Random Cool Spots at UCSC
This last week that I’ve been working every day on campus, I’ve come across a lot of new students exploring their surroundings, trying to find their classrooms before classes start next week. And it was very refreshing to see the way their expressions changed as they all became amazed at they sights in front of them.
To any new person coming to UCSC for the first time, campus appears to be an endless forest where it’s easy to get lost. To some extent that’s very true, however, as you become more familiarized with the school as the quarters go by, you’ll realize how easy it is to know your way around campus and how it is full of cool random spots that beg to be discovered.
In the two years that I stayed living on campus there were many nice spots I came across during my random hikes. Although there is still a lot more I need to explore and discover deep in the forest of UCSC, the following were my favorite spots where I enjoyed both peaceful moments of insight and good times of fun with friends:
The Amphitheater
This amphitheater hasn’t been open for public use in years due to safety concerns, so it is mainly used by students looking for a quiet spot to relax in. Located before the Quarry Plaza, this amphitheater is a great spot to go to, especially at night for stargazing.
I remember making many trips to this place, both during the day time and nighttime–when I was a freshman at College Ten–using this place mainly to practice a scene for my acting class. Also, this is the final spot of the Porter night hike that the CAs carry out during move-in days, where they end up at the path behind the amphitheater, and give very inspirational speeches about letting go of fear and prejudices.
Pogonip Meadow
You can find this meadow by going through the path leading to Pogonip either through Stevenson or from Upper Campus through College Ten. Ideal for a picnic, if you’re looking for a spot that feels a bit more intimate than the Porter meadow, then this is definitely the perfect place for you. This meadow is a lot smaller than the Porter meadow, so you’ll be surrounded by trees all around with no sight of buildings or CSOs. Just remember to go there before sundown (before 5 pm/6 pm), since its is against the law to be there when there is no sun out, and the park ranger will definitely remind you to go home.
The Buddha Pit
I don’t recall exactly how to get here since I stumbled upon it one day by accident, but I know this is somewhere on Upper Campus. It is extremely recognizable once you find it. The pit is full of forts with Buddha statues and dream catchers everywhere. Since this is in Upper Campus, it is mainly surrounded by trees, making it a really private spot.
So for any Buddhist enthusiasts out there, this is a great place to go to if you want to add to the collection of Buddhas or if you’re looking for a cool place to meditate.
Outside McHenry Library
The grass area located outside of McHenry is one of my favorite spots to relax in–especially between classes–since it’s so close to everything without requiring a long hike into the forest. I really like how it has hills rather than just flatness to it, so if you ever feel like it, you can go to the top and roll your way to the bottom. This is really fun to do during the Naked Run that happens every first rain of the year when it’s easy to just slide down the hills. Once you’re done relaxing here, you can walk to class within 10 minutes with no need to wait around for the bus.
Roof of the Music Center
Another one of my favorite spots that don’t require a long hike! This roof is easy to go since the roof ends up at the same level of the sidewalk, so it’s not really a restricted area. During the day time you get a really nice view of the Monterey Bay, and during nighttime the lights of Santa Cruz decorate the view. This general area is also considered the highest point on campus, so it is perfect for stargazing. For this reason, the astronomy classes advise people living on campus to go here if there are ever any eclipses or celestial bodies in sight. Last year, this was the spot I went to during the lunar eclipse, however, it was really hard to see anything due to the heavy fog that is characteristic of Santa Cruz. Either way, it’s really cool to have easy access to a roof, so this spot is really worth checking out.
The Treehouse
Finally, the ultimate spot, the Treehouse.
I know it is common tradition to keep the location of this place somewhat of a secret, so I won’t tell exactly how to get there. This treehouse is really high, so if you ever find it and decide to climb it all the way to the top, make sure to have proper footwear and be extremely careful both on your way up and down. It is somewhat difficult to climb, since the school cut off a lot of the bottom branches in order to prevent people from climbing.
Either way, Banana Slugs are clever, so they set up an alternative method to climb it using large pieces of wood. I must admit, I didn’t climb it all the way, since it was really hard to use the wood pieces, but this year I’ll get there. I bet the view of the forest from the top is beautiful.
The truly amazing part is that there are so many more cool spots on campus that I didn’t write about. Although it’s fun to be in the dorms and apartments, actually make the time to leave the comfort of your home and explore these spots and the rest of campus. You will not be disappointed, and I assure you, if you are someone who enjoys nature, you’ll love to hang out in those places more than your room.
So to the new people that I saw throughout this week, I want to welcome you all to UCSC and have fun exploring!