Best Tours & Experiences in Santa Cruz for Kids & Families

8 family-friendly tours & experiences with age ratings and parent tips.

Highest rated: Mount Hermon Adventures, Neary Lagoon Wildlife Refuge, UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden. 4 listings are free. 3 listings are indoor. 4 listings are outdoor. Every listing includes age fit, stroller notes, cost signals, and parent tips.

By Kit, KidPaths editor

Covers 71 cities. Reads a lot of parent reviews.

Top Picks

Mount Hermon Adventures

4.8 stars

Soaring through a redwood forest canopy on zip lines feels like a superhero moment — kids talk about it for weeks afterward.

7–17Outdoor~$180–$280 total (zip line tours run ~$65–$89/person; younger/shorter kids may qualify for shorter courses at lower rates; 2 adults + 2 eligible kids)

Neary Lagoon Wildlife Refuge

4.8 stars

Herons, egrets, ducks, and coots going about their business up close — kids who are curious about animals get surprisingly captivated by real wildlife

2–12FreeOutdoor$0 — completely free

UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden

4.7 stars

The hummingbirds are everywhere and totally fearless — kids stand still with wide eyes as they dart inches from their faces. The Australian garden sec

0–12Outdoor~$10–$20 total (suggested donation ~$5/adult; children often free; 2 adults + 2 kids)

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

4.7 stars

A full gray whale skeleton, touchable fossils and minerals, live native bee hive, and coastal ecosystem displays that connect directly to the beach ki

3–13Indoor & Outdoor~$0–$20 (suggested donation-based admission; typically free or very low cost; check current policy at santacruzmuseum

The Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery

4.6 stars

Hands-on exhibits let kids dig for fossils, splash in a water table, run a pretend farmers market, and explore science concepts in ways that feel like

0–10Indoor~$40–$52 (admission typically ~$10–$13/person for ages 1+; under 1 often free; 2 adults + 2 kids)

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8 activities