Category: Santa Cruz
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Cement Ship at Seacliff Beach
Many days of my childhood were spent lounging the length of the pier at the Cement Ship. I can still smell the bait of the fisherman and the birds swooping in to steal a fish here and there. The SS Palo Alto was built as a 434 foot tanker at the end of WW1 in…
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Lighthouse Point
Cowell Beach offers gentle, rolling waves that make it a popular spot for those learning the sport of surfing. A bit farther down West Cliff Drive, the prominent Lighthouse, at Lighthouse Point, houses the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. This landmark overlooks the renowned surfing spot, Steamer Lane. The waves at Steamer Lane have been the…
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Santa Cruz Wharf
The Santa Cruz Wharf is located on the north side of the legendary Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk. Casual fish-house restaurants and fine-dining establishments are perched atop the weathered pillars that bare evidence of the past. Expansive views of ocean life and colorful lights of Boardwalk rides are commonplace with any venue at this location.…
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Pacific Avenue Santa Cruz
A mere stroll from the beach you will find Pacific Avenue, the central business district of downtown Santa Cruz, known as Pacific Garden Mall. True to its name, this quaint street is lined with trees and greenery as the influence of its proximity is felt in the array of sea-themed products inhabiting various shops and…
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Natural Bridges State Park
West Cliff Drive stretches along the coast to Natural Bridges State Park, forming the northern boundary of the Monterey Bay. Named for its naturally eroded, sandstone arches in 1900, Natural Bridges demonstrates the ominous strength and power of nature as only one arch remains. The irony of nature is not lost as this powerful architecture…
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Monarch Butterfly Preserve
One of the most obvious symbols of the fragility of nature at Natural Bridges is the annual migration of the Monarch butterfly to the moderate climate of the California coast. The Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve provides shelter for this winter event as over 100,000 Monarchs travel approximately 2,000 miles to descend on this area from…
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Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk
The Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk, home of the famous “Giant Dipper” roller coaster, has been providing thrills and family entertainment for 100 years. The Boardwalk has over 30 rides and four arcades with both vintage and state-of-the art games and machines. There are 15 shops for souvenirs or beach attire and a multitude of…