Beach to Boardwalk: A Family Getaway to Santa Cruz
One of the great things about living in Northern California is the fact that there's no shortage of fantastic places to visit that are only a short drive away. A destination we love to visit for its beaches, stunning views, laid-back attitude, and world-famous Boardwalk amusement park is the seaside town of Santa Cruz.
The quintessential California beachside town, Santa Cruz is an ideal place for a family getaway for a long weekend, with plenty for everyone to do. We also love the fact that Santa Cruz is only about two hours away by car — a road trip distance that everyone can manage without getting too cranky or rambunctious.
There's so much to do there that we can't possibly cover everything in one short article, so here are a few of our favorite highlights for a family visit on summer vacation, spring break, or any other time of year.
Photo: Dream Inn
Where to Stay in Santa Cruz: The Dream Inn
When my family and I visit Santa Cruz, we want to stay somewhere where we can just spend the day relaxing and taking in the seaside atmosphere. While the town has countless lodging options for every budget and taste, we always stay at the incredible Dream Inn, a retro-chic hotel with a surfing vibe and stunning ocean views. It's located right on Cowell Beach and it's a short walk from the fun at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Every room in the hotel faces Monterey Bay and, in fact, the Dream Inn is the only hotel in Santa Cruz located right on the beach!
The hotel building itself dates from the 1960s, and has a retro-chic, mid-century-modern style that's perfect for a place like Santa Cruz. On our last stay, our ocean-view "Cloud" room on the eighth floor had a stunning view of the Boardwalk, wharf, and beach.
We spent a lot of time sitting on our private patio watching the surfers, sea lions, and sea otters in the water just off Cowell Beach. There's nothing like falling asleep to the sound of the breaking waves on the beach below.
The Dream Inn is stylish, casual, and family friendly, just like a beach hotel should be. The focal point of the hotel is a year-round heated pool with stairs that lead right onto Cowell Beach from the pool deck. There's a poolside bar and street taco stand and lots of comfy seating, umbrellas, and fire pits that encourage lounging by the pool and the beach.
Our spotless and spacious room had a big TV, mini fridge, a Keurig coffee maker, and its own private deck overlooking the ocean. Front desk staff, and everyone we met at the Dream Inn, for that matter, was friendly, efficient, and went out of their way to make our stay a fantastic one.
In all, we always have a delightful experience here and strongly recommend it for a Santa Cruz splurge that the whole family can enjoy. For rates, availability, and more info, visit www.dreaminnsantacruz.com or call (831) 740-8069.
Visiting the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The big attraction for visitors to Santa Cruz is the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This venerable seaside amusement park has been delighting families since it opened back in 1907. It's California's oldest amusement park, and features a variety of rides and attractions both classic and modern.
I used to visit the Boardwalk often when I was young, so it's a nostalgic experience for me. It also features prominently in one of my favorite '80s movies, the Brat-Pack teen vampire flick The Lost Boys. In fact, visiting the Boardwalk is kind of like stepping back into the '80s or '90s, but in a good way.
The Boardwalk is anchored by the classic wooden Giant Dipper roller coaster, which has been thrilling riders since 1924. Our favorite ride is another classic: the 1911 Looff Carousel. This historic carousel is one of only a handful of Looff carousels left in existence, and is surrounded by antique mechanical band organs that provide an appropriate musical accompaniment while you ride.
It's also one of the few carousels anywhere that has a brass ring dispenser. This device — which gave rise to the saying "grab the brass ring" — lets riders on the outer ring of carousel horses grab a small metal ring as they ride past. You can then try to throw the ring into a target in the shape of a clown's mouth.
Other rides include the Haunted House, the Cave Train, Ghost Blasters, the Logger's Revenge flume ride, and the family Sea Serpent roller coaster. There a plenty of hair-raising thrill rides for those so inclined, as well as gentle but fun kiddie rides for the little ones.
In addition to rides, there's the large Casino Arcade in the old Cocoanut Grove building, midway games of skill, and plenty of carnival-style food (deep fried Oreos, anyone?). Don't miss the Neptune's Kingdom indoor amusement area, which includes the pirate-themed Buccaneer's Bay miniature golf course. This two-story 18-hole course features three neat black light holes, too, and is a lot of fun. The entrance to Neptune's Kingdom is presided over by the original Laffing Sal from San Francisco's long-gone Playland at the Beach amusement park.
