Entry No. 18 — the Santa Cruz file — filed under: outdoor
Sunset Beach Bowls at Moran Lake Beach
No studio walls involved: sound healer Kim Molloy hauls quartz crystal bowls and a harp onto the sand at Moran Lake Beach most Tuesdays around sunset, letting the actual Pacific surf supply the low end under the bowls. Good Times profiled the weekly beach sessions in 2024; locals just call it 'the bowls at Moran Lake.'
The story
Most sound baths happen in padded yoga studios with predictable indoor acoustics. Sound healer Kim Molloy skips the four walls entirely, hauling heavy quartz crystal bowls and a harp directly onto the sand at Moran Lake Beach in Live Oak. You stake out a patch of dirt or sand, and the acoustic pitch of frosted glass vibrates right alongside the low-frequency rumble of actual Pacific shorebreak.
It is a Tuesday sunset habit that locals simply call 'the bowls at Moran Lake.' Rather than drowning out the ocean, the surf acts as a natural sub-bass under the high shimmer of the crystal bowls and harp strings. As the afternoon light shifts to gold along East Cliff, the beach becomes a temporary open-air acoustic resonance chamber.
What it's like
Arrive at Moran Lake Beach about an hour before sunset on a Tuesday with a thick blanket or pad—the ocean sand gets cold fast the moment the sun dips. Look for Kim Molloy's setup right on the sand near the water. You'll lie flat on your back among a spread-out, quiet crowd for an hour of sound, then finish with a cold barefoot walk along the East Cliff bluffs after the last bowl stops ringing.
The move: Grab a blanket, get there as the light goes gold, and lie in the sand for an hour of crystal bowls, harp, and waves before a barefoot walk along the East Cliff bluffs.
- 📍 Live Oak
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: Moran Lake Beach, 22785 E Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Kiss My Glass — Pair hearing ringing quartz crystal on the sand with a stop at this 43-year-old shopfront on 7th Avenue packed with sheet glass and handmade beads.
- Avalon Visions Center for Creative Spirituality — Follow up the seaside sound vibration with an inland trip to Soquel for aura photography, tarot, and light-rig energy work.
- Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History — Head under two miles west down East Cliff Drive to check out local coastal taxidermy inside a historic Carnegie library by Seabright Beach.
- Tea House Spa — Thaw out after lying on the damp beach sand by booking a private redwood hot tub room in Downtown Santa Cruz.
Good to know
When do the beach bowl sessions happen?
They take place on Tuesdays, starting roughly one hour before sunset at Moran Lake Beach, though exact times shift with the time of year.
Where is the beach location?
The sessions are right on the sand at Moran Lake Beach along East Cliff Drive (22785 E Cliff Dr) in the Live Oak neighborhood.
What should I bring?
Bring extra warmth: a heavy blanket or sleeping pad to insulate you from damp sand, a windbreaker, and warm socks.
Do I need to buy a ticket in advance?
No, it is an open gathering held on public sand without studio doors or rigid check-in desks.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: goodtimes.sc · santacruz.com
last checked: 2026-07-20