Downtown

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The Downtown area of Santa Cruz includes borders of Front Street / River Street on the east, the "Downtown Santa Cruz" sign on River Street and Highway 1 / Mission Street on the north, Pacific Avenue / Front Street on the south, and Chestnut street on the west. Downtown is generally compromised primarily of the major streets Pacific Avenue, Laurel Street, Chestnut street, Front Street, and Center Street, as well as several less prominent streets, such as Maple Street, Cedar Street, and Locust Street. Area includes many historic buildings on the western side, and the historic districts radiate to the north, west and south. To the east is the San Lorenzo River. Pacific Avenue and the surrounding streets also go by the name Pacific Garden Mall, but since the Loma Prieta Earthquake and the subsequent redevelopment of the area, people mostly use the term Downtown.

The downtown area includes many businesses, restaurants, city government offices and facilities, and residences. It also displays a variety of public artwork, including murals

• Public restrooms are located near Oswald on Soquel Avenue as well as inside of the Santa Cruz Metro Center.
  

• Restaurants are required by law to have a restroom available to the public, whether that be an in-house restroom or a nearby public restroom. However, usually you must buy something before being given access to the restroom.
  

• Bookshop Santa Cruz has a great public restroom. Please don't get it messy or graffiti on the walls— that just makes them mad.
  

• Caffe Pergolesi has a small bathroom in the Blue Room, as well as a second bathroom in the orange room which is used during concerts (since the main bathroom is usually blocked).

While the downtown district is primarily business, the top levels of many of the buildings are apartments and residences.

See Pacific Avenue for businesses located on that street

• Santa Cruz Community Credit Union

The Santa Cruz Metro Center is located at the intersection of Pacific and Cathcart. This is the main bus Center in Santa Cruz County, and can get you pretty much anywhere in the county, as well as to San Jose. The Greyhound Bus Station is right around the corner from the Santa Cruz Metro Center, and can get you to various places around California or across the US.

Skateboards and other roller-devices are prohibited downtown, especially on the sidewalks. Walking is encouraged, and jaywalking is the norm, which drives drivers insane. Cycling is fine, as long as you dont do it on the sidewalks. Also note that people have been given tickets for riding down Pacific Avenue in the wrong direction of a one-way street.

For the most park, there is lots of free and cheap parking— you just have to find it. There are several free parking lots and garages which allow parking for three consecutive hours. There are also parking meters that cost $.25 for a half hour, and a few parking garages/lots that require fees.

Visit http://www.downtownsantacruz.com/parking.php for more info and parking maps.

Old style Wig Wag Signal by Chestnut & Walnut

• Santa Cruz City History

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