Activities in Santa Cruz

The University of California at Santa Cruz mascot, the banan slug, adorns hats, mugs, t-shirts, and other goodies at the campus store.

Along with a sparkling strand and a gently honky-tonk wharf, Santa Cruz has a boardwalk graced with the Giant Dipper—one of the oldest wooden roller c

Stroll down the old-fashioned strip, chomping on corn dogs and sneaking in an arcade game or two.

See the showpiece: an 87-foot-long blue whale skeleton.