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Photograph by Jenn Ireland
West is Best: Readers just love them some West Cliff Drive; the scenic rec trail and oceanside street won best bike ride, makeout spot, place for contemplation, place to walk and sunset view.
People & Places
Readers Survey Results
Best Beach
SeabrightNatural Bridges
Twin Lakes
Best Bike Ride
West Cliff DriveWilder Ranch State Park
Nisene Marks State Park
Best Boardwalk Attraction
Big DipperLog Ride
Fireball
Best Hiking Spot
Nisene Marks State ParkPogonip
Wilder Ranch State Park
Best Local Hero
Pink Umbrella ManRyan Coonerty
DeCinzo
Best Local Villain
Robert NorseRyan Rittenhouse
Pink Umbrella Man
Best Makeout Spot
West Cliff DriveAnywhere
Beach
Best Neighborhood
SeabrightWestside
Beach Flats
Best Neighborhood Park
Ocean View Park102 Oceanview Ave, Santa Cruz
Frederick Street Park
158 Frederick St, Santa Cruz
Blue Ball Park
461 Old San Jose Road, Soquel
Best NonProfit Group
Girl Scouts
Save Our Shores
345 Lake Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.462.5660
Second Harvest Food
800 Ohlone Pkwy, Watsonville. 831.722.7110
Best Place for Contemplation
West Cliff DriveBeach
Pogonip
Best Place to Get Married
Beach
Chaminade
1 Chaminade Ln, Santa Cruz. 800.283.6569
Seascape
1 Seascape Resort Dr, Aptos. 831.662.7120
Best Place to Take Kids
BoardwalkBeach St, Santa Cruz. 831.423.5590
Beach
Seymour Center
100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz. 831.459.3800
Best Place to Walk
West Cliff DrivePogonip
UCSC
Best Season
FallSummer
Spring
Best Street Performer
Great MorganiPink Umbrella Man
Bob Noxious
Best Sunset View
West Cliff DriveNatural Bridges
Seacliff Beach
Best Surf Spot
Steamer LaneCowells Beach
Pleasure Point
World Domination Is For Underachievers: With Planet Cruz beaming tales of local hijinks all over the universe, Santa Cruz's mastery of the galaxy can't be far behind.
Write-Ins
Best Wine Bar
CavaBest Local Journalist
Jessica LussenhopBest School
Empire AcademyBest Bike Messenger
Pedaler's ExpressThey'll bring you some cans of soup and a bottle of Tylenol when you're too sick to haul your lazy ass to the store. I mean, how awesome is that?
Favorite Local Design Company
Left Coast Digital
Best Brunch
All-You-Can-Drink Mimosas at Center Street Grille
Best Pest Control
Gophers Limited
Best Local Motorcycle Club
Vampires Motorcycle Club
Best Santa Cruz Cultural Export System
Planet Cruz Comedy
Best Way for Film Fans to Log Off
The Video StoreAs one of the last holdouts I know not to join Netflix, I have to admit I have a strange fetish for the video store experience. So I'm thankful for the indies that Santa Cruz still has, especially the two pillars of local rentaldom that have supplied countless film fixes over the years: Westside Video and East Cliff Video. Though it's in a new location, East Cliff is in its 26th year, and owner Sami Abed now owns Video 9 in Ben Lomond and Cedar Street Video in downtown Santa Cruz. "I've got people who used to come in as kids bringing in kids," he says of his customers. (SP)
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