DISCOVER
SANTA CRUZ CALIFORNIA

Santa Cruz is unquestionably the quintessential California beach town - that's why it's been the setting for several movies, including The Lost Boys!

In fact, Santa Cruz was the original Surf City - it's where Hawaiian royalty first introduced surfing to the mainland!

Planning a Santa Cruz vacation? When you're ready to find a hotel, be sure to compare prices at HotelCombined before you book:

Santa Cruz Arcade and Boardwalk
Click here for more pictures of the Santa Cruz area

Second, Santa Cruz has that carnival atmosphere that we all associate with beach towns - it makes you feel like you've run away and joined the circus!

Fact is, there was a time when nearly every little town along the Northern California coast (including San Francisco) had its beach town area and amusement park. But, alas, Santa Cruz California is one of the last of its kind.

And, for the time being at least - perhaps because of its uniqueness - this little beach town seems hale and hearty. Which is good for all of us who like to indulge our nostalgia and who want to create that same nostalgia for our children and grandchildren!

You bet your sweet bippy!

Del Mar Theater in Santa Cruz (CC) Steve Rhodes

Explore Santa Cruz and you'll discover an attractive downtown shopping area with tree-lined streets, coffee houses, boutiques, outdoor bistros, sidewalk performers, and more.

Santa Cruz also has its Bohemian side - replete with untraditional lifestyles; the belief that impoverishment is desirable, especially for artists; anti-establishment political and social views - the hippies of today, if you will.

You'll find that Santa Cruz is a seriously Green city with a strong conservation ethic! If you want to do business in Santa Cruz California, you'd better be Green...

Santa Cruz also has a rich history, beautiful neighborhoods, fine wining and dining, well-preserved Victorians, theaters and galleries...

You'll surely want to visit Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. Besides the museum and the replica chapel, located near the original Mission site, The Holy Cross Church is still an active parish.

And Santa Cruz has bragging rights to the beautiful campus of UC Santa Cruz, which sits atop 2001 acres of rolling, forested hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Monterey Bay - one of the best views in all of Santa Cruz County!

Santa Cruz Roller Coaster

You might come originally for the Boardwalk - and do enjoy that experience because it's way too much fun - but also seek out the other Santa Cruz; the downtown, the parks and greenbelts, the cultural attractions and events, and the historic places. You won't be sorry that you did!

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