Nisene Marks

Day Trips and Sips: Hiking Aptos, From Redwoods to Restaurants

Enjoying a redwood needle shadow "tattoo" in Nisene Marks. Credit: Mike Kahn

Enjoy a day trip to Aptos, California, with hiking through the redwoods of The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, breakfast at Cat & Cloud Coffee, and lunch or dinner with local beers at the Parish Publick House.

State Park Nonprofits Hope To Dust Bust Fire Road

Fire road at Nisene Marks State Park. Photo courtesy Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.

Efforts are underway to raise funds for bringing Dust Off to Nisene Marks State Park for the second time.

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

Friends volunteers are a big reason Santa Cruz's state parks are thriving.

Friends In Deed How the innovative nonprofit stepped up in a time of need to become a leading supporter of state parks in the Santa Cruz area and a model for partnership statewide.

Shuttlesmith Adventures and Dave Smith

Each morning Dave Smith fires up his tricked out Ford Econoline at the base of Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos, California, and heads from this spot near the coast to the Soquel Demonstration Forest at the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains.