Quarry Plaza and Amphitheater

Quarry Plaza is the heart of campus, a central hangout spot that includes the campus store, a café, the Student Union, student organizations, and more. Here you will often see fundraisers, protests, recruitments, and concerts. 

Quarry Amphitheater is the largest outdoor amphitheater in the Santa Cruz area, hosting convocations, rallies, and performances. The storied venue is also one of the most uniquely designed. Carved from a former lime quarry, tucked within redwoods and amidst rocky outcroppings, the asymmetrical terrace design offers breathtaking views.

East Field and athletic facilities

The views go for days from UC Santa Cruz’s East Field, an expanse of green including baseball fields, an ultimate Frisbee course, sand volleyball courts, and more, all overlooking the Monterey Bay and ringed by a walking and running track—and, of course, contemplative benches.

Farm and Garden

The UCSC Farm and Alan Chadwick Garden are beloved nurturing grounds for both students and plants, providing training and research in organic horticulture and agriculture. Students, faculty, and researchers use both the Farm and Garden as research and teaching sites, and they are both open to the public.

Arboretum & Botanic Garden

The UCSC Arboretum is on a mission: to connect people with plants. This living museum is full of rare and unique plant species, and has long contributed to conservation research. There’s also a gift and garden shop, tours, and events.

Coastal Science Campus

The UC Santa Cruz Coastal Science Campus is at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, three miles from the main campus, and includes research and educational facilities that support coastal conservation, marine biology, ecology, habitat restoration, and environmental policy.

The Seymour Marine Discovery Center—where you can learn about marine life in Monterey Bay, touch a shark, and discover the science behind natural events—is open to the public. 

Art galleries

The Institute of the Arts and Sciences galleries are off-campus, state-of-the-art facilities showcasing the institute’s groundbreaking exhibitions and programs, highlighting the work of major national and international artists working to address the most pressing issues of our day at the intersection of the arts and social justice.

On campus, the Mary Porter Sesnon Art Gallery and the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery include work by contemporary artists and important collections of historic interest. 

There are also several smaller galleries at various campus sites, libraries, and coffeehouses.