RedwoodMountainGirl

I live in the Santa Cruz Mountains but my daughter goes to school in Santa Cruz City, so I am there every day during the week. Yes, its gritty and there are areas we know to just stay away from, but we love this city. The art culture is thriving, there is a relaxed atmosphere because we live in the place where people go to vacation, and the food choices are delightful! There is always some fun and free community event going on. In ten to twenty minutes you can go from the beach to the redwoods. There are miles of hiking trails. There are shops and boutiques, bars, coffee shops, art galleries, museums, disc golf courses, historical places, an amazing University. There are people riding bikes everywhere, tons of public transportation, easy routes for walking and public art all over the city that is appreciated all the more when you take the time to see it up close. Santa Cruz is warmer than other spots along the bay area because it is on the south-facing slope of the bay and boasts several microclimates where you can grow many kinds of fruits and warm climate plants that can't be grown just a few miles north. Sure, its hard to get to on winding Hwy 17, but it also makes it stay small and cozy, relatively speaking. It has something for everyone. We love Santa Cruz!

I lived here during my teenage and young adult years, and my parents still live there. It is a quiet, family-friendly place to live. The home prices are lower than in Nearby cities of Sacramento, Elk Grove, and Stockton, mostly because it is out in the middle of farmland. Speaking of farmland, it often smells strongly of cows when the wind blows just right. The town does boast a huge flea market that people come to from miles around. Galt also has been revamping the downtown street with some very nice restaurants, bakeries, and an antiques store. Spans cookies have been made there since like the 50's or something and are still going strong despite the influx of new and equally tasty shops, like the gourmet cupcake store a few doors down. It is a good town for those who work in the nearby cities and want to be able to own or rent a home and live in a quiet place, and don't mind the commute. There are community events like the Strawberry Festival, nearby wineries and a skydiving company ten minutes away in Lodi, and an easy drive to cute foothill historic towns like Sutter's Creek, Ione, and Jackson. Galt itself is not pretty at all. It is a very low elevation and everything around it is brown and flat for most of the year. Since I absolutely love being surrounded by nature, Galt is not a place I will ever call home again, but if your dream is to live in a quiet suburban home, then Galt is a good town.

I lived nearby Land Park for about four years and my husband and I took our son on frequent picnics to Land Park. We always loved feeding the ducks and geese in the ponds, and SO much appreciated the cool shade from the mature trees all over the park. Sacramento gets very hot in the summertime, and Land Park always felt at least 20 degrees cooler than the rest of the city to me. There are joggers and people walking, college students studying, etc., but the park is big enough that you can usually find a quiet space.

I grew up going to the Zoo, Fairytale Town, and Funderland. All of which can be found on the southwest side of the park. The zoo is small but sweet and locals are loyal to it. Fairytale Town is so much fun; my favorite parts were always the crooked mile and Sherwood Forest. Funderland has a few roller coasters and rides that are pint-sized for tots. Its kind of adorable. The homes surrounding the park are beautiful turn-of-the-20th-Century bungalows, art-and-crafts, tudor styles, etc. Even if you can't afford to live right in Land Park, its a great place to grab a cup of coffee and hang out for a few hours.

PROS:
Felton is a beautiful little mountain town in the mouth of the San Lorenzo Valley. It is surrounded by the Santa Cruz mountains and redwood trees are abundant. The fog rolls in and out over the treetops and it is stunning. In fact, I would say that the views and the outdoor recreation are entirely what brings people to Felton. It boasts miles of redwood hiking trails in Henry Cowell Redwoods and the Fall Creek Division, and at nearby Big Basin State Park. There are also hiking trails and beaches only 20 minutes away in Santa Cruz, Bonny Doon, and Wilder Ranch State Historic Park. There is horseback riding at Quail Hollow, and old-fashioned train rides through the redwoods at Roaring Camp Railroads. There are opportunities for family camp and hearing speakers, taking hikes, wading by a waterfall, soaring on a zip-line or climbing through the treetops on the high ropes coarse all at Mount Hermon Christian Camps and Conference Center right in Felton. Felton has some good cafes (The White Raven) and restaurants, but is only 5 minutes away from cute mountain towns of Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek, where you can find even more innovative restaurants and breweries and shops. The schools are amazing; the middle school has been put on the National Forum of Schools To Watch. The high school boasts winning sports teams, and will soon have a newly-finished theatre arts building. For more shopping and dining options, it is an easy 10-minute drive to Scotts Valley, which is also in the mountains but is more of a suburban community, and then of course, there is Santa Cruz just down highway 17 or Graham Hill Road.
CONS:
Felton is surrounded with the sound of traffic because everyone coming or going from the San Lorenzo Valley comes through Felton, on one of two major mountain roads: Graham Hill Road or Mount Hermon Road. There is also the lesser-used Hwy 9 (very winding and narrow). You have to live a bit off the road to get away from the sound of cars, however it is perfect if you want the beauty of nature without having to live far away from civilization. Also, out of the nearby mountain towns, Felton has the most homeless and mentally ill people living here (I believe in a halfway house), hanging out in the park, and utilizing the public transportation. They tend to stay in groups or keep to themselves, but if you have kids and are just wanting to hang out at the park or take a walk in town, it can feel a bit unnerving when they are talking loudly to themselves or acting erratically. Most people who live here use the hiking trails and other outdoor options rather than the park in the center of town anyway, but it is a shame that it doesn't feel more safe. There aren't many opportunities for work here but Scotts Valley and Santa Cruz are nearby. The cost of housing is high and there are almost never any vacancies, so waiting for that perfect home does take time, but overall I think it is definitely worth living here because of the absolute beauty and the charm of the surrounding area.