Find out what readers voted as the best health and recreation.

Best Esthetician

Hazel Chadwick @ The Nook

1. Hazel Chadwick’s desire to pursue her career as an esthetician originally started with an obsession for cleaning and restoring newness, and she prides herself on the way her facials bring her clients a fresh start.
2. She feels that humans hold an incredible amount of tension in their faces and bodies, and she helps her clients to breathe, relax, and honor themselves.
3. She offers several different types of facials and skin treatments, from elemental nature facials to skin renewing treatments and even plant peels, makeup, and waxing services.
4. Chadwick does not believe in anti-aging but does believe in beautiful aging.
5. She believes in the power of touch and the healing properties of plants, and uses all plant-based products as well as ayurvedic rituals in order to help clients find the ever-elusive concept of balance.

Andrew Steingrube

Best Medi-Spa 

Ultraderm

1. Dr. Steven L. Garner is the medical director of Ultraderm. He is a fully board-certified plastic surgeon who has been practicing locally since 1993.
2. During business hours, no voice-prompting machines are ever used. Only real-life, trained, professional, and caring human beings will answer phone calls.
3. They offer several different treatment options including modern laser therapy, Botox, microneedling, and even Kybella, which can help reduce the appearance of “double-chin.”
4. Get complimentary and professional consultations with their team of providers in order to discuss aesthetic options, questions, and concerns.
5. They embrace a philosophy of safety, service, and satisfaction–no one is ever a “patient-lite,” no matter if the treatment is elective beautifying or a major life-saving operation.

Andrew Steingrube

Best Personal Trainer 

Carina Reid @ Fuel Phitness

1. Santa Cruz local Carina Reid formed Fuel Phitness in the spring of 2014.
2. With an impressive and extensive sports resume, you can be sure Carina will cater to your physical needs as she develops “varied and eclectic fitness plans” for you.  
3. Besides personal training, Reid also offers training through corporate classes and for small groups and couples. 
4. Reid is certified in Groupx, Schwinn Cycle, Yoga Sculpt, and Hot Pilates. 
5. Get a sense of Reid’s inspirational athleticism by watching promo videos on her YouTube channel.  

Denize Gallardo

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Acupuncturist/Acupuncture Clinic

Five Branches University

200 7th Ave., Santa Cruz, 

476-9424, fivebranches.edu

RUNNER-UP Flux Acupuncture Lounge, Momo Acupuncture

Bike Shop

Bicycle Trip  

1001 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 

427-2580, bicycletrip.com

RUNNERS-UP Another Bike Shop, Spokesman

Cannabis Dispensary

KindPeoples 

533 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, 515-4114;

3600 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 471-8562, kindpeoples.org

RUNNERS-UP Treehouse, Santa Cruz Naturals

Cannabis Edibles 

KindPeoples 

533 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, 515-4114;

3600 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz,

471-8562, kindpeoples.org

RUNNERS-UP Treehouse, Santa Cruz Naturals

CBD Product (Local) 

KindPeoples 

533 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, 515-4114;

3600 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz,

471-8562, kindpeoples.org

RUNNERS-UP Jade Nectar, Treehouse

Chiropractor

Duncan McCollum, DC
3555 Clares St., Capitola, 459-9990, mccollumfamilychiropractic.com

RUNNERS-UP David Love, DC; Marie Royer, DC

Crossfit Studio

Seabright Crossfit

1619 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz,

600-7867, seabrightcrossfit.com

RUNNERS-UP Crossfit Amundson, Crossfit Santa Cruz

Dentist

A. Gavin McClure, DDS

525 Center St., Santa Cruz, 426-1343, newstreetdentalsantacruz.com

RUNNERS-UP Michael J. Raffo, DDS; Kevin Ippisch, DDS

Doctor (MD)

Rachel Abrams, MD

740 Front St., Santa Cruz, 465-9088, santacruzintegrativemedicine.com

RUNNERS-UP Bruce Block, MD; Bruce Eisendorf, MD 

Doctor (ND)

