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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Sat-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
309 reviews for Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Boardwalk is a classic. It's the place to be during the summer. I remember all the $0.50 hot dogs I ate listening to the roar of the coasters and screaming enjoyment of the riders. The setting is beautiful. Set back from the beach, the rolling surf, and the fishing pier. It's just a great place to hang out and have some fun. The "Coney Island of the West" some people call it.
They have summer concerts, all the rides you can handle, carnival games, a huge arcade, all right next to the beach. Not much more you can ask for beyond that.
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You've been before right?
the roller coasters are alright. and the deep fried everything is always a tasty heart clogger. but it's fun when you come in groups and you ride the bumper cars and bump that crap out of each other. however they must have changed it up because now the bumper cars don't go nearly as fast and they say that you have to go in one direction......
hmmmmm
meh
o.0
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Don't even TRY to come to this part of the country & not stop by this boardwalk!! this is what FUN should be! the sun, the water, rides, video games... so fun! there's all the normal amusement park rides (roller coaster, spinning cups, etc...) and a HUUUuuuuuge arcade!
i first came here when i was 13, and my only memory is of riding the wooden roller coaster. although i do also remember what t-shirt i was wearing...
ANYWAY, when i returned here as a 24-year-old, I insisted on riding the roller coaster again. SO MUCH FUN! my date and i arrived to santa cruz in early september, when there are less people around on the boardwalk. so the roller coaster was pretty empty, and there was no line. the best part is that you can pay per ride, instead of paying one fee to get into an amusement park or something. it's great!
we also stopped by the laser tag place in the arcade. as it was september, and the middle of the day on a thursday (hellooooo unemployment), there weren't many people there. so my date and i were fortunate enough to be the only ones in the laser tag arena! it was a LOT of fun, especially with just the two of us chasing each other around the arena (which is huge! we didn't even find all the corners of it..). it's only about 10 minutes long, but it's minutes of a GREAT TIME!!
definitely check out this beautiful place!!
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I wish I was on the giant dipper right now. It's the best roller coaster on earth and I want to get married on it, have my kids on it, and then die on it. If you don't like the boardwalk or the giant dipper, then you don't like fun. Day or night the boardwalk rules. My heart aches just thinking about it :X
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I'M GOING TO THE BEACH WHERE I BELONG
Beach, concerts, arcades, rides, stores...
I came on a day when it was cold and cloudy. If it was sunny & about 70 or 80 degrees, it would have been perfect. We probably should have checked the weather forecast before coming here, but we didn't. I really didn't expect this, it's SANTA CRUZ.
We went a few rides and looked around the stores. I would say this place looks nice, there is A LOT OF COLOR, pretty attractive colors, good for kids and adults.
A couple of summers ago, I had my first funnel cake here. They're good, if you've never had one, I would recommend trying it. I would say it is similar to a churro or a donut.
I think for parking, we paid every couple of hours for the meter.
I would come again if I was in the area.
If you go, check the with the weatherman first.
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All I got to say is FRIED CHEESECAKE. Damn it was good! So bad but taste so good.
Salt water taffy, chocolate covered bacon, ice cream cone dipped.
Worst place for a diet.
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8/5/2008
I am so sun burnt it is not funny. Currently at the itchy and peeling stage. I have not been to… Read more »
It has got to be years since I set foot in this place, I'm pretty sure the last time was when I was just about in college, so we're talking like before radio was invented. However, if there have been much in renovations and innovations, either time has taken a terrible toll here or it froze the Boardwalk and everything was pretty much the way it was, except for new paint. After further examination, though, there definitely have been some improvements.
My family and I spent the day on the beach and on the boardwalk, mostly because it was a fun little place but also because my son and wife had yet to visit a real west coast beach. Being from HI, of course I'm biased, but compared a lake or a marina, it's pretty cool. Surprisingly, the beach was much cleaner than I remember, although the horrible swarm of sand flies on the rotting seaweed and the ice cold sea water is just like I recall. But man it was really nice to have sand under my feet and between my toes again.
