Besides barns, old windmills, gas stations, covered bridges, and grist mills are popular for art and photography. Jim Harrison's work can be seen at-
http://www.jimharrison.com/
I see that he has now posted his lastest work, "Cotton Fields". Now where do you suppose he got cotton plant fields to use as a model, lol?
Tip: When out and about for a drive, stop and get shots of different planting fields (including orchards). Keep them as stock photos. I had a school textbook company ask me for shots of peanut fields about four years ago. I didn't have any and never thought to take any.
You know that you are hooked on photography when you are driving down the road and you frame everything you see as a photograph. Anyone else doing that? Probably not safe for driving but its hard not to once you start. Flashing blue lights come ready framed in the rearview mirror (no experience here).
I bet Santa Cruz has changed. I did get through there for one day in 1978 and it was quite grown up then. Even got up to the Big Trees park by Felton once. Spent a lot of time there as a tiny tot since my grandparents owned a giftshop/snackbar on site in the 40s. It was no longer there and a new place built nearby.