Aimée Gould Shunney, ND

740 Front St. #130, Santa Cruz, 465-9088, drshunney.com

RUNNERS-UP Chad Borys, ND; Tonya Fleck, ND

Esthetician

Hazel Chadwick @ The Nook

1543 Pacific Ave. #215, Santa Cruz, 295-6233, thenook.us

RUNNERS-UP Sue Bell @ Simply Skin Esthetics, Brenda Pegram-Twohig @ Equilibrium

Golf Course

DeLaveaga

401 Upper Park Rd., Santa Cruz, 423-7214, delaveagagolf.com

RUNNERS-UP Pasatiempo, Seascape

Gym

Toadal Fitness

113 Lincoln St., Santa Cruz, 423-3764;

1200 17th Ave. #108, Santa Cruz, 464-3764;

2929 Mission St. Extension, Santa Cruz, 466-3764;

269 Mount Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley, 430-9200, toadalfitness.com

RUNNERS-UP Cabrillo Fitness, In-Shape Capitola

Martial Arts

Sanford’s Martial Arts   

4626 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 475-9676, sanfordskarate.com

RUNNERS-UP Garth Taylor Jiu-Jitsu & Martial Arts, Minorsan Self-Defense & Fitness

Massage Therapist

Shawna Ristic

501 Mission St., Ste. 5, Santa Cruz, (785) 691-6639, shawnaristic.com

RUNNERS-UP Gemmo Depolo, Lily Webber

Medi-Spa

Ultraderm

3311 Mission Dr., Santa Cruz, 475-4315, ultraderm.com

RUNNERS-UP Rejuvenate Medi-Spa

Midwife

Dana Ramsey, CNM

2907 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz, 477-2375, sutterhealth.org/pamf

RUNNERS-UP Nancy Greenwood, LM, CPM; Sunshine Tomlin, LM

Nutritionist

Jocelyn Dubin @ Nourish

130 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 359-5335, nourishsantacruz.com

RUNNERS-UP Rebecca Hazelton, Margaux Keiser

Orthodontist

Mark Joiner

1773 Dominican Way, Santa Cruz, 475-5500, joinerortho.com

RUNNERS-UP John A. Hedrick, North Coast Orthodontics

Outdoor Store

Outdoor World

1440 41st Ave., Capitola, 479-1501;

136 River St., Santa Cruz, 423-9555,

theoutdoorworld.com

RUNNERS-UP Down Works, Patagonia

Personal Trainer

Carina Reid

ca*****@***il.com, fuelphitness.com

RUNNERS-UP Margaux Keiser @ Keiser Nutrition & Fitness, Jason Lenington @ Toadal Fitness

Vitamin/Supplements

Staff of Life 

1266 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-8632, staffoflifemarket.com

RUNNERS-UP Herb Room, New Leaf Community Markets

Pilates

Agile Monkey Pilates Studio

121 Walnut Ave, Santa Cruz, 458-4125, agilemonkey.net

RUNNERS-UP Hotsource Yoga, Monarch Pilates

Running Store

Fleet Feet

7960 Soquel Drive Suite I, Aptos, 662-0886, fleetfeetaptos.com

RUNNER-UP Santa Cruz Running Company  

Sailing Charter

Chardonnay

790 Mariner Park Way, Dock FF, Santa Cruz, 423-1213, chardonnay.com

RUNNERS-UP O’Neill Yacht Charters, Pacific Sail

Skate Park

Derby Skate Park

508 Woodland Way, Santa Cruz

RUNNERS-UP Mike Fox, Scotts Valley Skate Park

Skate Shop

Bill’s Wheels 

1240 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 469-0904, billswheels.com

RUNNERS-UP Boardroom, Skateworks

Snowboard/Skiing

Helm of Sun Valley

1408 41st Ave., Santa Cruz, 462-6800, helmofsunvalley.com

RUNNER-UP Play It Again Sports

Spa (pampering)

Caress Day Spa

911 Capitola Ave., Capitola, 462-4422, caressdayspa.com

RUNNERS-UP Chaminade Resort & Spa, Well Within

Spa (soaking)

