Santa Cruz is a beautiful beachside town famous for possessing some of the best surf in California. Its famous Beach Boardwalk is a theme park complete with some surprisingly scary wooden rollercoasters, fun games, and plenty of cotton candy and other delicious junk food. Visit the lighthouse and surf museum, as world-class surfers and seals alike vie for the waves that smash into the cliff face. Also an excellent location for dining and shopping, Santa Cruz and its nearby communities offer everything from swimwear to arts & crafts for the sunbaked visitors. A good distance south of San Francisco, Santa Cruz is well worth the journey for the beach bum within all of us.