Staycation: Delightful Davenport
While driving coastal Highway 1, blink your eyes and you could miss the seaside hamlet of Davenport, a small town populated by artisans, surfers, and coast-lovers seeking to escape the hustle and bustle of nearby Santa Cruz.
Waddell Creek Beach
Photograph by Victoria Alexander
Spend a day or a weekend on this pastoral stretch of coast, perusing the galleries, picking farm-fresh berries, exploring miles of beaches, or just watching the relentless dance of the surf.
ART ATTACK
Opened in 2009, Davenport Gallery showcases the local art scene with bronze sculptures, watercolors, colorful resin art, and the coastal photography of Jim Lewis and Ed Dickie. In May, the gallery will feature children’s art for a local school fundraiser. 450 Hwy. 1, , davenportgallery.org
SURF PATROL
Nothing quite says Northern California like the sight of dozens of kite surfers and windsurfers whipping across the roiling surface of the Pacific, then launching off the cresting waves and grabbing 40 feet of air. Witness the spectacle of wind and waves at Waddell Creek Beach, just 7.5 miles north of Davenport on Highway 1. , parks.ca.gov
GO WILDER
Visit the historic ranch buildings at Wilder Ranch State Park or take a walk along the coastal bluffs on the Old Landing Cove Trail. Adrenaline-junkies can bring their mountain bikes and pedal the park’s miles of twisting single-track through the coastal hills. 1401 Old Coast Rd., or , santacruzstateparks.org
BERRY BOUNTY
Visit the farm stand at Swanton Berry Farm and pick your own strawberries in late May and June. Take a self-guided tour of the all-organic field, check out the historic photo collection, play a few vintage table games, or just hang out and take in the folksy vibe. No one leaves without purchasing at least one jar of homemade jam—strawberry rhubarb, tayberry, loganberry, or olallieberry. 25 Swanton Rd., , swantonberryfarm.com
STAY & EAT
Colorful arts and crafts for sale accompany the outstanding meals at the Davenport Roadhouse at the Cash Store. The menu, like the dining room, is unpretentious and inviting, featuring a mélange of comfort food from breakfast burritos to wood-baked pizzas to cioppino. Eight guest rooms are situated on the floor above the restaurant for those who don’t want to return to civilization. Davenport Ave. at Hwy. 1, , davenportroadhouse.com
Do you love a leisurely drive along the Northern California Coast? Then explore these laid-back beach destinations: Moss Beach, Capitola, Moss Landing, Pescadero.
