At this stop, you’ll visit a small-batch, from-scratch creamery that locals line up for. Everything is made in-house using seasonal ingredients, with flavors that rotate regularly — which means what you try here might not even be available next month. This is where craft meets creativity. Expect bold fruit-forward scoops, deeply balanced cream flavors, and textures that feel noticeably fresher than mass-market ice cream. It’s the kind of place visitors rarely stumble into on their own — and one locals quietly protect. Because flavors change with the season, every visit feels slightly different. That’s part of the fun. You’ll sample a few options first, then choose your own full scoop — so you walk away with something you genuinely love.

Next up is a downtown cookie institution that’s been fueling Santa Cruz sugar cravings for decades. Known for baking oversized, gooey cookies throughout the day, this stop is all about warm, soft centers, crisp edges, and that unmistakable fresh-from-the-oven smell the second you walk in. But this isn’t just a cookie stop. It’s where things get stacked. Think house-made ice cream pressed between two just-baked cookies — the kind of handheld dessert that requires both hands and zero regrets. This spot brings pure nostalgia with serious volume. Portions are generous, flavors rotate daily, and the combinations feel almost unfair in the best way. You’ll sample first, then build or choose your own full dessert — so you leave with exactly what you’re craving.