Santa Cruz has an intimate connection with the history of disc golf, not to mention a world famous course that is considered one of the most challenging in the world. Many of the earliest organizations and companies involved in the sport came from our own backyard, not to mention a few professional players and several highly ranked amateurs.

Delaveaga Disc Golf Course – Delaveaga, or “Dela” to locals, is one of the most beautiful (and frustrating) courses in the world. Situated just past the golf course, it offers a similar layout and terrain, if with a bit more rugged and un-manicured. Part of the difficulty of the course is that there are endless trees on most holes, a majority of which hide the steep ravines just behind them.

Each year, Delaveaga plays host to the Steady Ed Memorial Master’s Cup, which draws the top players from all over the world. The tournament is one of the few that make up the National Tour of the Professional Disc Golf Association.

Delaveaga is one of the most challenging courses in the world, so be prepared for some difficulty if you’re a casual player throwing a round. With 27 holes and plenty of elevation changes, it can also be pretty tiring. Make sure to bring water as there is none available at the course itself.

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=35

Aptos High School – If you’re not quite ready to take on Delaveaga, Aptos High School has a wonderful 18-hole course on the perimeter of the school campus. (Important to note: the course can only be played after 3 p.m. when school is in session). A challenging, but much easier course than Dela, Aptos High School offers a lot of variety: open shots, tunnel shots, a “top-of-the-world” hole, and multiple basket placements.

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=2632

Black Mouse – Black Mouse Disc Golf Course is actually located in nearby Felton, just behind San Lorenzo Valley middle school. As with Aptos High School, the course should only be played after 3 p.m. when school is in session. It’s a relatively short course, but it is heavily wooded and the entire thing is on a sloped hillside. Your disc will get familiar with plenty of trees when you play this course and you may also witness the worst rollaway you’ve ever seen (outside of Dela, of course).

It’s a challenging and technical 18-hole course that is heavily shaded, which is a nice break from the sub-baked rounds offered by other local courses.

http://www.dgcoursereview.com/course.php?id=1016

UC Santa Cruz – UC Santa Cruz has recently installed a 9-hole course that is pretty straightforward and definitely the easiest one on this list. Some of the holes require a bit of distance, especially if you’re throwing from the long position, but all are wide open and offer at least a look at the basket. There’s a little bit of elevation change, but not much in the way of obstacles (see here for map).

Golf can be one of the amazing outdoor activities Santa Cruz has to offer not only to those, who life in the city, but also to Santa Cruz visitors.

Though it’s a small town, Santa Cruz is big on breakfast and for good reason: there are several great local spots to choose from. In this article, we take a look at the top places to grab some morning grub before embarking on a day of sunshine-filled adventure. You’ll notice that all of these tend to get crowded pretty early as they are popular and well-known among locals, as well as attracting plenty of out-of-towners during peak tourism months.

Zachary’s – It’s hard to think about getting breakfast in Santa Cruz without Zachary’s coming up. It’s located in the heart of downtown on Pacific Avenue and is one of the most popular spots for locals, students, and tourists alike. In spite of a rather large eating space, Zachary’s does get quite busy and it’s advisable to get there somewhat early if you want to avoid a wait. Local favorites from their menu include their delicious sourdough pancakes and of course, “Mike’s Mess,” their signature scramble plate. (It should be noted that Zachary’s is closed on Mondays).

http://www.zacharyssantacruz.com

Walnut Avenue Cafe – Another great downtown breakfast spot, Walnut Ave. Cafe offers standard breakfast plates, fresh-squeezed juice, and an atmosphere that feels like a classic, old-time diner. Like Zachary’s, Walnut Ave. Cafe also gets crowded quickly so it’s best to try and get there early for a table, especially on the weekends. There is also limited outdoor seating, which is a pleasant and comfortable treat on most days in Santa Cruz.

http://www.walnutavenuecafe.com/

Cafe Brasil – Though it’s in a tiny building that was clearly once a home, Cafe Brasil is big on flavor and atmosphere. They offer a variety of Brazilian breakfast and lunch options, including their popular acai bowls, smoothies, and fresh squeezed juices. Parking is even more limited than seating at Cafe Brasil and it’s recommended that your park on a side street.

http://cafebrasil.us/

Linda’s Seabreeze Cafe – A highly regarded and award-winning local cafe, Linda’s Seabreeze Cafe serves breakfast and lunch from their Seabright Ave. location. Another smaller eating spot, Linda’s tends to get crowded pretty early as you’ll note by the steady gathering of people outside the entrance. They serve classic breakfast dishes and offer sandwiches and burgers on the lunch menu. Linda’s is open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays.

http://www.seabreezecafe.com/

Harbor Cafe – Just on the other side of the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor from Linda’s is the Harbor Cafe. In business locally for more than 50 years, they serve standard breakfast plates as well as some great lunch options. Like the other places mentioned on this list, it gets crowded so getting there early is a good idea. Once you’re seated, you can relax outside with one of their delicious mimosas or bloody mary’s while you ponder your breakfast choice.

http://www.harborcafesantacruz.com/

More useful tip

• Dining in Santa Cruz
• Restaurant with an ocean view