The boardwalk seems to have a number of changes and renovations, mostly for the good, although there looked like a few spots where rides just didn't make it. It was really quiet, but I'm glad for that as I didn't want it too busy so we could relax and enjoy, which we really truly did. We ate at several places (which I'll review later) and found the fare interesting, but I was sad that the deep fried twinkie place was closed. Good thing the one in Fremont finally reopened!
Rides are fun, and I was surprised at how many were kid-friendly! They use a ticket based system, and on average most are 3 tix, and you can buy all day passes or a big lump of 30 if you like, which we liked, and it worked out great. Since the rides were mostly for my son, we took turns riding all sorts of fun things. The kiddie rollercoaster was disappointing as it only went around twice, and we paid 5 tix and my son couldn't go on by himself, so we paid 10 tix for two trips--very sad. Overall, it was fun despite things like that.
We ended up spending a whole lotta time here and my family was quite exhausted and happy at the end. Glad we could squeeze this end of summer trip in before my son had to go to school.
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It is worth 5 stars if you get a 10 dollar unlimited ride bracelet (from pepsi cans). Then you can ride Giant Dipper to your hearts content!
And all the other rides I've neglected going on all these years turn out to be awesome and vomit inducing.
How many beach boardwalks are left? Santa Cruz is special :)
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I worked here one summer, while I was a student at UCSC, because I didn't want to move home to my parents' house for three months.
I was very glad I didn't work in games, sitting all day in one booth, listening to the same game music over and over.
I was only sort of glad that I worked in the basement counting the money that the Boardwalk pulled in, but it made me very aware of all the security cameras that exist in our society without our noticing them.
I am not a fan of amusement park rides because I have very sensitive ear fluid and can get motion sickness quite easily. However, I do give props for the Boardwalk's carousel and the last working ring toss left on the West Coast. I once actually made it into the clown's mouth! It was so cool!!!
I hate the insane prices of food and other amusements...I hate seeing gigantic unnatural turkey legs waiting for fatsos to devour. I also hate stupid parents with excessively huge strollers hitting employees while they're trying to do their work and ensure that their stupid offspring have a good summer. This place makes me understand why some people do not have children after working at the Boardwalk for more than five years.
I liked the international student workers from Eastern Europe they have every summer, but I always felt bad that these kids were working three different jobs at the Boardwalk and I was only working one part-time.
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There are many great aspects about this boardwalk along with really really crappy ones.
First the good. The amount of junk food is UNBELIEVABLE. I mean it was like a fat kid's dream! The assortment was ridiculous too. Giant donuts, hotdogs on a stick, garlic fries, slushies, funnel cakes, fried zucchinis, burgers, frozen treats... basically everything thatll clog your heart all in one place! Prices aren't terrible either but make sure you have ample cash. Also, the rides were pretty nice for a non amusement park on the middle of a beach. There are also a lot of games to play. Basically there's just a ton to do/eat/see all in once place, all you could ask for in a boardwalk.
The bad. ALL CHILDREN. I mean I'm sure some of you are thinking - what's wrong with children? But I'm thinking WHATS RIGHT WITH CHILDREN? It was just a mess with kids and teenagers. Also no dogs allowed!
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All amusement parks need to be on the beach! Yes, Jennifer P and I came to this realization, and it's very true. I'm sorry Midwest--you don't need any amusement parks, unless you dig a big ole' lake or river next to it!
YAY!
This place ROCKS! There are some fun rides, a couple `coasters, LOTS of arcade games (squeeeeeee!!!), carnival food of all sorts (we totally forgot to eat some fried Twinkies), a Laser Vault experience (think Mission Impossible, where you have to contort yourself over or through laser beams to get to the end), and more!
ALL AMUSEMENT PARKS NEED TO BE ON A NICE BEACH, JUST LIKE THIS ONE!
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The best of the boardwalk (for me... obvs)
- DIPPIN DOTS
- Garlic fries
- Giant Dipper (its really the only ride you need to go on..)
- BEER (16 oz avail) Coors me, baby
- The beach!! (on warm, sunny days, of course) Soft sand, hot sun, & cold water.
