Coastal living in Aptos
The name says it all: Seacliff is where residents can walk out the front door and take in the ocean views from seaside bluffs that overlook Monterey Bay. Locals who walk down to the beach are greeted with the sound of waves, colorful beach umbrellas and dolphins bobbing along in the surf. While Seacliff is just 8 miles south of the city of Santa Cruz, its beaches aren't much of a tourist destination by comparison. "It's very popular for families and locals. We also get some people coming over the hill from Silicon Valley," says Realtor Darren Houser of Bailey Properties, who lives in Seacliff.
Beaches, bluffs and ocean vistas
Seacliff State Beach is a wide beach that stretches for miles beneath chaparral- and wildflower-covered cliffs. Families flock to the beach on weekend, bringing beach towels, boogie boards and picnic baskets. It used to have a fishing pier that led to the SS Palo Alto, a crumbling U.S. naval vessel that is permanently docked on the shoreline. A major storm in January 2023 destroyed parts of the pier and the ship, leading county officials to remove the pier from the oceanfront entirely. What’s left of the ship still stands — it's become a popular perch for seagulls and cormorants.
At the heart of the community is Seacliff Village County Park, a local outdoor space with a skatepark, playground and a small walking loop. Just a mile-and-a-half north of the neighborhood is The Forest of Nisene State Park, a dense woodland filled with deep-green redwood groves and Douglas firs. Dozens of trails allow for long, looping hikes across steep slopes and mountain brooks. “If you’re into running, hiking or mountain biking, it’s just breathtaking,” says Realtor Amy Jeske of Coldwell Banker Realty, a longtime Aptos resident.
Eclectic, seaside homes
Homes in Seacliff are situated in the coastal highlands above the oceanfront. “It’s not a subdivision where you only have four home styles. It’s all over the board," Houser says. While the neighborhood’s residential streets typically don’t have sidewalks, they are usually free of through traffic. Lush landscaping, tall palm trees and beach scrub are a common sight here. Most of the homes were built between the 1920s and 1960s, and have seen additions, updates and renovations over the years. It’s typical for small beach bungalows to sell for between $800,000 and $1.3 million. Larger homes and those with bigger yards list for between $1.3 million and $3 million.
Local businesses and more in Seacliff and Aptos
Seacliff has a small, commercial strip near the cliffs that feels like something out of an old movie. “It’s right at the entrance to Seacliff State Beach. It’s a very popular corner; a lot of the restaurants have been there for decades,” Jeske says. The Sno White Drive-In, in operation since 1957, is an old school eatery known for its burgers, fries and milkshakes. Across the street, Marianne’s Ice Cream has been a local institution for frozen treats since 1947. Manuel’s Mexican is a local favorite for Central American cuisine that opened its doors in 1965; nearly 60 years later, it still brings a crowd for dinner on the weekends. For everything else, Rio Del Mar Shopping Center is less than a mile away and has an array of restaurants, shops and a Safeway grocery store.
Highly rated schools in Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Students in Seacliff attend some of the highest rated schools in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Young students attend Mar Vista Elementary School, a former winner of the California Distinguished Schools Award that holds a B-minus rating from Niche, before moving on to B-rated Aptos Junior High School. Upperclassmen attend A-minus-rated Aptos High School, where students have plenty of options for clubs, sports and afterschool activities.
Getting around Seacliff and beyond
Seacliff is bordered at its northern edge by State Route 1, a major regional commuter corridor that connects with Santa Cruz and Monterey. Traffic can be hectic and heavy during rush hour as people leave and return for work. The neighborhood is served by Santa Cruz Metro bus lines for those who prefer public transit. The nearest hospital is Dominican Hospital, about 5 miles west in the City of Santa Cruz.
Need to know
Seacliff is at an increased risk of flooding because of its proximity to the ocean. Several major storms have damaged its beaches and infrastructure in recent years, including in 2023, when a storm swept away the Seacliff State Beach’s campground. California State Parks began a wide-ranging study in 2024 to better understand the effect global sea level rise will have on the beach's shoreline, and to determine the best way to mitigate its impacts.
