New Brighton's Pacific Migrations Visitor Center is Open Again

Spring is here and the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach is open for business again. Welcome back to lead interpreter, Jeff Barnes.
If you have not seen the engaging and informative displays, stop by and treat yourself!
The center is now open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 4:00.

As Summer approaches, hours will increase and you can expect some great entertainment around the campfire during the summer months.

The parkstore has a new look this season. Check out the fun and unique new apparel as well as the favorites from last year. Members receive a 15% discount in all Friends stores. All proceeds go to support educational programs in our local California State Parks.
Good Health, Extreme Happiness, Good Fortune!

Our Newest Wholesale Customer

Some of you may not have yet discovered Epicenter Cycling in Aptos which opened in December. The store, conveniently located at the entrance to Nisene Marks State Park, is the Santa Cruz area home for all Trek Brand bicycles and bicycle service. It also features a great assortment of accessories for the mountain biker.
We feel this is a great outlet for our Nisene Marks "That's My Park" t-shirts and the trail maps for Nisene Marks and Wilder Ranch. Thanks to owner, Shawn Wilson for giving us the opportunity.


Stop in when you are in the neighborhood, take a look around and tell them "Friends" sent you.
For store hours and a map, you can visit the Epicenter Cycling website here.

The Fused Glass Art of Woventime Studio

Susan Bradshaw's fused glass sealife designs, alive with light and color, have been extremely popular with visitors at Seacliff and Natural Bridges. The line includes jellyfish, sea stars, sea turtles, fish and ocean waves. Packaged in mat board frames and secure for travelers, they are clearly individual works of art. Once they come out of the package and are placed in a window, that is when the magic of the art of fused glass really comes to life. Susan lives and works in North Monterey County. For more about Susan and Woventime Studio, visit her website here.

That's My Shark

On January 22nd a young swell shark pup was born in the aquarium at Seacliff State Beach. Perhaps you read this article on the front page of the Santa Cruz Sentinel. Or watched this video on the Sentinel's website.

Already many visitors have come to meet the shark. We wanted to commemorate the event with a t-shirt. The new shirts arrived this week and are now available for purchase in the parkstore at Seacliff State Beach. They are available in youth and adult sizes. Just for fun, we are also offering several choices of shark socks to go with them!


So many wonderful suggestions were made by visitors and volunteers as to what the shark should be named. Final selection will be made by local elementary school students. To keep informed, become a fan of Seacliff State Beach on Facebook.

I ♥ Parks

Just in time for Valentines Day, our parkstores at Natural Bridges and Seacliff are featuring "Hearts for the Parks" made by local fiber artist Robin West. Each pin is a tiny work of wearable art hand stitched from lovely fabric remnants and embellished with beads, buttons, lace and yarn.
Show your love for parks by wearing your heart on your sleeve, or lapel, or backpack, or wherever you might need a little color.
Robin has been a park visitor since her childhood years and has fond memories of camping at Big Basin every year with her parents as well as many other state and national parks. Many remember her for her Santa Cruz shop "Round Robin Fabrics" which she closed a few years ago to pursue other fabric intensive interests. She currently works from her home studio in Aptos.
Join Robin and Friends in showing your love for the parks.

Think Local First

Last week "Friends" became the newest member of Think Local First - County of Santa Cruz.
Started in 2007, this organization is "a network of independent and locally owned businesses and community organizations joining together to promote economic vitality and preserve the unique character of our community." You may have noticed the above logo in many storefront windows throughout the county.
We are looking forward to being a part of this great organization as we work to promote our local State Parks here in Santa Cruz County. For more information, visit the TLF website.
When you think local first, remember that Friends has 5 parkstores filled with interesting books, educational toys, parks apparel, notecards, gifts and jewelry. The stores are located in the visitor centers at the following parks: Wilder Ranch, Natural Bridges, Santa Cruz Mission, New Brighton and Seacliff.

Save Our State Parks

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has been working hard to rally folks in the area to tell the Governor and Legislator to keep State Parks open. It has been overwhelming the support our community with over 600 folks attending the Save Our State Parks Rally at Natural Bridges on June 1st and 40 people coming up to Sacramento with us to testify before the budget committee June 2nd.