Santa Cruz Beach (Boardwalk), California

If you want muscles, bikinis and roller-blading then head for the famous Venice beach in Los Angeles, but for real Californian charm Santa Cruz is special. The beach also has a long boardwalk with fair ground rides which overlook the foreboding Pacific. This is the oldest amusement park in California. Nearby surfers jostle with seals for the best waves, and the giant Californian Redwood trees make for a stunning backdrop. This may not be one of the best quality beaches in the world, but it is certainly one of the most atmospheric. Nearby is Monterey Bay, setting for the John Steinbeck novel Cannery Row.

The Boardwalk extends along the coast of the Monterey Bay, from just east of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf to the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. At the western edge of the park lies a large building originally known as the Neptune Casino (which does not offer gambling), which contains a video arcade, an indoor miniature golf course, a laser tag arena and the Cocoanut Grove banquet room and conference center. A Laffing Sal automated character, from San Francisco's Playland, is viewable near the miniature golf course.

Santa Cruz Beach  with light decoration