Well Within Spa

417 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, 458-9355, wellwithinspa.com

RUNNERS-UP Equilibrium Float Center, Tea House Spa

Sporting Goods

Play It Again Sports 

4770 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 475-1988, playitagainsports-soquel.com

RUNNERS-UP Bicycle Trip, Outdoor World 

Stand-up Paddleboard

SUP Shack 

2214 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, 464-7467, supshacksantacruz.com

RUNNERS-UP Covewater, Kayak Connection

Surf School

Richard Schmidt 

849 Almar Ave., Box 192, Santa Cruz, 423-0928, richardschmidt.com

RUNNERS-UP Club Ed, Surf School Santa Cruz

Surf Shop

O’Neill

110 Cooper St. #100D, Santa Cruz, 469-4377;

400 Beach St., Santa Cruz, 459-9230;

1115 41st Ave., Capitola, 475-4151, oneill.com

RUNNERS-UP Arrow Surf and Sport, Freeline

Surf Spot

Pleasure Point

RUNNERS-UP Cowell’s, Steamer Lane

Swim School

Adventure Sports 

303 Potrero St. #15, Santa Cruz, 458-3648, asudoit.com

RUNNERS-UP Jim Booth, Simpkins Family Swim Center  

Therapist

Emmanuel Denike, LMFT

RUNNERS-UP Donna Ilstrup, LMFT; Kristin Nemzer, LMFT, CH

Veterinary Clinic

Adobe Animal Hospital of Soquel

1600 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, 462-5293, adobevets.com.

RUNNERS-UP Coast Veterinary Services, Scotts Valley Veterinary Clinic

Yoga Instructor

Victor Dubin 

nourishsantacruz.com

RUNNERS-UP Nicole Duke, Hannah Muse

Yoga Studio

Luma Yoga 

1010 Center St., Santa Cruz, 325-2620, lumayoga.com

RUNNERS-UP Hotsource Yoga, Nourish

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Read the full e-edition of the Best of Santa Cruz County 2020 magazine: bit.ly/BestOf2020Print

Find out what readers voted as the best among community life.

Best Dog Park 

Frederick Street

1. Frederick Street Park features a large, fenced area for off-leash, four-legged fun complete with water spigots and plenty of room to run. Plus, there’s a specific zone designated for little pups and small adult dogs to play. Can you say cuteness?
2. The park offers plenty of amenities for your human companions, too, like barbeque pits and picnic tables. 
3. If you’re looking for an afternoon workout, stop by the park’s sand volleyball court and enjoy a game. 
4. Complete with the largest city parks playground, Frederick Street Park is a perfect place to bring the kids. 
5. Once you get there, it’s hard to find a reason to leave. But if you do, you can follow the park’s ocean views straight to the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor. 

Susan Landry

Best Neighborhood 

Seabright

1. Seabright has several popular live music venues, including The Crepe Place and the 71-year-old Rio Theatre that hosts world-class musicians.
2. The neighborhood’s nature crown jewel is its long and sandy namesake beach that runs between the Santa Cruz Harbor and Boardwalk. It used to be known as “Castle Beach” because from 1929-1967 it literally had a bathhouse/restaurant on it that looked like a medieval castle.
3. This neighborhood boasts the area’s only and oldest roller rink, the iconic Santa Cruz Roller Palladium, which has been letting the good times roll for more than 69 years and counting.
4. The area is known for its hangover-buster breakfast and brunch spots, including Seabreeze Café and Aldo’s Harbor Restaurant, and just over bridge is the popular and poppin’ Harbor Café.
5. If you love Italian food, you might want to think about moving to the neighborhood. It boasts Lillian’s, La Posta, Ristorante Italiano, and Tramonti … and that’s just to name a few. Mama Mia! 

