Title: The Mystery Spot, Santa Cruz, CA
Preparation: Address: 465 Mystery Spot Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95065. It locates in the redwoods in Santa Cruz. Tickets: you have to order it online in advance to select which time slot you are going to visit. The spots are limited. Every 15 minutes, they only take 25 people at most. Do not think you can walk in and buy the ticket there and join the tour. I've seen there were a couple of families who did not buy tickets online in advance, could not get in. Hours: Mon - Fri 9AM - 6PM Sat - Sun 9AM - 8PM Ticket $8 / person Parking: $5 / car It's better to go there early when it is not crowded. It would be good to pack some picnic food , drink, and snacks. The yard there have a few picnic tables and benches. They do have vending machine, a gift shop, and some snack/food court. For sure if you are hungry, you can buy chips with sauce, Indian appetizers, etc.
General opinion: It's worth to go. It's OK for all ages as long as they can walk through the small hill slope ( about 1 or 2 minutes). Strollers will not be easy to visit the tilted house but it could be parked outside of the mystery circle.
Attractions and activities: Tilted house: it was slid down and tilted from the 10 feet higher place to the current level after the house has been built. The tour takes about 45 minutes. The tour guides demonstrate how a small ball rolls up, water flows up. In the mystery spot, the gravity at the center of the mystery circle is different which cannot be explained by the regular physics law. Somehow in the center of the mystery spot, there is a force pushing things outward. you may feel slight dizeness but it is very mild, you do not need to worry about it. The tour guides show the level and do some visual experiements with the audience. When you stand in one side of a line, you feel taller; in the other side, you feel shorter. You are not allowed to see the titled house without joining the tour. There is no additional charge. 2. Trails; there is abut one mIle loop trail, about 35 to 40 minutes walk distance. Note: in the mystery spot attraction area, there is no cellphone signal. You may not be able to do GPS on Your phone when you are going back. After a 3 to 5 minutes drive, you will have the signal.
Commute: The entrance road is very bumpy, half paved, very narrow. It is not easy to have 2 cars parallel in and out but it is less than 100 meters. You will be guided to the available parking space after you entered.
Things I wish I had known before: It would be good to visit some other places such as Santa Cruz boardwalk, Seabright State Beach, or Wilder Ranch State Park. We visited the Wilder Ranch State Park which has very beautiful coastal line ocean view. It is about 15 - 18 minutes drive from the Mystery Spot. See details: http://www.youishare.com/search/yanz/Wilder_Ranch_State_Park__Santa_Cruz__California/MTQzOnlhbnotMTA0