University of California at Santa Cruz

This UC campus has a smaller student population (except for the brand new campus in [[Merced]]), with about 15,000 students. The main part of campus is spread over half of 2001 acres (8.1 square kilometers), mostly covered with redwood forests with the occasional stunning view of the bay. There is an '''[http://www2.ucsc.edu/arboretum/ UCSC Arboretum]''' specializing in native plants and plants from [[Australia]]. Mountain bike and hiking trails criss-cross the upper part of campus, connecting '''[http://www.santacruzstateparks.org/parks/wilder/ Wilder Ranch State Park]''' to '''[http://www.santacruzstateparks.org/parks/henrycowell/ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park]''' (''get a trail map and a parking permit from the kiosk as you enter campus''). The '''[http://slugstore.ucsc.edu/ Bay Tree Bookstore]''' sells clothes with the UCSC mascot – the banana slug. Keep your eyes open for mountain lions seen (but rarely) in undeveloped parts of the campus.