Not so great:
- The crowd... -sighs- hella people. If you can get over this, then it's gravy
- Expense.. kinda expensive for food and drink but they gotta make millions somehow...
- Parking.. trying to find free parking is like trying to find clothes at the Forever21 downtown... impossible.
On those perfect sunny days, tho, the boardwalk is a real treat.
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It's easy to get nostalgic when you first set your eyes upon this magical place. But like any other place, it has its pros and cons....
Time of day: late morning....Thursday August 13, 2009
Weather: the warmest day I've ever experienced in SC
Parking: lot for 10 bucks during the mid morning. If you're coming back during the day around 6pm, park in the far metered lot. $1 per hour....free after 8pm.
Pros:
-- the old school carousel that has the rings and you try to throw them in the clown's mouth. I had a picture of me when I was like 2 years old on it. Memories.
-- The Big Dipper! Only the coolest wooden roller coaster on this side of the coast! Looking at it you might think, "Oh...it's nothing." Have you seen the decline on the first drop? It seriously feels like you're going to fall face first in your seat.
-- FUNNEL CAKE! If there has to be a rule when you come here, it's that you have to eat a funnel cake! After dinner when you want that extra sweet in your mouth this hits the spot. Nothing like fried battery goodness with only a dust of powdered sugar (I'm a purist.)
Cons:
-- Absolutely NOT doggie friendly! I got kicked out, maybe an hour into our visit. I'm assuming that at one point dogs were allowed in the boardwalk. But after owners were too lazy to pick up after their dogs, they had to put a ban. Way to ruin it for other people.
-- Rides are kind of expensive. Individual tickets are 75 cents each with each ride 3-8 tickets. Unlimited ride wristband costs $29.95. If you have a special Pepsi can, the wristband costs $9.95 after 11am. Note to self: BUY A PEPSI CAN NEXT TIME.
-- ATM card unfriendly. Make sure you bring loads of cash if you plan on buying food or playing the Midway games here.
-- Crowds during the summer! Peaks during the mid afternoon, early evening. Come before lunch for the less crowds.
Overall, just like how I remembered it. Never changes.
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In the words of my husband "the boardwalk is a junk food paradise!" and he is right. Lots of fried foods with high calorie contents. Everything that is bad for your health you will find here.
The boardwalk is a fun place. Lots of rides for the kids and adults. Entertainment and games. Pricey but worth the money spent for the memories.
$10 parking in the lot across the street. They also give you coupons for food, snacks and apparel. Not bad at all. We all had a fun filled day. Will definitely be coming back again. Maybe around Thanksgiving or Christmas for the lights and possible cheap train ride, lol :)
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If you like arcades, extreme junk food, carnival games, roller coasters and other park rides, and the beach of course, than this is the place for you! It's also a great place for people into water sports and it's safe to swim in the water too.
It's a great place for kids of course and those who are kids at heart! The types of food they serve here aren't just the typical things you'd find anywhere. Here are some of the more unusual things I saw here:
Fried Twinkies, as if that isn't bad enough not fried? Eeewww!!!
Mix your own slushy, there were about a 20 or more flavors to choose from I think.
Funnel cakes
Cream cheese and jam filled fried tortillas
As for the more conventional food, there was everything there from fish and chips to gyros. Parking can be tough to find on a weekend so go early if you can. There is a lot nearby that costs $10.00 for the whole day. There are lots of clothing and candy stores in the area. It's right by the beach to. You can either play volleyball or just sit out in the sun and tan or whatever it is you like to do at the beach.
It's very crowded as it is a popular area with lots of restaurants to eat at nearby on the Pier. It's within walking distance. Everyone here dresses super casual. I've even seen people shop in their swimwear at some places, lol!
My husband and I didn't go on any of the rides since he thought most were for kids and the majority are. Most rides require 5-6 tickets per ride per person. You can get a season pass or a day pass. I wanted to go on "The Logger's Revenge" which was the only water ride there. It was a big ride that went down a sleep slope similar to the one at Disneyland w/o the singing bears of course.
