Santa Cruz and the Beach Boardwalk
This balmy beach-town playground on the Monterey Bay exudes carefree, fun-in-the-sun vibes. Just 70 miles south (a two-hour drive) of San Francisco, Santa Cruz draws many visitors in summertime to its historic Beach Boardwalk amusement park. Fronting the Beach Boardwalk is Main Beach (also known as Boardwalk Beach), a wide shoreline with shallow waters ideal for swimming, bodyboarding, and paddleboarding. The Main Beach is also a great place for sunbathing, building sandcastles, and playing beach volleyball. And it is one of the best day trips from San Francisco.
More remote beaches, like Sunset State Beach and Natural Bridges Beach offer peace and serenity. Other top tourist attractions in Santa Cruz include the Santa Cruz Mission, built in the late 18th century by Spanish missionaries; the downtown area for shopping and eating out; and the Santa Cruz Wharf for spotting sea lions, fishing, or dining at a seafood restaurant. For families with kids, Roaring Camp Railroads train rides offer a thrilling experience. The train rides take passengers through redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Website: beachboardwalk.com
Address: 400 Beach St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States
Phone: +1 831-423-5590
Entrance fee: no entrance fee
Google rating: 4.6/5.0
