UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden

One of the most underrated family outings in Santa Cruz, the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a 135-acre living museum of plants from across the Southern Hemisphere — and it happens to be one of the best places in the region to see hummingbirds up close.

The arboretum sits on the UCSC campus and is organized into geographic collections: Australian, South African, New Zealand, and California native plants, among others. For families, the sheer visual drama of the landscape is the hook — towering banksia trees, silver-leaved proteas in surreal bloom, fields of California poppies in spring, and winding paths that feel genuinely explorative without being strenuous.

The hummingbird situation here is legendary among locals. Bring your kids into the Australian section during morning hours and stand still for 30 seconds. You will have hummingbirds hovering within arm's reach, completely unbothered by human presence. For kids who've only seen these birds at a feeder from afar, the experience is jaw-dropping.

For families with babies and toddlers, the paved main paths accommodate strollers without issue, and the slow, open pace of a garden visit suits young children well. Older kids benefit from a scavenger hunt approach — give them a list of things to find (a plant that smells like eucalyptus, a bee on a flower, something with silver leaves) and the garden transforms from a walk into an adventure.

Admission operates on a suggested donation model, which makes this an exceptionally good value for families. Spring is the peak season for bloom, but the arboretum has something interesting in every season.