A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Greensboro vs. Santa Cruz for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Greensboro and Santa Cruz. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Greensboro

Greensboro is a under-rated, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums. See Greensboro travel costs.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a scenic, laid back, and coastal town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

Greensboro and Santa Cruz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Santa Cruz than Greensboro. While Greensboro is larger than Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Santa Cruz is more touristy than Greensboro and is known for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. It is also well known for Santa Cruz Wharf. Greensboro is famous for its interesting museums and diverse restaurants.

How is Greensboro different from Santa Cruz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Cruz and Greensboro. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Greensboro and Santa Cruz.

Greensboro offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The Greensboro Science Center is a highlight for families. Other interesting museums around town include the Elsewhere Modern Art Museum, the Greensboro History Museum, the International Civil Rights Center, and the Weatherspoon Art Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Santa Cruz. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

Is the Food Better in Greensboro or Santa Cruz? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Cruz is a good destination for its restaurant scene. However, Greensboro is not particularly known for its local flavors and cuisine.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Santa Cruz. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

Greensboro may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. You'll find a good selection of restaurants around town with Mexican, southern, Italian, and Chinese all being popular options.

Is Greensboro or Santa Cruz Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz is well known for nightlife and partying. Also, Greensboro is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Santa Cruz is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

If you're looking for night time activities Greensboro has a few options to choose from. Head downtown for the most trendy bars, breweries, and nightclubs.

Is Greensboro or Santa Cruz Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is well known for the beach. However, Greensboro is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Santa Cruz for it's beautiful beaches. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

Greensboro is not a beach destination.

Is Greensboro or Santa Cruz Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is a good destination for its hiking experiences. However, Greensboro is not a hiking destination.

Santa Cruz offers some nice hiking trails. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Greensboro is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Santa Cruz and Greensboro.

Greensboro offers some nice shopping areas. There are shopping centers and shopping malls around town as well as some interesting local boutiques.

Santa Cruz has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Is Greensboro or Santa Cruz Better for Families?

Santa Cruz is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Greensboro is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Cruz is a very kid-friendly town. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

Greensboro offers lots of family activities. Kids will love visiting the Greensboro Science Center, which has hands-on science exhibits and a small zoo. Younger kids will also enjoy a visit to the Miriam P. Brenner Children’s Museum. During the summer months the Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Water Park is a great way to spend a day. Other times of the year, there are indoor play spaces and movie theaters around town.

Is Greensboro or Santa Cruz Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is well known for its romantic activities. However, Greensboro is not particularly known for couples.

Couples visit Santa Cruz frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

Greensboro is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The Carolina Theater makes a great date night activity. There is also a diverse selection of restaurants around town and a few parks for a daytime outing.

Is Greensboro or Santa Cruz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Cruz is a good destination for backpackers. However, Greensboro is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Santa Cruz. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

Greensboro is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a number of budget hotels nearby but no real hostels.

Is Greensboro or Santa Cruz Better for Students?

Greensboro is a popular place for students. However, Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

Greensboro is a good city to visit for students. University of North Carolina at Greensboro attracts students to the city. There are also several smaller colleges in the area.

Santa Cruz is not popular with students.

Is Greensboro or Santa Cruz Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Greensboro and Santa Cruz.

Public transit is generally limited in Greensboro. There are several bus routes around town, but you really can depend on them to get where you're going. A car is important for making the most of your trip.

Public transit is mostly limited in Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Greensboro or Santa Cruz a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is a must-visit destination for its high level of walkability. However, Greensboro is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Santa Cruz on foot is easy. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

Greensboro is generally not a very walkable city. Most areas aren't walkable, but for the most pedestrian-friendly sections head to College Hill, downtown, or Brice Street.

For even more information, also check out Is Greensboro Worth Visiting? and Is Santa Cruz Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Cruz or Greensboro?

How long in Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Greensboro or Santa Cruz to fill your time. In our opinion, Santa Cruz has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Santa Cruz than Greensboro. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Greensboro. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Santa Cruz, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Greensboro. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Santa Cruz that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Greensboro if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Santa Cruz.

One day in Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

With museums and nightlife around the welcoming city of Greensboro, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Greensboro, one day is sufficent for most.

With museums and nightlife around the laid back town of Santa Cruz, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Santa Cruz, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

With nightlife and shopping around the destination of Greensboro, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Santa Cruz, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Five days in Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

Greensboro, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Santa Cruz, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

Greensboro is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Santa Cruz is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Greensboro and Santa Cruz, we can see that Greensboro is more expensive. And not only is Santa Cruz much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Cruz would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Cruz and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Greensboro would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Greensboro than you might in Santa Cruz.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Greensboro Expensive? and Is Santa Cruz Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

Greensboro has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Santa Cruz. When comparing the sizes of Greensboro and Santa Cruz, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Greensboro or Santa Cruz?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Greensboro or Santa Cruz in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Greensboro and Santa Cruz. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Greensboro this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Santa Cruz for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Greensboro is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Greensboro average around 81°F (27°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

Greensboro gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Greensboro usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Greensboro gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Greensboro or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Greensboro as well as Santa Cruz. Many travelers come to Greensboro for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Santa Cruz in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Greensboro is around the same temperature as Santa Cruz in the autumn. The daily temperature in Greensboro averages around 62°F (17°C) in October, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

Greensboro usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Greensboro gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Greensboro or Santa Cruz in the Winter?

Both Santa Cruz and Greensboro are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Greensboro in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Greensboro can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Greensboro is much colder than Santa Cruz. Typically, the winter temperatures in Greensboro in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 51°F (10°C).

In January, Greensboro usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Greensboro gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Greensboro or Santa Cruz in the Spring?

Both Santa Cruz and Greensboro during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Cruz because of the beaches.

In April, Greensboro is generally a little warmer than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Greensboro average around 61°F (16°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

Greensboro usually gets more rain in April than Santa Cruz. Greensboro gets 3.1 inches (80 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Greensboro