Cruise
through Santa Cruz
By Jack Schneider
On-line Forty-Niner
After
a while, the traffic, pollution and overcrowding
of Los Angeles County can get a little hectic
for some people and sooner or later a person
could use a change of scenery.
 For
those ready to escape the madness of Los
Angeles; a place filled with fresh air,
sequoias and beautiful beaches await only
six hours away by car. That place is Santa
Cruz.
One of the biggest tour attractions in Santa
Cruz is the Beach Boardwalk area. Along
with the board walk is the Wharf, a place
where people can watch a mass of sea lions
lounge on the pier. For a little bit
of money, a person could get a bread bowl
of clam chowder.
For the real Santa Cruz experience, Santa
Cruz resident and fourth year mechanical
engineering major Robert Jackson said that
the beauty of Santa Cruz is right along
the coast.
“The coast is really beautiful and very
lush,” Jackson said. “The water however,
is very cold.”
While in Santa Cruz, Jackson said to watch
out for rainfall and cold air since the
county has “actual seasons” throughout the
year.
Adventurous travelers can travel along the
Santa Cruz coast, as well as explore San
Lorenzo Bay.
Along the boardwalk are various arcade games,
carnival rides and a special treat for roller
coaster lovers, the Giant Dipper.
The Giant Dipper offers thrilling dips and
curves. It is a wooden roller coaster that
has been enjoyed by millions. Seen as one
of the best in the world by coaster aficionados,
it is consistently recognized by the members
of American Coaster Enthusiasts.
Santa Cruz is a place where strangers will
greet a person with a smile.
“When you are walking down the street, people
will smile back and say hi,” Jackson said.
It is a small-town atmosphere with only
55,000 in Santa Cruz and 250,000 in the
county according to Duke.
Service specialist Marma Duke of the Santa
Cruz County Conference and Visitors Council
said that there is always something happening
around Santa Cruz.
“A lot of winter events are happening, such
as surfing Santa Clauses in Capatola and
lighted boat parades around the holidays,”
Duke said.
Many Southern Californians have found the
trip to Santa Cruz enjoyable, especially
the atmosphere.
Junior marketing major Pouria Gahzal said
that his trip to Santa Cruz went very well.
“I found the air a lot easier to breathe,”
Gahzal said. “All around the area, there
are a lot of trees and the people there
are really nice.”
Duke said that no matter where people stay
in Santa Cruz, places are only a five to
ten minute walk.
“Everything is a hop, skip and a jump away
regardless of where the hotel is,” Duke
said.
Duke said that most hotels range from $50
on the weekdays and $65 on most weekends.
The Boardwalk is open daily from Memorial
Day to Labor Day and on weekends and holidays
during the fall and part of spring.
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