National marine sanctuary offices and visitor centers closed to the public; waters remain open

NOAA's national marine sanctuary offices and visitor centers are currently closed to the public, and in accordance with Executive Order 13991 - Protecting the Federal Workforce and Requiring Mask Wearing, all individuals in NOAA-managed areas are required to follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on mask-wearing and maintaining social distances. Sanctuary waters remain open for responsible use in accordance with CDC guidance, U.S. Coast Guard requirements, and local regulations. More information on the response from NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries can be found on sanctuaries.noaa.gov/coronavirus/.

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The Sanctuary Exploration Center And Offices Are Now Closed To The Public.

This is a precautionary measure to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). We are following local and departmental guidance, and will continue to monitor the situation. We thank you for your understanding. (11/2/2020)
 
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Take The Trolley!


Ride round-trip, from downtown to the exploration center

Avoid traffic congestion and parking hassles! The trolley is the best way to get back and forth between the downtown and the beach.

Larger image of trollery route

Runs: Weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

Hours: 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Stops:

  • Downtown at the Del Mar Theater (1124 Pacific Avenue).
  • At the beach (wharf entrance) at the Exploration Center.

Route: Round trip every 30 minutes.

Cost: 25 cents per ride—exact change required.

   trolley map

Directions

The Sanctuary Exploration Center is located directly across the street from the beach and Santa Cruz Wharf at 35 Pacific Street, Santa Cruz CA.

    

Parking

There are many parking lots in the area.

Limited metered parking is available on the surrounding streets.

    

Santa Cruz Area

Learn more about the Santa Cruz area.