santacruz

Lighthouse Field State Beach is a great place to get a feel for Santa Cruz. The beach is lovely and clean during low tide, and makes for a great place to watch the waves crash against the coast during high tide. The lighthouse, for which the park is named, houses a totally rad surf museum, and it's a great spot for people to watch experienced surfers catch waves at Steamer Lane. Sea lions and monarch butterflies love to hang out here, too!

For a sandier beach experience, head to the Main Beach. Play volleyball, try your hand at surfing, or just go for a walk down the shore. This is also where you'll find the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, with its roller coasters and carnival-like atmosphere. If you've worked up an appetite swimming and building sand castles, grab a hot dog, stroll down the boardwalk, and soak up the California coastal vibes.

While you can see the Santa Cruz Boardwalk from Seabright State Beach, Seabright is infinitely less crowded. This beach is great for stand-up paddleboarding and fishing as well as swimming, but the coolest part is that you can build a bonfire here at night. The fire rings are first come, first serve, so get here early with your hot dogs and s'mores fixings!