Santa Cruz is famous for a boardwalk with roller coaster rides next to Santa Cruz Beach. An eight mile point-to-point hike going through Santa Cruz Beach starts at Twin Lakes State Beach in the east and ends in Natural Bridges State Beach in the west. The route stays next to the ocean all along. The route may be extended by one mile with a loop inside Natural Bridges State Beach.

Best Months to Visit: Summers.

Parking: Paid parking anywhere along Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA. Parking is difficult in summers when hundreds of visitors flock the beach.