The city of Santa Cruz is located just an hour south of San Francisco, but it feels worlds away from big city life. Instead, it feels like a remote paradise with its redwood mountains, beautiful beaches, and great surf.
The city has a long history beginning in 1769 with a Spanish explorer discovering the land. This explorer, Don Gaspar de Portola, named the flowing river “San Lorenzo” in honor of Saint Lawrence and called the hills above the river “Santa Cruz,” which means holy cross in Spanish.
Although de Portola discovered the land in 1769, Santa Cruz didn’t receive its city charter until 1876, over 100 years later. The young city prospered with logging, commercial fishing, and agriculture. In addition, Santa Cruz quickly became a tourist destination with its scenic views and mild weather.
Santa Cruz is famous for its beach boardwalk and long wharf on California’s central coast. The picturesque boardwalk includes amusement park rides, such as the Giant Dipper roller coaster and a vintage 1911 Looff Carousel.
While Santa Cruz is famous for the beach and boardwalk, the city offers so much more. Adults can delight in museums, shopping, hiking, wineries, and over a dozen state parks. Children will be delighted to pick apples and olallieberries at a local farm, pet a live shark at the aquarium, or take the steam train through the redwood forest. Santa Cruz has it all, whether you’re looking for pure relaxation or an adventure-filled vacation. Interested? Read on for more!
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This tour is designed by local Laura Junod, and is the perfect way to explore all the hidden gems of this beautiful village. Walk with us to see some amazing sites like the Heart of Capitola Village, the Shadowbrook, and more! With our Pintours App, you’ll have all the information you need about each stop right at your fingertips, and you can even pause or skip stops if you want.
Your 3-hour lesson will start with the basics of how to paddle out, pop up, balance, and catch a wave, along with surfing etiquette and understanding the ocean. Your experienced instructor will then take you into a spot with small…
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