Pia Henrietta | 16 October 2016 | Wanderlust

SANTA CRUZ (or Holy Cross in Spanish) is the capital and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Santa Cruz’s population at 62,864 as of 2013.

Before the Spanish missionaries, soldiers, and colonists set foot in Santa Cruz County in the late 18th century, the Awaswas Native Americans were the first settlers of the land.

Known for its beautiful coastline and spectacular Redwood forest, Santa Cruz lies in the northern perimeter of Monterey Bay, about 32 miles south of San Jose and 75 miles south of San Francisco. Famed for its all-year round moderate but foggy weather due to its proximity to Monterey Bay, visitors flock to this beach city to have a taste of its offerings.

Santa Cruz is home to the University of California (popularly referred to as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC), a public research university belonging to the 10 campuses in the University of California network.

Known for its all-year round moderate but foggy weather due to its proximity to Monterey Bay, visitors flock to this beach city to sample what it has to offer.

Santa Cruz is considered to be the number one surf town in California and it also boasts of

its trendy wineries and breweries that target the young and the old who find bliss in sampling a wide array of alcoholic beverages.

For the coffee aficionados, the Santa Cruz Roasting Company and The Verve Cafe are just two of the many coffee shops that craftily brew coffee drinks worthy to be had by the discriminating palate.

Oh, and let’s not forget the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk – an oceanfront amusement park stretching along the coast of Monterey Bay that showcases a variety of old-fashioned carnival games and rides such as the Giant Dipper roller coaster and the Looff Carousel to mention a few.

Founded in 1907, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California’s oldest existing amusement park. ~