When visitng Santa Cruz and the surrounding coastal area, one of the best places to see is a beach locals like to slip away to, seemingly far from the busy, bustling Santa Cruz Boardwalk and beaches. Scott Creek Beach is a short drive north of the city in Davenport.

There are no restroom facilities and the undertow at the beach is strong, so the beach isn’t a recommended spot for swimming, though you may find plenty of surfers and sunbathers (maybe even some bare bottoms–don’t be alarmed.) When we stopped recently and spoke with people visiting the beach, most were locals who said they just like to drive outside of town (Santa Cruz) for a quiet moment to reflect. And Scott Creek Beach is their favorite nearby place to do just that. It is located on Highway 1 between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay, and is operated by Santa Cruz County Parks. There are no restroom facilities at the beach, and dogs aren’t allowed.