Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

A century of seaside fun on Monterey Bay

⏱ Half day👤 All ages$$

The Boardwalk grew out of the bathhouses and casino that made Santa Cruz a seaside resort at the turn of the twentieth century, and what is remarkable is how much of that era survives in working order. The Giant Dipper, built in 1924 and celebrated with a centennial summer in 2024, is consistently ranked among the great wooden coasters in the world, and the Looff Carousel still runs with its original band organ. Riding both back to back is the essential Boardwalk ritual; the rest of the park keeps adding new rides (a new thrill ride arrived for 2026) so teenagers have plenty to chase.

The visit craft: check the ride calendar before you go, because the park runs daily in summer but mostly on weekends and holidays the rest of the year, and some rides close for weather or maintenance. If you plan to ride more than a handful of times, buy the all-day wristband online in advance; for a few rides, the points card is cheaper. Parking in the main lots fills on sunny weekends, so arrive early or use downtown parking and walk. Bring a layer: the afternoon sea breeze cools things down fast.

Practicals and fit: 400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, about 45 minutes to an hour north of Monterey depending on traffic. Combine it with Natural Bridges State Beach for tide pools and monarch butterflies, or the Seymour Marine Discovery Center for the blue whale skeleton. Fit: families with kids of any age, teens, and adults who want a sunny beach day with a roller coaster attached.