Located on the northern end of Monterey Bay about 32 miles from San Jose, Santa Cruz is a quintessential small coastal town with beautiful sandy beaches, world-famous surf, spectacular mountains covered with ancient redwood forests, serene organic farms, and a thriving wine and beer scene. Students from the University of California Santa Cruz add to the lively atmosphere and tourists love the combination of natural beauty and the old-town charm of historic Santa Cruz as well as the fantastic entertainment options at the oceanfront amusement park and the beautiful Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.


Santa Cruz is a great place to learn to surf, watch experienced surfers, and get into the surfing spirit at Steamer Lane or at Pleasure Point.

Big Sur Yosemite National Park Santa Cruz San Jose Oakland Mendocino National Forest Redwood National Park Sonoma, Northern California Modoc National Forest Calaveras County Point Lobos State Reserve Muir Woods National Monument Marin Headlands, Northern California Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park Yosemite Falls Pfeiffer Beach Lava Beds National Monument Napa Valley Humboldt Redwoods State Park Mendocino, Northern California Sacramento San Francisco Six Rivers National Forest Klamath National Forest

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