California
I wander over near the edge of the cliff, and catch my first glimpse of one of Santa Cruz’s main attractions – surfers! There must be 40 people of all ages, on their boards, waiting to catch that perfect wave. As if on cue, the wind picks up, the swells increase, and suddenly the surfers are up, riding the waves towards the beach.
Santa Cruz Wharf
I stop in next at the Santa Cruz Wharf, with its restaurants, shops, a marine exhibit and places to fish. Groups of sea lions call to me from under the wharf and I’m told I might also spot whales and sea otters in the distance. On one side of the Wharf is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the oldest seaside amusement park on the West Coast – and on the other is Cowell Beach, where some people are sunbathing whilst others get suited up for a surf lesson.
Seafront Activities in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is the quintessential California beach town and every day along the seafront, people are running, biking and walking dogs. I see two new mums with push chairs stop every few minutes to do yoga stretches and squats. Children on skateboards and scooters whizz by, and a young man sits on a bench strumming his guitar. With average temperatures of between 16-24 degrees and more than 300 days of sunshine a year, I think every day must look like this in Santa Cruz!
As the afternoon comes to an end, I grab a beer at a beach café, watch a group of teenagers playing volleyball, and contemplate what I should do tomorrow: hike, bike, get a surf lesson, sunbathe or go to the Santa Cruz Mountains for a canopy tour in the redwood trees? I decide to just relax and enjoy the moment. Tomorrow will be another perfect day in Santa Cruz no matter what I decide to do.
Surfing in Santa Cruz
Surfing in Santa Cruz, a Classic California Beach Town
By Jody Sidle
It’s early October in Santa Cruz, a gentle breeze
is blowing, the sky is a delicate shade of blue and the sun feels lovely
on the back of my neck. I look for the first time at the coastline of
Santa Cruz – and the view is breathtaking. The sea is almost cobalt in
contrast to the sky, and although the ocean is fairly calm right now,
the waves are gently crashing on the rocks below.
Natural Bridges State Beach, on the Santa Cruz Coastline
Straight in front of me is a natural
bridge, with at least 100 birds perched on top in search of their next
meal. To my right is a soft, sandy beach and to my left, I can see a
long stretch of cliffs and shores that run for 46 KMs along the Santa
Cruz coastline. I’m told that each beach is unique and holds a treasure
of its own, and I understand immediately why people come here from all
over the world!
Santa Cruz Surfing Museum and Steamer Lane
I continue along Santa Cruz’s famous
West Cliff drive to the ‘Santa Cruz Surfing Museum’ which sits inside a
lighthouse. Though the museum is small, it holds wonderful artifacts
such as vintage redwood surfboards and original wetsuits designed by
surf industry pioneer Jack O’Neill. Outside the lighthouse, to my left,
is Steamer Lane, one of the most famous places to surf in the entire
United States.
I wander over near the edge of the cliff, and catch my first glimpse of one of Santa Cruz’s main attractions – surfers! There must be 40 people of all ages, on their boards, waiting to catch that perfect wave. As if on cue, the wind picks up, the swells increase, and suddenly the surfers are up, riding the waves towards the beach.
Santa Cruz Wharf
I stop in next at the Santa Cruz Wharf, with its restaurants, shops, a marine exhibit and places to fish. Groups of sea lions call to me from under the wharf and I’m told I might also spot whales and sea otters in the distance. On one side of the Wharf is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the oldest seaside amusement park on the West Coast – and on the other is Cowell Beach, where some people are sunbathing whilst others get suited up for a surf lesson.
Seafront Activities in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz is the quintessential California beach town and every day along the seafront, people are running, biking and walking dogs. I see two new mums with push chairs stop every few minutes to do yoga stretches and squats. Children on skateboards and scooters whizz by, and a young man sits on a bench strumming his guitar. With average temperatures of between 16-24 degrees and more than 300 days of sunshine a year, I think every day must look like this in Santa Cruz!
As the afternoon comes to an end, I grab a beer at a beach café, watch a group of teenagers playing volleyball, and contemplate what I should do tomorrow: hike, bike, get a surf lesson, sunbathe or go to the Santa Cruz Mountains for a canopy tour in the redwood trees? I decide to just relax and enjoy the moment. Tomorrow will be another perfect day in Santa Cruz no matter what I decide to do.