They also have a couple of haunted houses there that looked cool. It's not recommend for those under 13 though. There is also some ride that takes you over the beach. This is a really cool place.
It's too bad my husband didn't care to hang out in the arcade. It would've been more fun if we stayed to play some games. Awesome place and it's fairly close to where we are which is great! It's nice to escape to places like these by the ocean when the weather is 90 degrees and up. It was no more than 70 degrees when we were there. We'll be sure to come back soon!
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There's nothing like that I associate so much with Summer than a day at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. I have fond memories of spending my day here with my family and my cousins when we were young. As what I said in my previous review, this is a real classic California Beach Boardwalk, not recently developed to look like one.
Like what we have done in previous years, we make a stop here on our way back up home from the Monterey Bay Peninsula (stopping at Gayle's first, of course). It's a nice way to end our last day before we head home.
Like what Lolia S. said in her review $29.95 is a bargain for an all day ride pass. Don't need to pay admission to walk on the Boardwalk, and they have free shows on the beach. Lots of food concessions, game concessions, and arcades.
The wife and I usually split up with the kids. My wife takes the younger one on the kiddie rides, where she'll ride each of them at least 10 times (http://static3.px.yelp...). I'll be with the older one to hit some of the more faster and more exhilarating rides.
After we hit those rides, we took the chair lift to the other side of the boardwalk to the arcade (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Lots of games in the arcades, where you can try to earn enough tickets, and redeem for prizes. My daughter and I did pretty well together, and scored some good prizes.
Can't forget about the food concessions (yes, lovely junk food). I passed on the fried Twinkies and fried Oreos this year. Here's what my oldest scored from me: http://static2.px.yelp...
I got what I wanted too: http://static4.px.yelp...
Such happy memories of Summer with the family!
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7/7/2008
Not too many classic beach boardwalks like this along the West Coast. Lots of rides for kids of all… Read more »
DDAANNGGGGG! This place was PACKED today. All those people who didn't head out of town and went on a staycation must have came to the boardwalk, and why not? This place is off the hook! Where else can you go to the beach, eat too much delicious junk food, and ride awesome coasters and rides until you throw up all that junk food?
Lots of action going on, kids, youths, parents, singles who mingle, and even grandfolks kick it here. So much eye candy as well (hey you're right on the beach, of course you'll see some yellow poka-dot bikinis!). Totally worth the drive and the few minutes stuck in traffic for the Boardwalk. It's a great childhood memory and I can't wait to bring the next generation here.
With so few beach boardwalks remaining, it's great to see that the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (founded in 1907), the last major seaside amusement park on the West Coast, is going strong. Over the years they've added additional attractions to keep things fresh (e.g., Lazer Tag, miniature golf, water rides, pool tables) and appeal to a wider group of people. At the same time you see glimpses of the boardwalk's history throughout; you can still watch them make saltwater taffy at Marini's, spend time with the original Laffing Sal from SF's Playland, learn about the Boardwalk's history in the arcade area, and ride on national historic landmarks (carousel, Giant Dipper).
There are rides for kids, creepy rides (Haunted Castle, Ghost Blasters), spinning rides, roller coasters, traditional rides (bumper cars, ferris wheel), water rides, etc. There are plenty of games of skill and shops that sell t-shirts and bikinis.
The best thing about the boardwalk is that you can wander around for free, it's open late during the summers, go on one ride if you feel like it, and hit the beach. The rides take on a different feel during the night and the night air is filled with screams. Of course, it totally makes me think of The Lost Boys. I think it's much better/more magical at night.
The food is mostly what you'd find at a county fair (Fried Twinkies, oreos, Hot Dog on a Stick, funnel cakes, garlic fries, lemonade, fried cheesecake, Dippin' Dots, churros, dipped and undipped soft serve cones) but they have shawerma too (on a vertical spit!) And there is one place that sells fro-yo (Marini's, near the arcade).
An all day pass is $29.95, almost $25 less than the admission fee to Great America. Yes, the rides at the Boardwalk are smaller but they're still good and they have some similar rides to GA (e.g., Pirate Ship).
