Santa Cruz: Beach Boardwalk and Surf Culture

image-1771086939

Overview

Santa Cruz is warm, sunny, and built around a beach. It has the boardwalk, well-known surf breaks, a downtown with a mix of shops, and redwood forests in the hills above. It works as a full day out.

Getting There

About 1.5 hours from San Francisco via Highway 17 over the Santa Cruz Mountains. The mountain road is winding but scenic. On summer weekends, traffic can be heavy, so leave early. Highway 1 along the coast is a slower alternative.

The Boardwalk

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, founded in 1907, is the only major seaside amusement park remaining on the West Coast and California’s oldest surviving amusement park. The Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster has been running since 1924 and is a National Historic Landmark. Admission to the boardwalk is free, and you only pay for rides.

Beyond the Beach

Downtown Pacific Avenue has shopping and places to eat. You can watch surfers at Steamer Lane, visit the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, walk through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park (15 minutes from town), or explore the UC Santa Cruz campus for ocean views from the cliffs.