With its breathtaking scenery, serene parks, and close proximity to stunning beaches, Watsonville is a charming agricultural town that has so much to offer to its visitors!
For starters, the town has a number of museums and historical sites worth visiting, including the Agricultural History Project Center & Museum situated on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
This important community resource features a wide range of educational exhibits and historical archives that preserve the town’s rich agricultural heritage. It also hosts several programs and events throughout the year, such as “Yesterday’s Farm” and the bimonthly “2nd Saturday on the Farm”.
The town is also known for its high-quality produce, with many of the farms in the area supplying local restaurants with fresh ingredients.
Naturally, this makes Watsonville a haven for foodies, with plenty of places to grab a bite to eat or a drink around town.
After you’ve had your fill of exploring the town itself, it’s also easy to hop on a local shuttle or bike trail and get back to nature.
If you’re looking for nearby beaches, hiking trails, and other outdoor activities that are more your style, Watsonville is home to Franich Park, Ramsay Park Family Center, and Pinto Lake City Park. It’s also a hop, skip, and a jump away from the popular Sunset State Beach and Manresa Main State Beach.
Does this sound like the kind of place you can picture yourself visiting? If so, continue reading for a list of all the other attractions and activities Watsonville has to offer so you can plan your trip accordingly
The 26 Most Popular Things To Do In Watsonville, California
26. Redman-Hirahara House
4.2
(11 reviews)Credit: Richard P, Google Maps
Location: V6WF+G4 Watsonville CA
25. Kelly Lake
3.9
(14 reviews)Credit: Wes Wilkinson, Google Maps
24. Hecker Pass
4.9
(14 reviews)Credit: Michael Patrick, License, Flickr
23. Storrs Winery & Vineyards
4.3
(17 reviews)Credit: Cristina Suarez, Google Maps
Location: 1560 Pleasant Valley Road Aptos CA
Tel: 831 724 5030
Web Address: http://storrswine.com/
22. Pinto Lake
3.4
(21 reviews)21. Castro Adobe State Historic Park
4.6
(34 reviews)Credit: Leigh Fitz, Google Maps
Location: 184 Old Adobe Road Watsonville CA
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/
20. Alfaro Family Vineyard-Winery
4.8
(34 reviews)Location: 420 Hames Road Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 728 5172
Web Address: http://alfarowine.com/
19. Byrne-Milliron Forest
4.8
(36 reviews)Credit: Kim Wilson, Google Maps
Location: 809 Browns Valley Road Corralitos CA
Tel: 831 429 6116
Web Address: http://landtrustsantacruz.org/category/protected-lands/byrne-milliron-forest
18. Aldridge Lane County Park
4.5
(68 reviews)Credit: Aldridge Lane Park, Google Maps
Location: 20 Aldridge Ln Corralitos CA
Tel: 831 454 7931
Web Address: http://scparks.com/Home/Parks/ListofAllCountyParks/AldridgeLanePark.aspx
17. Kirby Park
4.5
(83 reviews)Location: Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 633 2461
Web Address: http://mosslandingharbor.dst.ca.us/
16. Moss Landing State Beach
4.6
(168 reviews)Credit: mlhradio, License, Flickr
15. Zmudowski State Beach
4.4
(178 reviews)Credit: Chandra Mohan, Google Maps
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
14. Pinto Lake County Park
4.6
(256 reviews)Location: 757 Green Valley Road Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 728 6194
Web Address: http://scparks.com/
13. Palm Beach State Park
4.6
(344 reviews)Credit: Alexander Komlik, License, Flickr
Location: Palm Beach Streetate Park Entrance Streetation 2660 Beach Road Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 763 7063
Web Address: https://parks.ca.gov/sunset
12. Mt. Madonna County Park
4.7
(484 reviews)Location: 7850 Pole Line Road Watsonville CA
Tel: 408 842 2341
Web Address: https://parks.sccgov.org/santa-clara-county-parks/Mt.Madonna-county-park
11. Moss Landing State Wildlife Area
4.7
(492 reviews)Location: Moss Landing CA
Tel: 831 649 2870
Web Address: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Moss-Landing-WA
10. Sankaṭ Mochan Hanumān Temple — Reservations Required
4.8
(1,012 reviews)Location: 445 Summit Road Watsonville CA
Tel: 408 722 0226
Web Address: http://temple.mountmadonna.org/
Our Top picks
9. Pajaro Valley Historical Association
4.5
(13 reviews)Credit: Vincent P, Google Maps
Location: 332 E Beach Street Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 722 0305
Web Address: http://pajarovalleyhistory.org/
8. Pajaro Valley Arts
4.5
(29 reviews)Credit: wawabilly ANDERSON, Google Maps
Location: 37 Sudden Street Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 722 3062
Web Address: http://pvarts.org/
7. Franich Park
4.4
(121 reviews)Credit: Franich Park, Google Maps
Location: Menasco Dr Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 768 3240
Web Address: https://cityofwatsonville.org/facilities/facility/details/Franich-Park-56
6. Ramsay Park Family Center
4.3
(160 reviews)Location: 1301 Main Street Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 768 3270
Web Address: https://cityofwatsonville.org/1563/Ramsay-Park
5. Agricultural History Project Center & Museum
4.4
(168 reviews)Location: 2601 E Lake Ave Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 724 5898
Web Address: http://aghistoryproject.org/
4. Pinto Lake City Park
4.3
(523 reviews)Credit: Pinto Lake City Park, Google Maps
Location: 451 Green Valley Road Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 728 6194
Web Address: https://cityofwatsonville.org/1525/Pinto-Lake
3. Watsonville City Plaza
4.4
(604 reviews)Credit: Eugene Zelenko, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 358 Main Street Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 768 3240
Web Address: http://cityofwatsonville.org/
2. Manresa Main State Beach
4.7
(1,410 reviews)Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/manresa
1. Sunset State Beach
4.7
(2,358 reviews)Location: Sunset Beach Road Watsonville CA
Tel: 831 763 7063
Web Address: http://parks.ca.gov/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Watsonville, California! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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