Spanning 276 miles of shoreline between Marin and Cambria, this 5,322-square-mile marine sanctuary is one of the world's most diverse ecosystems, with the heart of it all lying in the Monterey Bay. Numerous mammals, seabirds, fishes, invertebrates and plants make their home here. Endless opportunities to take advantage of the Sanctuary's resources abound in Santa Cruz, including kayaking, hiking, whale watching, fishing, sailing, surfing, scuba diving and much more.

Santa Cruz’s Seymour Discovery Center offers guests of all ages the opportunity to learn more about the exciting and unique underwater environment of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The Monterey Bay is home to many great species of ocean dwelling mammals, fish and undersea vegetation. The Center showcases all life in the Bay and aims to educate patrons in ways to reduce human impact on the oceans. Seymour Discovery Center is an excellent choice for those who want a first-hand view of marine life in the Monterey Bay. Step into the world of the ocean explorer.

The Mystery Spot might be the manifest source of Santa Cruz's weirdness. Practically unchanged since its opening in 1939, the promotional literature still says things like, "It's Unusual, It's Amazing, It's Wholesome, Interesting Entertainment." This campy spot is open every single day of the year and draws visitors from all over the world.

Obviously this is a beach.

California's oldest amusement park is about as original--and memorable--as boardwalks come. The only major seaside amusement park on the Pacific Coast, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk blends old-time nostalgia with modern thrills. You can buy a bag of salt-water taffy, get your fortune told in the old-style arcade, take a road rage-releasing ride on the bumper cars, or test your mettle on the giant wood-framed roller coaster, The Giant Dipper, whose unforgettable dips rival any extreme adventure in new theme parks. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk features a carousel and little cars and airplanes for the kiddies as well. Bring a swimsuit and a towel, as you'll be steps from a sandy, swimmable Santa Cruz beach. The Boardwalk is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, weekends fall through spring

Boasting 15,000 square feet of prime skatepark real estate, the Ken Wormhoudt park features a full pipe, two pool-style bowls, a practice bowl and a street course complete with stairs, wall rides, rails and hubba ledges. The park is open from 9am to sunset daily and only closes for rain. Skaters are required to wear helmets along with knee and elbow pads. No bikes or scooters are allowed in the skatepark, but in-line skates with composite wheels are allowed.

This outdoor mall is the heart of downtown Santa Cruz. Filled with eclectic shops selling one-of-a-kind jewelry, clothes and art, as well as plenty of books, music and a dearth of quirky thrift stores. Street performers lend the mall its unique bohemian character, and a wide variety of restaurants, bars, clubs and movie theaters keep visitors entertained into the wee hours.

The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is housed in the small, brick Mark Abbon Memorial Lighthouse overlooking Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz's internationally renowned surf spot, as well as Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. Focusing on Santa Cruz's surfing history, the Sufring Museum displays unsinkable redwood plank surfboards, photographs of sets and breaks from the 1930s on, and sells books, T-shirts and other Cowabunga paraphernalia.