warm day for February, 70 degrees. Maybe it was just an off day. We went to see the monarchs this year (2010) in February, and they were gone. In the past we have gone and it was an amazing site to see. My hope is that we just came on an off day.
0 families found this helpful
"Fun with the Family"
Named for dramatic sandstone arches, this beautiful beach has tidepools rich withsea life. Guided tidepool tours are available. A short boardwalk from the beach parking lot leads through a eucalyptus forest to the California Monarch Butterfly Preserve. Depending on the time of year—early October through March is best—you’ll see hundreds of thousands of butterflies hanging in the trees and moving about in great golden clouds.
A 0.75-mile self-guided nature walk begins at the Monarch Trail and heads for Secret Lagoon, where blue herons, mallard ducks, and more freshwater and seagoing birds live.
1 family found this helpful
"Absolutely Must Visit"
You absolutely must bring the kids to Natural Bridges State Beach between October and February when thousands of Monarch butterflies make their winter home here. There is a short wooden walkway to the Eucalyptus grove where the butterflies live. October and sometimes September have the best weather and the aroma from the tree is wonderful. After viewing the butterflies, if the weather is warm, you can spend some time on the wonderful but small beach.
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