Top Things to do in Davenport
The 10 Best Things to do in Davenport, Davenport
The town of Davenport, eleven miles north of Santa Cruz, features coastal bluffs perfect for watching migrating whales as they pass through the Monterey Bay during the winter months. Windswept beaches are dotted with sea glass, and collecting these treasures is a favorite activity for locals and visitors. Kite boarders meet at the popular (and windy!) Waddell beach to test their skills. At Ano Nuevo State Reserve north of town, elephant seals mate and nurse their young during the wintertime.
1. Greyhound Rock
2. Davenport Landing Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 50 reviews
The site of the old pier that spearheaded Davenport's whaling industry, this beach is now a popular destination for surfers.
Reviewed By tinandan2018 - Asbury, United States
We love California because every little stop has a "vista," public beach, or state park that preserves the wonders of this very diverse: geography, people, customs, etc. state ...
3. Bonny Doon Vineyard Tasting Room
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 49 reviews
We are sad to announce the permanent closure of our Davenport Tasting Room. Big thanks and appreciation to all of our loyal customers and staff. Cheers
4. Swanton Berry Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By PaulaB537 - Santa Ana, United States
This was a spur of the moment stop as my husband and I drove south on Highway 1. I saw the sign indicating that their pies and jams were made with organic fruits and just had to stop. We shared a dessert that was a tayberry pie filling, topped with a scone, topped with whipped cream...oh my! So delicious. This place is so unique. To pay for your purchase, you just put your money in the box on the counter and take whatever change you need - how trusting! The decor is eclectic, with books, toys, games on the tables, learning tools for kids, lots of pictures of Cesar Chavez and Farm Workers. They also have samples of their jam. I got the feeling that this is sort of a gathering place, too. There appeared to be a u-pick field attached to the property, but nothing was ready to pick when we visited. This is a great stop to stretch your legs and have a bit of something yummy.
5. Davenport Jail
6. Rancho Del Oso Nature and History Center
7. Shark Fin Cove
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
Reviewed By LA_dweller - Joshua Tree, United States
The Shark Fin Cove Parking lot (which shows as a "P" on Google Maps) does not have signage that we could see so we missed it but then there is another area to pull out (parking lot) just past it. Basically shark fin cove is in the middle of the two car parking areas. If you enter it on the Google Map app, as we did, it locates it properly so just pick the parking lot right before it or right after it. Then you will climb a little bit of a hill and an old railroad then runs parallel to the highway. Basically, in between the two parking lots is shark fin cove. So you have to walk a little but not a lot. I would not go visit at night because we did see a used needle in the tracks and you could tell that some people may have been living under the bushes by a hill parallel to the tracks we followed.. We did not walk down to the beach, but we enjoyed the view and sight from the hill where we could walk around for different view points. Worth seeing.
8. Davenport Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Alisco
The beaches in Davenport are lovely and isolated. Instead of being overrun with tourists like the beaches to the south in Santa Cruz, there are very few people here. But the scenery is just as gorgeous, if not more so. There are steep cliffs, lovely rock formations, and some painted remains of a pier that must have been destroyed in a storm. (Someone put a swing on the remnants of the pier closest to the beach, so it's good for photos.) Definitely recommended!
9. Scott Creek Beach
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By paulasB8350JY
We ride our motorcycles up and down highway 1. Scott Creek Beach is one of my favorite to stop at. There's parking, bathrooms, redwoods to the east and ocean to the west! This is a big beach too; so you can get some privacy if you're willing to walk a bit.
10. American Abalone Farms
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By richardkim412 - San Francisco, United States
We all know it, but don't ever really say it out loud. Abalone looks like... Perhaps that is why so many people think it is an aphrodisiac or sexual stimulant. Joking aside, abalone is a mollusk that is pretty much an ocean sea snail with a really thick and pretty shell. So I guess I'm eating marine escargot every time I eat abalone. Abalone used to be plentiful off the shores of California, but due to overfishing, climate change (it's real people), and ocean acidification, their populations have been decimated to near extinction. Since then, California has pretty much banned commercial fishing of abalone and so the only way you can get fresh abalone is from abalone fisheries like American Abalone Farms. American Abalone Farms has been in operation for over 25 years, but their farm stand / picnic area has been open for only a handful of years. In addition to abalone, they also offer shuck-your-own oysters at $1.50 each, dungeness crabs when they're in season (California's season begins November 3rd this year), and sea urchins from Half Moon Bay (these guys are limited so call before you go). Also, the picnic area is dog-friendly so long as your dog is friendly, and they have various tools such as gloves, towels, shuckers, lemon wedges, and hot sauce. Since the abalone is raised in tanks with ocean water filtered in, they require less cleaning. Just cut and put them in your mouth! I would suggest bringing your own soy sauce and wasabi and if you are really all-out, your own sushi rice. Abalone varies in price but we were able to get the smaller ones for $5 each. Definitely a great bargain. The sea urchin is by weight and average about $11 and they crack it open for you! Also, Paul and Sam manning the farm stand were really helpful. The farm stand is currently open on weekends only from 10 to 4 and Davenport is just 20 minutes from Santa Cruz along PCH. For now, you can BYOB (bring your own beer). At the end of the day, if you love abalone, you'll love Abalone American Farms.
