California is the place where summer arrives drenched in sunshine and blue skies in June and doesn’t leave until October. We may experience chilly nights most of the year, but I’ll take that over freezing temperatures and 4 pm sunsets any day. This month, in what felt like a celebration of summer, my friends, my partner, and I drove from San Francisco to Santa Cruz to spend a day in the storied beach town.
A cloudless sky frames the road as we make our way out of San Francisco, driving for nearly two hours (thanks to traffic) along straight highways that twist into forest roads as we cut through Santa Cruz’s state parks. The landscape shifts from city buildings to towering trees, and finally, when we make it to our destination, the blue of Monterey Bay.
“You can smell the ocean,” my friend says while looking out the window, and I inhale in response, welcoming the breezy scent of salt and sea.
We park in a lot near the boardwalk and walk to the entrance, where a large mural celebrates 100 years of the Giant Dipper rollercoaster. The strip is filled with people, though there are fewer than I expected, given how warm and sunny the day is. We make our way through the maze of bodies and past vibrantly colored stands advertising classic fair food: funnel cakes, ice cream, hot dogs, lemonade, and more.
After an initial wrong turn, we find the meal I recommended: Smoked turkey legs. At $19 each, they’re not exactly affordable, but nothing on the boardwalk is. The giant pieces of meat are smoky and delicious, and between the four of us, we can barely finish two. Maybe that makes them worth it?
As we wrap up lunch, we debate our original plan to lie out on the beach. Although our bags are packed with blankets, sunscreen, and Kindles, we return them to the car and spend the rest of our time on the boardwalk.
We enjoy views of the shore as we stroll along the strip, play rigged carnival games and win the smallest of prizes, and ride the famous Giant Dipper. It’s one of the oldest rides in the U.S., but you wouldn’t guess it from the fresh-looking coat of paint and long lines. I thought the ride would be mildly thrilling with great views of the beach, but while on it, I screamed the whole 2 minutes. In excitement, yes, but it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted.
As evening rolls around, we end our day in Santa Cruz with dinner at an Italian restaurant–Gabriella Cafe. It’s our second choice after the Thai restaurant we wanted to visit, Bad Animal, told us it would be a one-hour wait. While the food at Gabriella was good (I ordered a spaghetti bolognese), it wasn’t memorable. But my Earl Grey and plum-flavored ice cream from the Penny Ice Creamery just across the street? That, I won’t forget.
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I hadn’t been to Santa Cruz in years, so I was only happy when my friends proposed this road trip. Days like this remind me why I’ll always love a California summer.
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Good to Know
How we got there: We drove from San Francisco to Santa Cruz. If you are visiting from out of town or don’t have a car, I recommend renting one for the drive. I also recommend leaving before noon to avoid heavy weekend traffic.
Parking: There is plenty of paid parking ($35 for the day) available at the boardwalk.
My favorite eats on the boardwalk: Cruzin Crepe’s, Beachside BBQ (for those oversized turkey legs)
Rollercoasters & boardwalk games: Each ride or game on the boardwalk costs money. Use self-service kiosks located across the boardwalk to load rechargeable cards with money. This money is converted to credits you can use for rides and games. The attractions are not cheap and costs add up quickly, so start with the things you really want to do first.
More from Santa Cruz: There are other places to see in Santa Cruz outside the boardwalk, like Capitola (a small beachside town about a 10-minute drive from the boardwalk), Natural Bridges State Beach, and the UC Santa Cruz Botanical Garden. If you’re interested, Santa Cruz is also a good destination for wine-tasting, a quintessential California pastime.
As always,
Thank you for reading!
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