My pick: the 85 year old Giant Dipper is a must ride!
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Located right on the busiest beach in Santa Cruz, there is plenty of beach food [hot dogs, hamburgers, fries], snacks [funnel cake, salt water taffy, caramel/candied apples, ice cream, frozen bananas], dining on the warf, rides [for all ages], games [on the boardwalk and in the arcade], and FUN.
This is the Ruby Pier that people in neighboring cities visit every summer and it never gets old. Across the way are local stores, restaurants, and skate parks within short walking and/or driving distances.
This is surely a place to make memories.
So my kids' first visit to a real ocean beach happened to be my first visit, too. Oh sure, we've been to lakes and piers and marinas, but a beach with sand, actually on the ocean? Nope. I'm so glad our first 'real' beach experience was here, at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (in the warm California sun ;-)).
We arrived at the boardwalk about 11:30 on Monday, only to find it still surprisingly dead. Nothing was open, no rides were going. Dead. So we headed down to the beach for a while and waited to see if anything would open up later. The beach was clean, the sand was soft, and there weren't a ton of people crowding us out. A guy did mention that the lack of people on the beach was a surprise, considering that there were "a thousand" people on the beach the day before. So I guess we lucked out.
My kids loved playing in the sand and by about 12:30, the rides were going and more of the shops and restaurants were opened, so we headed out for some lunch. We had typical carnival-type food (corn dogs, delicious fried zucchini, and such) and hit some rides. I really appreciated that there were a variety of rides for kids of all ages. My daughter (18 months) loved the carousel and my son (5) got to hit a bunch of rides that were appropriate for his age. We hit the beach again for some jumping in the waves and then headed out. We didn't get to try any of the super-bad foods, like deep fried twinkies (stand closed) or funnel cake (not hungry for it), but we did finish up with some flavor swirled ice cream.
Parking was $10 in one of the lots across the street, but we were there for several hours, so we felt like we got our money's worth. I like how easy to navigate the boardwalk area was, and that parking was so close by.
So we'll definitely be back next summer, based on the fantastic time we had this visit.
I've lived in the Valley now for ten months, and am just endlessly amazed at all the great and varied things there are to do around here.
This place is fantastic for a great day out with the kids. The beach is nice - soft sand, plenty of space. The water is cold but the kids can still have fun splashing about.
Then head for the amusement park - probably one of the best beach front parks around. Its really well run and has tons and tons of rides and attractions, including the really fun and nostalgic Giant Dipper rollercoaster...yes, I tried it and survived.
All in all, this place really rocks with everything you could possibly want in an amusement park, with a great beach setting to boot. Go with the kids, you'll all have a great time.
I can't even remember the last time I went to the Boardwalk. I think it's been 10 yrs. As we entered into the town everything looked the same. You'll notice all the motel & hotels lining the main street that takes you right to the Boardwalk. We only had about an hour before the place closed so here is the list of rides that we were able to attack while we were there.
Rugged Buggies - Bumper cars how can you go wrong with this ride. The only beef I have with this ride is that they didn't allow my daughter to go on this ride, even just to sit in the passenger side.
Haunted Castle - Nothing scary about this ride, but the girls liked it.
Space Race - If you like going forward & backwards in a circle then this is a cute little ride for you.
Dime Toss - Not a ride, but a game. We actually were able to win 2 regular drinking glasses & 3 shot glasses for the cost of $10.
Double Shot - I think this was my most favorite ride of the night. It's like the drop zone, but it stops at different levels. To bad I couldn't see the ocean. What a view that would have been.
I can not believe I never wrote a review on this place. I really like going to this place to get what.... FRIED FOOD yum yum yum. I like getting the fried artichokes, mushrooms, zuchunni, oreos, cheesecake and twinkies yum yum yum. I never rode the rides however =(, but one day if I ever have a date, I will take her there to ride the rides. I never rode the big dipper, one of the best rollercoasters I heard. Oh yeah you have to admit you have to like their song "At the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk, where fun fun fun" So you got their commerial right in there head. Oh yeah they got everything from bowling alley, minature golfing, going to the arcade (the arcade is huge) It is run on tokens, but you can easily spend $20 and spend 2 hours at the arcade =) It is somewhat pricey, but the more you spend like $100 dollars worth of tokens, the more cheaper it is =)
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The boardwalk still rocks even so many years. There are so many things to do here. It is a great place to hang out, spent some time on the beach, go on some rides, eat some junk good and take a break from the "real world". I love it.
