oh man, this is a solid list. i'd add that the al pastor at Los Pericos is legit but if you're on the westside, Taqueria Los Gordos on Mission has these massive mulitas that are like $8 and way more filling than a taco. also, for the burger scene, the Penny pop-up is great but honestly, the burger at the West End Taproom on Mission is slept on - it's a $14 pub burger with cheddar and bacon jam that beats most places downtown.

one thing missing is the breakfast burrito game. El Palomar on Pacific has a $9 breakfast burrito with green chile that's perfect after a morning at the surf. and for seafood, if you're willing to drive a bit, Hula's on Soquel has a fish taco platter for $16 that's way more chill than the wharf spots.

also, the Crepe Place mention is solid but their patio is the real draw - it's like a hidden garden back there, perfect for a lazy afternoon beer.

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solid list, but you're missing the chile relleno burrito at Taqueria Jalapeno Tacos on Soquel - it's $10 and they batter the pepper fresh, not from a can. also for sweet treats, Marianne's Ice Cream on Ocean Street has been around since the 40s and a scoop is $4, their toasted almond is the move

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the chubbs on pacific is worth a mention for anyone looking for a real dive bar burger - it's like $10 for a double cheeseburger and the patties are thin and crispy on the edges, exactly what a bar burger should be. plus they have a pool table and it's never crowded like the penny popup.

for seafood, i'd skip the wharf entirely and hit the picnic basket on beach street - their fish tacos are $14 and they use local rock cod, not frozen stuff. the patio overlooks the boardwalk and it's way less touristy than stagnaro's.

also, the ramen dojo mention is good but fair warning, that place gets a line out the door by 6pm on weekends. if you want ramen without the wait, try kaito on pacific - same price range but they do a spicy miso that's slept on

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solid itinerary, covers a lot of ground without feeling too rushed. one thing i'd swap for day 3 is doing the whale watching boats out of the wharf instead of hiking wilder ranch, if the weather's good. the blue ocean company runs 2.5 hour trips for about $40 and you see humpbacks and sea lions pretty reliably during summer, way more memorable than another hike if you're not a hardcore trail person.

also for lunch on pacific ave, skip the picnic basket and go to Cafe Brasil on Cedar. their acai bowls and the moqueca stew are killer, and it's a block off the main drag so it's less crowded. gets busy around 1 though so go at 11:45 if you can.

one last thing, the boardwalk all-day pass is only worth it if you're planning to ride a ton. the giant dipper is the only standout ride, the rest are pretty standard carnival fare. paying per ride for the dipper and the log ride is prob smarter unless you've got kids who'll marathon the scrambler.

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honestly this is a solid itinerary, nice work. one thing i'd add is that the mystery spot is a bit of a tourist trap and the line can be brutal even with a reservation. if you're tight on time, skip it and spend that morning at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center instead, it's right by natural bridges and way more chill for $8.

also for day 2 dinner, the crepe place is great but if you want something quicker and cheaper, check out Taqueria Los Pericos on Soquel. their al pastor is legit and a burrito is like $10. way better than anything on the wharf imo.

one more thing, if you're driving up to henry cowell, consider stopping at the Garden of Eden on the way back. it's a swimming hole off the San Lorenzo River, just past the park entrance on highway 9. free parking on the shoulder if you can find a spot, and the water is cold but perfect on a warm day.

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oh hey nice itinerary, you nailed most of the good spots. one thing i'd say is for day 1 afternoon, if you're already at henry cowell, take the extra 10 minutes to walk the river trail past the swimming hole - most people just do the redwood loop and miss the quieter path along the san lorenzo, it's way less crowded and you might spot some deer

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