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

Should you visit Santa Cruz or Avon?

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

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Avon? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a coastal, scenic, and laid back town. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

Avon

Avon is a outdoorsy, scenic, and active town. It's also known for skiing, nightlife, and food. See Avon travel costs.

Santa Cruz and Avon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Cruz or Avon?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Santa Cruz. Although Santa Cruz and Avon are both popular with visitors, Santa Cruz has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Santa Cruz is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Avon is known for its skiing and resorts. Santa Cruz is popular for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. It is also home to Santa Cruz Wharf. Avon is popular for it's affordable accommodation options and its access to Beaver Creek Ski Resort.

How is Santa Cruz different from Avon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Santa Cruz or Avon Better for Skiing?

Avon is notable for snow skiing. However, Santa Cruz is not a skiing destination.

Avon is an extremely popular place for snow skiing and other winter sports. Beaver Creek is the main ski area near town and it's about a mile away. The town of Avon is below Beaver Creek and is located beside an interstate.

Santa Cruz is not a skiing destination.

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

Santa Cruz is a good destination for its sights and museums. However, Avon is a mediocre town for its museums and history.

Santa Cruz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

While most people don't head to Avon specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. While there aren't a ton of museums in the area, it's worth checking out the Walking Mountains Science Center.

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

Both Santa Cruz and Avon offer good local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Cruz offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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.

Avon has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are casual eateries where you can grab a bite to eat, whether you're in the mood for Chinese, pizza, or burgers.

Is Santa Cruz or Avon Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz is notable for nightlife. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife and partying.

Santa Cruz has plenty to do after the sun goes down. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Avon. It's a small town but there are some bars and lively pubs where you can enjoy cold drinks.

Is Santa Cruz or Avon Better for Resorts?

Avon is a popular place for its resorts. However, Santa Cruz is not a resort destination.

Avon has a handful of resorts to choose from. There are the typical chain resort options, many with beautiful mountain views.

Santa Cruz is not a resort destination.

Is Santa Cruz or Avon Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is notable for its beaches. However, Avon 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.

Avon is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Cruz or Avon Better for Hiking?

If you're looking to go hiking, Santa Cruz and Avon both have good trails.

Santa Cruz is a good destination for hiking. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Many people include a hike when visiting Avon. There are paved trails and recreational paths through town that are great for both hiking and biking. The main ones are Eagle Valley Trail and the trails in West Avon Preserve.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Cruz or Avon?

Santa Cruz is a good destination for shopping. However, Avon is a mediocre town for its shopping opportunities.

Santa Cruz is a great destination for shopping. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

If you're looking to go shopping, Avon has some nice offerings. There aren't a ton of shopping opportunities in town, but there are enough shops around in case you need to pick up necessities or buy a gift.

Is Santa Cruz or Avon Better for Families?

Santa Cruz is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Cruz is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Avon is a family-friendly town. There are parks and playgrounds around town and there's easy access to the Beaver Creek Ski Resort. There's also plenty of hiking in the area.

Is Santa Cruz or Avon Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is notable for romance. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its romantic activities.

Santa Cruz is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Avon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. While avid skiers prefer to stay at nearby Beaver Creek, the town of Avon offers a good alternative.

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

Santa Cruz is a good destination for backpackers. However, Avon is a mediocre town 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.

Avon is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers prefer to stay closer to the ski facilities.

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

Avon is a popular place for its public transit. However, Santa Cruz is a mediocre town for times when you don't have a car.

Avon has a few public transit options. There are shuttles and buses that travel through town and to Beaver Creek.

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

Is Santa Cruz or Avon a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is a must-visit destination for its walkability. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its high level of walkability.

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

Avon is a somewhat walkable place. The town center is small and there are paved walking trails that you can use. It's possible to walk to restaurants or the recreation center, depending on where you're staying.

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

Should I spend more time in Avon or Santa Cruz?

How long in Santa Cruz or Avon?

It's fun to spend time in either Santa Cruz or Avon. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Avon due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Santa Cruz, and 2-4 days is enough time in Avon.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Avon 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 Santa Cruz or Avon?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Santa Cruz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

With food and skiing around the scenic town of Avon, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Santa Cruz or Avon?

Santa Cruz is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

With skiing and nightlife around the destination of Avon, 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 town.

Five days in Santa Cruz or Avon?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the laid back destination of Santa Cruz. This town offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Avon, a popular town, 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.

A week in Santa Cruz or Avon?

The laid back town of Santa Cruz offers nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Avon 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 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Cruz and Avon, we can see that Avon 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 Avon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Avon 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 Santa Cruz Expensive? and Is Avon Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Avon?

Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Avon. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and Avon, 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.