Photo by Todd / Flickr
South of San Francisco is bliss in several forms. The Santa Cruz Mountains in Central California are a prime place for wine making, hiking and bike riding, and mountaineering. Part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, you can enjoy scenic views of wild west coast nature while camping, climbing, or cycling.
Home to giant redwoods and majestic lakes, and declining down to beaches and the small town of Santa Cruz, there’s plenty to see and do in the area. Whether it’s getting in touch with nature or working on your tan, or maybe the games and arcades of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are more your speed. It’s a prime place for fun and frolic in one of nature’s playgrounds.
Hotspots for Natural Beauty
Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains are Big Basin Redwoods State Park, the redwood grove that reaches the farthest south. these towering coastal redwoods can grow over 300 feet tall, some of the biggest trees on Earth. It’s a great place for hiking and taking in the sights of Central California.
Schwan Lakes, also known as Schwan Lagoon, is in the process of becoming freshwater wetland area, which the state and city have collaborated to restore. It’s currently a collection of freshwater lakes stabilized by a dam, and it’s become very popular for fishing.
Twin Lakes State Beach is located on the southeast side of the yacht harbor and downstream from the twin lakes known today as Schwan Lakes. The water actually flow through the sand of the beach. It’s also home to the only dog beach in Santa Cruz, so you can take your furry friend for a walk on the sand, but please keep in mind that they cannot be off their leash.
Town Attractions and Amusements
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a fun for the whole family spot in Santa Cruz. It’s an historic amusement park with everything you’d expect at a seaside amusement park, including games and arcades, and even a working wooden roller coaster. It’s probably the Santa Cruz attraction that draws the greatest number of tourists.
Pacific Avenue, the main street in Santa Cruz, has plenty of quaint stores and boutiques for your local shopping pleasures, along with a movie theater, restaurants, and lots more. This tree lined street running through the town is a great spot if you want a break from the beaches, mountains, and forests.
You can find beaches all along the coast in the Santa Cruz area of various size and styles to suit your preference. For example, Natural Bridges State Beach is named after the unique rock formations that used to be located right off shore. There were once three natural rock bridges, but now only one is left.
With mountains, lakes. beaches, and a fun and vibrant recreational scene in-town, there’s something for everyone in and around the Santa Cruz Mountains. It’s a wonderful spot for the bounties of natural beauty, and a playground for those who enjoy the great outdoors.
Author: Tiffany Brown had to spend a lot of time indoors after a pretty bad car accident, but luckily this allowed her more time to surf the Internet. She’s been writing articles online lately to take her mind off of everything else in her life.