I went to Santa Cruz, CA while I was visiting my brother in California in December 2011. Having lived in the East coast for almost 2 years now, I never thought a tourist hotspot in California will be almost dead in winter, but to my surprise it was!
Santa Cruz is a nice touristy beach resort in the Monetary Bay, about 70 miles from San Francisco. The best time to visit Santa Cruz is April through September.
Santa Cruz
Be sure to go to the Boardwalk (entrance from Beach Street). There are a lot of activities! You can go on the roller-coasters, eat ice creams, cotton candy or simply shop along the promenade. If you are a beach volleyball enthusiast then there are a lot of spots with nets for you to play. You can rent boats, go kayaking, surfing or just relax on the beach. For your gaming and entertainment there is a Casino Arcade on Beach Street. In summer, there are live bands playing on the boardwalk and the atmosphere is very lively. You can bring your own picnic -there are plenty of tables along the boardwalk for group of friends and family.
The Beach & Roller Coaster on Board Walk
There is a beautiful Wharf. It is long and wide and you can either drive your car on the wharf or take a walk. You can see sea-lions really close as they come and sit on the iron reinforcements of the wharf. There are tons of seafood restaurants and bars on the Wharf. A table with a view of the ocean, some beer and crab sandwich should make a perfect evening. My personal favorite is a restaurant called Riva Café and Bar.
Sea-lions
There are a ton of motels and inns near the beach. Be careful of what you pick! One major drawback of this place is that there are not many parking spots. There are metered parking spots along the streets and some parking lots but they are just not enough. So, be prepared to around the town several times before you find a spot to park.
