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26 Best and Fun Things To Do In Watsonville, California


TouristWire Editors

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)

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Credit: Richard P, Google Maps

Location: V6WF+G4 Watsonville CA

25. Kelly Lake

3.9 ★★★★☆ (14 reviews)

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Credit: Wes Wilkinson, Google Maps

24. Hecker Pass

4.9 ★★★★★ (14 reviews)

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Credit: Michael Patrick, License, Flickr

23. Storrs Winery & Vineyards

4.3 ★★★★☆ (17 reviews)

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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)

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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)

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Credit: Kathy B, Google Maps

Location: 420 Hames Road Watsonville CA

Tel:  831 728 5172

Web Address:   http://alfarowine.com/

19. Byrne-Milliron Forest

4.8 ★★★★★ (36 reviews)

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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)

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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)

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Credit: mlhradio, License, Flickr

15. Zmudowski State Beach

4.4 ★★★★☆ (178 reviews)

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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)

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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)

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Credit: A S Rao, Google Maps

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)

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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)

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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)

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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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