I recommend visiting on a weekday morning, when there is less of a crowd.
The Boardwalk is certainly worth a visit -- as there is no admission price. However, the rides and arcade games -- which are mostly for children and teenage kids -- are overpriced. Similarly, the price of food is overpriced as well.
When I visited, I came across a few "druggie" looking characters... but they didn't come across as career criminals (but who knows?).
Yes, the Boardwalk does seem to need better maintenance. But nonetheless, I do suggest that you visit -- at least once.
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The best people watching e-v-e-r. Blows any airport, county fair, wal-mart at 2am out of the water!
It was so much fun to take the boy on his first roller coaster. I will never forget the sheer terror in his eyes, the crying, the "i'm going to die", that turned into squeals of joy and "that was so awesome" afterward s.
Best corn dog I've had in my life located at the take out window next to the bumper cars.
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If you're in Santa Cruz and haven't visited the Boardwalk, well, why are you in Santa Cruz again?
As soon as you step out of your car, a beautiful cacophony of smells rushes into your olfactory system. You can't help but begin to drool. Then the sight of roller coasters tickles your adrenal gland, pumping you like an old-fashioned well. There are so many things to do, foods to taste, and people to watch that this place can be a little overwhelming. That's okay, it's perfect for an afternoon or evening with the family or the lover.
Mondays/Tuesdays are swell, one ticket for all rides after 5pm and 75 cent cokes. At least, that's how it was the week I went. Otherise, the rides are mighty expensive. That, and the general layer of dirt on the place, are the only drawbacks to the seaside carnival.
It's a landmark for a reason, and everyone should come play by the sea sometime in their life.
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One thing, being a resident in SC, I hate tourist season. Traffic getting around this small town gets redonkulous during hot days.
Minus 1 star for having one of the most dirtiest and booboo beaches in SC. Either the waves are too calm to go boogie boarding or there are TOO many kids in the water and you just don't wanna hurt them..
Minus another star for having too many seaweed and flies around.. I know that couldn't be fixed but hey, maybe its just the bad waves that make me not like this beach.
+1 star for the crackin foood, overpriced, but you can't hate on funnel cake and deep fried oreos.. Which is a must try!! Deep fried oreos are DELICIOUS and it doesn't taste like a heart attack.. thats a deep fried twinky..
+1 star for being a walkable 10minutes away from my apartment..
+1 star for being featured in a TV food network show and making santa cruz look cool in the public eye because it is COOL.
OH and rides get kind of dangerous because the seat belts don't really adjust to fit the smaller people..
AND! Monday and Tuesday nights are the times to go! Most Rides are 75 cents!!
The boardwalk can get very crowded on weekends. The rides havent changed in a very long time, but are fun nevertheless. The beach is clean for the most part and the water frigid. The beach is very family friendly. Bring a sweatshirt, it gets cold closer to the water. Parking can be a hassle on some days and be prepared with lots of quarters/dollar bills (no dimes, nickels accepted in these meters).
Conveniently located entrances to the beach from the boardwalk and foot washes are cool to have around too.
Call ahead and make reservations to Mystery Spot on your way in or out of Santa Cruz. $6 tickets/$5 parking.
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Ahh, how I love this place. It's a ton of fun -- the ride, arcades, junk food...be sure to check the website's calendar to make sure the rides are open; it depends on the season. Also, check the timings because they aren't always open in the evening. Other than that -- have fun!
p.s. the Giant Dipper is totally worth it. Bumper cars -- not so much (bumping not allowed, what?!).