 Andrew Steingrube

Best Retreat Center 

1440 Multiversity

1. The ‘1440’ in this spot’s name stands for the number of minutes in a single day. When you’re relaxing on the 75-acre, Santa Cruz Mountains campus, you’ll cherish each and every one of those minutes. 
2. Guests can sign up for overnight accommodations and immersive programs that range from a weekend learning about optimizing your fundraising skills to a week-long training on Emotional Freedom Techniques. 
3. The campus features a luxurious spa complete with healing massages, facials and energy work. Plus, there’s an infinity-edge hot tub overlooking the redwoods. Enough said. 
4. Book a therapeutic solo getaway or plan your next team-building retreat in one of 1440’s pristine meeting spaces designed to accommodate hundreds of guests. 
5. As a nonprofit, 1440 Multiversity is dedicated to keeping its programs accessible for all guests on a path of self-growth and learning. Since inception, it has offered over 500 program tuition scholarships. You can apply for one on 1440’s website right now.

Susan Landry

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Beach

Seabright Beach

East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz

RUNNERS-UP Capitola Beach, Seacliff State Beach

Bike Ride

West Cliff Drive

RUNNERS-UP Nisene Marks, Wilder Ranch

Boardwalk Ride

Giant Dipper

400 Beach St., Santa Cruz, 

423-5590, beachboardwalk.com

RUNNERS-UP Carousel, Log Ride

Derby Girl

Hermione Danger 

RUNNERS-UP Flower Power, Sharon D. Paine 

Dog Park

Frederick Street

168 Frederick St., Santa Cruz

RUNNERS-UP Aptos Polo Grounds, Skypark 

Farmers Market 

Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College  

6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 728-5060

RUNNERS-UP Downtown, Live Oak 

Local Athlete (non-Derby)

Nat Young

RUNNERS-UP Carina Reid, Katie Zaferes

Local Hero

Carina Reid

RUNNERS-UP Brent Adams, James Durbin

Neighborhood

Seabright

RUNNERS-UP Pleasure Point, Westside

Nonprofit Group

Grey Bears

2710 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz, 479-10555, greybears.org

RUNNERS-UP Homeless Garden Project, Jacob’s Heart

Place of Worship

Twin Lakes Church

2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos, 465-3300, tlc.org

RUNNERS-UP Inner Light Ministries, Temple Beth El

Place to Walk/Jog/Hike

West Cliff Drive

RUNNERS-UP Henry Cowell Redwoods, Nisene Marks

Retreat Center

1440 Multiversity

800 Bethany Dr.., Scotts Valley, 544-1440, 1440.org

RUNNERS-UP Land of Medicine Buddha Retreat Center, Mount Madonna Institute

Wedding Venue

Chaminade Resort & Spa

1 Chaminade Ln., Santa Cruz, 475-5600, chaminade.com

RUNNERS-UP Hollins House, Seascape Beach Resort

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Read the full e-edition of the Best of Santa Cruz County 2020 magazine: bit.ly/BestOf2020Print

Find out what readers voted as the best arts and culture.

Best Author (Local) 

K.M. Rice

1. Rice is an independent author of six published books. She dabbles in dark fantasy, political drama, young adult, historical fiction and romance.
2. She contributed writing and research to the book Middle-Earth From Script to Screen: Building The World of The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, an in-depth behind the scenes examination of Peter Jackson’s blockbuster film franchises.
3. Rice hosts a J.R.R. Tolkien-themed web series with her sister Alex called Happy Hobbit. The series covers actual agrarian and culinary topics that any Middle Earth hobbit would absolutely adore.
4. Rice wrote and illustrated her first book, The Haunted House, while still in kindergarten. Two decades later, she wrote her first published novel Darkling after stumbling into a haunted house
5. Her books feature “brave young women,” as opposed to “strong female characters.” She prefers brave because strong implies that women are inherently weak. 

Aaron Carnes

Best Mural 

Mission St. Ocean Mural

1. This was once an unsightly cinder-block wall separating Bay View Elementary School from busy Mission Street. But now, it’s a nearly 600-foot-long mural vividly illustrating the need to rid the oceans of plastic.
2. The mural’s creation was spearheaded by painter and muralist Taylor Reinhold, Santa Cruz born-and-raised, who also founded Made Fresh Crew, a local artist-based collective that markets original designs on street clothes.
3. The mural comes by way of the Fresh Walls Project, which recently announced in June it will host “Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans,” a 10-day event that its organizers are calling “the most significant urban beautification project in Santa Cruz history.”
4. Over its long canvas, the mural depicts a dizzying variety of marine life in realistic detail, including sharks, squids, orcas, and many species of fish, presented in a continuum of ocean depth, from the shallows featuring human divers to the deep seas.
5. The mural is just around the corner from another, smaller mural, by one of the county’s most prolific and popular muralists, the late James Aschbacher.

