Aptos Real Estate For Sale

A little about Aptos

Aptos is a relatively small but extremely scenic and interesting community found along the Pacific Coast of California. Aptos is situated in beautiful Santa Cruz County, and is technically an unincorporated census designated place of the Golden State. Aptos technically has a population of approximately nine thousand four hundred residents according to the official calculations of the Census Bureau, but estimates including all regions generally known to be parts of Aptos place that figure at roughly twenty five thousand. Aptos encompasses six main communities, which are Aptos Village, Seacliff, Rio Del Mar, Seascape, La Selva Beach, and Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, all of which are located on or off of Highway One. Aptos is a Native American name referring to the meeting of Valencia Creek and Aptos Creek, and was first settled by Europeans in the year eighteen thirty three. The historical legacy of Aptos centers heavily on ranching, cattle, hunting, logging, and apples. More recently, Aptos has been transformed into a more tourist-oriented community, as most notably evidenced by the construction of Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, Cabrillo College, and Seascape Resort.

Aptos is situated directly adjacent to the larger, incorporated community of Santa Cruz, ensuring a balance between convenience and independence from city life. In terms of recreational opportunities, Aptos is the place to find the Seacliff State Beach and the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, which are popular for such activities as swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, boating, fishing, mountain biking, birdwatching, hiking, and walking. Two popular annual events in Aptos are the Fourth of July’s “World’s Shortest Parade” and the Aptos Blues Festival. Local shopping and dining facilities include the Aptos Cinemas, Manuel’s Restaurant, Palapas and Sanderlings, Café Sparrow, Bittersweet Bistro, Brittania Arms, and Ma Maison. Local schools include Valencia Elementary, Rio Del Mar Elementary, Mar Vista Elementary, Aptos Junior High, Aptos High, Santa Cruz Montessori, Aptos Academy, and Cabrillo College. Aptos is located very close to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, while some notable residents of Aptos throughout the years are Dave Draper, Mark Eichhorn, Trent Dilfer, Keith Greeninger, Ellen Pirie, Jim Bunner, John J Montgomery, Daniel Henry Holmes Ingalls, Jr., Charles Harris, and Lou Harrison. Although Aptos itself offers plenty of things to see and do, the multifarious opportunities of the rest of Santa Cruz County are only a short drive away, ranging from large shopping malls and even more restaurants to fantastic parks and museums.