Santa Cruz Beaches

Santa Cruz Beaches

Take a break from the fog in San Francisco or Monterey and come enjoy the Santa Cruz beaches.

Santa Cruz Steamer Lane

The surf is usually great and the beaches are wide and sandy. In front of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a very large beach full of pure white sand. This is Main Beach. While riding the roller coaster or sky ride, you can look out at Monterey Bay.

Main Beach Santa Cruz

But surfers flock to famous Steamer Lane, up to the north, below the Mark Abbott Lighthouse. It is said to be the birthplace of surfing in the continental United States.

Though the water here is warmer than you'll find in most of northern California, you'll still want a wetsuit if you're in for any period of time.

Mark Abbott Lighthouse and Santa Cruz Surf Museum

Inside the Mark Abbott Lighthouse is the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. They're open Thursday through Monday noon to 4, and in summer they open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 to 5.

Further along scenic West Cliff Drive is Natural Bridges State Park, where you can see sandstone arches out in the water. It can get quite windy here and it's great fun to watch the colorful windsurfers. There are tide pools and a visitor's center with butterfly displays and an aquarium.

Natural Bridges State Beach Santa Cruz

Pleasure Point Beach is located at East Cliff Drive and Pleasure Point Drive.

Santa Cruz Harbor Beach is at 5th Ave. and East Cliff Drive, next to the harbor.

Twin Lakes State Beach is at 7th Ave. and East Cliff Drive. There is good bird watching here because of the lagoon. Known to be one of the warmest beaches.

Santa Cruz Beaches

Seabright Beach is between the Beach Boardwalk and the Harbor at Seabright Ave. and East Cliff Drive. There are fire rings.

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