While on my last weekend during my 2 week visit to San Fran, my uncle took us here for the day before 4th of july weekend and it wasnt as crowded as I expected it to be. So, seeing as this is my first boardwalk i'd give it a 4.5 if/when I visit other boardwalks. Overall I actually thought this place was really fun and with a great selection of foods that you cant really get at a theme park. Some of the things that we ate/snacked on were deep fried twinkies (MMM!), hotdogs, hamburgers, shrimp/fish and chips, burgers, churros, beef jerkey, smores, rice bowls, shaveD ice (an immitation of the hawaiian SHAVE ice) and to finish it off, funnel cake with strawberry, whip cream and ice cream.
As for the rides my uncle bought us the all day wrist band for ~$30 where you can ride unlimited rides. The rides are typical carnival rides with roller coasters, round-a-bouts and those sort of things. Later in the day there was also a live band rocking on the stage on the beach and that was pretty cool as they were playing some old rock and roll songs. Overall this was a great place and i'd definitely want to go back on my next visit.
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I'm sure the only good time to be here is after 4 pm when it cools down. It is an awful place to be in the morning or afternoon. The beach is beautiful here but you do have to protect your feet when the sand gets super hot!
Everything is expensive here and the rides are mostly for the kids. Beware that the price of tickets will eat up your wallet. Most rides go for 4-6 tickets and each ticket is 75 cents each. To stand in a long line for a ride that only lasts for 1.5 minutes and pay $6 for it, I rather not. There should be a flat rate. That's just me.
I'm not a fan of amusement parks. I'd rather save up money and get a nice dinner somewhere with a scenic view.
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What is better than having $.75 cent rides on monday and tuesday evenings?!
This is probably one of the best things that Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk had to offer. Cheap rides, cheap food, cheap soda, just the perfect way to end summer if you don't feel like traveling far.
Who knew Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk could be a great music venue?! A smarty pants, that's who....
Came down last night to see THE FIXX - who kicked off SCB's summer series of Free Friday Concerts
Every Friday, all summer long, at 6:30 & 8:30 PM, lucky souls can hang out on the beach, nosh on Boardwalk fare or bring their own picnic & beverages of choice & listen to cool tunes
Be sure to bring low-sittin chairs b/c all the kiddies running around will 100% fo sho be kicking sand in your blanket, your bags, your face (guess who only had a blanket?)
People = SO friendly & even though Sis & I were greedy gussies & totally scoped out this space in front & jumped on a 2-inch spot in front of this couple, they were like, "you came just in time - we moved our blanket back just for you." How nice was that?!
Sound system is perfect - although for the 2nd show, it was way too loud (but still very crisp, no distortion).
In between shows, walk around the Boardwalk, play a game, ride the Double Shot (think elevator of death), or indulge in Garlic Fries, Funnel Cakes, or.......** Deep Fried Twinkies **
Sis had the garlic fries & said they were good but not as yummy as Shoreline's (pity!)
Overall this was an absolute perfect beginning to an awesome Father's Day Weekend! Who wouldn't want to hang out at the beach & see a cool 80s band for free?!?!
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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalkkkk in the warm California sun! BOARRRDWALK!
This place sure is amazing. If I could, I would sleep at the beach so I can wake up and continue on with all the activities and fun amusements they have there. From laser tag to going through a hall way dodging lasers, there's pretty much everything imaginable here.
What I must rave about this place is the friendly service. My boyfriend and I were waiting in line to grab a toothpick after our ginormous turkey leg (Which was delicious BTW). A man rudely said we cut in front of him and walked away aggressively! The workers were so willing to please him that they opened a new register and said his treat would be free! Shucks, I should of threw a fit..
Along with that, the rides are all family oriented. As busy as it is on a summer day, the workers take the time out to have small talk if you're waiting for kettle corn to pop or a ride.
The beach is very dirty though. The people on the beach are usually rude-- kicking sand and are obnoxiously loud. Trash is everywhere because people feel no need to pick up after themselves.
Go across the bridge to Seabright beach for a beach promising pleasure.
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Entrance to the place is free,which is always nice.The cost for tickets t ride is ridiculous as is the price of food.Luckily,I usually only go on one ride or two and theres a Little Caesars down the street within walking distance with $6 pizza.
