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Surf's Up In Santa Cruz


To simply call Santa Cruz "Surf City," the municipal nickname, would diminish all the other unique aspects of this funky town. Santa Cruz is indeed a charming seaside village with a century-old beachside amusement park called the Boardwalk, but Santa Cruz also features a large municipal pier, a city harbor, a vast network of bike trails, several state parks and beaches, and an ultra-liberal university situated within a redwood forest! To call Santa Cruz one-of-a-kind would not in any way be considered pretentious or untrue! Santa Cruz is a true gem of Northern California.

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Chapters in this tour:
     Santa Cruz: Surf City USA
     Downtown Funky Town
     The Wharf & Surf Culture
     The Historic Boardwalk
     Ultra-Liberal UCSC
Transportation: Walking & Driving
Specialty: City/Town, Historical/Heritage, Off the Beaten Path
Category: Guided Tour - play before & while you tour
Tips in this Tour:   Read More
Tourism is one of the main industries in Santa Cruz. Attractions include the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk fronting Cowell Beach, the redwood forests near the university, and picturesque Monterey Bay, which is protected as a marine sanctuary. Most tours of the bay embark at the municipal wharf, but some also leave from the harbor.
High Season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day, meaning the congestion gets worse and the prices go up.
The downtown area is about 1/2 mile away from the boardwalk and wharf. Downtown consists of Pacific Avenue and adjacent Front and Center Streets. This area is known for its locally-owned shops and eateries, and is very pedestrian-friendly. It is recommended that you park and walk.
Better yet, bring or rent a bicycle! Santa Cruz has an extensive network of bike lanes and bike paths. Most major roads have bike lanes, and wide bike lanes were recently installed on Beach Street, near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Additionally, there are levee bike paths along the San Lorenzo River.
Santa Cruz has 5 greenbelt districts, including Arana Gulch, Lighthouse Field, Moore Creek, Neary Lagoon, and Pogonip, a city-run park and open space adjacent to the University of California, Santa Cruz. If you have extra time, be sure to visit any of the greenbelt districts. Pogonip is especially nice, featuring second-growth redwoods, expansive meadows, several streams, and many intersecting hiking trails.
Click to see how our tours display--tons of images with either text or narration--much better than any audio tour because you can see the sites. It's like having a friend show you around, with priceless advice and insider information, to enjoy at your own pace. Our samples feature different locations throughout the year.

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Provider: Brad Olsen


Brad Olsen is a Contributing Editor for World Explorer magazine and has written several guide books. His seventh, “Sacred Places Europe: 108 Destinations,” was released in March, 2007. The second edition of "Sacred Places North America: 108 Destinations" was released in 2008 and won the "Best Travel Guide for Planet Earth" Award in 2010. Brad's commentaries have appeared on National Public Radio, CNN and the Travel Channel. He enjoys extended global travel (particularly to exotic locations), and public speaking on the subject of sacred places.

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