Winter in Santa Cruz County offers some special reasons to visit! Here are our top ways to enjoy the area during winter: 1️⃣ Mushroom Hunting 🍄 Mushroom hunting is a huge part of the Santa Cruz local culture in the winter months when higher rains lead to mushroom booms in the forests! 2️⃣ Monarch Butterflies 🦋 Natural Bridges State Beach, is one of the best spots for butterfly viewing, visitors can see the butterflies cluster on the eucalyptus branches. 3️⃣ King Tides / Tidepooling 🦀 King Tid