If you decide to walk along the strip of the boardwalk facing the street,be prepared to be asked for any and everything imaginable.
In one trip,I was asked,by those less fortunate and/or homeless for the following...
5 cents...
10 cents...
A quarter...(In that order too!I looked at my girlfriend at the time and said the asking price keeps going up.Pretty soon they're gonna ask for $1.00)
The harassment continued throughout the day as they asked for smokes.I dont smoke,so obviously I dont have one to give you.
My ex gave one guy the Monster she was drinking.
On our way back from Little Caesars,a lady asked me if I could spare a slice.
WHAT THE HELL?
Just cuz I wear South Pole and $200 Nikes does not mean that I have tons of money to spare.
Yea,it has gotten over run with homeless and wannabe tough guys.
I remember my best friend Jenny and I were there walking up to Neptunes Kingdom and some fool on a 10 speed with a basket on it yelled "F@#k Norte Papi!" just cos I was wearing a red shirt that said Bay Area with area codes on it.
I think the last time I was here was in high school for a CSF trip(bay area chapter, representin!) I took my gf here and I was worried. She lives in an area with incredible beaches: Laguna, Huntington, and Newport. So I was a bit nervous on what to expect.
We drove from the east bay on a Friday morning(expect roughly 90 minutes for the drive) and spent another 15 minutes searching for parking. Yes, the $10 looked expensive, but next time I might park there. We parking on the street, but had to move to a different spot every 2 hrs and still had to deposit $. Our total pkg came to roughly 8 bux(they accept quarters and dollar coins), but the pain of having to walk back and forth wasn't worth it.
Surprisingly, there was a big crowd. All the games and rides I remember were still there: that Giant Dipper, the people glider, and yes, even the bumper cars. There are enough rides to recreate the Season Four opening from Three's Company, carousel wheel scene included!
The food selections are good, very sugary though, and they even have fried twinkies! The last time I had a fried twinkie was at the Puyallup fair in WA. But there is nothing like hanging out at the boardwalk with an Icee or Slush Puppie!
Definitely enjoyed the rides and the mini-golf. The beach is somewhat meh, but the sun and crowd made it enjoyable! Five bux for one ride might be a lil high if you plan on going on 6-10 rides in a day. So if you're with a ride-hungry group, you may wanna get those wristbands for unlimited rides. I'd definitely come back here again next summer or if a cool band was playing the Boardwalk stage!
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The Boardwalk has been in existence for over 100 years and it's still going strong. As Kalani N. said below, it's so much fun to take your kid on rides that you remember from your own childhood. Things haven't changed much since I started coming here in the late 70s, but that's not a bad thing. There are rides for all ages (don't miss the Giant Dipper), lots of food (most of it deep fried), and even free entertainment in the summer.
Today we saw Cirque Magnifique, a 30 minute show that's like a mini Cirque du Soleil. We also seem to catch Eddie Money every summer. The only ride I really hate here is the cave train (is that what it's called?). It's unintentionally creepy and the Flinstone-esque figures inside are long overdue for a good cleaning.
The Boardwalk is lots of fun for all ages. And the people-watching opportunities are endless.
My sister wanted us all to get together to celebrate my nephew's 16th birthday. We had so much fun that I was thinking to myself, why didn't I starting going to Boardwalk years ago.
10 easy reasons to go!
1. It's free (if your not going on rides and playing games)
2. The beach
4. Kids have a blast
3. They sell beer!
4. Close to home (Bay Area)
5. $10 parking lot so you don't have to feed a meter.
6. You can bring your own picnic basket.
7. Funnel Cakes
8. The scenery
9. Lots to do in and around the Boardwalk.
10. Keeps reminding me of the Lost Boys!
There it is, simple and plain.
I'm sure the Beach Boardwalk has a special place in every bay area native's heart because it does in mine!
Sun, sand, surf.
Carnival games and corn dogs.
Smell of sunscreen and sounds of screaming riders.
A perfect summer day! It doesn't get any better than that :)
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