Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

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landings3

Joined 4 years ago

The best!. The best!  Nothing like it on the west coast! Reminds me of the movie Lost Boys, except that was filmed in Santa Monica, I think. Anyway, you get the point.

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mejennings

Joined 6 years ago

Beach Boardwalk for tasting, riding, & sight-seeing. A summer Saturday @ the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk..you just canNOT go wrong here ;-) Went last year w/ familia & found myself here again last weekend.

DRIVE: Left Hayward area just after 9am & stepped foot on the SCBB like around 11am. Paid $10 for parking in lot directly across from SCBB Arcade area on Beach Street. Ideally I'd suggest leaving early AM as I if you're not local to Santa Cruz just to avoid the traffic that always comes in the summer, on wkends, & after 10:30am.

BOARDWALK: Suprisingly it was not scorching hot on this Sat (6/27/09); clear skies for the most part, but cool breeze from the waters was definitely blowing onto the Boardwalk. Rides I got on were the Pirate Ship & Double Shot, & that was enough for me. I screamed on Pirate Ship, but not as neeearly as loud as I screamed on Double Shot! I've been away from roller coaster rides a long time I realized..that damn Double Shot freaked me out & the 9yr-old kid next to me in line was getting on it again w/ his dad 'cuz he liked it the 1st time (WTF)..I'm such a wimp, but not wimpy enuf to stick to the kid's Freefall version. Oh well, not much into getting the adrenaline rush I suppose like when I was younger...just enjoyed walking around, looking @ people, & tasting here & there...oh & me snappin' away w/ photos here & there too *tee-hee*.

Overall I enjoyed the Boardwalk as I always have over the years...although I've yet to make it over here @ night to see it all lite up...gotta do that one day...rather do that one night ;-)

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wonderfuldude

Joined 7 years ago

West Coast Gem. I have many fond memories of going to the Boardwalk during my adolesence. It seems to have lost some of it's luster (maybe I'm getting old) but still remains a beautiful fun place to spend the day.

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kittylin

Joined 7 years ago

Pleasantly surprised to Santa Cruz on the "Best" list. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has been a family favorite for many years. The park is right on the beach. You can have the best of both worlds with its location. They even have sand rinse off showers ( wonderfull when you have kids and don't want to take home half the beach with you). We have purchased season tickets for many years. It has an old fasion amusment park feel that is unmatched by any other park I have been to. They have many fun rides but none of your spectacular thrill rides. (Go to Great America for that). There is no addmision fee to the park and you can buy tickets just to ride 1 or 2 rides if thats all you want.

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calmomov3

Joined 8 years ago

A Slice of Heaven. Summer would not be summer without a trip or two to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I've been going every summer for the past 25 years and wouldn't miss it. My kids wouldn't miss it either. The beauty of the beach and ocean and the nostalgia of the boardwalk are such a wonderful combination. It is not uncommon to see seals or otters swimming out in the ocean. I feel like a kid when I'm there. The Giant Dipper is my absolute favorite rollercoaster.

I feel very lucky to have a place like Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk within driving distance of where I live. I am not sure if it's factual, but I was told it's the only beach boardwalk west of the Mississippi.

If you haven't been there before, you MUST GO!!

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meljr2004

Joined 8 years ago

Fun Time. This is a awesome beach amusement park. The Big Dipper is something you can't miss, it's one of the oldest wooden roller coasters. Even if the boardwalk is packed the lines don't take forever to get through. You have the ocean and sometimes you can see whales just on the south side of the santa cruz wharf. In the summer most day the fog hangs out until noon then burns off. It can get warm in the day and by night it's chilly. You have the mountain views from the ferris wheel.

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barrywkane

Joined 9 years ago

The Best. A classic, slightly funky beach town at its best, boardwalk is great, cool ocean air mixes with bright sun and blue skys, beautiful mountains ring the city and the beach is right down the wooden steps fromn the boardwalk. The giant dipper roller coaster is not to be missed and the people watching, sound of the rides, scent of the food, mixed with the ocean waves, is the perfect mix. The nearby pier/wharf are filled with restaurants and great views of the boarwalk, beach and surrounding redwood mountains. Downtown Santa Cruz has neat shops and restaurants lining its busy main street and the nearby mountains offer great camping in redwood forests.

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juley

Joined 8 years ago

Are You Kidding???. How could Santa Cruz Boardwalk be listed and there is no listing for Magic Mountain??? Something is just not right.

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theoriginalclammie

Joined 9 years ago

Don't Miss The Giant Dipper!. My family had a cabin in the Santa Cruz mountains when I was a kid. My cousins & I spent most of our summers at the beach & at the Boardwalk!

For an old time treat don't miss Marini's salt water taffy available on the bw.

BUT, you must ride the classic old-school style wooden roller coaster, The Giant Dipper!

Go early, get an all-day unlimited ride wristband and go over and over and over on the Giant Dipper!

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darkmlnd

Joined 9 years ago

Almost like Time Travel.... I'ts the 21st century ? You will barely notice at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The Giant Dipper,arcade , and Chocolate Dip cones are some of my favorites and don't forget the CORNDOGS ! Wanna hit the beach ? You can walk across the street to your car , get your beach gear and be on the sand in a couple minutes.If your coming down highway 17 and want to get to the Boardwalk in style, exit in Scotts' Valley ,drive up the road to Felton , and hop on the Roaring Camp Railroad.The train goes through the redwoods and pulls right along the boardwalk in front of the carousel.Step out of the open-air railcar and let the fun begin.Take the first train down and you can spend about 5 hours before it's time to leave. I dare you to find a more enjoyable way to spend the day .