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is not exactly Disneyland, but it's closer, much less expensive, and has an old-fashioned charm of its own. Admission to the Boardwalk itself is free — you can come and hang out all day if you want — but you buy tickets for the rides, which cost between 4 and 7 tickets each. You can also get a wristband ($44.95–$79.95) that entitles you to unlimited rides all day long or a prepaid Boardwalk Card; buying wristbands or cards online no later than a day before your visit saves you a lot of money, so it pays to plan ahead. If you're staying at the Dream Inn, you can also buy discounted wristbands there.
During the summer the Boardwalk often presents free concerts and movie screenings on the beach. My kids had a blast at the Boardwalk, and wanted to go back every day to experience it again.
Not all rides may be operating, depending on the season; the popular Cave Train rides is only open on weekends during spring break. All-day parking at the Boardwalk lots costs $15–$35, depending on date and season, but street parking is available in the area, too.
Family Dining in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz offers too many options for family dining to list, but here are some of our favorites. A great choice for an unforgettable meal is the Jack O'Neill Restaurant located in the Dream Inn. Paying homage to Santa Cruz's eponymous surfing legend, Jack O'Neill emphasizes locally grown and produced ingredients and fresh-caught Pacific seafood and, like the hotel, has awesome ocean views to accompany your breakfast, brunch, or dinner. We found the prices to be really reasonable for the quality of the food, and they have a great children's menu.
For an inexpensive meal, check out the the local chain Pizza My Heart, which offers award-winning pizza by the slice or whole in a fun surf shack atmosphere. We also love Hula's Island Grill, a laid back, family-friendly spot for Hawaiian-style fare and tropical cocktails in a retro tiki bar setting. It's also fun to check out the seafood places on the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf; we like Stagnaro Bros., a classic old-school Italian-American fish house with a neat nautical decor. It's touristy but the service is always great and the seafood is fresh.
Other Things to Do in Santa Cruz
If you get tired of the Boardwalk, check out some of Santa Cruz's other sights and experiences. Just west of town is Natural Bridges State Beach, which offers beautiful beaches and amazing rock formations. Along the way, you'll see walking paths that are perfect for a seaside stroll, as well as the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, housed in an old lighthouse.
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary operates a visitor center at 35 Pacific Avenue, with state-of-the-art exhibits and interactive displays that highlight this amazing underwater environment. Admission is free, and it's open Wednesday–Sunday from 10 am–5 pm. UC Santa Cruz operates the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, a hands-on marine science center that's currently open outdoors only on Saturdays.
Other fun Santa Cruz experiences for the family include the Mystery Spot, a classic roadside attraction in the redwood forest where the laws of physics seem to go haywire, and the Roaring Camp Railroads in nearby Felton, which offers steam-engine-drawn train rides through the redwoods as well as excursion trains that travel to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
If You Go
Santa Cruz is approximately a two-hour drive from Marin. Take Highway 101 south across the Golden Gate Bridge and turn off onto Highway 1 at the Park Presidio/19th Avenue exit. Take 19th Avenue to Interstate 280, which you'll follow down the Peninsula toward San Jose. Exit onto Highway 85 in Cupertino and follow it until you get to Highway 17, which you'll take south up over the Santa Cruz Mountains. Highway 17 will merge with Highway 1, which you can take into Santa Cruz.
The Dream Inn is located at 175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. To get there, take Highway 1 south through Santa Cruz. Turn left on Bay Street and follow it until it meets West Cliff Drive. The Dream in is right at the intersection of West Cliff Drive and Bay Street. The hotel currently has a "Ride All Day, Dream All Night" spring break special package that offers 10% off their best available rate (two-night minimum), two wristbands for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and a $25 daily dining credit. The offer other specials throughout the year.
Photo: Dream Inn
Make sure you pack swimsuits, beach towels, sand toys, swim goggles, sunscreen, hats, and other supplies for fun in the sun. Because of Santa Cruz's unique south-facing location on Monterey Bay, it's often warmer than other coastal areas in Northern California, especially during the summer. It can also get the typical California coastal fog, so don't forget the sweatshirts and fleece jackets, too.
For more info, visit www.beachboardwalk.com
Disclosure: The Dream Inn provided us with accommodations during our visit.
