This place is usually super packed with people.
I have been to the boardwalk a number of times. This time, it was almost empty. No one was there. It was almost like it was closed for the rest of the world and opened just for me and my friends whom came to visit.
It offers rides (roller coasters). Food. Coffee. Beach/ocean view. Boardwalk view. Lots of tourists. Seasonal decorations. Definitely a place to visit if in the area.
The boardwalk is close and if you go all the way to the end, you can see sea lions.
Always have a great time there. I have been going since the early 80's. Now I bring my family. It has an old school feel but that is a part of the charm. The arcades cater to all ages. Old video, pinball and group activity type games. Incidentally, the Haunted House that they have is a blast.
Santa Cruz Beach Board Walk is a great place to go out with family and friends. The attractions and rides there are super fun and are pretty cheap. The beach is a great place to relax and take in the sun, or you can play around. They also have great food that will fill you for the day if you are hungry. It is best to go during the summer so you can cool off from the heat. This is also a great place to take pictures as it serves as an amazing background.
How to find a description not already written about this place .. Every superlative you have heard or read is not quite good enough! Not even Coney Island can match the vibe you feel here. Like old A.C. Boardwalk maybe? Only on one of the most scenic coastlines in America. Coaster surpasses expectations as well. Over 60 million riders make this one of the most popular thrills on the planet.
This is one place where neither the adults nor the kids will get bored! Lots of rides, good food, drinks, etc. available and you can just sit and watch the ocean to catch your breath in between.
Kids off all ages can have fun here as there are rides for almost all, including toddlers
Prices are a little high but then take the all you can ride thing and you won't regret a bit!!
Loved the place and my daughter was just so happy!!
First of all it was tons of fun things here are prices in a medium rage because I don’t thing anything will be more expensive than Disneyland. The rides are fun but for a younger crowd who are not quite ready for six flags. Rides cost points and points cost $. When I went it’s was $1.00=1 point. Rides range from 5 to 7 points so as you can see it adds up fast.so I recommend you get the wristband it was $30.00 at the time. Food was okay but can add up quickly. The park itself has no entrance fee so you can go and come as you please, like eat at your own car and run back in for fun. It’s hard to find the free parking because some people show up before the shops open and take them but the paid parking is $15. To save yourself some more money when your at the ticket window ask for the shop coupons.
Great local and tourist attraction. The park lights up at night and gives a great view of the blue ocean and sky. Lines are not too bad for a busy place and the atmosphere reminds you of a huge amusement park. I loved this place so much I came here twice while in Santa Cruz for two days.
Love Santa Cruz Board Walk! Went here this week on a Wednesday and stayed at one of the cozy hotels. Best midweek getaway/work trip. It was off season but some of the best weather ever. Sunny and cool at night. No rides going but had an amazing meal at Ideals and walked the Boardwalk and beach. Then the pier after dinner stared at the seals under the pier .sooooo cute! Hope to do this again soon.
Loved the get out and be active attitude everyone I encountered had. People were out just enjoying the rays of sun and scenery. The fair like area of the boardwalk with rides and food booths was closed during the week at this time so that was sad since we didn’t get the full effect of the visit. During our sad walk along the closed boardwalk I did see that they had a great selection of rides and entertainment that included a huge arcade and sand volleyball courts.
Stayed at the Dream Inn during my stay with spectacular service all the staff always had a smile and greeted me even as I walked back and forth by the same people a few times but without a beat missed they still acknowledged I was there. The hotel was perfectly placed among walking and enjoyment region of the boardwalk. The view from the room was amazing and description won’t do it justice. The room itself was modern and updated, extremely clean, and many amenities that you would expect.
Overall I wish we had more time but one of the best decisions I made was to take a run around the area and see all the amazing establishments you could visit and the creativity the people of Santa Cruz portray in their town.
The boardwalk and arcade are great places to spend the better part of a day. The All-Day bracelet is worth the cost, especially if you want to repeat the rides. The wooden roller coaster is a great, though the modern one is a bit too smooth without a lot of acceleration.
Food available on the boardwalk is decent, and not too expensive.
The arcade was a blast, though you will fly through credits. It's not labelled the Casino for nothing.
The laser maze can be a lot of fun. It's a laser obstacle course that can be a workout as some of the paths require that you plank, crawl, and balance over, under, and through the beams.
The laser tag was in a small area, but the experience is still worth having, especially if you can fill up a game with a large group.
Lots of families and kids. Lots of attractions - you can spend the whole day here! Parking is a bit of a pain. If you're lucky- you can do meters- they take quarter. Otherwise you have to pay $20 inside the fence. If it's really crowded in he parking area DO NOT PASS UP THE $20 parking. Otherwise you have to loop around and you'll use like half an hr just to go back! Be sure to checkout everything indoors especially the arcade with the pirate theme. As a guy in his sub 20s I was really captivated by the amount of work put in there. There's also a bar area upstairs.
I enjoyed walking down this boardwalk while in Santa Cruz. It's less busy than Pier 39 in San Francisco and has some nice restaurants. You're also able to get closer to the sea lions and watch then sleep up close! There are large star fish hanging out on some of the posts as well, so keep your eyes open for them!
Additionally they have a lot of rides, carnival food, and fun things to do like that in the area. It gets really busy though so a good idea to get there earlier or later in the day.
Visited with my family during Memorial Day weekend. Also went once before when it wasn't a holiday. The atmosphere is fun, and if you like rides, then it's worth trying out. I will say they charge a hefty price for wristbands! They go for almost $40 per person! That price does not include extra attractions they offer. For the price you pay, they don't offer that many rides. You'll find the Giant Dipper, which is their standard roller coaster, a pirate ship, which wasn't running this past weekend, and a water ride where you sit in a log. That's about it for the big rides, which are sprinkled in with smaller, less exciting rides. The place is extremely compact, so be prepared to be shoulder to shoulder with the crowds of people walking around. They definitely need to expand! There is hardly room to walk around, and it's quite annoying. Overall, it's worth visiting at least once, but be prepared to spend an arm and a leg on rides, attractions, and food. Take a walk on the actual boardwalk nearby. It offers beautiful views of the water and amusement park.
The history of the boardwalk goes back a long way. It is amazing how it has transitioned with time. It is definitely a must to see and enjoy. Whether it is enjoying the rides and eating salt taffy or sunning on the beach and jumping in the waves. The beach boys played here back in the day; "So we'll have fun! fun! fun! til her daddy takes the Tbird away!"
Fun for all ages, really! My favorite part of this place is the arcade. The views are wonderful. It gets pretty crowded, but that shouldn't come as a surprise. There are lots of little shops and food carts for a quick snack. If you want a nice meal, the wharf is a quick walk right passed the boardwalk.