Santa Cruz Boardwalk by karenincalifornia
Santa Cruz has something only one other California beach town has, that I can think of, and that is a authentic beachfront amusement park. Santa Monica is the other one that comes to mind, but Santa Cruz's amusement park is bigger. This is an authentic turn of the century amusement park, not a replica with all the latest thrill rides. This park has a number of the oldies, the ferris wheel, a wooden rollercoaster, a carousel, the octopus, the rock-o-plane, an arcade, little toy boats with two steering wheels, and Bulgy the Whale. It's such a throwback and so deliciously seedy. You can't replicate this. Only an authentic amusement park as old as this one can have this kind of character. During the afternoon and evenings, the Boardwalk is hopping with activity. I didn't come here at night, but my husband and I took an early walk up and down the Boardwalk as we were waiting for our breakfast place to open up.