★ Spotlight 2027
North Coast
Davenport · Bonny Doon · Wilder Ranch
North of the city, Highway 1 trades traffic for marine terraces, brussels sprout fields and a small bluff-top village that still feels like a working coast town. Inland, Empire Grade and Pine Flat Road climb into redwood and pine country, while the far end of the county meets the marshes at Waddell Creek.
A Davenport Day on the Coast
- Start with a morning walk on the bluff trails at Wilder Ranch State Park, or join the free weekend ranch tour at 1 p.m.
- Drive north to Swanton Berry Farm for fruit, jam and baked goods from the farm stand (open daily 8 to 5).
- Finish in Davenport at the Davenport Roadhouse for dinner, ideally on a Tuesday for live music (closed Wednesdays).
Eat & Drink
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Beauregard Vineyards
A family winery rooted in Ben Lomond Mountain, pouring estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a redwood setting in Bonny Doon. Weekend tastings are seated outdoors, and groups should plan ahead.
Local tip: Weekend outdoor seated tastings require a reservation, available online June through October.
- Outdoor seating
- Reservations recommended
10 Pine Flat Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Website for Beauregard Vineyards (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Beauregard Vineyards (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
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Davenport Roadhouse
A historic inn and restaurant at the heart of Davenport serving coastal comfort food, with folk, Americana and bluegrass in the dining room. Rooms upstairs make it an easy overnight stop on Highway 1.
Local tip: Live music every Tuesday, with discounted wine and beer.
- Live music
1 Davenport Avenue, Davenport, CA 95017
Website for Davenport Roadhouse (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Davenport Roadhouse (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
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Whale City Bakery Bar & Grill
A Highway 1 bakery and grill across from the Davenport bluffs, with an espresso bar, patio seating, pastries, breakfast plates and live music several nights a week.
- Outdoor seating
- Live music
490 Highway 1, Davenport, CA 95017
Website for Whale City Bakery Bar & Grill (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Whale City Bakery Bar & Grill (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
Shops & Local Makers
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Swanton Berry Farm
An organic berry farm with a barn-style farm stand near Davenport, selling fresh fruit, jams, pies and baked goods. Picking days follow the berry season, so check ahead before heading out.
- Family-friendly
- Seasonal
25 Swanton Road, Davenport, CA 95017
Website for Swanton Berry Farm (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Swanton Berry Farm (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
Arts, Culture & Entertainment
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Chris Johnson Glass
A working glassblowing studio and gallery in Davenport where visitors can shape their own paperweight or ornament in a beginner class, or browse hand blown vases and tableware made on site.
- Family-friendly
- Rainy-day pick
131 Old Coast Road, Davenport, CA 95017
Website for Chris Johnson Glass (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Chris Johnson Glass (opens in a new tab) ↗
Locally owned · Checked
Parks, Beaches & Outdoors
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Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve
A 552 acre mountain reserve of ponderosa pine, redwood, chaparral and grassland, reached by trails from the Bonny Doon fire station. A quiet outing for hikers and wildlife watchers.
- Wildlife
Martin Road near the Bonny Doon fire station, Bonny Doon, CA 95060
Website for Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve (opens in a new tab) ↗
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Cotoni-Coast Dairies
A rolling coastal property of redwood groves, grassland and ridge trails above Davenport, managed as public land. Trails climb away from the highway into quiet country that few visitors have seen.
North Trailhead, Cement Plant Road at Warranella Road, Davenport, CA 95017
Website for Cotoni-Coast Dairies (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Cotoni-Coast Dairies (opens in a new tab) ↗
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Rancho del Oso (Big Basin Redwoods State Park coastal unit)
The coastal gateway to Big Basin, where a marsh trail follows a creek through willows toward the sea. A small nature and history center and windy Waddell Beach across the highway round out a quiet stop.
- Wildlife
- Coastal walk
3600 Highway 1, Davenport, CA 95017
Website for Rancho del Oso (Big Basin Redwoods State Park coastal unit) (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Rancho del Oso (Big Basin Redwoods State Park coastal unit) (opens in a new tab) ↗
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Wilder Ranch State Park
A sprawling coastal state park where marine terraces, bluff trails and a historic dairy ranch complex sit side by side. Walkers, cyclists and history fans share miles of paths between farmland and the Pacific.
Local tip: Free ranch tours run Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m., meeting inside the Visitor Center.
- Coastal walk
- Bike-friendly
- Ocean view
- Wildlife
- Family-friendly
1401 Old Coast Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Website for Wilder Ranch State Park (opens in a new tab) ↗ Directions to Wilder Ranch State Park (opens in a new tab) ↗
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Spotlight 2027 edition. Places are checked against their own websites, most recently in November 2026. Hours and seasons change, so check before you go. Every business listed is locally owned.
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