 Wallace Baine

Best Museum 

Museum of Art & History

1. This place is a two-fer. Since its charter, the museum everyone lovingly calls “The MAH” has devoted equal measure to Santa Cruz County’s rich history along with exhibits of artistic expression meaningful to local audiences. Come for one and experience the other as a bonus.
2. OK, it is really a three-fer. For the past decade, the MAH has been transformed into a kind of community center where friends and neighbors meet to experience their common interests.
3. Abbott Square, adjacent to the MAH, has emerged as the de facto town square of Santa Cruz, putting the museum and its mission at the center of civic life.
4. The MAH has a new executive director, Robb Woulfe, who takes the spot of transformational leader Nina Simon. It will be intriguing to see where Woulfe leads the institution in coming years.
5. The MAH’s new exhibition, “Beyond the World’s End,” envisions the future of a climate-changed world and showcases the museum’s partnership with UC Santa Cruz.

 Wallace Baine

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Art Event

Capitola Art & Wine Festival

capitolaartandwine.com

RUNNERS-UP First Friday, Open Studios Art Tour 

Art Gallery (Retail)

Artisans Gallery

1368 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-8183, artisanssantacruz.com

RUNNERS-UP R. Blitzer Gallery, Radius Gallery

Artist (Local)

Ed Penniman

edpenniman.faso.com

RUNNERS-UP Marie Gabrielle, Yeshe Jackson

Author (Local)

K.M. Rice

kmrice.com

RUNNERS-UP Laurie R. King, Jonathan Franzen 

Dance Lessons (Studio) 

Motion Pacific 

131 Front St. E, Santa Cruz, 457-1616, motionpacific.com

RUNNERS-UP Pacific Arts Complex, Tannery World Dance 

Festival (Art/Film)

Capitola Art & Wine Festival

capitolaartandwine.com

RUNNERS-UP Santa Cruz Film Festival, Watsonville Film Festival

Festival (Music)

Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music 

cabrillomusic.org

RUNNERS-UP Mountain Sol, Redwood Mountain Faire

Festival (Street)

Greek Festival 

facebook.com/santacruzgreekfestival

RUNNERS-UP Capitola Art & Wine Festival, Pleasure Point Street Fair

Kids’ Art Program

Studio Sprout  

studiosproutsantacruz.com

RUNNERS-UP Art Factory, Blue Apple Art

Movie Theater

Nickelodeon

210 Lincoln St., Santa Cruz, 359-4523, landmarktheatres.com/santa-cruz

RUNNERS-UP Capitola CineLux, Del Mar Theatre

Mural/Public Art

Mission St. Ocean Mural

RUNNERS-UP Day’s Market, Shopper’s Corner

Museum

Museum of Art & History 

705 Front St., Santa Cruz, 429-1964, santacruzmah.org

RUNNERS-UP Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Photographer (Local) 

Shmuel Thaler 

shmuelthaler.com

RUNNERS-UP Devi Pride, Kendra Stone

Poet (Local)

Ellen Bass 

RUNNERS-UP Danusha Lameris, Gary Young 

Radio Personality (Local)

“Sleepy” John Sandidge  

RUNNERS-UP Rosemary Chalmers, “Ralph Anybody” Jeff Juliano 

Radio Station

KPIG-FM 

107.5

RUNNERS-UP 1080 AM KSCO, 88.1 KZSC 

Theater Company

Jewel Theatre 

jeweltheatre.net

RUNNERS-UP Cabrillo Stage, Santa Cruz Shakespeare

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Read the full e-edition of the Best of Santa Cruz County 2020 magazine: bit.ly/BestOf2020Print