The Good Times editorial team offers up their own suggestions for some of the things that make Santa Cruz County a great place to live.

Good Times readers vote on their favorite art events, arts organizations, artists, music makers, dance troupes, festivals and more.

Good Times readers share the local people, places and businesses that make their loved ones’ lives better.

Good Times readers picked their favorite taste treats and lusicous libations, as well as the best brewers, grocers, winemakers and more.

Good Times readers share their opinions about the people and business who keep Santa Cruz County looking and feeling good.

Good Times readers share their favorite restaurants, bars, breakfast spots, chefs and much more in the 2025 Best of Santa Cruz issue.

Santa Cruzans voted for their most valued experts—accountants, repair people, landscape designers, lawyers and more.

Good Times readers vote for their favorite spots to find retail therapy, from antique shops and auto dealers to vinyl and video game stores.

View our online photo galleries from the Best of the Santa Cruz County 2024 Party, hosted by Cruz Kitchen & Taps. View our party slideshow!

The Good Times writing team picks their own favorite things for the Best of Santa Cruz County 2024.

Santa Cruzans voted for their favorite boutiques, specialty shops, banks, service providers and more in the 2024 Best of Santa Cruz readers survey.

A teacher once told me to be careful with the word best. Once you declare something is at the top of the heap, you’ve...

Good Times readers vote for their favorite people, places and things involved in health and recreation in Santa Cruz County.

Good Times readers voted on their favorite restaurants, bars, bakeries, snack shops and more in the Best of Santa Cruz Food and Drink category.

The best art event, gallery, author and more

Good Times readers voted for some of their favorite people and places in the Best of Santa Cruz Community Life category.

My name is DNA and I’ve performed stand-up comedy in Santa Cruz and beyond since 2005. I’m 61. Even when I started out, I was twice as old as everyone else. At this point, I’m wrestling with early rigor mortis every time I get onstage.

You are from Santa Cruz if you know that summer starts at noon. So, we know the overcast morning will lead to a golden afternoon when we hike up from Gazos Creek to check in on the iconic redwood, the scorched but thriving Candelabra Tree. For the past fifteen years, every three or four weeks I’ve hiked with three guys. In five mile increments, we have walked the beaches and cliffs from Santa Cruz to the Golden Gate Bridge and back, three times.

As I look back over the years, I realize I’ve followed in the footsteps of my paternal grandfather, Edwin, a longtime newspaper columnist. Perhaps, it makes sense, as I was born under the Gemini zodiac sign in Mercury, the planet associated with strong communication skills. It started in grade school when I entertained my class with a made-up-as-I-went written saga.

“Oh sweetie, you don’t have to call yourself that!” says the woman in the long grocery line as we converse casually. She tells me she’s a local, having grown up in Salinas. My first job in TV news was in Salinas at the then NBC affiliate, KSBW, 50 years ago. She used to watch me on the news when she was a toddler.

Santa Cruz showing appreciation for all the people, places and things they hold near and dear