{"id":84145,"date":"2022-03-07T09:16:23","date_gmt":"2022-03-07T17:16:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travel\/insider-guides"},"modified":"2025-08-01T16:40:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T23:40:25","slug":"travel-insider-guides","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sunset.com\/travel\/insider-guides","title":{"rendered":"Insider Guides: Places We Love"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/main>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Use our Insider Guides to browse the hidden gems we love, as featured in Sunset magazine, plus exclusive recommendations from our editors","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"landing-page.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_should_modify_publish_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"layout":[67],"class_list":["post-84145","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-travel","layout-article"],"acf":{"tout_headline":"Insider Guides: Places We Love","tout_deck":"Sunset\u2019s Insider Guide series highlights seasonal diversions and secret travel tips from local experts. Follow along as we learn where to eat, drink, stay, and shop.","display_row_fields":"yes","page_subheadline":"Sunset\u2019s Insider Guide series highlights seasonal diversions and secret travel tips from local experts. Follow along as we learn where to eat, drink, stay, and shop.","image_header":false,"display_row_1":"yes","stories_row_1_top":[{"ID":189541,"post_author":"98","post_date":"2025-07-04 03:00:00","post_date_gmt":"2025-07-04 10:00:00","post_content":"\n

Sunset\u2019s Insider Guide series<\/a> highlights seasonal diversions and secret travel tips from local experts. Follow along as we learn where to eat, drink, stay, and shop<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Julie

Julie Cox<\/p><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meet the Insider:<\/strong> Julie Cox, owner of Traveler Surf Club<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location:<\/strong> Santa Cruz, California<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie Cox first fell in love with the crunchy coastal town of Santa Cruz the way that many do: on the water. Her introduction to the iconic breaks along East Cliff and Pleasure Point while attending UC Santa Cruz led to lifelong friendships, eventually drawing her back after competing in the professional longboard tour, surf instructing in Mexico, and spearheading the California Surf Museum<\/a> in Oceanside<\/a>. Cox and her partner Rel Lavizzo-Mourey have since opened Traveler Surf Clubs in Santa Cruz, Pacifica, and Malibu<\/a>, serving as hubs for local surf culture. Here, Cox shares her go-to spots when visiting this gem of the Central Coast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

STAY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Santa
The Hotel Paradox pool.<\/figcaption>

William James Photography\/SantaCruz.org<\/p><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sea & Sand Inn<\/a> is a cute boutique hotel with great ocean views on the west side of town. Hotel Paradox<\/a> is a funky place closer to downtown with a\u00a0very loungeable lobby and a great full breakfast to get the day started. For the ultimate surf experience, stay at the Dream Inn<\/a> which is located right at Cowells, a great spot for beginners and long boarders. Their Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge overlooks the Pacific and you can get your morning report while having breakfast. And on the high-end, Chaminade Resort & Spa<\/a> is as scenic as it comes, situated on 300 wooded acres in the mountains. Also opening this summer is the beachfront La Bahia Hotel & Spa<\/a>, a welcome addition to the scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EAT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Santa
Brunch at Suda.<\/figcaption>

Monica Multer\/SantaCruz.org<\/p><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Located just around the corner from our Traveler Surf Club on the Eastside, Suda<\/a> has a new chef who has elevated the gastropub-style fare and cocktails, making it a great post-surf treat. Bantam<\/a> has amazing wood-fired pizza and an easy-to-enjoy wine list. The bookstore-wine-bar-restaurant mash-up at Bad Animal<\/a> comes complete with amazing Thai food from chef Lalita Kaewsawang. Naka Sushi<\/a> has the freshest fish on the Eastside. The chirashi bowl is a work of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DRINK<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div>
View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/a>

A post shared by West End (@westendtap)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n